Wednesday, February 21, 2001 The University Daily Kansan Section A · Page 5 letters to the editor Compelling need for campus safety justifies charging more student fees As a member of both the Campus Safety Advisory Board and the Campus Fee Review Committee, I must take issue with the way J.D. Jenkins, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences senator, characterized both the safety Tee and the debate which led to its passage ("Student Senate should leave safety to the experts," Feb. 14). First, the University already invests in our safety. The University helps finance the Office of Public Safety, which in turn polices campus and works very hard to prevent crime by promoting safe practices among students. Moreover, for the last several years, the University has matched student fees to help install new lights on campus. Although the University already pays for these services, there is still a compelling need for the student fee. When students demonstrate a commitment to safety (by, for example, paying a small $2 fee), our needs become more important to the University. Student money gives students a louder voice on the safety issue and allows us to make our goals and priorities a reality. With student input and money, important safety programs and technology will be implemented more quickly. Second, Jenkins suggests that the money is going to be spent on "such absurd uses ... as fire alarms ... card scaners ... and 'safety fact sheets.'" It is true that these are ideas are under consideration by the Office of Public Safety, but the Campus Safety Advisory Board has made no commitment to fund these suggestions. The money probably will be used to continue lighting dark areas of campus and installing blue phones where they are most needed (for example, the basement stacks in Watson By the beginning of next school year, you will find new lighting and blue phones in some parking lots, including the infamous "rape lot" near GSP-Corbin residence halls. The improvements we have already approved are substantial Still, this board exists to respond to student safety needs. Therefore, we need you to tell us what your concerns are. I encourage you write a letter to our board, email me (ajobley@ukans.edu), or call and express your safety concerns in the Free for All. Finally, to characterize our presentation of the fee as a scare tactic is patently false. We presented the fee as a falsely responsible proposal which provides for improve- caily responsible proposal which provides for improvements in campus safety with student input. For Jenkins to suggest that the overwhelming majority we received was the result of scare tactics is to insult the intelligence of every senator who carefully weighed the arguments and made a decision based on the best public policy. Adam J. Oblev Adam J. Obley Topeka sophomore Atheist, agnostic group isn't alone in fostering philosophical forums In the news feature on the Society of Open-Minded Atheists and Agnostics ("Atheist, agnostic group hopes to boost campus profile," Feb. 12). Peter Brabant, co-founder and president of the organization remarks that his organization is the first of its kind on the campus of the University of Kansas.I feel a need to clarify this observation. Although the group is a welcome addition to the diversity of religious/philosophical organizations that enrich the University, it is deceptive to imply that the group is the only resource available to secular people on campus The problems of definition leap to mind: Are Episcopalians and Anglicans members of the same religion, with, presumably, a single religious viewpoint? How about Orthodox and Reform Jews? Does Student Senate think that Islam has more than one viewpoint? There are five churches listed in the Lawrence phone book as "Charismatic." Do their members promote one religious viewpoint or five? Who decides? And on what criteria will they base these decisions? People interested in contacting the association can call (785) 312-1780 for more information (ask for Matt). All philosophical backgrounds and religious viewpoints are accepted and encouraged. The association provides a more scholarly, professional forum in which to discuss and investigate issues of concern and interest to it's members. Issues previously debated have been the source of authority in claim-making, the dominance of males in a biological view and the duty of physicians to tell the truth to their patients. The KU Association for Skepticism and Inquiry was founded several years ago and provides a bivexely forum to discuss atheist and agnostic issues from a secular, ethical and moral standpoint. It is committed to serving the needs and interests of humanists, atheists, agnostics and affiliated people on the Lawrence campus. After reading this remarkable statement, I reviewed the Campus Crusade for Christ Statement of Faith (at www.campuscrusade.org). Among other things, it affirmed the inerrancy of the Bible, the existence of the Trinity, the virgin birth, a thoroughly Protestant understanding of justification by faith, the existence of heaven and hell, the eventual resurrection of the body and the need to evangelize the world. Is this really expressive of more viewpoints than, say, the Nicene Creed used by the Roman Catholic Church, which, by the way, says some of the same things? Is the Student Senate qualified to judge which religions "encompass more viewpoints"? I am not convinced that Student Senate should give money to religious groups at all. If it does, it should not attempt to discriminate among them. Matthew Dunavan Topeka sophomore and president of KU Association for Skepticism and Inquiry Financing campus religious groups creates likelihood of discrimination So Student Senate is contemplating give money to religious organizations, while specifying that the Senate may not give money to groups that exclusively promote one religion ("Senate might grant money to religious organizations," yesterday). Or, as Katie Bartlett, co-sorpor of the bill, put it. "We might be more likely to fund Campus Crusade for Christ than a Catholic group because Campus Crusade for Christ encompasses more viewpoints." Martha Robinson Tucson, Ariz., graduate student --- --- Asian American Student Union presents 2001 Asian American Festival "New Horizons" AASU is proud to present our 10th annual asian american festival promoting asian american culture and awareness on our campus and community. Activities February 22 (Thurs) - Henna Tattoo Time:10:00am-2:00pm Location: Kansas Union Lobby (4th Floor) February 20 (Tues) - Kodo Drummers Time: 8:00pm Location: Lied Center of Kansas Cost: $5.00 with AASU coupon ($10.00 without) February 26 (Mon)- Name Writing Time:10:00am-2:00pm Location: Kansas Union Lobby (4th Floor) February 27 (Tues) - General Meeting and Movie General Meeting: 7:00pm at Jayhawk Room (Kansas Union, 5th Floor) Movie: 8:00pm TBA Cost: FREE! March 1 (Thurs) - Guest Speaker: Bert Wang Time: 5:00pm-8:00pm Location: Frontier Room (Burge Union) Topic: Workshop on Asian Dating and Self-Oppression March 3 (Sat) - TASTE OF ASIA Food Presentation: 6:00pm at the Ecumenical Christian Ministry Performances: 7:30pm Kansas Union Ballroom (5th Floor) Dance: 9:00pm STUDENT SENATE Sweetheart of a Sale Call for Our Specials (785) 841-7726 3100 W. 22nd Suite A 8 YouthFriends Volunteer With Kids In Lawrence Schools Call 842-5006 or visit our homepage www.youthfriends.org 2 for 1 Margaritas Fri. & Sun. 943 Mass·842-1414 SOUTHWIND 12 3431 IQWA 832 IDR60 BARGAIN MATINEES INDICATED BY () STADIUM SEATING * ALL DIGITAL Hollywood Theaters BARGAIN MATINEES INDICATED BY STADium SEATING • ALL DIGITAL Sat-Sun Daily 1 Finding Forester *¹ (1:15) 1:15, 7:10, 10:05 2 Neath *² (1:35) 4:35, 7:25, 9:50 3 Cast Away *³ (1:30) 4:00, 7:00, 10:10 4 Down To Earth *⁴ (1:20) 4:10, 7:35, 9:45 5 Sweet November *⁵ (1:20) 4:20, 7:15, 10:00 6 Hammibal *⁶ (1:45) 4:05, 7:55, 10:05 7 Hammibal *⁷ (1:45) 4:45, 7:45 8 Saving Silverman *⁸ (2:00) -5:55, 7:40, 10:00 9 Receives 'School's Out' *⁹ (1:40) 4:30, 7:05, 9:15 10 Traffic *¹⁰ (1:40) 4:00, 7:00, 10:50 11 O Brother, Where Art Thou? *¹� (1:50) 4:20, 7:50, 9:50 12 Tweed Wedding Planner *¹¹ (1:50) 4:30, 7:50, 9:55 PLAZA 6 2339 UWA AAA 888 | | Sat & Sun | Daily | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 1 What Women Wantb | (1:50) | 4:35; 7:35; 9:35 | | 2 Head Over Heelsc | (2:00) | 4:45; 7:10; 9:40 | | 3 13 Daysd | (1:45) | 4:40; 8:00 | | 4 Valentinee | (1:55) | 4:45; 7:00; 9:30 | | 5 Save The Last Dancef | (1:50) | 4:35; 7:55; 9:35 | | 6 Chocolatg | (1:45) | 4:30; 7:00; 9:30 | - NO VIP + PASSE | SUPERSAVERS SHOW ME FOR LOCATION Photo ID required for R movies Calling the Ghosts an intimate story of survival of two women caught in a war where rape was as much an everyday weapon as bullets and bombs. - Pool/ 2 Laundry Roor • Volleyball Court • On KU Bus Route • Some W/D Hookups • Low Deposits • Small Pet Welcome Enjoy living in the apartment complex with a tradition of established excellence! We are now accepting deposits for the spring and fall semesters on very large 1& 2 bedroom apartments Call or stop by today! 2401 W. 25th,9A3·842.1455 A suspense thriller with supernatural overtones that revolves around a man who learns something extraordinary about himself after a Unbreakable Bruce Willis Samuel L. Jackson All movies are shown at Woodruff Auditorium. Level 5 of the Kansas Union. Tickets are available at the door thirty minutes before each show. Admission is $2 or free With SUA Movie Card. Movie times and dates are subject to change. Please check our website at www.ukans.edu/~sua _for final schedules. For more information about movies or any other SUA program, please call the Office Box at 864-SHOW. FREE FREE COKE ON FRIDAYS! FAST. NOT FAST FOOD.