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Thursday, March 31, 1988 / University Daily Kansan
Opinion
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Final Four brings a barrage of announcers' top cliches
It's Final Four week in Kansas City — that is, for all of the country except that great amorphous body called the media. For sportswriters, radio announcers and especially TV sportscasters, it's Final Four Cliche City.
Let's take a look, as the sportscasters say, at the Final Four Cliches.
After an "injury-plagued season," the Kansas Jayhawks survived that "all-important" first round and then "roared" through the next three rounds to become this year's — here it comes, folks — Cinderella Team. No tournament would be complete without a Cinderella Team, unless, of course, the expected four teams played, in which case it would be the Clash of the Titans.
First it was Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. Then it was Josie and the Pussycats. Now it's Danny Manning and the
Once and for all, the Jayhawks are not a one-man team! True, this is not the year of Greg, Danny, Ron, Cal and Cedric. But those who wonder about depth should get out their VCRs and watch reruns of the Kansas-Kansas State game in Pontiac, Mich., until they figure out just how many players contributed to that victory.
Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore. There's no place like home. Lions and tigers and bears ad nauseam. If the Jayhawks played in Idaho, the sportscasters would talk about potatoes.
And while they had their VCRs out, viewers would be subjected to the continuous babble of Big East-loving CBS sportscasters about that far-off land, Kansas.
"Kansas: Silos, Barns, Flat prairies." That's actually the way one sportscaster opened a segment in the NCAA tournament coverage. (Hey, buddy, have you ever BEEN to Kansas?) Perhaps the announcer was once a stringer for Sports Illustrated, the magazine that in 1986 exported Danny across the river because there were no decent cornfields in Lawrence for him to stand in.
These four tough cliches have survived a taxing tournament to meet head-to-head in Kemper Arena. Which will become the 1988 NCAA Champion cliche? Only time will tell.
Katy Monk for the editorial board
Protect innocent from AIDS
There is little doubt that we as a society need to apply both concern and genuine compassion to the victims of AIDS. But there is also a need for us to avoid being blinded by that compassion into acceptance of behavior that is not only irresponsible but can be fatal to the innocent.
A bill that would provide for the prosecution of persons who knowingly infected another person with the AIDS virus is now in the House Public Health and Welfare Committee. The bill is a necessary measure and should be passed.
Education and the counseling of AIDS victims about the potential dangers has been somewhat effective in slowing the spread of AIDS. But society still has the moral obligation to protect all of its members. This social contract includes provisions for the protection of its members against the acts of any person who endangers the life of another — be it with a gun, a knife, or the knowing transmission of a deadly disease.
One of the real reasons AIDS is such a sensitive issue is because it often relates to homosexuality. Many people are afraid that a stand against the reckless conduct of an AIDS victim has the appearance of discrimination. Nothing could be further from the truth. How would we judge someone who knowingly infected a person with cholera or small pox? There are times when a society must take a stand that may not be popular but is necessary.
The past few years have shown that most AIDS victims would never knowingly inflict their fate on others. But there have been cases where some people with AIDS have demonstrated a complete disregard for anyone by transmitting the virus to unsuspecting men, women and even children. No matter how it is viewed, knowingly endangering another human being's life is more than negligent — it is criminal.
Legislation that would make it a felony to infect another person with the AIDS virus is a sad but necessary measure. Like it or not, we must accept that there are people in the world who will act responsibly only with extreme persuasion.
Van Jenerette for the editorial board
Editorials in this column are the opinions of the editorial board.
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JESSE JACKSON'S QUESTIONS:
The DEMOCRATS' QUESTION:
For KU students, the writing's on the wall
have an idea
John Buzbee's article about graffiti that appeared in the March 2 edition of Kansan Magazine thoroughly entertained me but left me feeling rather empty. Being something of a pragmatist, I prefer to see concrete new ideas emerge from any such creative endeavor. Therefore, I suggest extending Buzbee's research into the practical arena.
Too many students chasing too few academic resources have caused a plethora of problems for the University of Kansas in the past few semesters. The enrollment center is a jungle, class sizes are exploding, student/faculty ratios are skyrocketing and a lack of funds has left KU unable to ameliorate these overcrowding problems.
3. Administer comprehensive graffiti exams to students before their junior year.
Graffiti, those seemingly pointless scribbles that serve only to distract the average student, could hold the key to a new, flourishing academic environment at KU. Picture the three parts of my proposal to Develop these Resources Already With us (DRAW):
Don't snicker, snarl or guffaw! I predicted opposition to this rather unorthodox proposal, and so I spent an hour one afternoon browsing through
2. Require underclassmen to spend their first two years perusing graffiti in the stacks at Watson Library, on desktops, in bathroom stalls and wherever else it may appear.
3. "I am not interested."
1. Abolish all freshman/sophomore courses.
2. Money and faculty thus freed could be concent-
rated on.
Derek Schmidt Guest Columnist
the sprawling graffit collection at Watson Library — a very educational experience.
Philosophy was well-represented (" Up your's is my philosophy") as were political science ("Anarchy is an impossible form of government, sturid", and literature ("Trip Shakespeare").
Repeated references to the Dead Kennedy convinced me that the authors had a grasp of recent U.S. history. The curriculum also included religious studies ("Scott Baio is the anti-Christ") and music studies ("Michael Jackson is the anti-Christ").
Most of the graffiti was grammatically correct.
When an errant graffitiist (is that a word?) wrote "everbody," a helpful on-the-wall editor responded, "Is your name Jethro? Yew ain't letrn to spel yet, I see."
One children's story was included, though I did not understand why the Mad Hatter was mentioned and Alice was not.
The collection even offered information about Kansas to help out-of-state students better understand our native land: "If Kansas had an official state car, it would be a 1973 Chevro Nova."
Despite graffiti's obvious ability to provide a liberal education, my critics might argue two things.
program and we can't afford to experiment. I suggest, however, that KU is the perfect proving ground for this system. Following our handing out condoms at enrollment, the invitation of the KKK to campus, the continuing debate over the role of student athletes and last fall's question about black coaches, all of America is used to controversial, atypical ideas emanating from KU. People look to us for leadership.
Second, critics might contend that graffiti is an inadequate or inappropriate source of knowledge. Au contraire! Kansas graffiti is of solid origin ("Only very important people write on these walls") profound, ("There is more to life than velour seats") and inquisitive ("Roses are red, violets are blue — says who?"). One writer summarizes graffiti's inherent value on a wall in
"Graffiti is literature
Graffiti is art
Graffiti is art
Graffiti is graffiti
And what is that? — a procrastination from homework."
This concludes my case. Perhaps University officials will package a refined version of my ideas and submit it to the legislature — they could call it the Marginal Excellence proposal.
Maybe someone influential will read this and take my off-the-wall proposal to heart. Maybe it will be instrumental in relieving the overburdened educational system here at KU.
Derek Schmidt is an Independence sophomore majoring in journalism.
Letter was irritating
It's always disappointing to read something written out of hatred. But when it is poorly written, it's downright irritating. Forest Bloodgood's March 25 letter is just such a piece.
Bloodgood says he avoids labeling himself because he realizes that labels are "never wholly accurate." But he is more than happy to grab hold of a ready handle, "fundamentalists," and start swinging, coming in from far left field with a barrage of vicious, unfounded, completely irrational generalities.
I think it is clear enough that Steve Gantz (whom Bloodgood attacks) supports Christian fundamentalism, not "Middle Eastern zealots who burn heretics alive." (Where did come from, anyway?) Neither does Dantz advocate with hutts or malnutrition — physical, spiritual or otherwise. If, in fact, Bloodgood does desire a philosophical "well-balanced meal," then I should think he would welcome, or at least tolerate, the Christian fundamentalist perspective, not plug his ears and scream, "Dogmism!" (There is a big difference between legitimate, sincere, Christian morality and mere narrow-minded dogmatism — a difference that many secular humanist partisans are quick to ignore, becoming dogmatic themselves in the process.) And though I don't consider myself a dyed-in-the-wool fundamentalist, I am offended by Bloodgood's self-righteous assertion that this group
is not "a part of the thinking world." I don't think his letter was written out of thought, but rather out of a violent emotional reaction to Gantz's genuine moral concerns.
I don't detect much of a reasonable argument in the "Fundamentalists whine" piece. What I do detect is some bad blood, Mr. Bloodgood.
Douglas Fishback Tulsa, Okla., freshman
News takes precedence
Perhaps the Kansan needs to be reminded of the value of news stories over feature stories. For many KU students, the Kansan is the sole source of daily news. Unfortunately, students skim the paper and find feature stories that have little news value on Page One and important, current news on the back pages. Tuesday's Kansan gave perhaps 18 column inches to a survey of the resources of Spencer Research Library. While the story may interest some, Rep. Richard Gephardt's recent withdrawal from the presidential race was hidden on page seven.
Kansan editors are probably instructed to lead with articles that most concern students. If this is the case, how can editors justify allowing this feature to override the obvious importance of the withdrawal of a presidential candidate? Maybe editors need to take a second look at the difference between a frontpage article and a Page 7 story and re-evaluate their news judgment.
Stacie Kennon Overland Park senior
Serese Swartzendruber Salina senior
Cheers to Manning
During this week of championship dreams and fairy tale endings, much of the attention has been focused upon one individual. He is known to most as "Danny." His mom calls him "Dan." Many of we Jayhawk faithful simply call him "The Man." He has destroyed Big Eight records and stands among the elite in NCAA history. His many accomplishments on the court are well known, and he is quickly becoming a household name.
All of this, of course, is common knowledge. I wish to thank Danny Manning for the exemplary way he has conducted himself off the court. In these times of poor academics, disciplinary actions and other incidents contrary to the amateur athletic ideal, Danny Manning shines.
I got a chance to see Danny as a high school phenom. He soundly beat my high school. We watched him play as a freshman. We all felt the pain of Dallas. We watched as the press chided him for not scoring enough, for being unselfish. And we have watched him blossom into a superstar.
Everything he has said and done while he's been at the University of Kansas has brought respect and praise to the school and his family. He conducts himself with as much class and humility off the court as he does with extraordinary skill and teamwork on it.
Danny Manning represents something many people regard as rare anymore: a sports star whose attitude deserves praise, deserves respect from his peers and is worthy to be a role model for youth to emulate.
Doug Roth Overland Park senior
BLOOM COUNTY
by Berke Breathed