4 Monday, February 9, 1987 / University Daily Kansan 55 saves lives Opinions In 1974, Congress' passage of a bill reducing the maximum speed limit to 55 miles per hour was intended to lessen U.S. dependency on other nations by conserving gasoline, saving hundreds of lives each year along the way. The U.S. Senate approved a measure that would give states the authority to raise the limit to 65 mph on interstate highways, excluding those in areas with populations of 50,000 or more. But now there is a movement to raise the speed limit to 65 mph on stretches of rural highways. The reason: driving 55 mph is too boring. Proponents of the bill say it makes no sense to drive only 55 mph on stretches of road where there is little traffic. They say that one obeys the current speed limit anyway. First of all, all of those signs and bumper stickers that police departments have put up saying "55 saves lives" are true. A National Safety Council report stated that the proposed change would cause an increase of 600 to 1,000 traffic deaths each year. That's a pretty heavy price to pay to reduce boredom. As for noncompliance to the current limit, who is to say that the new limit won't be broken just as readily? If Americans drive 60 mph under the current law, raising the limit will only give them reason to drive 70 mph. Sure, the current speed limit may be boring, but that is a slight inconvenience compared to the loss of lives that would accompany a higher limit. Give a straight answer To raise pay or not to raise pay? That is the question our congressmen were asked concerning their own salaries and they have chosen not to give a straight answer. Last month, President Reagan recommended pay increase of between 2 and 16 percent for members of Congress, federal judges, and top federal officials. The raise was to go into effect automatically unless the Senate and House disapproved it within 30 days of the recommendation. The House did not take any action within the time limit and the measure went into effect at midnight Tuesday. By not acting, the House answered the pay raise question with a resounding "yes, we'll take it." But many congressmen became concerned with how the decision might be viewed. After all, how can the nation's public officials grant themselves a raise in pay while asking their constituencies to face cutbacks in several areas? Such a move is hypocritical at best. Now these worried congressmen have sought to slip away from political danger by burying the pay raise question in a legal quagmire. The day after the pay raise went into effect, the House voted on, and passed, a homeless aid bill with a resolution to disapprove the pay raise tacked on it. Now the question is whether the resolution is legally binding, coming after the deadline. Because it is unconstitutional for Congress to cut the salaries of federal judges, the resolution may be illegal and therefore unbinding. If this occurs, Congress will enjoy their pay raises as well as the political advantage of having voted against it. Does Congress hold the public in such contempt that it thinks it can get away with this charade? And more importantly, are they right? The ultimate goal With persistence comes results. And for the past few years, Lawrence city commissioners and Lawrence residents have been persistent in pushing for an admirable goal. Their goal is to sponsor a superpower summit in Lawrence between the United States and the Soviet Union to discuss world peace and nuclear disarmament. The four invited are Sandra Praeger, mayor of Lawrence; David Longhurst, city commissioner; Bob Swan, chairman of the Meeting for Peace Committee; and Bob Stephan, A recent invitation from the Soviet government to four Kansans could be a step toward that goal for the city and the state. They have been invited to Moscow Feb. 14-16 for a forum called "Toward a Nuclear Weapons-Free World." Kansas attorney general. Longhurst originally proposed in 1983 that Lawrence be the site of a superpower summit. The Kansans will deliver two resolutions passed unanimously by the Kansas House and Senate that support the summit. What began as a dream could evolve into a reality. The Soviet government has acknowledged the concerns of these Kansans about nuclear arms and realizes they are serious about ending the threat of nuclear war. Their hard work shows that individuals can fight for what they believe and that they can be heard. They are working for peace and a better future and should be commended. So, here's to the dream becoming a reality. Here's to a superpower summit in Lawrence. News staff News staff Frank Hansel Editor Jennifer Benjamin Managing editor Jul Warren News editor Brian Kaberline Editorial editor Sandra Engelland Campus editor Mike Stasbert Sports editor Diane Dultmeier 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 Coppen Classified manager Jennifer Lumianski Production manager David Nixon National sales manager Jeanne Hines Sales and marketing adviser Letters should be type, double-spaced and fewer than 200 words and should include the writer's name, address and telephone number. If the writer is affiliated with a university, the address must be written in that format. 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 writer will be photographed. The Kansan reserves the right reject or edit letters and guest shots. They can be mailed or brought to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stauffer-Fint Hall The University Daily Kansan (USPS 650-640) is published at the University of Kansas, Kansas 181 Staffer Flint Hall, Lawrence, Kan. 60405, 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 60404. Subscriptions by mail are $40 per year in Douglas County and $50 per year outside the county. Student subscriptions are $3 and are paid annually. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the University Daily Kansan, 118 Stauffer-Flint Hall, Lawrence, K. 60045 Shopping for insurance by television If you've ever stayed home to do nothing other than catch up on sleep or watch a few old episodes of Perry Mason, raise your hand. But first, glance around to see whether anyone is looking. John Benner Columnist One day last week I did stay home and watch television, but it was for a good reason. I was shopping for life insurance. In one morning of viewing, I saw 14 different commercials for life insurance, and none of them required a physical exam! I was in heaven. (Not literally, of course, or the entire venture would have been a waste.) bad a risk could your average daytime television watchers be? They may never leave the house. Now, right away I ruled out the plan that Roger Staubach said required me to be a veteran of the U.S. armed forces. I also ruled out the plan that Ed McMahon said was only for credit union members. Quickly, I realized that if I wanted $100,000 in term life insurance, "the kind the experts recommend," I could get it at the drop of a hat. How Just when I was about to give up and go for a piece of the rock, I began to see ads for some insurance I could buy. I decided to concentrate on these, but the list was still long. How was I possibly going to decide? Since I'm expecting another company that Ed works for to be sending me $10 million any day now. I wasn't worried about missing out on that one. I decided that even though real men don't eat quiche, they apparently do announce insurance commercials. I made up my mind to go with the policy recommended by the most macho actor available. The list was impressive: Ed Asner, Burt Lancaster Lorne Greene, Will liam Shatner, Muhammad Ali and Glenn Ford. These men may not be afraid of bad guys, but they sure seem petrified of dying with insufficient life insurance. I knew that if supposedly brave souls such as these thought it was necessary to insure themselves to the hilt, I must be woefully under-insured. I got some orange juice and some crackers and settled down to the task at hand. I needed insurance by sundown. I started with Lorne Greene's offer. What could a man who spent years selling dog food possibly know about life insurance? Glenn Ford's plan was another one designed for veterans. That was really a shame, because it was only $9.81 a month, only pennyes per day. I figured that veterans were considered a good insurance risk because they should know how to take care of themselves. Also, the law of averages says a man can only be shot at or blown up so many times during his lifetime. What could the chances be of it happening again? Having now crossed Staubach, McMahon, Greene and Ford off my list, I was left with Lancaster, Shatner, Ali and Asner. I ruled out Asner because of the number of times he had let Mary Tyler Moore push him around. Besides, the name of his company was National Home Life Assurance. I wondered exactly what they did to "assure" life. Were they into cryogenics? I nixed Ali because I wondered why his mom was on the commercial talking about the virtues of the insurance plan when Muhammad should have looked after his own folks. That left only Lancaster and Shatner. I decided to go with Shatner because he's done more recent movies than Lancaster, and I liked the name of his insurance company, Lifestream 100. Besides, any company that would insure some guy who wasn't even planning to stay in this solar system must have real guts. A few tips on proper campus etiquette Bob Hart Columnist Come on, KU students, where are your manners? It saddens me that I must use my column to remind you all of proper campus etiquette, but kids, and you might just learn something. such is the sad state of affairs in Lawrence today. Following are a few pointers to help you be the kind of person your mother thinks you already are. So listen up, you crazy 1. Don't talk about your sex life in public, particularly in large crowds of people who can't escape. Not only do we not care — we don't believe you, either. 2. Ashrayts are for ashes. I realize we smokers are fast becoming a dying breed (in more ways than one). but don't blame us for everything. If I put my cigarette out in an ashtray full of wadded up papers and candy wrappers, and Wesco Hall burns to the ground, let it be on your head. 3. The dogs on campus are nicer than most of the people. Show them your appreciation with regular pats on the head, or at least an occasional Hallmark card. 4. Unless you're Rich Little, your impressions have no place on campus. Save them for parties where everyone is too drunk to notice your lack of talent. 5. If you are that one student in every class who greets the instructor a little too cheerfully and laughs a little too joyously at his jokes, this is for you: Who do you think you're fooling? Try studying. It's more effective. 6. Baseball caps may hide your dirty hair, but they do nothing to camouflage body odor. Take a shower first. Then, if you feel you must, go ahead and wear the silly cap. 7. Above all, remember this: That nice lady at the Union candy counter is the only person on this entire campus who knows where anything is and is willing to tell. Be good to her. Learn these rules of etiquette. Then live them. I promise to do the same. Together we'll make our mothers proud someday. Mailbox In defense of Cup After reading Mark Siebert's article about the America's Cup in the Feb. 3 issue of the Kansan, I was outraged by his flippant and degrading remarks concerning the Cup effort. Any effort focused on the retrieval of a trophy that was lost after a 132-year winning streak deserves the media spotlight and media "hype." Now the Cup is back and many people are celebrating, much to the dissatisfaction of Siebert. Dennis Conner's expedition to Fremantle, Australia, was not as "self-proclaimed" as Siebert believes. Conner's boat was one of several from the United States that went to the trials in a nationally funded and supported effort. Many large corporations such as Budweiser, Cadillac, Merrill Lynch and Pepsi-Cola, as well as many others, were involved in the effort to retrieve the Cup. If Siebert had watched any of the races, and more importantly, had any knowledge of the sport, he would understand why the announcers "bragged" about Conner's sailing ability. Any boat and crew that can beat the defender in four straight races by margins of close to two minutes in each race, make immediate emergency repairs, or take 134 tacks in one race deserve such credit. National attention and support in our sports, whether it be synchronized swimming, soccer or yachting elevate the sport to new heights and should not be belittled by uninterested reporters. Maybe in a few years the Japanese, who support many professional baseball teams, will take part in the World Series and win. Possibly then, Siebert may understand the feelings of many Americans. Until then, let the sailors buy their day. Kelly Messick Lawrence sophomore New theory of logic Did I miss something? Since when did Mark Siebert, sports editor of the Kansan, become the god of proper sports in the United States and abroad? I think his "article" on the America's Cup in the Feb. 3 issue is a feeble attempt at an editorial. If that is the intent, it should have been marked as an editorial or put on the editorial page. If it is not an editorial, it does not belong in the Kansan, especially on the sports page. Beyond this question of classification, Siebert may have rewritten the theory of logic. His logic seems to go like this. He is sports editor. He doesn't like the America's Cup. Therefore, the America's Cup isn't a sport. I sure wasted a semester learning the old rules of logic. Dennis J. Linse Omaha graduate student BLOOM COUNTY by Berke Breathed /