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Tuesday, April 19, 1988 / University Daily Kansan
Opinion
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
New Student Senate leaders must make good on promises
The dust is settling after another Student Senate election, and now it is time to make sure that the student body holds its Student Senate accountable for the promises made during the campaign.
The winning coalition promised to do something about the advising problem by creating a comprehensive program including computer, faculty and peer advising. The Senate should tackle this project immediately so that it can begin to be implemented in summer and fall advising.
The winning coalition promised to strengthen the financial aid services offered on this campus. The Senate should work closely with the office of financial aid to determine the best possible changes in the system. Carrying student concerns to the University administration is an important function of the Senate and one that has been weak in the past.
The winning coalition promised to create an off-campus center that would offer services such as computerized apartment listings and "rideshare" programs. This idea has been well researched and can be implemented if the Senate starts work on it as soon as possible.
It is important that the Senate improve communication with its constituents and within its membership. All new and returning members of Senate need to put aside personal differences and work together for the good of the student body.
The Senate should consider adopting the proposals of the other coalitions, such as implementing telephone enrollment, bringing back the original Secure Cab and yes, even looking into bringing a McDonalds or another restaurant to Wescoe cafeteria.
The new officers have promised to increase lobbying in the Kansas Legislature. Although lobbying the Legislature can produce good results, the Senate should concentrate its efforts on campus and leave the lobbying to Associated Students of Kansas.
The Senate can be held accountable for its actions only if the students take an interest in it. The newly elected student body president and vice president have said that Student Senate should return to the basics — serving students. With communication and cooperation between Senate and the student body, that can be accomplished.
Kansas state senators and representatives faced off on the Margin of Excellence last week, the Senate trying to give the plan 100 percent financing and the House trying to give a little less. But when the haggling was finished, schools within the Board of Regents still came out winners.
Jody Dickson for the editorial board
Partial Margin is still helpful
bona fides. In a House-Senate conference committee Saturday, the plan received 83 percent of the money requested for the first year of operation, about $9 million. The University of Kansas would receive about $3,284,101 of that money. The plan must now be signed by Gov. Mike Hayden before going into effect.
Although the Margin of Excellence didn't receive 100 percent approval, the Regents should be pleased with the 83 percent financing. Margin supporters, like everyone else, have to be willing to give up some things in order to get others. Nine million dollars is a lot of money, and it will go far toward enhancing higher education in Kansas.
And even though House members placed a higher priority on pay increases, the additional mission-related enhancements endorsed by the Senate but rejected by the House should not be forgotten. There will be other lobbying days, and that money would go far in providing improvements for Regents schools.
The Regents request was pared, but schools within system came out ahead.
Editorials in this column are the opinions of the editorial board
Editorial decisions are made by the editorial board at meetings twice a week. At these meetings, issues are discussed and stances are voted upon. The editorial board consists of Alison Young, Todd Cohen, Alan Player, Jody Dickson, Russell Gray, Katy Monk and Van Jenerette.
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Phone call changed Larry's tune
Brown seemingly had his swan song written, but reasoning kept him at KU
It seemed April 8 that the inevitable day had arrived at last. After years of rumors, it was all but official that Larry Brown, University of Kansas, had been admitted to Amigurim, was leaving for California's sunny shores.
The national media said so. The local press said so. Everybody but Larry said so, and he'd called a press conference to do just that.
And then, with the headline, "Bye-yee Brown"
set, let, Larry stunned everybody by saying
hb-d.slay.
After the cheers died down, the questions started. Why had Larry decided to stay? The answer — a phone call just as Brown was telling his boss he would be hopping the next plane west.
Who made the call that saved KU basketball, and what did they say? Larry's not telling. It seems probable that the caller was one of those who hadn't been questioned or imprisoned Brown a big, fat check if he would stay.
But I don't want it to appear that Brown is the kind of man who would sell his talents to the highest bidder. I have to confess, I know who made the call.
I did it.
And to keep any more nasty rumors that might harm Coach Brown's character from circulating, here is the conversation we had that afternoon:
LARRY (whistling, "California, Here I Come"); Yo! This is Larry "Beach Bum" Brown! Like, what's up? The surf, I hope (snicker).
ME: Larry, it's me. What's this I hear about you going back to UCLA?
LARRY: You heard right, big guy. I've got my suntan lotion packed and a new convertible on order. I've already told a Los Angeles reporter and called the press conference. I'm as good as
Michael
Merschel
Staff Columns
Staff Columnist
gone.
ME: Larry, I've got a hundred rich alumni who are promising anything from cash to cinders in
LARRY: No go. I've got even more offers from UCLA alumni. One of them can get me a guest spot on "L.A. Law." Another promised to introduce me to this channeller who's in contact with the spirit of James Naismith.
ME: But Larry, what about loyalty to the team? What about squashing the school's euphoria over just having won the national championship?
LARRY: Well, I gave them the title, didn't I?
And I've stayed longer than I have almost anywhere else, right? Besides, they've had almost a week to celebrate. Now they can have fun looking for a new coach.
ME: But what about all the things that make this state and University great? The winning tradition, the fan support, the great academic programs?
LARRY: Can fan support match Disneyland?
Can a winning tradition match the recruiting possibilities for one of the most popular schools in the nation? Can academics match beautiful women in no-piece swimsuit?
LARRY: I'm telling me the press in an hour. Hey, do you have a tape of "I Love L.A." that I can
ME: So you really have made up your mind.
borrow? I'd settle for "California Dreamin'."
borrow? I'd settle for "California Dreamin'."
ME: I've got one more thing for you to think
LARRY: I told you, I've already called a conference.
ME: No, no. I mean what they've been saying all along. How they've hounded you all year with questions about when you're leaving. How they're suggested that you've been secretly asking recruits if they'd play for you at UCLA. How they've had you taking jobs at the pro and college team from New York to North Carolina for years now.
LARRY: Yeah, so?
ME: If you leave Kansas now, you'll prove, them all right. Sports Illustrated will run a big story under the headline, "WO TOLD YOU SO, NYAHH." Dick Vittie will gloat at every game you play next year. And the next. And then they'll win again, until they drive out of Los Angeles.
LARRY: You mean if I stay, I'll make every mug, my six geometrical sportswriters and a huge library.
ME: Not just fools. Goodyear blimp-sized fools.
LARRY: And if I go, Dick Vitalt will be able to shoot off at the mouth this fall instead of mopping the floor at Allen Field House?
LARRY: (pause) You know, I really was looking forward to being on "L.A. Law."
ME: And you know how well he shoots off at the mouth.
ME: Would you settle for having Cinderella from Disneyland lead your victory parade?
LARRY: I suppose it's better than Vitale and the rest getting a parade of their own.
Michael Merschel is a Lakewood, Colo., junior majoring in journalism.
K·A·N·S·A·N
MAILBOX
By the way, I am requesting that a portion of my tuition be refunded in compensation for the space you wasted in the April 7 Kansan.
Lighten up about class
Maurine Kierl
Louisburg junior
I have one thing to say to Rex Boyd: Three cheers to your love of going to class. But seriously, Rex . . lighten up. We're national champs!
Fans aren't all bad
In response to Ben Custer's letter in the April 15 Kansan:
Unfortunately, letters such as yours provide only a narrow-minded misconception of a true sports fan. Attributing all that may have gone wrong that evening to a specific group is absurd. Many of those people seemingly destroying the campus that evening were more than likely people who weren't very supportive of the basketball team, or to borrow a cliche, "fair-weather fans," until they became national champions.
I would like to offer congratulations on a masterfully written literary achievement. It has been many a Kansan since I've seen such extraordinary penmanship. The way in which you presented the paradoxical sports fan is truly fascinating.
Even if there were true sports fans indulging in the rare occasion and somewhat unfortunate display of victory, I would still like to know what makes you more morally righteous than them? Are you perfect? And, with all this given, another question I would like to pose to Custer and all the other bleeding hearts who mourn the ensuing results of a national championship (class cancellation, campus oblivion, millions of dollars of revenue for university funds, etc.) is this: Did you even watch the game?
Greg Dowell Leavenworth junior
Remove racial barriers
I would like to address the concerns of those students and faculty who fear that lowering GPA and GRE requirements to allow minority
students to attend graduate school will lower the quality of education. People often do not understand the educational discrimination minorities must overcome. As a Hispanic student, I would like to relate some of my own experience that I believe is illustrative of a common and continuing problem.
I attended a high school in Kansas. My school system assumed that because my mother had not adequately learned the English language and could neither spell nor write, that her children must have inherited those traits. As a result, I was denied the opportunity to take classes at a college of such classes as chemistry and algebra created many deficiencies in my education.
This is one type of racial discrimination that limits the number of minority students in higher education.
Having to overcome the educational deficiencies caused by this type of racial discrimination is a direct cause of lower GPA's and GRE scores recorded by minority students.
When admission to graduate programs is based solely on these standards, they are an effective barrier to minority students who are capable of achieving academic success at all levels.
Pam Cohen-Morales Alta Vista graduate student
BLOOM COUNTY
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by Berke Breathed