UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN Tuesday, December 7, 1993 THEIR FINAL WORDS These columns are the best works from Professor John Ginn's Editorial and Interpretive Writing class. 5 Hit the road, Sen. Packwood; we're all tired of your games Dear Diary: Bob Packwood should resign from the Senate and hop on the next flight back to Oregon. His resignation would be a great justice to all and save the Senate the trouble of kicking him out. BRADY PRAUSER have accused him of sexual misconduct over the years are wrong. Then, he later tells us that his once uncontrollable boozing should render him unaccountable for his actions. Now, he's telling us he shouldn't have to turn over the diaries documenting his escapades. This guy is a real character. the two-day debate over the diaries hadn't chewed up so much of the Senate's time and energy, it would have been comical. The tug-of-war over Packwood's scrawlings resembled a bunch of second-graders fighting over a love letter on the playground. But it overshadowed a day of debate on such weighty issues as NAFTA and balancing the federal budget. Instead of doing the jobs they were hired to do, the Senators had to deal with this accused miscreant. Even so, the debate focused not on Packwood's alleged misconduct but on whether he should have to fork over the diaries. Complicating matters was Packwood's possible criminal involvement in allegedly trying to persuade lobbyists to give his wife a job. He cheerfully agreed to give the 94 senators who subpoenaed him for the diaries "every scintilla of information" about that, but nothing about the women who accused him of sexual misconduct. Rightfully so, the Senate told him to take a hike. Ordinary citizens wouldn't be able to bargain over the terms of a subpoena, it said. Is Packwood trying to hide damming evidence that could destroy him? We think so. Now he is appealing the subpoena and further damaging the Senate by sticking around. The Senate shouldn't have had to waste its time with this charade. Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia, who called for Packwood's resignation, agreed. "None of us is without flaws," Byrd said. "But when those flaws damage the institution of the Senate, it is time to have the grace to go." Dear Diary; Bob Packwood is a disgrace to himself. He is a disgrace to the Senate. Most of all, he is a disgrace to his constituents. If he has any microminiscule inkling of scruples left, he should resign. Cat adoption ends in sorrow I am a cat lover. Siamese are my favorite, but I am a sucker for anything that purrs. My friends know this, and whenever any of them find a SAMANTHA ADAMS stray, they automatically ask me to take it. My cat, Newt, is not fond of other cats, so I have reluctantly declined adopting several adorable kittens in the past. But when a friend called me and pleaded with me to take a kitten that was bound for the animal shelter, what choice did I have? After all, I am a cat lover. That evening I brought home a yellow and white furball that my eldest daughter dubbed Figaro. He looked like he was about six weeks old, but he was thin. For the first few weeks that we had Figaro, it seemed like all he did was antagonize Newt and eat. From the instant she laid eyes on "The Intruder," Newt rebelled. Separate food dishes, litter boxes and sleeping arrangements were necessary for the incompatible cats. But I could rationalize the inconvenience. I felt good knowing that I had kept a kitten alive that would have otherwise been run over or ended up at the shelter where it would have had a one- week stay and a slim chance of being adopted. Unfortunately, the inconveniences multiplied. Although I had been assured that Figaro was healthy when I took him, his ear mites and digestion problems soon required a visit to the vet. A examination, an immunization and some ear medicine cost me $70—my grocery money for the week. Then Figaro acquired a fondness for digging up house plants and shredding the couch. This forced us to banish him to the bathroom whenever we left the house. And no lockup ever took place without a house-wide cat hunt that made me late for school or made my husband late for work. Figaro and Newt became mortal enemies, fighting so fiercely at times that breaking them up meant scratches and bites for the intermediary. Fights led to infections, which led to more vet bills, which caused me to question whether I could afford having Figaro around. Even the children became disenchanted with him. He played too roughly and scratched too much. Soon they avoided him as much as Newt did. the local no-kill shelter. It was already at its 45-cat limit. I even considered making him an outdoor cat when the weather became warm, but I knew he would cause problems for the birds and squirrels in my yard. There were no easy solutions to the problem. I had to get rid of Figaro. I called friends to find a home where Ifigaro might fit in better. I also called After considering every option one last time, I drove him to the shelter where he was unceremoniously dumped into a holding cage. He huddled in the corner, shaking and afraid. I cried as I filled out the necessary paperwork and knew that I might be signing his death warrant. I wanted to explain to the resigned woman behind the counter that I really was a cat lover and that I had tried everything before bringing him here. But she obviously had heard it all before. I stumbled out, unable to look at Figaro as whispered "goodbye." Things are back to normal at my house, but I will never forget that kitten. I couldn't keep him, but sending him away was the hardest thing I've ever done. More than 8,000 animals are taken to the Topeka Humane Society every year. Only about half of them are adopted. I hoped for the best, but in my heart I knew that Figaro probably was not one of them. Take a lesson from the stars; see what truly matters in life Grab my hand, and take a walk with me. I know you have a lot of work to do, but this will only take a couple of minutes. Put your coat on; these winter nights are chilly. JACOB ARNOLD ly been so busy that you've hardly had time to notice the change in seasons. Step out the door, and the cold nips at our exposed nose and ears. We can almost feel our ears turning pink. We bury our hands deep in our pockets, pulling our coats close against our bodies. Playfully, I pull you from the sidewalk. Heads down, we shuffle through the leaves like we did as kids. Feel the stiff grass break underfoot. Smell the crisp air as it burns through your nostrils. Hear the snowy crystals crunch in the quiet dark. We raise our eyes and look through the leafless trees. Their stark branches grasp at the cold stars overhead, but their sturdy trunks anchor them. The trees envy the stars. I do too. The stars are almost free. Only the stern moon watches over them as they wheel through the velvet sky. The stars have been there a long time. They saw Aristotle take his first steps, and they saw Rome take its last breaths. They saw the Great Wall of China built up, and they saw the Berlin Wall torn down. They saw our birth, and they will see us die. The stars remind us that little in which we can succeed or fail will matter a thousand years from now. The stars live only for the present. They treasure each moment given to them. It is a good way. Finally, we must again turn our toes toward home. The electric lights flooding through the windows lure us back to the world of man. They pull us back into a world overrun with term papers, unpaid bills and irate bosses. We reenter the fray, but a little part of our souls are with the stars where there is joy in just being. I hope you have enjoyed our little stroll. Tomorrow, go with someone you love. A spouse, a friend, a pet or perhaps just your god. Don't let your time on this planet slip away without savoring some of the simple pleasures of life. WE'RE ON THE MOVE! Our new store in the Tower Plaza Shopping Center on South Iowa is almost ready . . . but not quite! As of December 1 we will be a temporary location: 1404 W. 23rd (formerly The Mad Greek). Stop in, or order by our regula phone number (865-5071). Phone orders from our suppliers will still be delivered "next day". we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, and ask that you bear with us as we work to open up in our new location as soon as possible. Sincerely, Sincerely, Virginia J. Smith Virginia Smith Lawrence Retail Manager School Specialty Supply School Specialty Supply Air Force Mid. 1404 W. 23rd (Temporary location) Lawrence • PHONE 913-865-5071 842-2442 840 Massachusetts JOCK'S NITCH SPORTING GOODS The Sports Look of Today! The Best Collegiate Savings Card program in the Nation is coming this January! It would be like throwing money away... This coupon entitles the bearer to one 60 $ game during open bowling. Limit two coupons per person per visit. Karanaa Union Level One 864-3545 --one night rental CREATE - A - PRINT Enlargements Ready In 5 Minutes 25¢ OFF 5X7 - 50¢ OFF 8X10 75¢ OFF 11X14 Enlargements Ready in 5 Minutes YOU Paint & Copy Photo Yourself! ONE HOUR PHOTO & Portrait Studio New York 2340 IOWA 442 8564 DRIVE THRU 3400 1940 Hours:M F 9-6p m, Sat 10:4p m. 15% Off Jewelry (Excludes items already on sale.) Expires December 21,1993 820-822 Mass. Downtown Lawrence Find the Porpoise! 15% off any purchase Framewoods Gallery 819Mass.842-4900 Must be presented at time of purchase This inclusion and many others available at Formworks. Must be presented at time of purchases Sale items may be excluded. Limit 1 coupon per purchase. EXPIRES 12/15/93 With this Coupon One Order of Fried Chicken Wings with any Two Entrees Mon.-Thur: 11:30AM-10:00PM FRI & SAT: 11:30AM-10:30PM SUN: 11:30AM-9:00PM 841-1688 2907 WEST 6TH Coupon not good with buffet or any other offer Expires 12/14/93 DUDS'nSUDS Good clean fun! Redeemable for One Free Wash - Snack Bar Pool Tables Big Screen TV & Video Games The Only Place to do Laundry - Limit One Coupon Per Person - Not Valid During Free Dry Not Valid During Free Dry *Top Loaders Only *Top Loaders Only Expires 12-14-93 918Mississippi 841-8833 841-8833 Expires 12-14-93 2 Video Tapes and VCR VIDEO BIZ 9th & Iowa 5. 99 749-3507 2 Movies for the price of one! Expires 12-31-93