Monday, February 12, 2001
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 3
Columnist criticizes political press
Bv Cassin Furtado
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Famed writer and newspaper columnist Molly Irvins told a crowd of about 250 Friday that there were few journalists left in journalism.
Ivins came to the University to accept the William Allen White Foundation National Citation, which has been given to journalists including Bob Woodward, Bernard Shaw and George Will.
Ivins' speech at Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union was focused on the role of the media when covering politics.
Molly ivins, recipient of the School of Journalism's William Allen White Award, delights a packed crowd with her impression of President George W. Bush. Ivins, a nationally syndicated journalist famous for her liberal political columns, spoke at Woodruff Auditorium Friday. Photo by Matt Dauchart/KANSAN
She said that the political press didn't know how to cover anything but spin and criticized political pundits who don't have any background in journalism, such as George Stephanopolous and Dick Morris.
Ivins also criticized the concentration of ownership in today's media.
She said that by 1897,29 companies owned most of newspapers, magazines, radios and television stations in the country.
Now, Ivins said, the ownership is concentrated within seven companies.
She said those companies were concerned only with making profits.
"You work for people who have no understanding of journalism," Irvins said.
Ivins also said it was important to keep independent newspapers alive because they focused on reporting and not on profits.
Ivins, who is battling cancer, said she didn't want to be seen as a "grumbling old woman" who thought everything was better when she was young.
"We were never better," she said.
"We just felt better."
Ivins also made the audience laugh by poking fun at President George W. Bush.
"He's not actually dumb," Irvins said. "But he's not interested in governing. That bores him."
Ivins joked that many of the people in attendance had come to the speech out of desperation to understand the new president.
Ivins said she was happy to have Bush as president because he would consistently be a source of funny material for her columns.
Ivins made that evident by exploring Bush's grammatical inaccuracies.
"Bush would incentivize oil exploration in Mexico so that the United States wouldn't be so dependent on foreign oil." Irvins said.
Anneliese Stoever, Overland Park junior, said that Ivins' speech
was amazing.
"She is incredibly intelligent," Stoever said. "She overcomes everything with a smile."
James Gentry, dean of journalism, was impressed with the high attendance for Ivins' speech.
"It was an excellent talk, filled with her humor but with serious
underlying themes," Gentry said.
Tim Glassco, Wichita second-year law student, said Ivins had a great way of depicting the political landscape.
"She makes you think that everything will be all right," Glassco said.
— Edited by Melissa Cooley
Game day causes slow Saturday at library
By Michelle Ward
wrter@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
While thousands crowded into Allen Fieldhouse to watch the University of Kansas basketball game Saturday, a few students opted to visit a virtual ghost town — Watson Library.
Nicole Schnellbacher, Topeka senior, left her game ticket sitting at home Saturday afternoon. Instead, she spent time at the library doing research with a partner for an industry analysis.
"It was the only time we could do it," Schnellbacher said. "I really wish I was watching the game. We are getting some research done, and I'll be parked in front of my computer typing the paper the rest of the day."
Yongjoon Jeo parks at one of the back tables of the fourth floor each weekend. The Seoul, South Korea doctoral student in political science researched his dissertation on U.S. interest groups and foreign trade policy-making. Although immersed in his work, he still took the time to find out how the 'Hawks were doing.'
"I am going to check the scores on the ESPN Web site." he said.
Elizabeth McCoy, Pittsburg junior, worked at the circulation desk. She said it was a pretty typical weekend for her — meaning it was a slow one.
Quiet weekends give McCoy and her coworkers time for maintenance that they usually don't have
time for during the week. They clean and shelve books while straightening misplaced periodicals
Game days do provide other problems for students at the library.
"Parking up here is crazy," McCoy said. "Traffic is so bad coming to work. Fans are coming to the game, and they have to have a place to park. It makes it hard for people who want to use the library."
It was not a matter of want but need for Shawn Beatty, Ottawa senior. He hadn't missed a game all season, but he made the sacrifice this weekend for academic reasons.
While Beatty said he only occasionally went to Watson, he did make the trek when he needed to get something done. It was a convenient
time for him to come and read at the library Saturday, and the weather helped motivate him. he said.
It wasn't convenience but money that brought Jason Lentz, Atchison freshman, to the library. Lentz works at the circulation desk at Watson.
It was a slow day for him, with the number of patrons cut in half from a usual weekend.
Although he spends a lot of time shelving and sorting books, he squeezes in a little time for reading time and surfing the Web. But he said his job did take him away from a Saturday afternoon with friends.
"I do feel like I am missing out," Lentz said. "I have to work. I have a lot of bills to pay."
— Edited by Sydney Wallace
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American Pilot
Feb 14 & 16, 7 pm
Feb 15 and 17, 9:30 pm
The Lifestyle
Feb 7 & 9, 9:30 pm
Feb 15 and 17, 7 pm
Christine Hammon
Ataxiometer Feb 9 to Feb 22, Kansas Union Gallery, 4th floor, Kansas Union
Valentine's Day
Open House
Wed, Feb 14, 11 am to 3 pm
Kansas Union Lobby
Max Weinberg
Max Weinberg
Mar 6, 8 am 120 Budig Hall.
Tickets on sale at the SUA Box
Office - $ 5 w/ KUID, $ 8 w/out
SUA Selections 2001-02 Applications for Coordinators and Executive Officers availab
at the SUA Box Office. Executive Officer applications due Feb 13 by 4:30 pm. Coordinator applications due Feb 23 by 4:30 pm. All applications should be turned in at the SUA Box Office.
All movies at Woodruff Auditorium, 5th floor of the Kansas Union. Tickets/Move passes sold half an hour before movie times, in front of Woodruff.
The SUA Box Office is located at the 4th floor of the Kansas Union. Please call 864-SHOW for more information, or visit www.ukans.edu/~sua.
The International Film Series Bear Travail
Feb 12, 7 pm - Woodruff Auditorium - $2
Afternoon Tea
Thursday, Feb 1, 3-5 pm. Traditions Area Free tea, sweets and conversation
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