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Friday, March 13, 1987 / University Daily Kansan
No time for monuments
Opinions
"I'm a big save-the-greenspace person myself," was student body president Brady Stanton's comment when describing his plan for an outdoor theater near Potter Lake.
Stanton could save more green pace as well as some of his integrity if he forgets that sketchy plan as quickly as he thought of it.
Stanton, self professed "doodler," presented to the Student Senate his sketch of a "quaint theater in the park." His idea is to construct a small theater on the northeast side of Potter Lake for outdoor concerts and small theatrical productions. Steel supports and electrical outlets, he said, would be the only permanent parts of the theater, thus maximizing the outdoor atmosphere.
Stanton, with less than half of a semester remaining in his term, naturally is interested in staking out his place in Student Senate history. Previous
Senate leaders have left marks of accomplishment such as the Vietnam Memorial and the campus lighting project. They can take pride in those fixtures which generations of KU students can see and appreciate.
But part of being a good elected official is meeting the needs of the constituency. Perhaps two years ago, students could afford to let some of their fees be allocated to an aesthetically pleasing memorial or theater. But times have changed. The state's budgetary crunch, the limited availability of federal student aid, the overwhelming KU student enrollment and the financial demand of needy student organizations have forced the Senate to become even more careful when allocating student money.
The spring of 1887 is not the time and Lawrence is not the place for castles in the air, doodles in the Senate or quaint theaters in the park.
Get 'em while they're hot
It's the hottest selling book in the country. Its pages are filled with tales of power and money, of intrigue and desperation, of one man's attempt to piece together the truth to the best of what's left of his ability.
About 400,000 copies of the report were delivered Feb. 26 to vendors around the country and reportedly have sold quite well in the short time they have been on the market.
No, it's not the newest Harold Robbins novel or the latest Jackie Collins "Hollywood Relations" sequel. It's the Tower Commission report, already available in local bookstores in paperback form.
Although President Reagan probably would love to sweep this whole issue under the rug, the U.S. people have taken an interest in it. The whole Iran-
contra affair probably is the most important event of the Reagan era. It has affected the credibility of the presidency and of the government, which in turn affect us all.
U. S. citizens deserve to know the truth about the events of the past several months, and the nation has responded as it should.
The Tower Commission's report may not prove to be the most exciting reading, but that does not lessen its significance. Because our presidential administration could not find enough courage to address the issue directly, it is encouraging to see that the public has taken an interest in educating itself about a national issue for a change, rather than writing it off as another embarrassing moment in U.S. history.
Norm Stewart has proven he knows what he is doing on the basketball court. The Missouri Tiger basketball coach is the seventh-winningest coach in NCAA Division I history. Now Stewart also is proving he is a winner off of the court as well.
A winning idea
Stewart wants to divert some of the millions of dollars from the NCAA basketball tournament television contract into a scholarship fund for players. CBS is reported to be paying $167 million over the next three years for rights to broadcast the tournament. That's is a 70 percent increase over the current pact.
ties.
And why shouldn't the NCAA give something back to the athletes. After all, the athletes give so much to the universi-
The scholarship would be used to help athletes finish their education after their eligibility is gone.
The demands on athletes are great, and most athletes only take 12 hours of classes a semester. At that rate, graduation after four years is almost impossible.
Only a small percentage of collegiate athletes make a living in professional sports. The rest of the athletes leave the playing field and join the rest of us in the working world. But are they ready, or has the demand of collegiate athletics hindered their education?
Collegiate officials have made a commitment to academics as witnessed by the recent Proposition 48.
The NCAA and the universities can continue that commitment by diverting money to help athletes who want a degree to finish their education.
News staff
Frank Hansel . Editor
Jennifer Benjamin . Editor
Juli Warren . News editor
Brian Kabertline . Editorial editor
Sandra Engelland . Campus editor
Susan Sukert . Sports editor
Diane Duteimeer . Photo editor
Bill Skeet . Graphics editor
Tom Eblen . General manager, news adviser
Business staff
Lisa Weems . Business manager
Bonnie Hardy . Ad director
Denise Stephens . Retail sales manager
Kelly Scherer . Campus sales manager
Duncan Calhoun . Marketing manager
Lori Copple . Classified manager
Luciemianski . Production manager
David Nixon . National sales manager
Jeanne Hines . Sales and marketing adviser
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As a columnist, I prefer to write about things that give me a gut reaction of some sort. And I must say I do not at all like the irresponsible accusations made by some people at the University of Kansas of racism.
Race relations as confusing as ever
Paul Campbell
the day when minorities will be admitted to his house. I doubt this for two reasons. First, most of the greeks I know are quite nice folks who I doubt go to Klan meetings on the weekend. Second, the availability of black fraternities and minority social clubs give minorities the chance to self-segregate.
Columnist
In the past weeks, I have seen the Black Student Union make charges they don't bother to substantiate about racism in Student Senate. If the BSU can provide incriminating evidence to prove such charges, I am all for exposing those who do the University the disservice of airing their bigoted views while representing those they malign.
I also saw a clever (at least, I think that is what they wanted it to be) cartoon in the recent edition of Travesty depicting a "typical" greek man who, among other things, fears
If unsuspectaniated accusations and cute cartoons are examples of what the more progressive elements of KU consider beneficial to the oft-stated goal of "understanding," then I have serious doubts that they are really interested in a more equitable world.
Civil rights leaders, using "racism" as means to get immediate attention and sympathy, are as much a national problem as racism is claimed to be. Places like Forsyth County, Ga., and Howard Beach, N.Y., have become synonymous with racism in the United States. Incidents in these communities have raised the progressive elan to a fever pitch because people see their most paranoid delusions confirmed by what are isolated incidents.
The cameras descended upon the war zones to reveal (surprise!) they were racists there. They also discovered, although it was not as widely publicized, the regions' people, an overwhelming majority who aren't racist, have become increasingly frustrated because the national media portrayed their homes as bastions of Klanism.
The editorial pages of the New York Times, New Republic magazine and the Village Voice all offered multiple spreads on the cancer of racism Reagan has reinfested the country with. Yes, Virginia, the United States is a racist country.
Why then, I ask of you, is The Cosby Show the most popular program in the country? Clearly, in no way could a racist country have a successful black family as an example. In television we like to see the best of ourselves on occasion.
The show's creators just did not make up a black family that was doing well. They attempted to reflect the small but growing black middle class.
Progressive elements in our society do not find the show entertaining. Although they do clamor for equality, they are not satisfied with the image of successful blacks because Cosby's television family represents the middle class values the progressives reject and protest against.
"My God!" they scream, "Suc-
cessful black dresses nicely and
living the life of bourgeois pigs?
That's not what we are fighting for!"
Instead of government intervention, successful black families in the United States are becoming successful by an old Protestant ethic: hard work reaps rewards.
It would be callous to disregard completely the progressives as unneeded. In earlier decades, they were the ones who saw the injustices of segulated buses and lunch councils most people were blind and complacent.
Now, it also would be callous to assume that everything is right in the universe and everyone is going to live happily ever after. But we cannot allow an occasional outbreak of idiocy to negate our accomplishments.
The danger of one-dimensional thought
A spectre is haunting the editorial page of the University Daily Kansan, the spectre of simplistic thought.
While not confined to one side of the political spectrum, in the present political climate of the United States this spectre most often is found
Jonathan Olsen
Andrew Bailey
among conservatives. Indeed, some people on campus have purported to demonstrate the lessons of Vietnam, how best to view the Soviets, and so forth. However, one central idea runs through: the conservative political interpretation of the world is the only correct one, and all others are wrong.
Guest Shot
Instead, what it demonstrates is a mode of thought that is both inadequate and fraught with contradictions. A mode of thought that operates on the principle that the world can be divided into right/left, good/evil, black/white. History, foreign affairs — in short, the world — are viewed simplistically.
Herbert Marcuse, a former philosophy professor at the University of California at San Diego, has called this mode of thinking "one-dimensional."39
One-dimensional thought consists of "self-validating hypotheses, which, incessantly and monopolitically repeated, become hypothetic definitions or dictations." When transformed into a political ideology in the West, "freedom" is defined by our institutions and our social norms — "free enterprise" "free press" "the free world" (or as some put it, "Oururs is the sanctuary of democracy)."
Curiously, and by the same twist of logic, communist regimes define freedom in terms of their institutions and their societal norms — free health care, free higher education, freedom from unemployment. Whether it is called "one-dimensional thinking" or simply ethnocentricity, the result is the same: an ideological mirror-image of communist and capitalist conceptions of the world, which is then absorbed into a common language for our respective societies.
Indeed, many Soviet people, not only party members, see us untrustworthy and aggressive. They think we are manipulated and exploited by our government. Put into practice, this means that unofficial peace initiatives are squashed ruthlessly and branded "bourgeois."
In the United States, unofficial peace initiatives too often are viewed as Soviet-influenced. When conservatives speak of domestic opponents rejoicing with glee at U.S. foreign policy failures, they betray this line of thinking. Expressed mathematically, domestic opposition equals support for
communist totalitarianism. This is nothing more than a loyalty-oath mentality.
"One-dimensional thought" stops as barriers that appear to be the limits of reason itself and is thus perceived to be the only mode of thought possible. Perhaps it is this mode of thought that Professor Mikkelson warned us about when he returned from the Soviet Union.
Ironically, however, this kind of thinking serves both sides well. Thus we could agree with Henry Kissinger that the Soviets don't want reform. If they do want reform, they only are doing this to expand their influence and to promote further aggression. In any case, the truth or falsity of statements concerning "Glasnost" are entirely unrelated to our political conclusions. We believe the Soviets when it fits its conception of the world, and we don't believe them when it doesn't.
It is our position that such "one-dimensional thinking" is essentially unproductive and unnecessarily limiting. Does a rejection of this mode of thought mean impotent hand-wringing in the face of "real" or imagined danger? Does it mean a rejection of any standard of morality? Emphatically, no. Morality and humanity transcend one-dimensional thought. They demand a synthesis of perspective, only possible by multi-dimensional dialogue.
Jonathan Olsen and Andrew Bailey are graduate students in Soviet and East European studies.
Mailbox
A needed incentive
In the show's 37-year existence (now working on 38), the primary objective of Rock Chalk has been, and remains, to give assistance where needed through the talents and hard work provided by the University and its students.
I would like to thank Kristina Robb for her interest and commentary on the Rock Chalk Revue, and particularly for her concerns about the awards given out at the end of the Saturday night show.
To provide this assistance, the student groups, in addition to the Rock Chalk organization, incur thousands of dollars in expenses, one of which is the nearly $700 appropriated for trophies.
Groups themselves invest between $2,000 and $4,000 in order to have a quality show. The trophies act as an incentive to help provide a high entertainment value and ensure a return of audience members.
Secondly, money spent on trophies comes out of money repaid to participating groups to cover their expenses. Champagne used in the awards ceremony was purchased with revenue generated from the sale of advertising space in the show's press kit and by a committee sold approximately $5,000 in advertising to the local area merchants.
At a glance, this sum seems exorbitantly high, but look at its positive attributes.
So, you see we like to think that we do fully realize "what (we are) giving," but, as is the case with most business-oriented organizations —
for Rock Chalk thrives today because of its successful business objectives expenses are an unavoidable fact of keeping this grand KU tradition alive.
Eric Scheck business manager Rock Chalk Revue
The Kansan's March 10 article on the Kansas Senate bill changing the rules for faculty unions needs clarification. The bill is substantially identical to a 1984 bill, against which the American Association of University Professors stated detailed objections in legislative testimony.
Among other features, it makes the university the employer with whom a union would confer and narrows the negotiable issues. You could have gotten more complete facts than you quoted and also been fairer in your coverage of the expected faculty election, if you had consulted not one, but both prospective parties in the election.
Clearing up story
A good foundation
William O. Scott professor of English
On behalf of the dedicated and diligent efforts of the founding 1985-86 Students Against Multiple Sclerosis (SAMS) staff and contestants, I want to defend and clarify information in a March 9 test session. I wish I was SAMS contest."
Shane Langton, 1987 co-chairman is stated as saying $7,500 was raised.
as opposed to $5,000 raised last year.
Truth and accuracy (as well as itemized accounting reports) show student efforts in 1985-86 raised $7,090.
When added to the 1985-86 alumni benefit dinner proceeds of more than $22,000, a total of more than $29,000 was raised on behalf of multiple donors who donated $18,500 was made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Even after expenses, the University of Kansas' donation ranked third out of 150 universities. An accomplishment last year's students and contestants are proud of, and rightfully so, considering the original $10,000 goal was surpassed by more than 150 percent in the first year.
Last year, KU SAMS ranked second in the country for the number of registered contestants, 36, and the campus campaign theme, "SAMS Wants You!" was used with the 1987 national program logo.
Langston need not talk down last year's campaign to make the current campaign look better.
The same article reported that Greg Filerman, who portrayed Bruce Springsteen, turned down his first place award, a Daytona Beach Spring Break trip. It was a poignant move made in the spirit of volunteerism. "I am greatly dedicated to student volunteers, this year or last, is to be commended."
Through such efforts, progress has been made toward combating this disease. An M.S.-challenged individual recently told me about a major breakthrough in M.S. research she had heard about from her doctor. The
discovery would possibly allow for an oral vaccine for some forms of the disease within two years.
Steve Vogel
KU SAMS founding chairman
Graffiti everywhere
I just wanted to comment on Lori Polson's bathroom graffiti article on March 9. You don't have to go to the John to read all that insightful graffiti that she was talking about. Go to class and look at those all-wood desks in Strong and Fraser Halls. They are loaded with good graffiti. The long, bar-like desks in Summerfield Hall are just dandy also. Some of this desktop graffiti is over ten years old.
Since we're not in the bathroom all that long, I don't know why we even bother to write on the wall either. But because we sit at a desk for a much longer period of time, we are able to develop more in-depth and more intense ideas. Maybe we just want to share them so we scribble them down.
But the real graffiti goldmine is in the west stacks of Watson Library. There is more graffiti there than on any bathroom wall or desktop combined. From the first floor up to the third, that's where all the meaty graffiti is. Meaty graffiti is the most dynamic and profound graffiti ever accumulated in one spot. The meaty graffiti is on the wall in front of each desk in the stacks. Anything on a bathroom wall will be in the stacks.
Joseph Patrick Barry Chicago junior
BLOOM COUNTY
THE FIRST STEP IN
OUR WEIGHT-REDUCTION
PROGRAM IS THE SURGICAL
PREDUCTION OF THE STOMACH...
ACTUALLY CLOSING OFF
MUCH OF THE STOMACH
by Berke Breathed
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