4
Friday, March 4, 1988 / University Daily Kansan
Opinion
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
State finances Washburn, so Regents should control it
It's up there right next to the Lawrence downtown mall and a Kansas death penalty — on the list of issues that just won't die.
It is the enduring proposal to include Washburn University in the Kansas Regents system. And like the other issues, it seems inevitable that it will come to fruition. Someday, Washburn will become a Regents member. It is simply a question of relevance.
The issue was raised recently when a Kansas Legislative committee had hearings on a bill that would change the way money the state grants to Washburn yearly is routed to the school.
The state now grants Washburn $4.6 million, one quarter of the school's entire budget, according to Stanley Koplik, Regents executive director. Adding Washburn to the Regents system would cost the state $10 million more.
The bill in question doesn't address making Washburn a Regent school. Rather, it would simply reform the paper trail the state money leaves and would add some auditing oversight responsibilities for the Board of Regents.
responsibilities for the Board of Regents. However, the bill still leaves Washburn without any practical oversight from the Regents, which coordinates and plans the development and curriculum of the other schools. Washburn has state money but is not involved in the Regents plans for improving higher education in Kansas.
improving higher education in Kansas. If the state is going to help finance Washburn to the tune of millions when Regents institutions are suffering from underfinancing, it may as well include Washburn and make it part of the system. Then, Washburn can play a role in improving educational opportunities in Kansas and be part of the solution rather than just an extra line item.
Todd Cohen for the editorial board
Students got their first taste of the yearlong Kansas Union renovation last week when Union Square opened for a "snack" preview.
Union Square worth the wait
Union Square has been worth waiting for. And if the food services area is any indication of things to come, students ought to look forward to seeing the completion of the total product.
It may take time to work out some kinks in the new system, and students may have to suffer through long lines and frustrated employees. But that shouldn't matter.
frustrated employees. But their skills The simple problems will work themselves out, and the University of Kansas ultimately will have a student union on a par with those at other universities and colleges.
The University and its students have spent their time and their money well on Union Square, and the renovations yet to be revealed should be equally appealing.
Editorials in this column are the opinions of the editorial board. Russell Gray for the editorial board.
Other Voices
KU reinterprets academic freedom
Journalism students at the University of Kansas learned a bitter lesson this past week about the fragility of freedom. For no matter how inspiring and high-sounding the statements of principle, no matter how determinedly resolute the guarantees they all mean very little, in the end, unless good people are willing to stand up and fight for what they know is just and proper.
As it happened, those who sought to defend academic freedom were in the minority — an alarmingly small minority Thus Harry Jones, the
eddion were — and they were easily overwhelmed. Thus Harry Jones, the journalism instructor who had invited two representatives of the Ku Klux Klan to be interviewed by students in his advanced reporting course, says now that he and his class will reschedule the meeting off campus sometime in March.
The Lawrence ministers whose protests led to the caucination clearly regard the development as a victory, and KU Chancellor Gene A. Budig says it was all a matter of respecting "the deepest sensitivities of the community." Academic freedom, he said, was not compromised.
Academic freedom was compromised. Quite blatantly. There were essential rights at stake here, rights far more important than the community's sensitivity. Budig's proper response was to make this clear to the protesters, and to make clear precisely what is negotiable and what is not.
The Manhattan Mercury
Manhattan
News staff
Alison Young...Editor
Todd Cohen...Managing editor
Rob Knapp...News editor
Alan Player...Editorial editor
Joseph Rebello...Campus editor
Jennifer Rowland...Planning editor
Anne Luscombe...Sports editor
Stephen Wade...Photo editor
Richard Stewart...Graphics editor
Tom Ehlen...General manager, news adviser
Business staff
Kelly Scherer...Business manager
Clark Massad...Retail sales manager
Brad Lenhug...Campus sales manager
Robert Hughes...Marketing manager
Kurt Messersmith...Production manager
Greg Knipp...National manager
Vickie Schomo...Traffic manager
Kimberly Coleman...Classified manager
Jennice Hines...Sales and marketing adviser
Guest columns should be typed, double-spaced and less than 700 words. The
images will be photographed.
Letters should be typed, double-spaced and less than 200 words and must include the writer's signature, name, address and telephone number. If the writer is affiliated with the University of Kansas, please include class and hometown, or faculty of staff position.
writer will be photographed.
The Kansas reserves the right to reject or edit letters and guest columns. They
contact the Kansas newsroom, 111 Stauffer Fint Hall.
can be mailed or brought to Letters, guest columns and columns are the opinion of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University Daily Kansan. Editorialists are the opinion of the Kansan editorial board.
The University Dally Kansan (USP5-650-840) is published at the University of Kansas, 118 Stuarter Flint Hall, Lawrence, Kan. 60454, daily during the regular school year, including Saturday, Sunday, holidays and finals periods, and Wednesday, during the summer session. Second-class postage is paid in Commerce, Kan. 60444. Annual subscriptions by mail are $50. Student subscriptions are $3 and are paid through the student activity fee.
subscriptions are addressed to the University Daily Kansan, 118
POSTMASTER FAST! Mail, Lawrence, Kan. 66045.
Maybe Klan issue will open eyes
Foreign students at KU have felt the pain of less-than-subtle racism
The Howard Beach racial killing.
The case of 16-year-old Tawara Brawley in New York.
York.
The occupation of a building by 100 minority
workshops.
students in Pakistan Klan issue at the University of
Kansas.
The theme weaving through these occurrences is a disturbingly familiar one: racism. It has reared its ugly head again. For a while, racism had been brewing and lurking in poisonous silence all over the country, and it finally exploded on our home turf with the KKK issue.
home turf with the AKR. I woke up.
As a foreign student, I have quietly watched the arguments volleyed to and fro like a tennis ball.
But with racism practically breathing down my neck. I feel compelled to take on a role beyond that of a mere spectator.
Before coming to the United States, I had the impression and belief that this was a wonderfully free country where people from different ethnic backgrounds blended into a single group called Americans. This image was a little shaken up by what I have seen and heard around the country and on campus. It has dawned on me that the picture I had painted was too pretty, too simple and too naive.
But so are the images that beam at me from the media: black and white athletes with arms around each other as they celebrate their victory for the United States; black and white citizens determination written on their faces as they carve out a future for their country. The picture-que scene stands in stark contrast to the horror stories of domestic racial discrimination.
Janet Neo Staff Columnist
orces of domestic racial disminuator.
And the tussle for the presidency has worsened
the matter. As the campaigns heat up, so do the fiery efforts to segregate voters and supporters into percentages of blacks and whites. What is the objective of this incredible statistical research, anyway?
Secretary of State George Shultz's visit to Israel is but one of the numerous peaceful talks and summits that always generates a great amount of interest. These and the lobbying efforts for world peace by the citizens are indeed commendable. But how can these hopes materialize if people cannot even make peace with their own brethren? The sincerity and credibility of these efforts are crippled by the traces of racism at home. The endeavors seem condescending at best.
Talk about cognitive dissonance.
Talk about cognitiv.
And sad to say, discrimination based on skin color can lead to shades of white and black alone. Foreign students at KU return to their countries not only with their respective degrees but also with haunting memories of how frightening feelings of racial prejudice can be.
ing feelings of fear. During a recent review session, an Asian instructor gave a summary on a subject she had painstakingly prepared. Before she had spoken more than three words, the crowd in the packed auditorium turned ugly, hurling jeers, laughter and boos at her accent. She continued her clearly understandable speech as if she had been through
the ritual hundreds of times.
I sat huddled in a corner, mute with fear and shock. I was horrified and appalled at how people could derive joy from trampling on someone's feelings.
feelings.
A friend has also talked about her being constantly deserted whenever her class breaks up into groups of two or three for science experiments. She is ignored and given the cold shoulder, especially at the beginning of a semester.
Specially at a time And these are not solitary incidents. Whenever a foreign student trips over English pronunciations or commits errors, chances are good that teachers and jeers are ready to accompany them. I find it difficult to erase from my mind the looks of bewilderment and extreme fear that are written on the victims' faces. Some U.S. citizens harbor no qualms whatsoever about inflicting emotional pain on people they consider inferior to themselves.
selves.
The stories go on and on, but it is useless to harp on these mortifying tales. Racists never like to be cured, even if they are aware of their illness. Students from foreign places who have experienced racism first-hand find solace in the fact that they will return to their own country some day. Meanwhile, they have to "stand it."
day. Meanwhile, they have no aesthetic ideas or great philosophies as to how racist problems can be solved. Racism is a disease that does not seem to have an antidote. My only hope is that with the KKK issue people will be more aware of and sensitive to others with different backgrounds and skin colors.
janet Neo is a jorh Baharo, Malaysia, junior majoring in broadcast journalism.
done for the school, Stephanie Quincy? It's good to find out now that this is the type of person who is running our Student Senate. Thank you, Stephanie, for my further disillusionment with the system. Good luck to the candidates running for the Student Senate this year. You can do no worse.
Call was insulting
Tedra Wilensky Overland Park senior
After listening to JayTalk 91 on KJHK, I would like to address Stephanie川's call that came toward the end of the show. The school hired two presidential candidates for the Student Senate. She stated during the show that she did not see a real choice between "debate geeks" and "people who plan parades." It is unbelievable that our student body vice president has labeled the debate squad, which happens to be the best in the country, as "geeks" and people who plan homecoming for the student body as people who only know about planning a parade. The show was beneficial to the students because it gave us the chance to find out what the issues were and the candidates' credentials. Stephanie Quincy calls in with stereotypes and judgments. The debate team brings honor to our University and are extremely intelligent people. Homecoming provides the University of Kansas and the city of Lawrence with tradition and celebration of our school. What have you
Klan forum a bad idea
Michael Foubert has invited members of the Ku Klux Klan to participate in a forum on free speech. There is no reason to believe that the Klansmen have expertise in that subject. There is reason to believe that their presence will profoundly offend citizens of our University community. Foubert's action has the potential for considerable harm with no potential for good.
I value dearly the constitutional protections that will permit Foubert's obnoxious act. I understand that the constitutional right of free speech protects the Klausmen's expression of opposition to that and other constitutional rights.
rights.
Foubert has the right to harm our community in this fashion. However, the rest of us have the right to vigorously resist being harmed
to vigorously Yell. Sense Stimuli.
For example, if the Black Student Union, or
another University organization, were to sponsor a forum appropriate for Black History Month at the same time as Foubert's forum, members of our community would have the opportunity to indicate support by attendance at theforum of their choice. Then, while large numbers of our citizens are attending an event consistent with the public trust that the University holds, Foubert can be edified by the reflections on free speech of the Exalted Cyclops.
Joe Sicilian Chairman, department of economics
Irrational views live on
It is interesting that on one page of the newspaper we can read a column about a group that advocates white supremacy and a letter by a person who berates the Kanman for promoting a liquid that causes "slaughter." Perhaps there is a sociological trend of promotion of irrational views. Indeed, Maynard Shelly's letter appears on the same page and confirms the trend. He assures us, however, that such a trend is trivial thought-fodder. The spirit of Victor Goodpasture lives on.
Mark Dugan
Olathe law student
BLOOM COUNTY
by Berke Breathed