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Monday, April 18, 1988 / University Daily Kansan
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Opinion
Planned temporary parking would cause many problems
The university has made plans to install a "temporary" parking lot on the playing field between the Computer Center and Robinson Gymnasium. But doing so would be a mistake.
and Roohson Gymnasium. But doing so would. The proposed lot would compensate for parking lost during the construction of a new parking garage near Allen Field House. The lot probably would be made of chip and seal, which is a gravel-like compound covered with a film of liquid asphalt. This kind of parking lot can be removed later.
But the new lot would be temporary only in the sense that it might be removed later to make space for a building. The area never again would be green space, and that is what concerns people who use the area and live near it.
Wayne Osness, chairman of the health, physical education and recreation department, said the lot was the only area available for use as lab space for field sport classes. Classes such as softball use the area to practice and play, and requiring students to travel to a new playing field would cut seriously into 50-minute class periods.
“It’s inconceivable that we'd have a physical education building with no lab space,” he said.
Robert Soppela, vice president of the University Place Neighborhood Association, said that paving the area between the Computer Center and Robinson Gymnasium would cause serious runoff problems for those living south of the area. Water that once seeped into the ground would collect in the basements of people living south of the proposed parking lot.
"We hope the University will be considerate of its neighbors in its development." Sopnela said.
The University of Kansas needs new parking, but providing it should not seriously inconvenience University departments or the University's neighbors. Alternate sites should be considered and developed.
lan Player for the editorial board
Speed up transcript service
University officials are making positive moves to reduce one area of student waiting.
A new process that would make copies of students' current transcripts available almost immediately is being considered by the University of Kansas. Officials should forge ahead with the plans to get this process implemented as soon as possible.
The $2 transcript fee that was implemented in July to pay for a new computer programmer has earned enough to hire one. If the University moves ahead on this project, officials said that the new system could be ready within a year.
it now takes up to two weeks for students to receive their transcripts. Often, waiting that long creates a hardship on the student who needs a transcript at the last minute for a surprise job interview or scholarship application. The new process would solve that time problem.
would save that time process. The new process also would create more professional-looking transcripts because changes would be made on the computer rather than manually.
lody Dickson for the editorial board
Speedy efforts now by the University would mean speedier transcript service for students.
Editorials in this column are the opinions of the editorial board
Other Voices
Georgia students share parking woes
It was only a matter of time before a University of Georgia official proposed banning cars on campus for freshmen, and Environmental Design School Dean Darrel Morrison broke the silence last week
With the record 4,000 freshmen entering the University next year, the already overflowing campus parking lots will be a joke. Parking service officials already issue 7,700 more parking stickers than the 14,300 campus parking spaces.
Morrison proposes that stopping the 3,512 freshmen who live on campus from bringing cars to Athens will substantially help the situation, noting that this is more feasible than building additional parking since the University's long-term goal is to reduce enrollment. The proposal has several problems. First, many students work their
Next fall is too soon to implement such a drastic plan, especially since incoming freshmen won't have been forewarned, but the proposal is worth serious consideration. There may be even better ideas lurking in the minds of other college deans. Speak out — with a little creativity we can solve the parking problem here, even if it means suffering for one year without a car.
The Red and Black Athers, Ga
News staff
Alison Young...Editor
Colden Cohen...Managing editor
Rob Knapp...New editor
Alan Player...Editorial editor
Joseph Rebello...Campus editor
Jennifer Rowland...Planning editor
Anne Luscombe...Sports editor
Stephen Wade...Photo editor
Nard Stewart...Graphics editor
Tom Eben...General manager, news adviser
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Kelly Scherer...Business manager
Clark Massad...Retail sales manager
Brad Lenhart...Campus sales manager
Robert Hughes...Marketing manager
Kurt Messersmith...Production manager
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Jeanne Hines...Sales and marketing adviser
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Bowling shouldn't be child's play
Invasion of the munchkins takes the fun out of knocking down a few pins
A few of us go bowling about once or twice a year. 'a good excuse to spend a cold Saturday afternoon drinking beer, betting and pretending to get exercise.
As a former pinboy, I've always liked the atmosphere of bowling alleys. There's something old-fashioned about them. All those pot-gutted sportsmen sling balls the way their grandfathers did. The handy beer holders. And the guy behind the counter didn't ask if you prefer smoking or non-smoking lanes.
At least I liked them until a recent Saturday.
But itow me, I may have thrown my last ball.
There we were, having a fine time, about to bowl the all-important beer frame. Honey hefted his ball, stepped forward, took one step, and stopped so abruptly he almost fell over.
Suddenly, we were hip deep in little monsters.
But whatever you want to call them, they were tiny creatures, their ages ranging from about 5 to 12. There had to be about 25 of them.
Suddenly, we were hip deep in little monsters. Now, in the eyes of their mommies and daddies, I'm sure they were sweet, lovable little children rather than monsters.
And they had suddenly come pouring into the lane next to ours, screaming, pushing, jumping, waving their arms, falling down, and spilling over into our lane.
"My God," Joe said, almost swallowing his cigar, "what the heck is this?"
I grabbed one of the little beasties by an arm
and said: "Who are you, kid, and what are you
Mike Royko Syndicated Columnist
"Birthday party, birthday party," he shrieked.
"We're bowling."
We are bowing.
We looked around. They were everywhere. And behind us, somebody had set up a table and loaded it with soda, cake and pizza.
And all these tiny people were dragging balls and shoving them onto the return rack they were
Once again, Harry stepped up to take his turn. Just as he was set to roll, a little boy came strolling in front of him.
to share with us
"Kid," Harry yelled. "get out of my way."
I looked at the ball return rack. One little runny-nose was struggling to pick up my ball.
Although I don't bowl often, I have my own ball. It has my name on it and it is drilled to my specifications. I keep it nicely polished.
I said, "Put that back, kid, it's my bail."
"Okay," he said, and dropped it on the floor. I picked it up and felt something sticky. It was pizza cheese. His grubby little hands had smeared my ball with pizza.
I dug a towel out of my bag to clean the ball. When I went back to sit down in the scorer's seat, it was too late. Another little monster was sitting there. About 10 more were jammed in next to him, pinching and pulling hair. Another dozen were all standing next to the rack, screaming at each other over who would throw next.
"Get out of my seat, kid," I said.
He stared at me. So I crossed my eyes and enrolled in his face.
He burst into tears and jumped up and ran out to the pizza table and began talking to one of two adult women who were sitting there, looks of motherly pride on their faces. One gave him a pat on the head, which I would have been glad to do
with my 16-pound Brunswick.
Meanwhile, the rest of them were still loudly arguing over who would throw first. Finally, one kid grabbed a ball, and using two hands, slung it down the alley. It wasn't a third of the way to the pins when another kid tossed his. And that one was barely on its way when a third ball followed it.
That meant when the rack came down, the other balls hit it.
"Look," Big John said, amazement in his voice.
"I've never seen anything like that."
He was referring to the fact that the other two balls had hit the rack, rebounded, and were now rolling back up the alley.
Suddenly Harry let out a shout of pain and grabbed his foot. One of the kids had dropped a ball on his foot. I told him to check his shoe for pizza sauce.
Several of the other kids were playing around at the return rack.
said.
"Sssbbbh." I said. "let it be a surprise."
"They can get their fingers crushed." Big John said.
We finally gave it up, changed shoes, and packed it in. It is impossible to concentrate on picking up a 10-pin spare when, out of the corner of your eye, you see a ball rolling north on a southbound lane or a kid sliding in the gutter.
And this is what is happening to bowling alley, which used to have the same wholesome environment as pool halls and taverns. They have a large number of centers, with all the terrors that phrase contains.
As we left, Harry pleasantly asked one of the women: "How's the pizza?"
"Very good," she said.
"Sausage and cheese?" he said.
"And mushroom," she said.
"You ought to try the one that has The Pill topping."
K·A·N·S·A·N
MAILBOX
contribute, tell them Larry, Ed, Danny, Milt,
Scooter, Jeff and Kevin sent you. The example of caring they set for us would be best served if we helped each other. Thanks to all the people responsible for the team's success.
Ken Dziewulski Lawrence resident
Support the community
Larry Brown and his team have done much to entertain us and given a great deal of time and effort to worthy causes in the Lawrence community. Pep rallies, parades, awards and banquets certainly are appropriate ways of showing our appreciation for all they have done to focus national attention on the community. It might be more meaningful to them if the citizens of Lawrence, and students at KU, would donate time or money to any of the worthwhile charitable causes in town in return for the joy and profits we shared through their efforts. Coach Brown has brought a real "class act" to the community. There isn't a better way to thank them than by reflecting that class act back into the community. Here are some ideas: the local Red Cross needs blood donors, and volunteer organizations supporting the elderly, handicapped, hungry and homeless need your help to help you. If and when you
Editorial was flippant
It is very disappointing to see the very same fallacy which stood out so clearly as one just five short years ago presented as accepted fact in the University paper. To suggest that the violent measures taken to protect marijuana crops are proof that "drugs kill" is to assert that extreme measures to defend any activity which happens to be illegal at any given moment in time should be used as evidence to support the illegal status of that activity. Similarly, gambling was once illegal in Kansas. Now, the state government runs a lottery. Liquor by the drink was once illegal. Now, it is quite acceptable in most social circles and, fortunately for those who enjoy this activity, is legal in the state of Kansas.
Less than 39 percent of the population of this country uses nicotine; nevertheless, the rights
of smokers to continue smoking, at least when not in closed public spaces, are adamantly defended by the tobacco industry. Caffeine is a concomitant factor in colon cancer, yet this drawback appears to be quite outweighed by the stimulating effects of this social elixir.
The editorial board of the Kansan should consider for one moment another possible conclusion which can be drawn from the extremely violent, and clearly reprehensible, measures which marijuana growers in California, Colombia, and elsewhere take to protect their crops. Perhaps, we should conclude that the extreme measures taken by Ed Mees against "drugs" have evoked similarly extreme actions by those who wish to protect this activity. Would a more reasonable approach, at least in the case of marijuana, be to legalize, control, and heavily tax the purchase of the substance? Is it possible that our priorities are ask when we attempt to wipe off the face of the earth a plant which grows freely all over the world? Could our society's treatment of the "marjuana problem" be a symbol of our level of awareness of our relationship to nature? The "drug problem" is not as simplistically understood by thinkers as it is presented in your flippant remarks.
Robert Bruce Scott Great Bend graduate student
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