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Monday, February 7, 1977
University Daily Kansan
Comment
Opinions on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Kansas or the School of Journalism
Electors lend order
Every four years this country holds a presidential election, and for four years after that election cries of banning the electoral college run rampant.
more recent supporters of the notion to ban the electoral college include Sen. Bob Dole, R-Kan, and vice-presidential nominee of the losing Republican ticket in the 1976 election; and Sen. Birch Bayh, D-Ind. The senators basically support an Association Ban association contention that the "electoral college is selecting a President of the United States is archaic, undermocratic, complex, ambiguous, indirect and dangerous."
It was the founding fathers who, in the Constitution, provided that the winner of an election be the one receiving the majority of electoral votes. The Constitution also established that the number of senators each state holds must equal the number of senators and representatives from that state, selecting those electors "in such manner as the legislature thereof may direct."
BANNING THE electoral college would ruin the concept of "grassroots politics," or those politics close to home.
Under the present system, a candidate must gain the support of local and state party factions. The basis for this is to establish important coenities in order to maintain the region's popular direct system, important minorities in less-populous states would be ignored.
Black voters, who played a major role in the election of President Jimmy Carter, would be overlooked in the South, and the heaviest concentration of campaigning would on the eastern and western coasts and in northern industrial areas.
THEREFORE, THOSE minorities who've had a voice in certain regions in the past—blacks. Hispanics, Jews, labor, farmers would be overlooked in the direct-popular-
In this respect, it is rather ironic that Dole
favors abolishing the electoral college. Dole also has stated that Republicans need to gain support of Hispanics and blacks in rebuilding their party's the elec- tion polls, as well as Dole writes, his party in the long run, would be forced to ignore those very same groups.
Admittedly, there are faults with the electoral college. For one, it seems confusing to the common Americans. Many Kansans feel reluctant to vote for a Democrat candidate, because they know from Kansas that will likely be Republican.
THERE are faults with any system, however, and that includes the proposed system of electing a candidate by direct, popular vote. The side effects of any type of system are both hazardous and caution is needed when bringing in any new system, for it will have its failures, too.
When one looks back at nearly 200 years of presidential elections, there's been only one "runner-up" President as a result of the electoral college system. That was John Quincy Adams in 1824, when he was elected president. He drew dawn Jackson because of the close popular vote total. Such a vote by the House is stimulated by the Constitution.
THE IDEA of a runner-up presidency, therefore, has been preached only in a theoretical sense, rather than in a realistic sense.
If Congress should consider changing the election system in the future, careful attention should be paid to the problems that a popular-direct election would occasion.
As George Washington warned in his
Farewell Address:
"In all changes to which you may be invited, remember that time and habit are at least as necessary to fix the true character of government as of other human institutions; and the best standard by which to test the real tendency of the existing constitution of a country."
When my predecessor began these Editor's Notes last semester, she began them with the goal of increasing (for better or worse) the average knowledge of the Kansan.
As a result, there have been Editor's Notes on ethics, the Butz "loose shoes" quote, problems with sources, circulation and the liberal editorial page. And, before this semester is over, there will be Editor's Notes on the corring of the Kansan, the results of our readership survey and how the Kanan editor is selected each semester and why.
This column, however, will be devoted to answering trivial questions from imaginary readers about things that would never be worth a column of their own.
Trivial questions answered
I am ashamed to admit it, but the Kansas is the only paper I read. It'll do, I guess. I was just wondering when or if the weather birds "wear" a weather birds." Don't get me wrong—"wearthy birds" are great. It's just that I'm sick and tired of the birds you have now. I am especially bored with the skies on skis for A Lighter Warner.
Dear NOTE:
BORED
Dear BORED:
The "weather birds" are part of Kansan tradition. They were drawn by Kansan cartoonist Dave Sokolof during the early '70s and have been the heart and soul of Kansan culture, would be sacrilegious to change them. Besides, we don't have any others.
Dear NOTE:
DISGUSTED
editorial writers. The drawings are fine, I guess, but the subjects are downright ugly. Why are they the victims of their ego trips?
NOTE
meetings and Budget, budget,
budget. I want News, man. Why
doesn't the Kansan do
something?
You have a point. Many of the editorial writers are a bit unhandsome. The idea is that you will feel sorry for them and pay less attention to the flaws in their writing. Ego is not in-
Dear DISGUSTED:
Dear HUNGRY:
HUNGRY
We're trying. We're trying!
It's not our fault! The plain fact is that most of the time nothing happens that really deserves to happen, and we may remedy this situation soon, however. We are presently
Dear NOTE:
What kind of mail does the Kansan get? I bet you get all sorts of junk. Neat junk, probably, from all sorts of far-off PR men and exchange papers.
Editor's Note
EAGER
Jim Bates
engaged in financial negotiations with Tedde Tasheff, Chancellor Dykes, Bud Moore, Marian Washington and certain elements of the Mattsa program. At the latest, to break a scandal that will set the whole campus on its ear.
NOTE
volved. Ego would involve faked drawings.
NOTE
Dear EAGER:
Dear NOTE:
you bet correctly. Every day at 10 a.m., I pick up a huge pile of mail that takes a long time to sort through. This mail includes bad college exchange cards and laugh at, Good college exchange papers (from which to steal good ideas), syndicate ads “(Hey we know how really into music you music jokes!” “SuraRips” for “Huff,” “SuraRips”), press releases (“Kansas will benefit as a result of Sen. Dole’s latest . . .”), letters “Your editorial of the 3rd was insane, you doks . . .” and other assorted pieces of humor.
NOTE
The lack of news on this campus is an absolute disgrace. All we get are search committees, Student Senate
Dear NOTE:
Walking by the Kanaan newsroom the other day, I noticed vast collections of tripe pasted to the windows and the walls and, generally, to everyplace. These pieces of tripe included insulating clips from an explosion of paper, "humorous" pictures of staff members and high administration officials. There was also something called the Kanaan ear that was, I guess, an attempt to parody the famous Washington Star gossip column of the same name but using the staff members and the fodder. What are you running over there anyway, a day care center? This is college, you nits.
DISILLUSIONED
Dear DISILLUSIONED:
Awh. Can't a body have some fun?
Senior center good idea
senior citizens' projects it sponsors.
Two local leaders hope to receive city community development funds to remodel the former city police building at 745 Vermont St. Their plan- to provide a center for senior citizens and other social services- seems to be an excellent one.
COOEEMILLER, the other leader, is director of Penn House, an anti-poverty organization for agency needs rooms for room enforcement and clothing. The location of Penn House, 1035 Pennsylvania,
Douglas County Legal Aid, the Consumer Affairs Association and the Congregate Meals Program.
NOTE
Cal Broughton, one of the leaders, is director of Lawrence's Council on Aging. His agency maintains the Bus 62 system, which provides transportation for elderly citizens and serves the community and its agency currently is housed in the city's Community Building, but it needs more room for its buses and the
FIVE BASIC needs for such a center, as outlined by Miller, are:
- The United Fund soon will be asking social services to cut
Jay Bemis
Editorial Writer
People, not place, make sorority
To the editor:
Although editorial replies are generally indignant retorts meant to express violent dissatisfaction, they can be used to denote my support of, and agreement with, Debra Watson. In her letter, Debra gracefully explained that sororities are based on the principle of exclusion.
Linda Salger
Topeka sophomore
everyone in a residence hall is more liberal than anyone in a Greek house, and please don't make rash generalizations.
work' controversy is much to do about nothing. Dependent as we are on the government for regulation it is small wonder that a small number of students have complained of the campus whistle loss. All changes take time.
Farms feel pinch To the editor:
The American ideal has been to send persons to college to learn how to be better, perhaps
"glossy" and "slick" and an analogy of marketing Christ, like soap powder ignore the basic difference between "frosted" and "footprint" is footing the bill for what Josh is able to give away free.
Bill Sniffen's suggestion that business take its lumps uses
Love, not money, is the issue and the motivation, although Addison implies otherwise. (Josh announced public that
and as an office center for social services.
She's right. I'm duly embarrassed to admit it, but my sorority excludes certain categories of people. We exclude men. We exclude scoundrels, rogues and ruffians. We haven't opened our doors to any prostitutes lately, not have I seen any married women or mothers asked to pledge. Seven girls in her class are pregnant, only admitted a deep prejudice against pushers and child molesters. There you have it—the ugly truth of the matter.
their expenses. With several services in one building, it would be possible for them to do so.
$\textcircled{1}$Several services with several different locations within the city are a "terrible disservice" because the client, clients could remember one phone number and one building's location.
USING COMMUNITY development funds for the project is contingent upon approval by the city commission. Federal guidelines of the department of Housing and Urban Development would have to be considered before the commission makes a decision. The building would be designated of the building would be allowed under these guidelines, however, as would Penn House if it was determined to be a neighborhood service.
Secondly, Josh's talks weren't ultimately aimed at "inspiring nonbelievers or redirecting people in a manner beffiting a Christian." Somehow I missed the desperation Mr. Addison noted in McDowell's refutation of theories not his own. But he was an able self-defense者 are shallow and momentary goals. Josh has tried and tested Christ as Lord of life—the result is a desire to share his experience of wonder, joy, and growth with others.
*Telephone rates would be reduced considerably if six to eight agencies could be housed in one location. Each agency has 10% of the monthly costs of $4, excluding extensions and other extras.
Readers Respond
I wholeheartedly agree with another point that Debra brought up. You are right, Debra, you should not criticize a lifestyle which I think is too, believed that sororities were all very exclusive. I was under the impression that there is one certain type of girl who lives in a sorority. She had an open mind, generous persuasion, and it would be nice if her great-grandfather had a title. It seems that other girls have added "white" and "of american descent" to their name, but that I was wrong, because I have experienced this lifestyle
Thanks for the advice, Debra,
but I can provide better words
if wisdom. Don't assume that
- The police station building is much more secure than are some of the present office buildings. Penn House has been vandalized in the past and the building was damaged by fire last year. As Miller said, "I can't think of a safer place than a jailhouse." It should be noted that the senior center wouldn't be considered as a community center in a public meetings and community events setting. It's primary function would be as a senior citizen's center, since the Council on Aging would use most of the space.
What really affords me is the implication that a sorority is some kind of life form with an identity of its own. A sorority cannot be labeled "closed-minded." Granted, you will find sororities like these included, with absurd and baseless prejudices. That's sad, frustrating and ridiculous. It's just as ridiculous to hump sorority members into categories without looking at them individually. A sorority is nothing but a group whose houses sorority members
Another possibility for funding the center, if community development funds couldn't be revenue sharing money.
Although Broughton and Miller haven't discussed their plan with other social service agencies, they have other social service offices at the station. Examples of some agencies that might be housed there, and ones that are looking for people to fill these positions. Volunteer Clearing House,
The costs of refurbishing the station for use as a city hall has been estimated at $700,000. But, as Miller has explained, the costs of a senior center would be to much lower than that.
MIKE WILDEN, Lawrence assistant city manager, has said that the city is wary of giving too much revenue sharing money to people groups. Since revenue sharing isn't a permanent program, city officials are afraid that a large number might be dependent on such funds and then have them cut off. But the future of revenue sharing looks good.
what might be termed shotgun
reasoning. It may be sound, but
it's also not very discriminating.
Dotty Adams Gladwyne, Pa., graduate student
yes, pernaps government
should stop bailing out bus-
inesses. You have to pay
lesses should stop complaining.
Let Lockeheim and Exxon feel
the pinch. They're large, well,
sweet. And they may well survive the losses.
But when Sniffen proposes that farmers fend for themselves as well (and that's what happens if they don't combat the hand that feeds him) (and that's no figure of speech).
Congress renewed the program in its last session and Jimmy Carter said during his visit that he should "see the money fundled directly to cities rather than through state channels first."
So why shouldn't the farmer ask for government aid? And why shouldn't he complain when government proposes to give farmers a supportive to complaining, for many farmers, is to close shop and move to town. And I wouldn't blame them if they did, if they were doing it of the government try to feed regulations to a hungry nation.
"THEY (THE CITY) would need something much fancier than what we'd want," she said. She also said that she and Broughton were planning to visit later this week with the same architect that estimated city hall remodeling costs.
By the way, I'm not a Campus Crusader and I'm not defending an organization. As a Christian though, I'm advocating an honest examination of what McDewell is saying and why, rather than a gib dismissal of his experience.
This 'whistle while you
Russ Groves McPherson 50
I challenge Mr. Addison to write again.
Let the whistle die To the editor:
STATE OR federal grants also are open options in funding the center.
more regulated citizens. The Skinnerian dependence on an obnoxious factory whistle is a travesty in a system that is supposed to teach self-regulation and independence.
also makes it impossible for many of its clients to visit the center because of its distance from downtown.
I maintain that once the silence has been given a fair try—by KU students, along with the rest of that August institution's functionaries—the whistle will not even be missed. Only the unregulated, ignorant and basest of individuals will really be mourning its loss. Professors may lose their more accessible role and so will students in their time-keeping activities, and they will no longer have a steam whistle as a psychological crutch.
Wherever the funding might come from, there evidently is a need for such a center. Although the social service groups are important organizations, one would think it is the city's responsibility to make such a plan work. After all, problems of the poor and the underprivileged, the community, and Lawrence isn't immune to these problems.
The police station has been vacant since completion of the Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center. The city had considered a new municipal hall, but it has since abandoned that idea in hopes of building a new one.
The wheat farmer at present faces prices that net him less per bushel than the cost of pro-
duction to any businessman, let alone one with the narrow profit margin of a farmer. And it's not changed a bit by any amount of surplus—the farmer still loses.
Jeff Latz 121 W. 14th
Keep the damn unhumanistic thing shut off!
Published at the University of Kansas daily August 10, 2015. Monday through Sunday, June and July are on Sunday and Saturday. Second-class postage paid at Lawrence, Kan. Second-class postage paid at Dallas, Texas a year in Louisiana and County $1 at a member or $3 a year outside the county. Student subscriptions are $2 per person, paid through $30. Editor Business Manager
be makes nothing off his books and offered to pay for his tapes for students who couldn't afford them). Would an inert public campaign and a shoddy performance have been preferable to convince the editorial writer of Josh's sincerity? I do not mind the editorial team of Addison's fervency by his ungrammatical "excesses ... cheapsens," although it does make his product less slick.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KANSAN
It is evident that an "outider" will usually look at the outside of a package, a person, and be familiar with the unfair that he should then criticize that "outside" for being so carefully and purposefully done up. Instead of being careful with the purpose or motivation of Josh McDowell's three lectures, Paul Addison in Wednesday's Kansas (Feb. 2) has given us the style of Josh's message.
Editor Jim Bates
Josh attack trite To the editor:
First, why is organization, efficiency, and thoroughness deployed when applied to the most crucial area of humans' lives, their relationship to God? The implications of words like
Choice of topic is surely an editor's prerogative, yet McDowell's motivation and ignoring most of what he said, Addison reveals the super-confusion of his own viewpoint.
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