4A the university daily kansan
opinion
friday, march 19,2004
EDITORIAL BOARD
Reality show doesn't belong on campus
Around this time last year, the men's basketball team was poised and ready to make its run toward the NCAA title game. The positive feelings around campus were
OURVIEW
The University made a responsible, tasteful decision by not allowing a reality show to take place on campus.
nearly tangible and the University was basking in the collective glow of the national spotlight.
But as history has repeatedly demonstrated, notoriety isn't always a good thing.
This year's NCAA tournament kicked off yesterday and it's becoming increasingly apparent that April basketball may not be in the cards for the Jayhawks this year.
The University was offered an alternate way to throw itself into
the limelight: allow the WB network to film a reality show here on campus.
After a week of late-February talks with the network, University officials declined the offer, citing the lack of control that they would have over certain elements of the show.
Score one for good taste
The proposed show, Big Man On Campus,would have selected one male student from the University and set him up on dates with different female students.
Sure, the opportunity would have afforded a good deal of exposure to the University, but administrators ultimately decided that such exposure would be more negative than positive and might give female students a bad image.
Just the thought of Kansas being associated within a subculture that includes shows such as the Fox network's My Big, Fat, Obnoxious Fiance and The Littlest Groom is enough in itself to halt production.
Now before you thinking how cool it might be to turn the television on Wednesday nights and see your smiling face on the screen, consider the dynamics of the average reality show.
The shows are set up to screw people, not to create long-term
relationships. What would the big twist ending be this time? It's not likely to be anything classv.
Elizabeth Willy for The University Daily Kansan
In a culture that loves to watch people suffer and be embarrassed University officials unequivocally took the high road in making the decision not to host a show.
US News & World Report recently released its annual list of
the best colleges and universities in the country.
Out of 322 featured schools, the University of Kansas checked in at No. 95. If the list-makers get wind of Kansas' decision to turn down the reality show, maybe we can crack the top 50 next year.
At the very least, move us ahead of Missouri, please.
Spain attacks costly to American allies
WAKE UP!
The Bush administration suffered another substantial blow to its re-election bid with the terrorist attacks that happened in Madrid on March 11. Spain is one of the United States' closest allies in the war on terrorism and the military campaign in Iraq.
campaign.Harvard Bush's personal vendetta against Saddam Hussein may turn out to be a costly one.
COMMENTARY
Brandon Cobb opinion@kansan.com
World War II is often referred to as "the war no one wanted," and the same argument can be made for last year's Iraqi War. The U.S.-led coalition is not a strong one and many argue that the United Nations does not play a significant role in Iraq. Ninety percent of Spain's voting electorate was opposed to a war with Iraq but Spain's Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar went against its wishes and joined the U.S.-led coalition against Iraq anyway.
Now the Spanish have suffered the biggest terrorist attack in its nation's history exactly 911 days after Sept. 11. Early evidence points to its alliance with the
United States as one of the reasons behind the horrific attacks. A tape delivered from an Al-Qaeda spokesman states, "This is an answer to your cooperation with the Bush criminals and their allies." U.S. officials believe that there is a definite Al-Qaeda connection in the Madrid bombings, but the Spanish government is making sure it reviews all evidence before placing full blame on any one group.
More than 200 people lost their lives and more than 1,750 more were injured in the Madrid attacks. President Aznar's political party, The Popular Party, suffered in Sunday's election because of the attack. Aznar was not running for reelection but his political party lost 35 seats in parliament and saw its opposition, The Socialist Party of Spain, gain 164 of 350 lower house seats.
164 of 350 lower house seats. Bush should pay close attention the political shift that just took place in Spain. A year has gone by since the start of the Iraqi War and people want answers. No weapons of mass destruction were found, the capture of Saddam and the deaths of his sons have not stopped ambushes of U.S. soldiers. Only time will tell if the Spanish people made the right decision in choosing new leadership, but that is the wonderful characteristic of democracy. If the powers that be do not listen to the voice of its people they can be voted out of power.
Spain's Prime Minister-elect Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has already vowed to pull Spanish troops out of Iraq by June 30. He said that the Iraqi war, "divided more than it united, there were no reasons for it. Time has shown that the arguments for it
lacked credibility and the occupation has been managed badly."
been managed. Zapatero's statements could cause a domino effect amongst U.S. allies because no country wants its people to be victims of terrorism. If it is constantly proven that terrorists are purposely going to attack the United States and its allies I would not be surprised if more countries followed in the footsteps of the Spanish.
Bush is already behind Kerry in early polls and there are too many questions being left unanswered about the United States' foreign policy. Americans want answers. Unfortunately the two men running for president are not offering answers. Bush is not talking and all Kerry does is criticize a Bush foreign agenda that he helped legislate.
America is the only remaining superpower in the world and the last thing this country needs is for its allies to lose faith in their alliances.
Cobb is a Kansas City, Kan., senior in political science.
TALKTO US
The Kansan welcomes letters to the editors and guest columns submitted by students, faculty and alumni.
dents, faculty and students.
The Kansnreserves the right to edit, cut to length, or reject all submissions. For any questions, call Meghan Brune or Johanna M. Maska at 864-4924 or e-mail at opinion@kansn.com. If you have general questions or comments, e-mail the editor at mburhenn@kansn.com.
GUEST COLUMN GUIDELINES
Maximum Length:
650 words
Include:
Author's name
Class, hometown (if a student)
Position (if a faculty member)
Also:
The Kansan will not print guest columns that attack another columnist.
LETTER GUIDELINES
Maximum Length:
200 words
Include:
Author's name and telephone number
Class, hometown (if a student)
Position (if a faculty member)
SUBMITTO
Hard copy:
Kansan newsroom
111 Staffer-Flint
E-mail:
opinion@kansan.com
PERSPECTIVE
Finding equality ongoing battle
"...If you get there/Before I do/Coming for to carry me home/Tell all my friends/I'm coming too/Coming for to carry me home..."
carry me home.
—"Swing Low Sweet Chariot" (Traditional)
Home is more than where one lives. Home is comfort. Home is pride. Home is solace. But more than anything, home is freedom. If there is an American Dream, then education is its foundation and freedom would be its heart.
Half a century after Brown v. Board, we are still fighting inequality. Brown v. Board changed the practice from segregation to school vouchers, to zoning of districts, to property taxation. All of which have led to widespread educational inequality. In Missouri, as of the 2003-04 school year, 16 school districts are provisionally accredited and one school district has no accreditation, according to the Missouri Department of Education. Compare those school districts to Olathe or Blue Valley and they are far from equal.
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka is the gate to equal education. The 1954 Supreme Court decision declared "separate but equal" unconstitutional. This week is the end the national conference celebrating the decision.
COMMENTARY
"Equality is the equal distribution of it. It being power, money, education."
Brandi Mathiesen and Cornelius Minor opinion@kansan.com
The progress toward equality is difficult. Nothing in life is easy. The achievements we celebrate were bought and paid for with blood. Brown v. Board was monumental because it illustrated the work that needs to be continued. To reach the equality that the case promised is to be racially literate. It's important to understand the historical impact that race, class and gender have had on almost every aspect of American life.
Tony Daniels, associate director of Multicultural Resource Center, said. "Michael Jordan had the money, but he was not allowed participation in certain country clubs. He was denied it."
Unfortunately, these factors have not always produced positive outcomes. To talk about history is not to bring about the demons of the past; it is the first step in a redemptive dialogue. Bringing
issues of race to the forefront is not racist, it is progressive. America admittedly has a race problem, a gender problem and a class problem and we can't arrive at solutions to problems that we are afraid of and refuse to talk about. The blind faith that we are all the same is not enough. Great faith requires great work.
In this case, the great work is the work of learning, understanding and celebration. Learning is accepting information. Understanding is applying the information. It is the question of how to apply what was learned. Celebration is living the application.
"Do you have the strength to love another's child as much as you love your own?" said Tony Brown, civil-rights activist.
Can you invest in the education of another as you would invest in your education? Can you fight for the rights of the person sitting next to you knowing nothing more then the color of their skin? To do that is to be human and to do that is to honor Brown v. Board. Look beyond yourself and what you have acquired in your short life and provide for everyone equal opportunity of education. Because with education comes freedom. And with freedom we are home.
Methiesen is a Bonner Springs senior in journalism. Minor is on Atlanta graduate student.
Free for All Call 864-0500
-
For more comments, go to www.kansan.com
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish.
Kansan editors reserve the right to omit comments. Slanderous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded.
Why is it with me and women Murphy's Law always comes into play?
I want to see some green tongues tomorrow. If no one has a green tongue then that means you did not drink enough green beer. Green beer is good.
It is like 10,000 spoons when all you need is a knife.
Hey greek hater, Rock Chalk Revue raised $40,000 for charity.
-
I am greek and the only reason that I do Rock Chalk Revue is so that I can dance like a cheerleader.
图
What's up with all of these green Kansas shirts? Is green a KU color now too?
-
To whoever invented jeans: Wow.
My girlfriend is scared to death of elephants. I cannot figure out why for the life of me.
隔
Is North Face in this year?
I just want to say that the ROTC guys at this school are really hot.
Everybody in the dorm gettin' tips.
If Taco Bell delivered I would be in heaven.
Forget tipsy, everybody in the dorm gettin' wasted. Everybody in the dorm gettin' wasted.
KANSAN
What do you want to bet that this Free for All call gets into the Free for All?
Michelle Rombeck editor
864-4854 or mburhenn@kansan.com
Andrew Vaupel
managing editor
864-4864 or vaupel@kansan.com
图
Meghan Brune and Johanna M. Maska opinion editors 864-4924 or opinion@kansan.com
Danielle Bose business manager 864-4358 or addrector@kannee.com
Stephanie Graham
retail sales manager
854-4398 or adalesk@kansan.com
Malcolm Gibson
general manager and news adviser
884-7867 or mgibson@tansan.com
Matt Fisher
sales and marketing advisor
884-7685 or mfisher@kansean.com
Editorial Board Members
Kandall Dix® Lynzee Ford
Laura Francoviglia Ana Gregory
Amy Hammontree Kally Hollowell Teresa Lo
Mindy Abdorne Glory Holdmquist Ryan
Scarrow Elizabeth Willy Sara Behunek
Kevin Flaherty Brandon Gay Zack Hemenway
Alex Hoffman Kevin Kampwiph Amy Kelly
Cameron Koesilling Courtney Kuhlen Brandi
Matthiasen Travis Metcalf Mike Norris
Jonathan Reeder Erin Riffey Alaa Smith
Karl Zimmerman
R
1
V