4 Monday, April 27, 1987 / University Daily Kansan Opinions THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN Some jumpy over bypass Opponents of the proposed 14.3-mile bypass in Lawrence need to reorganize their fight if they hope to salvage anything from their battle. It is obvious that Lawrence is going to get a bypass in some form that will travel around the city's south borders, from Kansas Highway 10 on the city's east side to a new interchange on Interstate 70 on the city's west side. Congress' override of President Reagan's veto of the $88 billion highway bill made of that. But instead of accepting that fact, environmentalists continue to look for ways to defeat the measure. They even have gone so far as to suggest that a referendum, similar to the one on the proposed mall, be put on the ballot. Instead of being adamantly against the bypass, they should be thinking of ways to make the best of the situation. Originally, the opponents focused their complaints almost exclusively on the roadway's effects on the Baker Wetlands, which is the home of the endangered Northern Crawfish frog. All that came from those efforts was a little fame in the November election for a frog named Agnes T. The efforts did little to influence the outcome of the highway bill. Now, opponents have enlarged the scope of their complaints to include Elkin's Meadow, a pasture northwest of Lawrence that would be bisected by the road. Environmentalists argue that the road would destroy large fields of rare Mead's milkwood and prairie whitefringed orchid. It is admirable what environmentalists are fighting for, but instead of working against the proponents of the bypass, the two groups should be working together. A bypass will benefit Lawrence, but the two groups need to work a plan so that the benefit is spread among as many people as possible. Poor choice to cut The University of Kansas better watch out, or it could be forced to watch some promising graduate students who have shown an interest in KU turn to other universities. The University recently decided to eliminate its terminal master's fellowship program, which is one of the graduate fellowship programs. Graduate students in master's programs that don't offer a doctoral degree are eligible for the $1,100 fellowship. Without the money, the professional schoolsa recruiting power would be strained severely, and the schools could find it difficult to attract the best students for their programs. Even the number of graduate students who want to attend KU may decline after they discover that money isn't available For many graduate students, money may decide which school they attend. The programs will suffer if KU loses quality students to other schools. Although the terminal master's program benefitted the least number of students of all the University's scholarship programs, the program should not have been cut. Some of the professional schools already had admitted students into the school and nominated them for a fellowship. The University of Kansas should be concerned about attracting the best students. Many students are attracted by money, especially graduate students who probably will support themselves. Worthwhile programs should not be cut. KU needs to continue to recruit quality students who will enhance the University's programs. Preserve the wildlife It's going to be the battle between environmentalist groups and those who want to see continued economic independence and growth in the United States. Although the idea of opening up this area has angered some environmentalists, Hodel said the wildlife there could coexist with the development. The battle originated with a proposal made recently by the secretary of the interior, Donald P. Hodel. The proposal would open up 1.5 million acres of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to oil and gas development. Hodel said the move could "significantly reduce U.S. dependence on foreign supplies." The site was chosen because a Department of Interior study showed that there was a 95 percent chance of getting 600 million barrels of oil and a 5 percent chance of getting 9.2 billion barrels. The benefits certainly sound tempting, but Congress should think twice before enacting this proposal. We already have other sources of oil without this area. And, if worst came to worst, the United States could find alternative sources for oil. The wildlife, however, are not in the same situation. The number of areas left for wildlife is decreasing, and the animals cannot live in just any climate. Members of Congress should bear this in mind when discussing the bill. News staff News staff Frank Hansel Editor Jennifer Benjamin Managing editor Jul Warren News editor Brian Kaberline Editorial editor Sandra Engelland Campus editor Mark Siebert Sports editor Diane Daultmeier Photo editor Bill Skeet Graphics editor Tom Eblen General manager, news adviser Business staff Lisa Weems Business manager Bonnie Hardy Ad director Dense Stephens Retail sales manager Kate Schenk Campus sales manager Duncan Calhoun Marketing manager Lori Copple Classified manager Jennifer Lumianski Production manager David Nixon National sales manager Jeanne Hines Sales and marketing adviser Letters should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 200 words and should include the writer's name, address and telephone number. If the writer is affiliated with the University, include class and hometown, or faculty or staff position. Guest shots should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 700 words. The The Kansan reserves the right reject or edit letters and guest shots. They can be mailed or brought to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Staffer-Flint Hall The University Daily Kansan (USPS 650-640) is published at the University of Kansas, Kansas 181 Stauffer Fint Hall, Lawrence, Kan. 66045, daily during the regular school year, excluding Saturday, Sunday, holidays and finals periods, and on Wednesday during the summer session. Second-class postage paid in Lawrence, Kan. 66045. Subscriptions by mail are $40 per year in Douglas County county. Student subscriptions are $3 and are paid through the student activity fee. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the University Daily Kansan, 118 Stauffer-Fint Hall, Lawrence, Kan. 66045. U.S. official suffers from 'Red' fever Elliott Abrams, assistant U.S. secretary of state for inter-American affairs, who spoke here Wednesday, is like a helpless, desperate alcoholic or drug addict who lies, steals and harms people for a fix ___ Christian Colbert Columnist Although his fix can't be swallowed, injected or snorted, it nevertheless distorts reality. His fix, or rather fixation, involves blaming communism for all of the evil in the world. His inordinate fear of communism and his need to blame it for everything blind him of the consequences of our own military policies in Central America. His scare tactics are an expedition way to garner support for the administration's military foreign policy. It's an old trick. Fabricate a threat, then use your own fabrication as a pretext for supporting dictators, starting wars and continuing the arms war. Abrams is a sick man carrying out a sick policy. His sickness blinds him to the real problems in Central America, which are the lack of decent food, water, education and health care — not communism. When he hears of atrocities committed against innocent children in Nicaragua by the contras, he matter of factly says the communists are far worse. Then, sadly, he praises the contras' effort by comparing them to our founding fathers. If Nicaragua is such a grave threat to the United States, as Abrams says, then why do we rely on a bunch of small-time mercenaries to contain the Nicaraguans? If there actually was a Soviet threat, the Marines would have been sent long ago. The people of Central America aren't concerned with political ideology. They want a better way of life. Without providing this first, talk of democracy and freedom is absurd. What's more absurd, though, is the way Abrams preaches the gospel of democracy while working through secret and undemocratic foreign policy apparatus. How does he expect to The answer is simple: Neither Elliott Abrams or the Reagan administration gives a damn about democracy in Central America; they don't even give a damn about democracy here! They lie about, exaggerate and distort the existence of a communist threat in Central America so they can trick anyone gullible enough to believe them into supporting their effort to crush any possibility of a successful Nicaraguan government. promote democracy in Central America? cy. Fortunately, most U.S. citizens aren't that gullible. The majority of us don't believe the administration is a Soviet threat in Central America. Unfortunately, no one in the administration is listening. The majority of people oppose sending tax dollars to former Somoza officials who rape and kill innocent people in Nicaragua, yet the administration responds by sending sick people like Abrams to denounce the well-informed people protesting our poli- The real threat to democracy, here and in Central America, are the sick, fanatical people like Eliot Abrams and Daniel Kahneman who torture in the guise of democracy. We must stop the lying, the killing, the torture. We must stop sending guns to Central America. Guns can's feed the hungry children. Guns can's make peace. But guns can kill the hope for a better future. I'm not proud of what my country is doing in Central America. I feel disgraced that people like Abrams are deciding the fate of the region. I am proud, however, of the courageous people who protested last Wednesday, and who will continue to oppose the Reagan administration's sick foreign policy. Mailbox Applaud the law Monday's editorial referring to laws acknowledging the right of persons to defend themselves in their homes shows little editorial knowledge of these laws or the premise involved in formulating them. It also shows poor knowledge of films, as the movie thug surrendered to "Dirty Harry" after the utterance of "Make my day" and was not shot. These laws serve to affirm citizens' right to use deadly force to defend themselves and their homes against same. Generically, they set forth definite guidelines for the use of such force. For example, a person may not pursue a fleeing intruder and kill him; nor may a person rig up a set gun or other remotely activated device for defense, as there is no bodily threat if they are not present. These laws are passed in response to assault suits filed, incredulously enough, by enterprising criminals wounded by their intended victim; while the victim is generally exonerated, innocent people lose much time and defense money to such legal crap. While defense against assault is generally delegated to police, a 1977 Supreme Court decision made it clear that police were not able to be omnipresent and that the responsibility for self defense ultimately rests with the individual. Rather than authorizing citizens to be vigilantes, the laws serve only to formally recognize the individual's right to self defense. Rather than condemning them, you ought to applaud them, and pray you never need them! George R. Pisani director of laboratories, biological sciences Clarify remarks I know of a KU faculty member who is a Ph.D., is widely published in the subject that he teaches and is an excellent teacher. The standard contract which he signed three years ago soon will expire and, per this contract, he will leave his $15,900-a-year job. He will be replaced by another Ph.D. for three other years and will not be eligible to be hired again by the University. His salary, while it may be surprisingly low, is the standard one of experienced graduates who teach four classes each fall and three each spring semester at KU. The reason these teachers are replaced every three years is that new and inexperienced teachers command less money than experienced ones. This all makes good financial sense for the University and, as it was explained to me by this teacher, education is expensive and the University hierarchy have decided that the faculty should be the ones to tighten their financial belts for the sake of the students' needs. However, in the April 21 Kansan, James Carothers, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, is quoted as saying, "Students are adjusting to the fact that they have to be flexible" with regard to class schedules. "Things are going to be tight." These statements seem to portray a disturbing arrogance and insensitivity to the students of this University. I implore Carothers to clarify himself since I do not believe that he intended his remarks to be inflammatory. The University of Kansas has developed a reputation for underpaying its faculty. A reputation for dismissing students' needs would not complement KU's present one. In financial straits such as those through which the University presently is suffering, it is important that animosity not develop among students, faculty and University officials. I am certain that KU gives its students top priority. I am also certain that the University respects its faculty. During times such as these, anger easily is fomented by misunderstandings. I hope that Carothers' remarks will not be given the chance to be misunderstood. Appalled by litter Patrick Kirby Leawood freshman Leaving campus Friday afternoon, I was appalled by the trash accumulated in front of Wesoo Beach, knowing the KU Relays would draw people up on campus. What an impression these visitors must have received of the KU student body Joanne Stoehr Lawrence junior One cannot help but notice the young student body and large greek population that gathers daily in front of Wescoe. Since serving humanity seems to be a function for which greks credit themselves, perhaps they could extend their activities to include keeping Wescoe clean. Their actions might then rub on on other groups and the whole student body would benefit. More Bible quotes Much has been said lately about homosexuality and how it relates to the Bible. Many people with good intentions have pointed out quotes from the Bible condemning homosexuality. Others with similarly good motivations have alluded to other passages emphasizing how Christ came "to seek and save the lost." (Luke 19:9) As Joe Vusil pointed out, "homosexual offenders . . . will not inherit the kingdom of God." (1Cor 6:10) However, as Paul Ahlensi states, the same passage also includes sexually immoral persons, idolaters, prostitutes, thieves, greedy persons, drunkards, slandersers and swindlers. I would like us to continue reading the next bit: "And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." (v11) So why are we harping on this one problem? The point is that all have fallen short of God's standard and we are all in the same boat. I cannot high-mindedly condemn the next guy by being "holler than thou" because I, too, have fallen short of God's standard. This is why, as Steven Predmore pointed out, we are told not to judge others (Mt 7:1). (Judging has two usages: one in the sense of condemnation and the other in the sense of evaluation; this usage is the former.) This is why all of us need to repent, as John the Baptist said some 2,000 years ago. This is why all of us need to make Christ our Lord. Then "there is neither Jew nor Gentile, nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Gal 3:28-29) lan Chai Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, senior Ian Cha Need to listen There I was, sitting next to an irate group of protesters. Why me? What did I do to deserve this? Each outcry from one of them brought all eyes of the audience toward me. I was "one of them." I understand where these protesters of U.S. contra aid are coming from. I realize many civilians in countries such as Honduras and Nicaragua are being killed needlessly in the name of democracy. And that the United States plays a big part in the civil war within Nicaragua because of U.S. fear of the sread of communism. But Elliott Abrams does have a point. Without U.S. support, the contras are powerless. The Sandinista party is a military regime whose power lies in military superiority in Central America. The Sandinistas have little control over countries as El Salvador and Honduras are afraid of Daniel Ortega's quest for power reaching outside of Nicaragua's borders. The Contadora group seeks diplomatic settlement, for a "promise" from the Sandistas to contain power within Nicaraguan borders. Promises in international politics are just empty words, and one has to realize that the power of arms supersedes the power of dialogue. The United States has reached a point that any decision is the wrong decision, and such occurrences as the recent resignation of contra leader Edgar Chamorro has not helped the United States' reputation in the international arena. As I watched the protesters next to me chant, "Get out of Central America," I feel an emotional surge to join in. They are the conscience of America. But, the simplicity of their solution fails to touch the complexity of the situation. Mayber it is better to listen sometimes before we speak — then, maybe, we will be heard. katz Ann Bakkalapulo Tampa, Fla., senior k. l. thorman BLOOM COUNTY by Berke Breathed