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Tuesday, February 26, 1991 / University Daily Kansan
Opinion
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Party rules ignored
Fraternities should cease abuses of IFC bylaw regulating parties and honor guest list rules
An 18-year-old KU student allegedly was raped Feb. 16 at a fraternity house. The woman refused treatment at Lawrence Memorial Hospital and told police she had been drinking and was unsure whether the sexual assault had occurred.
The alleged incident occurred during an open party at a fraternity house, a practice that had been banned by the Interfraternity Council.
All campus fraternities must stop abusing an Interfraternity Council bylaw created to restrict fraternity parties so that situations in which rape and accidents are more likely to occur will not present themselves.
and the IFC must enact stricter bylaws.
Last February, open parties (to which anyone off the street can come) and after-hours parties (held after midnight until the early morning hours, to which many people come drunk) were banned.
It became obvious that fraternities could be held liable for minors possessing and consuming alcohol and for any number of accidents that can occur because of a large drunken bash, notably drunk-driving accidents.
A new bylaw was created that allowed function and date parties without stipulations. However, the bylaw also allowed other types of parties, as long as a party notification form, with a guest list attached, was submitted to the IFC at least 24 hours before the party. The guest list must be approved by IFC.
Letting people sign a roster as they walk in the door is not the same as drafting a list of guests before a party takes place.
The IFC did not set a limit on the number of guests allowed because it did not want to restrict fraternities' freedoms. The IFC hoped fraternities would observe the spirit of the bylaw and set a norm restricting parties to a few hundred guests.
Instead, some fraternities have abused the bylaw. Between February and November 1990, two fraternities were found guilty by the IFC judicial board of inviting too many guests to a party. Three or four fraternities were found guilty during that time of not turning in a party notification form. Fraternities found guilty were fined $100 or $200.
IFC must make the bylaw concerning parties more restrictive. Party notification forms should be turned in at least 72 hours before a party. This will give IFC ample time to carefully look at guest lists and notify fraternities whose lists are too long.
The number of guests allowed also must be limited. The number of guests allowed could be the same as the number of men in the fraternity plus 25 to 50. Fraternities with more members than other fraternities would not be restricted by a set number of guests.
IFC must also stiffen fines. A few hundred dollars is nothing compared to the monetary damage a lawsuit can bring.
But the real responsibility for preventing situations in which rape and accidents are likely to occur lies with the fraternity men. They must show that they care about the people they invite to their parties by restricting the number of guests.
Debbie Myers for the editorial board
Measles outbreak
Some parents trust God's will; six children die
Several families' decisions to trust God and "Him alone," and to deny medical treatment has left six children dead
By absolutely exercising their freedom to choose a religion, the parents denied the children of ever exercising their own religious freedom.
Most of the parents are members either of the Faith Tabernacle Church or the First Century Gospel Church. Members of both of these churches tend to refuse vaccinations, basing their decisions on their church doctrines.
An acute measles outbreak in Philadelphia and the death of children have pushed city
health officials to search for children who have not bad their shots.
There are more than 35,000 children at risk of contracting, spreading and dying from this measles epidemic. According to city health officials, this number represents the number of children who haven't been immunized.
So far, a court order has mandated that four infected children be hospitalized.
Without doubt, these parents had the right to choose the religion
The Kansan editorial board members are Juli Walkins, 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.
At the same time, the state has an obligation to ensure the safety of its children.
Tiffany Harness for the editorial board
- Editorialists reflect the opinion of the University Daily Kansas editorial board. Editorials appear in a box on the left side of the page. Editorialists reflect the majority opinion of the board but not necessarily the opinion of the signed author.
Opinions expressed in guest and staff columns and cartoons are solely those of the author or artist. Views expressed in columns and cartoons are not necessarily shared by the Kansan.
Starring - George as " the Drifter " with brief, non-speaking cameos by- Education as " Neglected Ned " also Civil Rights as " Lady-in-Waiting" with Mikhail in his award-winning dual performances as " Friend " and " Stranger " produced, written, and directed by FLANMAN ZDK
Search for elusive snipe continues
Most of the family gatherings on my father's side took place at my grandparents' small airfield just outside Wichita.
At perhaps the most memorable reunion, the grandchildren were informed that post-dinner entertainment would include a search for a snipe that had been nearby.
Our excitement diminished only slightly when we learned that we would spill no blood, but rather try to catch it with a creature that none of us had heard of.
Tim Hamilton Staff columnist
We arrived at the runway and began moving down along one of the hedges. No one spoke except to warn the youngsters against bounding too far ahead and scaring our quarry. Their quiet, earnest whispers were
Throughout dinner my cousins and I, all between grades three and six, debated the features of the alleged snipie but couldn't decide anything for sure. Around the fire our parents took turns fending off our questions about the animal with jokes and nervous, portentous laughter. Still they preserved the mystery of the snipie in our tiny minds eyes. Finally the shadows fell flat and dusk began to settle. The oldsters pulled themselves out of their rusting, cast-iron lawn chairs and joined the awaiting grandchildren near the compost pile like primitives for the hunt.
convincing
So we were spread out and went closer to the trees. Then we heard bushes moving and twigs snapping. There must have been giggling as we scurried around, falling over each other, peering into the edge to catch a glimpse. We followed along where our parents pointed.
Over here! Over there! We dared closer and closer to the hedgerow as the middle-aged snipes became more lumbersome and obvious. At last, one of us summoned the courage, broke into the trees and found my uncle Dave. Then the laughter came—and plenty of it.
After that day, I forgot all about the snipe. I assumed the snipe reverted back to mythology, a legendary rodent that lived only during eulogies at subsequent remonials. It was my son who me had died; it merely faded from my memory. It got lost in my literal mind without a conventional handle to grasp onto.
The snip reappeared around the campfires during my aunt's dutiful harangues against sex, drugs and alcohol. It inhabited my grammar's
country church where we received our spiritual indoctrination on more popular Sundays.
Throughout high school the snipe reared its ugly head immeasured. I saw it's markings on the bathroom walls, in the shopping malls and high school halls. Those years of my life have been one big snipe shot on the ground, where at KU the snipe has dominated hours of college "bull sessions."
Only recently, in one of my earthshattering realizations, I thought of the metamorphosis of the snipe. What had begun as a familial practical joke had mushroomed. By myself, the snipe seems to escape definition; it lacks content or form. However, the psychology of the masses can imbue the snipe with the fleshy hues of reality and/or the visceral traits of that which lives and breathes.
Now I perceive many similarities between my first snipe hunt and what I would call the social contract. Both phenomena consist of little more than my friends and advisors stand-alongside with outstretched fingers.
Although it is the snake's amorphous nature that causes my suspicion and doubt, it is precisely its ubiquitousness that argues for its reality.
Tim Hamilton is a student in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
LETTERS to the EDITOR
Don't trust politicians
I can see two possible interpretations of Stan Palmer's remarks in his Feb. 2 letter.
Most chilling, Palmer may have a deep and abiding contempt for freedom of speech, for freedom of the press, due process and the right to a trial court. He also presides over a session of church and state. That is, he may systematically hate every principle you need in order to practice a democracy.
But I prefer a more optimistic interpretation. Palmer holds a touchingly innocent trust in the selfless honesty and the perfect incorruptibility of all present and future bureaucrats and politicians. He believes politicians should be trusted with an absolute power to decide who gets democratic rights and who does not. He believes bureaucrats should be trusted to preserve constitutional rights for most people. He believes they should also be trusted to make exceptions when it comes to accused criminals, unwillingly pregnant women, non-JudeoChristians, people who hate other ethnic groups, people who write about the enjoyment of sex and other types with whom Palmer does not sympathize. It's heartening to hear about Palmer's deep faith in our fellow human
beings
But, however reluctantly, sensible supporters of any genuine democracy must endure a darker view of government. Bureaucats are not uniformly trustworthy; they must be subject to civic action and by the rule of law.
In the end, the only reliable way to preserve our common rights is to extend them scrupulously to even the most contemptible and hated members of our community. The American Civil Liberties Union has accepted this often thankless job; it defends everyone's rights by defending the rights of even the most hateful people. This leads some shortsighted people to hate the ACLU.
David Burrell Assistant professor of economics
ACLU guards the hated
Most chilling, Palmer may have a deep and abiding context for freedom of speech, for freedom of the press, due process and the right to a fair trial, the right of privacy, and the separation of church and state. The rule against intolerantly hate every principle you need in order to practice a democracy.
I can see two possible interpretations of Stan Palmer's remarks in his Feb. 2 letter.
But I prefer a more optimistic interpretation. Palmer holds a touchingly innocent trust in the selfless honesty and the perfect incorruptibility of all present and future bureaucrats and politicians. He believes politicians should be trusted with an absolute power to decide who gets
democratic rights and who does not.
He believes bureaucats should be trusted to preserve constitutional rights for most people. He believes they should also be trusted to make exceptions when it comes to accused criminals, unwilling pregnant women, non-Judeo-Cristians, people who hate other ethnic groups, people who write about the enjoyment of sex, and other types with whom Palmer does not sympathize. It's heartening to hear about Palmer's deep faith in our fellow human beings, so rares have trust become in this cynical modern age.
But, but however reluctantly, sensible supporters of any genuine democracy must endorse a darker view of government. Bureaucrats are not uniformly trustworthy; they must be restrained by civic action and by the
In the end, the only reliable way to preserve our common rights is to extend them scrupulously to even the most contemptible and hatred members of our community. The American Civil Liberties Union has accepted this often thankless job; if it defends everyone's rights by defending the rights of even the most hateful people. This leads somethings shortsighted people to hate thanol ACLU.
rule of law. Rights are not infinitely divisible, they must be defended at some level.
KANSAN STAFF
CHRIS SIRON
David Burres
Assistant professor of economiloy
RICH CORNELL Managing editor
TOM EBLEN General manager, news adviser
Editors
AUDRA LANGFORD Business manager
by David Rosenfield
Rucinace staff
AUDRA LEANGFORD
Business manager
MINDI LUND
Retail sales manager
JEANNE HINES
Sales and marketing advise
Editors Business staff
News. Melanie Matthes Campus sales mgr. Sophie Wehbe
Editorial. Tiffany Harness Regional sales mgr. Carmen Dresch
Planning. Holly M. Neuman National Jennifer Claxton
Campus. Jennifer Reynolds. Co-op sales mgr. Christine Musser
Pam Solner Production mgrs. Rich Harbarger
Sports. Ann Semmerlath Kate Stader
Photography. Keith Thorpe Marketing director. Gail Einbinder
Graphics. Melissa Unterberg Creative director. Crichty Hais
Features. Jill Harrington Classified manager. Kim Crowder
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Sketeh
BECAUSE THERE'S NO BETTER PLACE TO WATCH A GAME THAN IN ALENFIELD HOUSE WHEN IT'S PACKED TO THE RAPTERS WITH DEVOTED FANS...