4 Friday, March 6, 1987 / University Daily Kansan Opinions Of primary importance Student apathy has reared its ugly head once again. This time, it made its presence in Tuesday's primary election for the Lawrence City Commission. Only 18 students in the district comprised of the Daisy Hill residence halls, Oliver Hall, Jawhawk Tower and Stouffer Place, voted. A total of 927 people were registered in that precinct. In the general election in 1986, only 227 students in the same precinct voted. And that was for the election of state and federalers officials, too. Apparently, the Douglas County clerk was well aware of this fact since he only provided 500 ballots to pollworkers at Allen Field House. OK. So it's only the primaries, right? Maybe the students registered to vote are only temporary residents, four or so years and then they'll be off to bigger and better things. Anyway, it's only a mid-sized. city government we're talking about. What could they possibly do, especially for the students? Plenty. The students enrolled at the University of Kansas comprise a large portion of the total population of Lawrence, helping to make the University a primary focus of local government. Students should be aware and concerned that what city officials favor or oppose may in some way affect their lives while at this University. Open door policy Students care too much about themselves and not enough about their environment or how it is governed. Time and time again, history has shown the detrimental effects of ignorance and apathy. Yes, it is only local politics. But if people don't care enough about the community where they live, why should they be expected to care about anything else? If you should open the door when opportunity knocks, then President Reagan should be turning the door knob. Last weekend, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev said the Soviet Union was ready to negotiate with the United States on deployment of medium-range missiles in Europe. This was a big switch from the previous Soviet stand. Before, the Soviet Union had linked agreements on medium- and long-range missiles with the demand that the United States limit research on Reagan's pet project, the space-based missile defense system, Star Wars. In the past, Reagan has refused to negotiate on Star Wars. ment won't be formulated overnight on medium-range missiles, but the president can now restore some of the lost confidence of U.S. citizens by returning to the bargaining table and working out an agreement with the Soviet Union. Reagan already has instructed negotiators to start the proceedings for a new treaty that would call for the elimination of U.S. and Soviet medium-range missiles from Europe and limit warheads elsewhere to 100 on each side. The Soviets would keep its missiles in its Asian regions and the United States would keep its 100 missiles within its territory. Reagan was unprepared when Gorbachev first knocked on the door in Iceland. Maybe this time, Reagan will not only answer the door, but invite Gorbachev inside as well. Lottery a poor gamble Many Kansas basketball fans will be forced to do their cheering at this weekend's Big Eight Conference Tournament in front of a television set because the KU athletic ticket office didn't want to order extra tickets for the Jayhawks' biggest supporters. However, there was an alternative. Each Big Eight school is allotted 250 tickets for the tournament. Of these, only 20 students got tickets through a lottery. Each school had the opportunity to order more than 1,000 extra tickets for their fans. Iowa State was the only school to take advantage of the offer Richard Konzem, KU assistant athletic director, said Kansas elected not to order the extra tickets primarily because those tickets were in the upper levels of Kemper Arena and because people most likely would be unwilling to pay the price for them. Kansas has taken the wrong approach to the tournament. Iowa State was bombed with requests for the "nosebleed" seats, and Kansas fans would have reacted similarly just to get the opportunity to be in the building for the games. Having KU fans in the same area, as opposed to being scattered throughout Kemper, would increase the noise level and possibly transform the arena into another Allen Field House. And it's obvious that Kansas plays better at home. The Jayhawks could meet Iowa State in the semifinal round, and the noise factor could favor the Cyclones. News staff Frank Hansel Editor Jennifer Benjamin Managing editor Julli Warren News editor Brian Kabirine Editorial editor Sandra Engelland Campus editor Mark Siebert Sports editor Diane Duttmeier 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 Delly Schaver Campus sales manager Duncan Calhoun Marketing manager Lori Coppel Classified manager Jennifer Lumiansa 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. Letters should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 700 words. The writer will be photocopied. The Kansan reserves the right reject or edit letters and guest shots. They can be mailed or brought to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Staffer-Fint Hall. The University Daily Kansan (USPS 650-640) is published at the University of Kansas, 118 Stuffer-First Hall, Falkland, 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 Canadian dollars by mail are $40 per year in Douglas County and $50 per year outside the 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 Keeping a healthy distrust of Soviets While in the Soviet Union recently, Gerald Mikkelson, professor of Slavic languages and literatures, apparently acquired a degree in medicine. This became evident when, upon returning to University of Kansas, he announced that the United States is suffering from a dreaded disease — dislike of the Soviet Union. Mike Chapman Columnist Without explaining if it is transmitted sexually, genetically or by other means, Mikkelson affirmed that this "disease" is "more harmful to our own society and culture. It hurts us more than the Soviet Union." Well, that is a most interesting diagnosis. One of the purposes of Mikkelson's trip to the Soviet Union is to attend something called a "Forum for a Nuclear-Free World and the Survival of Humankind." It is safe to assume that this "peace forum" concentrated on efforts to make only the United States nuclear free while the survival of humankind in Afghanistan was not on the agenda. It is also an appalling one coming from a man with Mikkelson's breadth of knowledge about what has taken place in the Soviet Union since the Lenin crowd took over. After observing for two weeks the changes taking place under Mkhaila Gorbachev's new policy of "glasson," Mikelson is convinced that the Soviet Union is attempting to undermine the powers of democracy and capitalism. He says we should stop demanding that the Soviet people duplicate our system. In other words, if we would abandon our paranoia about Soviet expansionism, Gorbachev could succeed in removing some of the negative aspects of communism. Then the superpowers could arrive at a nuclear arms agreement and we all could coexist in peace and harmony. The fact that democracy and capitalism in any form are in anathema It often has baffled me how intelligent folks such as Mikkelson, who think they have a monopoly on affection for the people in the Soviet Union, can so blatantly downplay the brutality of the Soviet government inflicts on them. This always is done in what purports to be the interest of the superpowers. In contrast between the superpowers. In the face to those who have suffered the cruelties of totalitarianism for almost 70 years. to communism makes the naivete inherent in this view almost contemptible. But it also betrays a fundamental defect in the minds of some people who have the good fortune to reside in the sanctuary of communism, and so communism can be reformed into a more variant and that those who are compelled by force to live under it really don't mind doing so. "It may provide additional resources for expansionism and ideological challenges." However, contrary to Mikkelson's rosy analysis, Kissinger maintains that "glassnost" is not an attempt to encourage democracy and freedom. Rather, he said it was designed to make the Soviet Union more efficient in the field and industrially, "hence to make the Soviet Union more powerful." Henry Kissinger recently met with Gorbachev and found him to be an intelligent and dynamic leader who can make some changes in his country. He argues further that, even if Gorbachev's reform program succeeds, it does not mean a more moderate foreign policy will ensue. How can we insist that the Soviet people duplicate our democratic system when they have no influence over the dictators who rule them? As someone who dislikes intensely the Iron Curtain, the Gulag Archipelago, the activities of the KGB and the military machine that sustains the Soviet regime, I hope this "disease" with which I allegedly am afflicted will not deal me a fate similar to that of the victims of these communist institutions. Nancy Reagan flexes her political muscle WASHINGTON — There are smiles again in the White House with the takeover by former Sen. Howard Baker of Tennessee as the chief of staff. Helen Thomas pistrbuted by King Featured Syndicate UPI Commentary Baker, somewhat awed by his new role in running the ship of state, has already created an atmosphere of goodwill and civility that has not been there in a long time. He also has a sense of humor, which was in low stock in the past scandal-ridden months, as President Reagan and all of his top aides ran for cover. Baker has let the sunshine in, and like a loyal cheerleader, he is taking command to repair Reagan's damaged presidency. The ouster of Donald Regan as the top presidential aide has had a ripple effect throughout the White House. Regan's power grab came to a halt when he crossed Nancy Reagan. After that it was curtains for Regan, but he did not realize until late in the game that he had overstayed his welcome. The first lady, who aides said was trying to protect the president in the aftermath of the Iran arms-contra aid scandal, felt that Reagan could not get a fresh start as long as the unpopular chief of staff was ruling the roost. For weeks the public was treated to a glimpse of life behind the scenes in the White House with a tug of war between Mrs. Reagan and Regan for the president's allegiance. Her role in Regan's demise has created a new image for her as the woman behind the throne. But her aides said that she has always played a part in her husband's political and official life when it came to the people surrounding him. A negative nod from the first lady was enough to send an aide packing. Naturally he chose his wife of 35 years, and he also took a shot at Regan, claiming that he had changed his testimony before the Power Commission at the behest of his top advisers, apparently meaning Regan. Mrs. Reagan has been harshly criticized for her role in the dumping of Regan, but she undoubtedly believes that she did the right thing to save her man. Before and during the Watergate scandal, Pat Nixon was left out in the cold. President Richard Nixon's Palace Guard, particularly his chief of staff, H.R. Haldenman, controlled Nixon. Mrs. Nixon's good sense and knowledge of politics and the world was far greater than the so- called California Mafia that Nixon brought with him to the White House. But neither Nixon nor his colleagues let her know what was going on. When she began to realise that he was not there, she didn't have much of a say. Mrs. Reagan has been called "Lady MacBeth" by a Washington post columnist and "vindictive" by a New York Times columnist. Baker, himself, told a Miami Herald editor that she was like a "dragon" when her "hackles are up." If the criticism grows, Reagan undoubtedly will take up the cudgels against his wife's critics. He became irate during the 1980 campaign when there were reports that Mrs. Reagan was seeking to pick his press secretary Baker has the first lady's blessing to put it all back together again. He is the Southern gentleman and is not expected to antagonize Mrs. Reagan as Regan did. Some of the antipathy appeared to stem from Regan's own attitude toward women. He said that they were not up to discussing arms control and asked whether they would be willing to give up their jewelry if sanctions were invoked against South Africa. So it's a new day a dawning at the White House and the changes at the top, including the appointment of press spokesman Marlin Fitzwater, a reasonable man with a quick wit, should help the president restore his credibility. Mailbox A few sore thumbs A few sore thumbs stuck in William Dann's advertisement in the March 2 issue of the Kansan. To begin with, Dann's point about the economic system putting blacks at a disadvantage is well taken. Although the notion of society turning out an abundance of "black sociopaths" is a bit ridiculous, it does recognize the problem at its roots. However, this discrimination does not stop at the level of justice administration as Dann and Emmanuel Evans demonstrate the system did create more impoverished sociopaths than affluent ones, this does not alleviate the discriminatory application of capital punishment. The black, impoverished murderer is indeed much more likely to find himself on death row than the white, affluent murderer. Dann's comments about abortion seem at best irrelevant, and at worst a contradiction. How can one be so empathetic to the "brutality" of abortion without sensing the very same attitudes inherent in the passivity of judgment and eventual taking of an adult human life? These two beliefs, that Dann espouses to be based on "morals," are completely incongruent. Even if our judicial system could guarantee an even and just administration of such punishment, I would have a hard time deciding on the issue. But the sloppy, inconsistent application of such a harsh and final punishment has made the choice clear for me. The human life is a precious thing, not to be arbitrarily tossed aside at the emotional whim of a person no more perfect than the next. Christine Tyler Leawood senior Naive review Putting aside the opinion of whether "Platton" is deserving of five Academy Awards, Kris Kurtenbach's Feb. 27 review of the movie clearly demonstrates her naive ignorance and lack of understanding about the war and its effects on combat infantry soldiers. The Vietnam War was violent, savage and brutal, yet the movie's realistic portrayal of it left you wondering why certain things happened and why U.S. soldiers acted the way they did. Rather than expecting Hollywood to provide you with its own vision of the complexities involved, I should have read you read some of the enormous body of literature from and about the war. Better still, I'd like to invite you to attend a counseling session with Vietnam veterans in order to see and hear some of the human realities of that war first-hand. Thomas Berger Chairman, KU Vietnam Memorial Committee BLOOM COUNTY by Berke Breathed