4A the university daily kansan
opinion
monday, march 1, 2004
EDITORIAL BOARD
Senate lacks diversity to represent
Zach Newton for The University Daily Kansan
Representative government is the intention of senates whether national, state or institutional. Each district or title is designated to provide a voice to many, so the representatives should be as diverse as the people whom they represent.
But Student Senate doesn't show the diversity of the University of Kansas. In this year's contest for Student Senate seats, four white males have announced their candidacy for the top two seats of the Student Senate, even though males don't represent the majority of the population.
Women make up 52 percent of the population on campus, but a woman has not been president of the Student Senate since Kimberly Cocks in 1995-96. And although minorities on this campus make up 19 percent of the population, Senate does not represent this.
The problem is not that the white males are going to corrupt or ruin the University. The problem is that many of the senators share the same perspective.
Also, prospective students may view the Student Senate as representative of the University. The president and the vice president are the most visible students on this campus.
For the Senate to serve the University and its students, many perspectives should guide legislation. Legislation
affects all students, and perspectives can be improved by diversity.
Senate presidents such as Justin Mills, Jonathan Ng and current vice president Catherine Bell have given the University a much-needed glimpse of diversity. Involvement in Student Senate needs to reach more students, whether officers or members. By expanding the scope of senators, the University will gain a stronger
voice. Women and minorities need to take the initiative to run for office and let the student population vote for the candidates that will best represent the University and its diversity.
PERSPECTIVE
White scholarship proves affirmative action unfair
Jason Mattera is trying the tolerance of the political left.
COMMENTARY
Mattera is the 20-year-old president of College Republicans at Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I., who crafted a scathing indictment of affirmative action. He devised a $250 scholarship for whites only, which included an essay for applicants to describe why they are proud of their white heritage.
The academics at Roger Williams would have expected it from a white male. But Mattera is not white: He's Puerto Rican. And to further annoy members of academia there, he is the beneficiary of a $5,000 scholarship given only to minority students.
"No matter what my ethnicity is, I'm making a statement that scholarships should be given out based on merit and need." Mattera said in the Providence Journal.
These are not racist statements. All Mattera appears to be doing is illustrating the weaknesses of affirmative action.
Alex Hoffman opinion@kansan.com
But liberals see his action as a threat
Affirmative action remains a touchy subject because it is inherently flawed. Its basic principle of using race as a determining factor in employment systematically undermines minorities' ability to succeed on their intellect and hard work alone. Affirmative action incorrectly assumes that all minorities need to be spoon-fed government assistance, which further depicts them as dependent and incapable of achieving on their own.
Since its inception in 1965, affirmative action has evolved such that whites have had to deal with the liabilities it carries. Allan Bakke, an aspiring medical student, found it particularly infuriating that he was repeatedly rejected from entering a medical school when minorities with lesser credentials were accepted. In his 1978 court case, the Supreme Court recognized a form of reverse discrimination with regard to Bakke, but essentially offered no remedies to the problem.
Last year's University of Michigan admissions case only intensified the ambiguity. While the Supreme Court upheld the Michigan Law School's policy of race being considered for admittance by a 5-4 vote, it voted 6-3 to revise the points system that gave more points to minorities.
Mattera will probably be assailed for what liberals would call an "outrageous stunt." Perhaps he has been already. But he is smart enough to know that these
policies only exacerbate the problem. Those on the left always preach about being the most tolerant, inclusive group. In the Roger Williams case and in countless others, it is selective tolerance at best.
Proponents of affirmative action see it as the only means available to bolster diversity. Imperfect as the program is, they point out the progress that has been made since it began. But as Alan Keyes, an African American who once ran for president, said, "We're arguing about whether or not you should use an unfair type of discrimination to remedy an unfair type of discrimination. Curing injustice by perpetuating it doesn't seem to me to be a very good cure."
That's the motivation for what's happening at Roger Williams. But in institutions that supposedly embrace a free marketplace of ideas, Mattera's viewpoint shouldn't be denounced.
- Hoffman is an Overland Park senior in journalism.
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I was just in the bathroom of Strong Hall and there was a guy shaving and brushing his teeth. I am a little confused right now but that is OK.
To the dude walking on campus with the Amnesty International shirt and glasses: I like you.
the nachos, the nachos see how they dance.
To the tight rope walkers by Stauffer Flint on Thursday afternoon. Teach me your tight-rope-walking magical ways.
For all of the idiots writing on the sidewalk keep G.W. out of your bedroom: The gay-marriage amendment has nothing to do with sex. It is about marriage. You can have all of the sex that you want.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
'Pachyderm'misrepresented
The letter to the editor in last Monday's opinion page regarding appointed Student Senate seats was very interesting, but it seemed to miss the underlying point of the opposing argument. The article in the Pachyderm was not written by a racial bigot seeking to eliminate African-American representation from the Student Senate, but rather to make the point that it is very unfair to give certain groups an appointed seat in the Student Senate.
By giving that right to some, it logically follows that the Chess Club, basketball team and every other campus organization should be able to appoint its own senator. Since that is an outrageous alternative, it makes sense to eliminate all of the appointed seats.
As Thomas Knutzen has pointed out, it would be ridiculous to ask the state or federal government to appoint seats based on the subjective opinion that a certain group is "special."
The issue of appointed seats in the Student Senate is an issue that, because of its inherent inequalities, should be seriously reconsidered by the Senate body.
INTO THE STREETS WEEK
John Carter Brainard Overland Park freshman political science freshman class senator
Week of activites encourages service beyond volunteering
Nearly 7,000 students volunteered through the University of Kansas Center for Community Outreach last year. These students realize the importance of engaging themselves in their community for the experience they gain, the people they meet, the opportunities that are presented and the ability to actively take part in their community. These students are the best that we as a community have to offer.
However, community involvement does not stop with volunteering. It is just as important that each of these students are educated about the issues for which they are working. Without education, volunteers will be disconnected from the experience. Volunteers performing rote tasks contributes to a Band-Aid effect that can detract from solutions to these
GUEST COMMENTARY
Kevin Hager and Kaelyn Fox opinion@kansan.com
problems. Although college students are volunteering in higher numbers than ever before, these same students are not showing up to the polls to vote or contacting their legislators regarding the same issues to which they give their services.
Once a year the Center for Community Outreach hosts Into The Streets
Week to address these issues among college students. Students have the opportunity to connect to their community during a week of campus-wide activities. The primary focus is civic responsibility as it extends beyond volunteering. Social service introduces students to problems in their community, but taking further action is necessary to address the root causes of the problem and learn why these services are needed.
During Into the Streets Week, students are invited to participate in community service through Jubilee Café, GROW Community Garden Project and Read Across America. Fundraisers will benefit programs provided for the homeless population in Lawrence and help fund free testing of sexually transmitted diseases at Watkins Memorial Health
Center. Speakers will add to the educational component of the week by addressing topics ranging from hate crimes to testimonials about poverty and homelessness. One featured speaker will be Judy Shepard, mother of Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old man who was tortured and beaten to death in Wyoming. Interactive events will put students into direct contact with issues of focus, including the Senior Prom for older community members, the Hunger Banquet focusing on world hunger and the Sleepout for Homelessness, which invites students to become homeless for a night.
In addition, students will be encouraged to become registered voters and will be reminded of how voting and talking to legislators can induce social change.
Voter registration cards will be available at all the Into the Streets Week events, a table on Wescoe Beach and the Kansas Union fourth floor lobby each day of the week.
Students are invited and challenged to further their community involvement during the week. The opportunities are endless. The call for civic engagement extends beyond Into The Streets Week. If you are interested in more information about any of these events or more ways to become an active citizen please contact us.
Fox is a Pittsburgh senior in business administration and accounting. Hager is a Shawnee senior in sociology and art history. They are the co-directors for the Center for Community Outreach.
KANSAN
Michelle Rombeck editor
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Editorial Board Members
Kendall D'Lynze Ford
Laura Francoviglio Ane Gregory
Amy Hammontree Kelly Hollowell Teresa Lo
Stephanie Lovett Mindy Gebore
Greg Holmquist Ryan Scarrow Sara Behnunk
Kevin Flaherty Brandon Gay Zack Heinemey
Alex Hoffman Kawmpitwik Amely Kelly
Cameron Koelling Traviss Metcalf Mike Norris
Jonathan Reeder Erin Rifley Alea Smith
Kat Zimmerman
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