Thursday, April 19, 2001 The University Daily Kansan Section A·Page 5 Letters to the Editor President needs a pacifier Someone obviously forgot to warm up Ben Walker's bottle and change his diaper this past weekend when he announced that he will not hand down a traditional autographed baseball to the new (and fairly elected) president, Justin Mills. I remember you being elected student body president, Ben, but I must have missed the elections for the Dictator of Traditions. Just because your favorite team didn't win the Student Senate elections doesn't mean that you can revert back to fifth grade antics to seek your childish revenge. How truly immature to refuse a tradition to a deserving, fairly elected man. Did you start the tradition? Do you think the person who actually did start this tradition would be proud of your pettiness? I remember when I was in fifth grade, my class held a democratic vote to elect a charity prince and princess. One of my friends really wanted to be the princess, but I beat her by one vote. Consequently, she refused to play with me on the monkey bars at recess for an entire week and would not sit in her usual seat beside me at lunch. So, what is your next move, Mr. Walker? Will you too refuse to play with Justin Mills at recess? Or maybe you'll stop trading GJ Joes with him. Mr. Walker, you should be embarrassed that your last act as president could not be an act of kindness or decency. You should be embarrassed because you cannot leave an office that you were elected to with even a speck of dignity remaining. keep your pacifier, keep your Huggies, and please, take your GI Joes and Tinker Toys with you, but show a little respect for a nice gentleman who will do his best to run your former office. Give Justin Mills the baseball. It was never meant for you to keep, and it surely was never meant to be abused as you have done. At least make an attempt to grow up a little before you graduate from college. Lindsey Roberts Leavenworth freshman Homosexuals deserve to marry I grew up in a family where I was taught that I would someday marry the person I love and choose to create a new family with. That is my family value. I fell in love with another woman and made my family with her, but we are not allowed to marry legally. We were married in our Metropolitan Community Church on Valentine's Day 2000 with 300 of our extended family and friends. Mary Gay Hutcherson Richmond, Va. marry the person I love. When people call this "special rights," I am appalled. These are just basic rights that most people take for granted. I would like to have the support of the people in Kansas who believe in the freedom to marry the person one loves. It seems domestic partnership benefits is the least thing to ask for. I believe marriage is a basic human right and that the state should not interfere with my right to choose to Theft won't deter fund-raisers The stage was set for a very successful “NCAA for a Day” basketball try-out. At $5 a head as well as extra donations and money from ticket sales, there was over $700 in the cash box—and then it disappeared. Maybe you misunderstood. Perhaps you thought that the small metal box was yours and contained your leftover lunch from earlier in the day. Maybe you'll open it up tomorrow and realize that it contains not a half-eaten bologna sandwich but close to $1,000 that belongs to Habitat for Humanity. But it's more likely that you knew exactly what you were doing. You saw me put the box down briefly and pick up trash from the bleachers. You saw an opportunity to make some quick cash. While you've got some extra cash in your pocket, you cannot possibly have an ounce of moral being or self-respect. Stealing is wrong. Stealing from charity is sick. Yes, you're sad and pathetic, but you haven't trained my day. The 64 other participants who donated $5 to Habitat for Humanity, the KU players who sacrificed their night to help make this event great (thanks again guys), the group of people sitting at Wescoe every day selling tickets and Junior Greek Council that have been planning this event since January are not discouraged. We like to do what's right and good, and if that means giving more of our own money and reaching out to the community for help, that's what we'll do. And the community will support us, too — you just watch. You should come to the game April22 at Allen Field house. It starts at 3 p.m., and there will be a cash box there too — an even bigger one! Kelly McNearney "NCAA for a Day" event co-coordinator St. Louis sophomore Course repeat policy would help Today, University Senate—Student Senate and Faculty Senate—will consider the course repetition policy. I urge members to attend and to vote in favor of the policy, if they share concerns about student retention and student learning. From my perspective of advising hundreds of freshmen and sophomores each year, this policy would help three groups of students: 1. Average to excellent first-year students unprepared for university classrooms and the demands of college life who perform poorly initially. Students do learn how to study and organize their time after the first year; average freshmen GPAs improve from 2.5 to the 3.0 GPA KU average. 2. Average students who have one or two bad semesters and labor the rest of their time here to bring their GPAs to a 2.0 level or simply quit in frustration before they achieve that goal. This is the most significant group who would benefit from passage of the policy. 3. Students on financial aid probation who would be able to return to good academic standing and improve satisfactory progress. There are 1,200 to 1,300 students in this category each semester. This policy would help students who have financial difficulties. In addition, students' opportunities for learning would improve. At the University of Oklahoma, more than 90 percent of students who retake courses get higher grades. The issue is not necessarily one of irresponsibility; a repeat policy exists at the U.S. Air Force Academy, a basion of disciplined, mature students. This policy has the potential to reduce the number of students who withdraw late in the semester or petition for retroactive withdrawals. This policy is limited to courses taken in the first 60 hours and affects those students most likely to be on probation or be dismissed. After Fall 2000, of the 1,247 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences students placed on probation or monitored probation, 87 percent were freshmen and sophomores, and of the 365 dismissed, 66 percent were freshmen and sophomores. This policy provides a way for the University to step forward and offer students an additional avenue to succeed and to learn; then it becomes the student's responsibility to improve. Legal immigrants first priority Freshman-Sophomore Advising Center Immigration has been and continues to be a fundamental cornerstone of this nation. Articles that focus on any aspect of immigrants and their plight definitely are deserving of print, including the editorial in the March 26 Kansan, "Illegal workers deserve chance at residency," by Tiffany Knight for the editorial board. The editorial is certainly within the right of opinion, but it omits an integral part of alien issues. Millions of potential immigrants are waiting patiently (some for more than 10 years) for a chance to immigrate to the United States legally. Should they not be given preference over illegal aliens? In the same vein, the future immigrants (families in most cases) take society's less desirable jobs to fulfill their aspirations. However, unlike the illegal alien, the legal do so with patience and a sense for the law. If memory serves, upholding the law is a criterion of good faith not only for residency but for citizenship. Unauthorized entry into the United States is a crime. Although it has not made that crime impossible to commit, that does not make this country responsible when individuals knowingly commit it. If there is such a glut of unwanted jobs that fuels this illegal behavior, then perhaps the quotas for immigration should be re-evaluated. Raymond duVale Lawrence resident In American history, the perspective and endurance of large ethnic groups consisting of both legal and illegal aliens have contributed to the strength our nation personifies. To disregard that right of passage with the remedy the editorial board suggests files in the face of that personification. The Kansan has a right to tout the rights of illegal aliens under the flag of amnesty, just as I do for the majority of dreamers who are waiting with dignity around the world. Web site doesn't draw police I just finished reading the April 6 article, "Students learn how to throw legal parties." I was disturbed by comments made by Alexis Vanasse, a member of the KU chapter of ACLU, regarding parties and my Web site, partyku.com. Vanasse recommended that parties not be posted to partyku.com. Her reasoning was that "if police officers do approach a party, it's because students made the party public by advertising online." However, Vanasse does not have her facts straight. Every party posted on partyku.com is explicitly stated to be by "invitation only." The invitation is extended to any KU student or the specific guests of the residents. Furthermore, the disclaimer on my Web site states specifically that each party posted to the calendar must not charge for alcohol but rather can reserve the rights to take donations to cover cleanup expenses, the disc jockey, etc. Lastly, at the bottom of the party calendar page is an extensive set of recommendations to help your party's guests and residents stay clear of any legal complications. I have personally contacted many of the KU students who have posted parties on partyku com, and in each instance, they enjoyed a safe party with no legal complications or police interference, simply by following some common-sense rules. In addition to offering a party calendar on partyku.com, I also offer a "Be Safe" section that contains information about partying responsibly. In early 2000, when the Web site was launched, I contacted both the KU Wellness Campaign and the City of Lawrence, trying to get some information from them to post the site. In both cases, I ran into trouble getting anything from them and was forced to create my own content for this section. I ask that Vanesse or anyone at the ACLU get their facts straight before broadcasting their message to the public. The best piece of advice is to use common sense and courtesy. Anyone who thinks KU and Lawrence police officers are out "looking for parties to bust" does not have an understanding of how busy these officers are. Scott Bideau partyku.com owner Chanute senior Russian scholar gives thanks I am a Fulbright Scholar from Russia. My affiliation for eight months research has been the Applied English Center at the University of Kansas. Time passed very fast, and I will soon leave to my University in Siberia in the Republic Khakasia. I want to share my experience and thank the University for the hospitality. Eight months of my stay in the United States flew as one month. The Applied English Center at the University of Kansas became my home. I observed the classes, took part in the discussions and made a lot of friends among the faculty. They are doing a great job here. All of the faculty were always ready to help me. I want to express my special gratitude to them for their help in my professional and personal life. The materials I collected at the center will help me organize the American language center at my home university. The University is a good place to do research. I had the opportunity to work in the library and audit any lectures and seminars I wanted. I want to express my gratitude to professors for allowing me to attend their lectures. I was very impressed by the activities suggested by the Center for Teaching Excellence. Most of all, I was impressed by the usage of new technologies at the University. The International Program Office at the University of Kansas helps the international students to find a home-stay family. We were lucky to have such a family. Anita and Elmer Fetters became a real family to us. I am leaving America with the hope to come again and see its beautiful cities and wonderful people. I think Americans have the right to be proud of their country, and I envy those young people who study and will study at the University. Angelina Bezrukova Fulbright scholar from Russia LAWRENCE AUTOMOTIVE DIAGNOSTICS INC. 842-8665 2858 Four Wheel Dr. W Hollywood Theaters SOUTHWIND 12 3433 QWA 832 0820 BARGAIN MATINEES INDICATED BY () STADIUM SEATING * A LITTLE DIGITAL 1 Along Game A Spider $^{10}$ 95 (1:55 4:10, 6:55, 9:30) 2 Along Game B Spider $^{10}$ 95 (1:50 4:10, 6:55, 9:30) also... 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