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Thursday, December 3, 1987 / University Daily Kansan
Opinion
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Let happiness ring
Is it a coincidence that winter turns our thoughts to the significant people in our lives?
Winter has traditionally been a time to catch up with friends and family members, to exchange stories of the changes of the past year. In past years we have loaded the mail carriers with our brightly wrapped greetings and tied up the phone lines with our long-distance conversations.
For some, communication is prohibitively expensive. In an effort to ease this problem, Lincoln National Life Insurance Co. is sponsoring a program called "Let Happiness Ring" that undoubtedly will do justice to its name.
This year will be no different.
The island nation of Haiti, once thought to be a potential Caribbean paradise, has again exploded in chaos and bloodshed, shattering already fragile hopes for the establishment of democracy.
As we finish the responsibilities of another semester,we anticipate the relaxation and sharing that mark the holiday season.The time promises to be predictably rich with communication.
Elections that had been scheduled Nov. 29 were suddenly canceled after mob violence and murder prevented many Haitians from going to the polls in what would have been the first real election in 30 years. The Tonton Macoutes, the right-wing terror organization maintained by the Duvalier dictatorship until the forced flight of Jean-Claude Duvalier from the island in 1986, is thought to be responsible for the reign of terror.
The ruling military junta led by Henri Namphy has also been implicated in the violence, both for failing to take measures to prevent the atrocities and, in some areas, for direct participation in terror efforts.
It is indeed fitting that during a cold calendar season, warming hearts is everyone's top priority.
The United States has been put in a difficult position by recent events in Haiti. It badly misjudged the situation when it naively supported the interim military government both economically and militarily after Duvalier fled the country. Promises of meaningful elections were apparently never meant to be kept.
Fight bloodshed
Now, some observers are calling for a foreign occupation force to re-establish order in Haiti; U.S. officials have refused to rule out the possibility of military intervention.
Despite U.S. embarrassment over its handling of the situation in the past year, leaders should not be led to over-react and commit troops haphazzardly. If indeed outside forces are needed
diplomats from neighbouring states have urged formalisation any interlocutor should be the result of multilateral efforts to resolve a problem.
Worth their salt
Only carefully considered international effort has any real chance to plant the roots of democracy in this land stained by political bloodshed.
Kansans have a reputation for making it through hard times. Our rural communities have survived by tightening their belts. And by keeping a sharp eye out for new sources of income.
Hutchinson has potentially grown his business. Strange as it may sound, for years Hollywood has stored millions of feet of film in a vault in the Hutch salt mines because the temperature and humidity are perfect for film preservation.
Robinson has a potential gold mine
But Hollywood should never underestimate the enterprising nature of a Kansan.
The income potential stems from overdue personal property taxes on the stored films.
Reno County stopped billing the film studios for the taxes in 1970, so money is owed to Reno County. The taxes paid before 1970 did not amount to much because they were figured from the appraised value of the stored material, that is, only the cost of the reels and canisters.
The Reno County appraiser is investigating the possibility of determining the market value of the film. If it can be done, the tax income for the Hutchinson area would be substantial. After all, what is the price now for an original copy of, say, "The Wizard of Oz"?
Editorials in this column are the opinions of the editorial board.
News staff
Jennifer Benjamin ... Editor
Juli Warren ... Managing editor
John Benner ... News editor
Beth Copeland ... Editorial editor
Sally Streff ... Campus editor
Brian Kablerine ... Sports editor
Dan Ruettelmann ... Photo editor
Bill Sket ... Graphics editor
Tom Eblen ... General manager, news adviser
Business staff
Bonnie J. Hardy ... Business manager
Robert Hughes ... Advertising manager
Kelly Scherer ... Retail sales manager
Kurt Messeramith ... Campus sales manager
Greg Knipp ... Production
David Deiatt ... National sales manager
Angela Clark ... Classified manager
Ron Weems ... Director of marketing
Jeanne Hines ... Sales and marketing adviser
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State, town deserve admiration
How long has it been since you looked around at what is going on in your life? For me, it has been too long.
KU has got to have one of the best-looking universities in the world. With old buildings and colorful trees, what else could you want? Look around when you walk on campus. We're sitting on a great piece of real estate.
I mean, here I am in one of the country's finer learning institutions during what is alleged to be the best four to nine years of my life, and I'm racing through it like I can hardly wait for my first rejection letter.
Sure, it’s too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer, but who wants 75-degree weather all the time anyway? In Kansas, each facet of the wardrobe gets a workout.
That's not all we have reason to be happy about.
Lawrence is a great town. As an educational experience to all KU students, I recommend attending a Lawrence City Commission meeting.
At the meeting, commissioners are likely to talk about stop signs and things that don't seem to amount to much. But often, they discuss more significant issues, such as whether to build a mall that would greatly affect KU life. Or they might talk about the fate of an historic neighborhood in Lawrence that most KU students don't know anything about.
This sounds so simple it's almost embarrassing to point out, but there are people in this town who care about Lawrence, not so much about KU and its troubles. They are intelligent, caring humans
who might even be able to manage a community without KU, thank you very much.
In fact, you might come away from the City Commission meeting feeling as though you had been a little arrogant to live with the idea that KU is the life-support system without which Lawrence would be just another Kansas town.
Did you know that Douglas County United Way will finance 24 human-service agencies with this year's fund drive? That is more help to citizens of the community than most towns twice the size of Lawrence provide.
These organizations do some fantastic things for the community. What's more, much of the aid is targeted at specific needs.
You might even come away from that meeting saying KU is lucky to have Lawrence, instead of the other way around.
I'll tell you something that bugs me: when people constantly label Kansas as being too boring.
Kansas has some of the most underrated scenery in the country. This state has great
aunts and rolling hills right outside the door,
bush with a shame to long for mountains or skyscrapers
Kansas is filled with pieces of quaint America-na that just can't be found anywhere else.
Take a trip down to Baldwin City and eat at the Dairy Ring. Order the chicken fried steak with green beans, and you'll get one of the most greasy meals made. Be amazed at velvet portraits of the American flag and mountains in the background.
Japanese and mountains in the background
Wealthy Japanese would come a long way to eat such a meal.
To those of you who think you're doing Kansas a favor with your presence, I save leave.
Go on, get out of here. I am through listening to you criticize my state like I've got nothing better to do with my time than to listen to you complain about how nice it is somewhere else.
And while I'm on the subject, I sick of Kansans being depicted on TV and movies as thick-accented, simple folk who are all too proud of their new indoor toilets.
Kansas is a very alive community with creative, concerned people who understand current issues, know how to enjoy life and understand concepts such as dignity and respect.
Besides, lots of my friends have indoor toilets. So straighten up. You are attending a great University in a remarkable town in a beautiful state with a generally great group of people. Now get happy about it.
Jim Farquhar is an Olathe junior majoring in journalism
The day before
Is there anybody there who is assigned the responsibility for reading advertisements before their inclusion in the Kansan?
I am referring to the rather large advertisement which appeared in the lower left corner of page seven of the Nov. 23 issue, publicizing the "All Beethoven Concert" with the combined choirs and University Symphony Orchestra on Nov. 22.
I believe that my understanding of the calendar is correct in that Nov. 23 is the day after Nov. 22, which makes it rather difficult for anybody reading the advertisement on the day it appeared to attend a concert which took place the previous day.
Next time, try proofreading a bit more carefully.
Kevin L. Monroe, Newton senior
All a loan
As fall approaches, leaves fall, days grow shorter and nights grow colder. Much colder. For my boyfriend and roommate has not yet received his student loan for first semester.
He applied in March, as he was told; received his grant on enrollment day, as planned; and paid his tuition with it. Through a series of bureaucric screw ups totally beyond our control, we have yet to receive a check for the loan. We have sent this form here and that form there like two little puppets, trying to get this loan he had already qualified for.
Now it is November and all we have are promises. The fact is, we don't get it until they send it, and they have not sent it yet. May be they send it, and they have somehow made it through the semester.
There is a great deal of irony in this. After all, the reason he applied and qualified for the loan was that he could not make it through the semester alone. But he has — borrowing from his parents, leaning heavily on me and working more than he should. His parents can ill-afford him, so he landed on support counsel, not student. Two his schoolwork has suffered as a result of his job.
I realize that the mountain of paperwork from all the student loans must be huge and I feel for the office workers who have to sort through it all. But please remember that a misail slip of paper on your desk means no rent money, no heat, no food for us. We feel very helpless — we have to pay our bills, but no one makes you pay us.
My boyfriend tried to pick up his check again today and was told it would be another three weeks. While he was there, he thought he saw another man trying to do the same thing. I wonder how many other students share our predicament? And who has all the money?
Amy Hammer, Shawnee freshman
Emptv stands
On Nov. 27, the women's basketball team officially began its season. You probably heard little about it. Why? Because there is no money in the budget of the KU Athletic Corporation to advertise and market women's sports.
I am writing for two reasons: First, to invite you to come to the women's basketball games this season; and second, to help locate sponsors of the team. You will be giving this year to help promote women's sports at KU.
Please consider the following: The women's
basketball team is the 1987 Big 8 Champion and was in the NCAA playoff. The coach, Marian Washington, is nationally and internationally known and respected and is on the 1988 Olympic Basketball Committee. She has readied her players, as seen when they beat the Wales National team by 62 points Nov. 21; they also won the Dial Classic Tournament last weekend.
While watching, I saw great speed, exciting pass combinations and an enthusiastic attitude that made some of the 300 fans gasp in surprise. The games are fun to watch. Other schools have capitalized on this, and they support their women's sports with full-time marketing and advertising staffs. Among them are Iowa, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Texas. Iowa promoted a women's game last year that had 22,000 in attendance. When I drive to Kansas State University to see our women play, I listen to 2.500 screaming fans. Can we not do as well?
With respect to locating sponsors, I request your help urgently. The brain power and energies of 28,000 students easily surpass that of a few faculty and Athletic Department staff. We need a few businesses and private donors who'll give a total of about $25,000 by the end of this year. We could then launch an effort to publicize women's sports and make it more self-supporting. Other schools are way ahead of us. We must act too. Please ask your families, friends and employers whether they would like to support such a program.
I have found that young people dare to have greater visions for new ventures. Please help. If you should have questions or want information, please talk to me. During the games, I'll be behind the KU bench. So you can recognize me, I will be wearing a Lady Jayhawk jacket.
I'm counting on you as fans and on you for your ideas. Let's get a fun and exciting season of it!
Renate R. Mai-Dalton, member of the KU Athletic Board and a professor of business
BLOOM COUNTY
LOOK, YOU'RE VERY CUTE, BUT UNLESS THERE'S SOME OTHER WINTER CRISIS I CAN HELP THAW, I'LL BE ON MY MAY
bv Berke Breathed