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Wednesday, April 22, 1987 / University Daily Kansan
Releasing a sigh of relief
The fate of the University of Kansas' efforts to win the approval of a favorable fee release from the Kansas Legislature has had enough highs and lows to make a person dizzy. But the roller-coaster ride through the statehouse finally seems to be coming to an end.
To refresh your memory, the University generated $2.2 million more than expected because of increased enrollment. The Board of Regents asked the Legislature to return $1.2 million of this amount to the University. Since then, the governor has recommended a release of 75 percent of the Regents request, the House wanted to release only 50 percent, but the Senate finally supported the 75 percent release.
If you have your breath back now, we can continue: A joint committee wheeled and dealed, and came out supporting Gov. Hayden's original 75
percent release recommendation. When the House and Senate return from their recess, they are expected to pass the release and send it to the governor.
But this is only the Reader's Digest version of the fee release negotiations. The full story, including some of the threats and proposals, would be too voluminous to handle here.
It is nice that the University most likely will receive a nice check for $953,000 out of the extra $3.2 million originally generated. But it would have been nicer if the University were not made to suffer for its popularity, or if it could have received the money before the end of the regular school year.
Now that the end is in sight, we can breathe a sigh of relief that the outcome wasn't any worse, and hope the University won't have to go through this mess again.
Computing the benefits
An offer by KU's Computing Services possibly can make computers more accessible to students and faculty at the University.
Computing Services is offering 13 Macintosh Plus microcomputers and a laser printer to campus organizations whose members could benefit from the computers. These computers have the software needed for word processing, graphics and illustration to publish newsletters, brochures and other publications.
No restrictions will be put on the use of the computers, said Herb Harris, director of academic user services at the center. However, he said he
hoped that the computers would not be used for secretarial purposes in organizations that were interested in obtaining them.
No deadline for applications for the computers has been set. Also, organizations can apply for more than one computer.
Other campus organizations should consider applying for a computer. There are a limited amount of places on campus where computer use is available, such as the Computer Center and some residence halls. Many students and faculty use computers. Making them more available for campus use is a good idea.
Virtue at what price?
"Honk if Gary Hart owes you money."
Across the country, this proposal is being slapped on the bumpers of thousands of cars, the owners of which have a bone to pick with Gary Hart. Being so close to Colorado, Hart's home state, it is surprising that we Kansans can't hear the sound of car horns rising from the Rocky Mountain state as drivers signal that they too are victims of Hart's whirlwind campaign for president.
Gary Hart is on the campaign trail again. Though his campaign oratory has
At one point in 1985, Hart's campaign debt stood at $4.7 million. Because most of his creditors have been small businesses, thousands of ordinary, non-string-pulling citizens have spent years in legal action to settle suit — usually coming up on the short end of the deal. His debt since has been reduced to $1.6 million, but his problems are far from over.
changed significantly as the front-runner for the Democratic nomination, his fund-raising tactics have not. Hart still refuses to accept any money from political-action committees.
Virtuous? He seems to think so. But rejecting special-interest influence at the expense of thousands of people who had put their trust in his campaign makes one wonder how accurately Hart has assessed virtue during the past few years.
Perhaps Hart should not be given such a hard time about these debts. Political campaigns are not renowned for scrupulous debt repayments. And besides, U.S. citizens have endured president guilty of worse offenses — blatant corruption, subversion of the constitution, ignoring their job duties. But, willingly closing our eyes to the disparities of campaign ethics, we should express no surprise at what they might do once they're in office.
News staff
News staff
Frank Hansel...Editor
Jennifer Benjamin...Managing editor
Juli Warren...News editor
Brian Kaberline...Editorial editor
Sandra Engelland...Campus editor
Mark Silbert...Sports editor
Diane Dualmeier...Photo editor
Bill Skeet...Graphics editor
Tom Eblen...General manager, news adviser
Business staff
Lisa Wemens...Business manager
Bonnie Hardy...Ad director
Denise Stephens...Retail sales manager
Kelly Scherer...Campus sales manager
Duncan Calhoun...Marketing manager
Lori Coppole...Classified manager
Jennifer Lumanski...Production manager
David Nixon...National sales manager
Jeanne Hines...Sales and marketing adviser
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Marine baiting new international pastime
Soccer? Wrong! While soccer may be played in most countries, its popularity is nowhere near that of marine batting. With the recent scandal in Moscow, I thought I'd try to start one on this side of the ocean as well, by relating my experiences as a first-team marine baiter.
Quick, what's the most popular game in the world?
Glenn Shirtliffe
Guest Shot
I was first introduced to the major-league sport of marine baiting as an undergrad at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. Ottawa happens to be my home. It also happens to be the capital of Canada, which probably explains why so many embassies, consulates and missions are strewn about the city.
Hanging out, as I did at the time,
with sons and daughters of upwardly
mobile diplomats and External Affairs office jockeys, I tended to be fairly well connected to the sons-and-daughters-of the diplomatic corps party circuit, the "DIPs" circuit. Jeee, could these kids party! Imagine having unlimited access to tax- and duty-free booze and butts, not to mention high grade controlled substances imported via diplomatic pouches. . . . You get the idea, eh?
Now put these DIPs in a red Porsche with red diplomatic license plates and red diplomatic passports and you've got yourself the perfect party vehicle. You can do anything you bloody well please — park anywhere, anytime; find out what the top end of a 444 really is; beerte any constable stupid enough to pull you over. Diplomatic immunity can be a real blast, as long as you don't main or kill anyone too important!
Anyways, marine baiting is one of the favorite pastimes of DIPS. To play a meaningful game, you need at least one peach-fuzzed U.S. Embassy Marine. (Bonus points for farm boys from Kansas, Iowa or
Step 1: An innocent marine is enticed to a DIPs party, usually by the most buxom member of the DIPs corps.
Wyoming; deduct points for California, they're too easy.
Once the marine is semi-conscious, it's probe and prod time. What's the ambassador's wife really like? Who're the intelligence officers? This stage can last anywhere from 20 minutes to two days, depending on the marine.
The tactics of marine baiting include spiking beers with grain alcohol ("Canadian beer is supposed to taste that way, Dude!!"), or insulting the honor of the Marine Corps, then challenging him to defend his honor by chugging Canadian Club with you (He gets the overproof bottle, you take the watered-down bottle.)
Step 2: Once the unsuspecting corporal arrives, there are no rules. The objective is to get the marine so messed up that he misses up that nice uniform that Uncle Sam bought him.
fected techniques that closely approximate the top-secret Canadian protocols.
I'd like to tell you about other tactics, but I'm bound by national security — a friend's dad taught me these techniques straight from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service handbook. No big deal though, most fraternities at KU have per-
Once the marine is rendered unconscious, the fun really begins. I have unnamed friends with Polaroids of marines with Canadian flags protracting from every orifice from every flag could possibly provoke it. Ensure you make your salute and start singing our national anthem, "Oh Canada," . . .
My sister once baited three Marines in one night with four Lowenbraus; a record that only recently was broken by operatives in another northern capital on the other side of the North Pole.
While marine baiting can be plenty of fun, it pales in comparison to the all-star sport of attache trashing. But that's another story . . .
DISPATCH FROM MOSCOW.
Mailbox
Deciding the news
This is in response to Paul Fambriani's letter in the April 17 Kansan concerning racism against Arabs. First, what type of censorship is he trying to advocate with his assimine statement, "What does he (Abu-Ali) know about when to put certain articles in the newspaper?" I would like to know why Fambriani feels he has total authority on the matter. He is suggesting that the Kansan publish only those articles that do not allow cause for debate?
Secondly, let me point out to Fambrini that what he so unknowingly termed as "Arab marches" was ONE march, sponsored by the General Union of Palestinian Students to commemorate "Land Day," April 9. I was there and noted several photos being taken by Kansan staff, yet none were ever published and the publicity the march did receive was minimal. But I noticed that several lines were dedicated to the remarks of someone, Daveen Litwin, affiliated with Hillel. Are the Palestinians ever asked their opinions on matters regarding the Jews?
I also sense that Fambrini is insinuating that the only time Arabs or Palestinians are involved in campus activities is when they are involved in "protests," not silent, peaceful marches as I witnessed on April 9.
The General Union of Palestinian Students sponsored a quite informative lecture on the Palestine problem on April 2, but I never saw any coverage of the event in the Kansan.
Furthermore, I believe Abu-Ali's statement regarding Hitler and the
Jews was not meant to show insensitivity to the Jews of the Hitler regime. I think it was meant to ask that the American people show regard for what is still going on in the Middle East TODAY, while still acknowledging the events that sparked this furor 40 years ago.
Zeta Mattioni Tulsa, Okla., junior
Judge skills, not sex
I would like to respond to the letter to the editor by Brian Courtney, which appeared in the April 16 issue of the Kapsan.
If privacy seems to be the issue, then by your reasoning, no reporter, regardless of sex, should be allowed to talk about yourself. You have had time to shower and dress.
According to the American Heritage dictionary, privacy is defined as "the condition of being secluded or isolated from others."
Male athletes may be embarrassed by the presence of female reporters, but that still does not excuse the actions of athletes such as Dave Kingman of the Oakland A's when he sent a mouse labeled "Sue" to the female reporter covering the team. That is plain harassment and an action that is demonstrative of immaturity.
What athletics seem to forget is that the reporter, male or female, is there to cover an event. They are there for the story, not the view.
It should not be the sex of the reporter that is debated, but the quality of his or her writing. Women should not be getting respect for
entering a previously male-dominated field, but instead for the quality of their writing and how well they report an event.
We do not give respect to doctors and surgeons because they are male or female, but because they are good at what they do and for the quality of medical care they give. There was a time when that was not the case, when female doctors were respected simply for being female. Fortunately, that time has passed. Hopefully, with more time, female reporters will also be respected for what they do.
And maybe readers of the Kansan and other newspapers will read sports stories for what they say, not for what sex the reporter is. But if the ideas of Courtney are any evidence of how the sentiment runs, there is a lot to be hoped for.
Elaine Sung Rochester, N.Y., freshman
In need of education
Neil Brown, in his letter of April 16, claims that, according to the Bible, homosexuality "has always been and will continue to be Wrong." He also said he thought that "if one refuses to accept certain portions of the Scriptures, he or she does not accept the Bible at all." If you condemn homosexual acts because of what the Bible says in Leviticus 20.13, then you must obey all the laws in Leviticus, including not eating unclean animals (Leviticus 20.25) and not trimming a beard (Leviticus 19.27).
I suggest you read your Bible a little more closely. In the New Testament. Jesus makes it clear that we are to love our neighbor (Luke 10:25-37). He also tells us not to judge others (Matthew 7:1-6). So I suggest that you stop condemning homosexuals and educate yourself about homosexuality so that you don't bear false witness against them (Exodus 20:16, Matthew 19:18).
Steven Predmore
Search for truths
In response to Paul Ahlensi 'letter that appeared in the Kansan on April 14, I have listed several more facts from the word of God in support of Joe Vusich's April 6 letter.
In your letter, you said Paul was relating his views of Christ's teachin' to us.
1) 2 Peter 1:20-21 (NASB) "But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy ever was made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God."
2) 2 Timothy 3:16 (NASB) "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;"
I'll agree with you, Mr. Ahlenius,
that parts of scripture can and are
used out of context in ways that lead
people into making misconceptions.
Therefore, I urge you to continue to
search the Scriptures and discover
for yourself the truths that the Bible holds.
Steve Phillips
Prairie Village sophomore
BLOOM COUNTY
by Berke Breathed
YOU SOUND A LITTLE DEPRESSED.