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Thursday, March 28, 1991 / University Daily Kansan
Opinion
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Live executions
TV station's lawsuit makes sense: Media should be permitted to broadcast convicts' executions
imagine being able to turn on the television and see a convicted felon being executed.
and see a convicted felon being executed.
A California news station is pressing its state court system to rule that TV news crews have a right to tape and televise convicted felons' executions in San Quentin's gas chambers.
It may sound pretty gruesome, but the logic behind the station's civil lawsuit makes perfect sense. The news media in this country should have the right to cover any event in which state policy is being carried out. Because the death penalty is a policy approved by some state governments, the media should be able to cover public policy as it takes place in those states.
This does not mean that television stations necessarily must broadcast an execution. But the media should be able to tape an execution so that they can judge whether what is now going on behind closed doors is newsworthy.
Some people may argue that they do not
want to see executions on the 10 o'clock news all of the time. But executions simply do not happen all of the time. California has not executed a prisoner since 1967. And, when they do it again, if they televise it, people have the right to change the station or turn off their televisions. Other citizens may want, and deserve, the right to make a completely informed decision on whether they agree or disagree with their state's public policy on the death penalty.
Michael Schwarz, the current affairs director of the California station involved in the suit, eloquently summed up why executions should be televised: "Why is it that the ultimate act of criminal justice should suddenly be taken behind closed doors? This is being done in our name, on our behalf and with our money, and therefore we have a right to see it."
Carol Krekeler for the editorial board
Women's rights
Hazardous jobs are now an option for women
Women should not be banned from jobs even if the workplace contains hazards.
The U.S. Supreme Court supported this idea in a unanimous ruling last week, saying that employers may not bar women from jobs that expose them to toxic substances.
This decision will affect millions of female workers nationwide and more than a dozen major U.S. corporations. Because of concerns about lawsuits, the companies have maintained "fetal-protection" policies.
The decision resulted from a lawsuit filed against Johnson Controls Inc., a large manufacturer of automobile batteries with a St. Joseph, Mo., plant. The company had a policy that banned women from jobs that exposed them to lead.
The policy applied to all women regardless of their age or plans to have children. Women who could prove they were sterile could be exempted from the policy.
The company's policy was so broad that it affected virtually all women, regardless of their childbearing plans. The policy could
have been used by the company to prevent women from working at the plant.
Johnson Controls' mandatory policy caused some women to transfer to jobs that usually paid less. To keep her high-paying job at the St. Joseph plant, one employee underwent sterilization.
Some women may not plan to have children, but they should not have to be sterilized to prove it.
Also, although studies suggest that lead exposure could cause miscarriages, birth defects or slow development, the court rightfully concluded that responsibility rested with the mother, not the employer, to consider the future welfare of the child.
But before women work at a hazardous job, they should have to sign a form to make certain that they are fully aware of the risks they may be taking.
Even if women choose not to apply for these types of jobs after knowing the risks, at least they now have the freedom of choice.
Amy Zamierowski for the editorial board
The Kansan editorial board members are Juli Watkins, Stacy Smith, Brent Maycock, Amy Zamierowski, Melanie Botts, Tiffany Harness, Rod Griffin, Chris Siron, Rich Cornell, Melanie Matthes, Clare McGinn, Elicia Hill, Jennifer Schultz, Debbie Myers and Carol Krekeler.
LETTERS to the EDITOR
Parade wasn't political
Although St. Patrick's Day is more than a week past, I thought I should write in response to the letters submitted by Angus T. McWhorter and David Lownenstein. I was kind of disturbed about the ideas expressed by them. I am a serving member of the U.S. military, and part of that job is supporting the free speech and ideas of the people. However, stating that Lawrence's St. Patrick's Day parade was politically motivated this year is not only misleading, but ludicrous.
The Kansas Army National Guard has kept a station in Lawrence for a number of years. Presently, the Lawrence armory is the home of two mechanized infantry companies. The people serving in these companies, including myself, are members of this community, and needless to say, the National Guard plays an integral part in Lawrence. Yes, the National Guard marched in the St. Patrick's Day parade with an element of infantry soldiers and an armored personnel carrier as they have before at the request of the parade committee. No, McWhorter, this was not a first-time occurrence. Somehow, I have a feeling it was not politically motivated
Yet, maybe you have a point. Maybe we should eliminate KU football and basketball games because they make a political statement with the ROTC color guards that begin them. Maybe we should not have a professional team or parade or professional sports event because of its political statement.
Maybe we shouldn't be so political
Brandon K. Devlin Lawrence sophomore
Bible groups help some
Rev Jim Musser's comment that people should not attend Bible studies with strangers and should be wary of instantaneous friendships in the Kansan's March 20 article "Meeting curbs cult deception" reminded me of my own experiences with stangers and Bible study groups when I first arrived here from Indonesia in 1989.
While mailing a letter at the post office, I conversed with a stranger and somehow got invited to a Bible study, and later attended services at the church he went to. Through this Bible study group and the church, I came to know several people from different nationalities who are my good friend. I have I have at least seven Bible study groups of various denominations and campus groups, and I have come to a conclusion that people who attend such occasions are mostly nice, kind, friendly and caring people, and are
far from manipulative. Those I call my best friends are from this group of people
These friends never pressed me to join their groups or to adopt their theological views. They never said anything when I did not feel like attending Bible study or going to church. I just said "no" whenever I felt they were too eager to get me involved in a group activity that I was not keen on, and they respected my decisions.
Had I been afraid to accept that Bible study invitation from a stranger and was wary of instantaneous friendship, I would not have had to make someone who have brought me much happiness and fun during my stay here
Naturally, it is always wise to be wary of strangers. But, according to my experiences, one should not be too suspicious of the Bible study stranger. It is fortunate that some people have been hurt while becoming involved with some Christians who are worth getting to know.
Lisa Lim City, class
Arkansas can take joke
"We're going to Indianapolis!" shouted a jubilant Bob Davis over the Jayhawk Network. With (fewer than 10 seconds) to go in the game, Lawrence knew the Big Blue was going to the Final Four again.
Shortly after Saturday's game, T-shirt printers began running off shirts that said things such as, "On the road again," and, "The race is on." Among those was a T-shirt proclaiming Kansas the Southeast Regional Champs. After this shirt appeared, the University of Kansas demanded that these shirts no longer be printed, refused to license these shirts, and threatened to revoke the license of anyone printing or selling them. In response, I am, of course, referring to the T-shirts that displayed the name Arkansas with the "Ar" circled and crossed out. The rationale I received for the ban was that the University felt it bagged on Arkansas too much.
If Arkansas had won the game, I think T-shirts in Fayetteville, Ark. would have said something similar. Perba Kansas with an "Ar" spray painted in front. Now tell me What's behind it? Arkansas is integrity, because I have seen other places where "Ar" was crossed out from Arkansas.
Ong such place was at the intersection of Sixth and Arkansas streets. Someone put tape over the "Ar" on the street sign.
If we want to bring integrity into the argument, then items depicting a victorious Jayhawk standing on a severely beaten Wildcat also should be removed from store shelves. Add to that bumper stickers that read, "Have you kicked your Wildcat today?"
'I want KU to win this title as much as the next fan, but what's wrong with having some fun?'
Oh, now you tell me, "But that's just in fun." OK, how about the bumper stickers that read, "Jayhawk in trunk" or "God created Kansas but subcontracted Missouri?" Are those in fun? So were the altered Arkansas shirts. They were just in fun. Is it fair to jab fun with schools only in the Big Eight Conference and be passive with the schools in other conferences? I'm not saying these schools are asking us to jab at them, especially because they would jab at us if we were in their shoes.
"Rut we're better than that."
Really?" I don't think anyone in the NCAA is any better than anybody else. The minute you start telling people you're above the Arkansas T-shirt, they begin to test you in other places. They will job at you in other ways. Eventually, they will bring your ego back to earth and reality. KU is no better than Arkansas. Yes, we play a game of half or half or did, but what if Arkansas had had as good a second half as their first? How many times could KU beat Arkansas? Play enough games and the two probably would come out about even, thank you, law of averages.
I don't want anyone thinking I don't appreciate the hard work that Roy Williams and the Jayhaws have done I remember in 1988 after KU was put on probation, I almost crested because I knew my Hawks weren't going to defend their title. I also have been hoping for another national title I missed the victory in 1988 because I was a freshman in junior college. I want KU to win this title as much as the next fan, but what's wrong with having some fun? The University could have told the printers to stop printing after this weekend. That way everyone would have a chance to get the Arkansas shirts, and then with no more printed, they would have become KU collectibles. But instead, KU became worried that Arkansas might be offended? As President Harry Truman once said, "If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen."
I think KU should ask itself a very important question. Is it saying it will take it but not dish it out? Personally, I don't like being around people who will take it but won't dish it out. After a while, I quail association with them and then boring or because they feel too important to make a joke.
Maybe KU needs to dish it out once in a while.
KANSAN STAFF
Michael A. Breen Coffeyville senior
CHRIS SIRON
Editor
RICH CORNELL
Managing editor
TOM EBLEN
General manager, news adviser
AUDRA LANGFORD
Business manager
MINDI LUND
Retail sales manager
JEANNE HINES
Sales and marketing adviser
Editors Business staff
News ... Melanie Matthes Campus sales mgr... Sophie Whebe
Editorial ... Tiffany Harness Regional sales mgr... Carmen Dresch
Planning ... Holly M. Neuman National sales mgr... Jennifer Claxton
Campus ... Jennifer Reynolds, Co-op sales mgr... Christine Musser
Pam Sollin Production mgrs. RICH Harrison
Sports ... Ann Sommersliter Katie Stader
Photography ... Keith Thorpe Marketing director Gail Embinder
Graphics ... Melissa Unterberg Creative director Chrisy Hahs
Features ... Jill Harrington Classified manager. Kim Crowder
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By David Rosenfield
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