4 Monday, December 10, 1990 / University Daily Kansan Opinion LETTERS to the EDITOR Don't stifle extremists Although James Moran, the Ku Klux Klan leader who spoke at the 1988 KU free speech forum, stubbornly clings to some racist views, in my judgment it's more an issue of saving face rather than genuine conviction. My son with him during the past two years is fairly steady mellowing trend, and I think before too long he'll have more to say about this matter. In getting to know and occasionally counseling political extremists, I find it more effective to get them to examine their own values and beliefs rather than to confront them directly. Over the years, I've developed a method of leading them to their own conclusions through directed questions. One of these is, "What was it that led you to these views?" Another is, "Were there any experiences that played a part?" Often, in answering these questions and others, the individual will confront the real source of his anger and frustration, and this leads the way to a general re-examination of his ideological commitments. For some people this works rather quickly, but for others it takes a fair amount of time. In the short run, what is most important is to get them out of the destructive organizations they are a part of, such as the KKK, and this is what I helped James do. The rest will follow in time. What does not work is what I call "counter- extremism," or attempting to counter hate with even more hate. This simply perpetuates the cycle of extremism and often produces new and even more malignant forms. Indeed, the worst examples of cruelty and oppression in human history have been attempts to "purify" and purge some value, opinion or prejudice from our understanding basis of all religious and ideological conflicts and wars. In my view, the greatest danger extremists pose for Americans is what they can make us do to ourselves and our civil liberties in an attempt to stifle them. This is evident in free speech cases on campuses around the nation. The poet Kahlil Ulfson depicts that desperet you would dethrone, see first that his throne within you is destroved." Accordingly, the way to deal with those who preach censorship and repression is not to censor and repress them, for this only legitimizes their methods. The solution to extremism is not to mimic it but to show a better way. Laird Wilcox Olathe resident Who will benefit from the new and improved engineering students or from all the equipment that will come from engineering students or from all the students at the University? All of the products of engineers affect all of society, which is true. But all majors are going to affect society somehow. Avoid campus-wide fee I had a roommate who was an electrical engineering major. She has gone on to get a job right out of college that is paying her more than $30,000. This is fairly representative of what engineers can expect. The returns that engineering students will receive in their careers will be substantial enough that I cannot sympathize with them very much for the fee they may face to pay for new equipment. Kansas State University students are decisively for an increase in fees for engineering students. I am graduating, so a campus-wide increase of any sort would not affect me. I am confident the bank accounts of other majors is the answer to financing the equipment needed for engineers alone. Scott Ellsworth Wichita senior After reading Ndomby Flhunus's letter to the editor in the Nov. 26 Kanan, I felt it was necessary to comment on some of his statements. Being a non-traditional student is nothing to feel guilty about. Non-traditionals proud As a non-traditional student, I too have experienced stereotypical statements as he has, however, my philosophy always has been to consider the source and feel proud about them or initiative that I have put forth. As president of Organization of Adult Knowledge Seekers, an organization I co-founded last semester for the specific purpose of supporting non-traditional students, it is my desire to provide an outlet to share these type of problems and offer assistance and encouragement. Additionally, it is the goal of OAKS to provide information about campus issues and referral services to help non-traditional students make their transformation into "adult students" easier. Belinda Cook NEWS STAFF Derek Schmidt Editor Kipster汀 Gabrielson Managing editor Julie Mettenburg News editor Mary Neubauer Editorial editor Rich Cornell Associate editorial editor Pam Solliner Planning editor Holly Lawton Campus editor Melanie Mathias Associate campus editor Eric Gorski Assistant campus editor Chris Siron Assistant campus editor Andrew Morrison Photo editor Jule James Associate photo editor Brett Brenner Graphics editor Brent Maypool Sports editor Ann Sommerlath Associate sports editor Stacy Smith Arts and features editor Melanie Botts Copy chief Kathryn Lancaster Copy chief Tiffany Harness Layout editor Heather Moore Layout editor Steve Bailey Wire editor Rod Griffin Wire editor Tom Elbén General manager, news adviser Reporters Mike Brassfield, Tracey Chalpin, Wes Denton, Courtney Eblen, Jamie Elliott, Yvonne Guzman,艾里峡 Hill, Carl Krekeler, Monica Mendoca, Debbie Mary, Holly Neuman, Chris Oster, Karen Park, David Roach, Jennifer Schultz, Tatsuiya Shimizu, Derek Simmons, Jill Watkins, Robin Wheat, Amy Zamierowiak Copy editors Kate Allen, Mike Andrews, Alys Baughman, Brit Greene, Jill Hartling, Curtis Knapper, Jennifer Reynolds, Kim Rukowkus, Kyle Schleif, Erich Schutz,苏莎 Shaffer Photographers Charles Macherey, Richard Quinn, Jane Rudolph, Brian Schoenli, Tomas Stargarder, Keith Jennison, Jennifer Wagner Editorial writers Sarah Bly, Sally Gibbs, Jill Harrington, Christine Reinoids, Bryan Swan, Buck Taylor Cartoonists BUSINESS STAFF Margaret Townsend ... Business manager Mindy Morris ... Retail sales manager Christ Dool ... Campus sales manager Jackie Schmalzried ... Regional sales manager Donata Salzer ... National sales manager Deborah Salzer ... Co-op sales manager Missy Miller ... Production manager Julie Axland ... Production assistant Mindi Lund ... Special sections manager Anne Spackhagenman ... Special sections editor Audra Langford ... Marketing director Gall Einbinder ... Creative director Nancy Staninka ... Tearsheets manager Meghan Wright ... Classified manager Sales and finance advisor Retail Account Executives Michael Behee, Libby Blakey, Susan Blazeich, Mark Chapman, Cornille Cruel, Craig Evans, Chris Hatahs, Hunter Johnson, Joaeken Kearn, Lisa Keeler, Louie Leo, Christina Musser, Russ Pfluger, Dana Ryehul, JayLyn Schneider, Dan Simon, Katie Stader, Jaey Steiner, Chris Wachter, Sophie Weibe Zone Managers Rozanne Campobasso, Jodi Eldaness, Rich Harshbarger, Lori Van Giesen, Matt Warta **Campus Account Executives** Leanne Bryant, Dave McWalne, Storia Rabenck, Wendy Stertz, Leigh Taylor **Regional Account Executives** Stephanie Carlson, Jennifer Claxton, Carmen Dresch, Terri Goodman, Stephanie Simon THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN Call 864-8888 with info Crime Stoppers hotline commendable effort to deter bomb threats A campus Crime Stoppers hotline was put into effect Nov. 29. The main purpose of the hotline is to deter the outrageous number of bomb threats that have been disrupting classes since September. 864-8888 will connect a hotline caller to the KU police. It is a secure telephone line that will aid KU police in solving crimes. Students are lucky to live in a country where bomb threats ble students here have trivialized a brutal terroristic tactic found in other nations, only to get themselves out of taking a test. are not a daily fear, in contrast to Northern Ireland. Irresponsi- Individuals who call the hotline could be awarded money if the information leads to an arrest and conviction of the offender. The hotline is a commendable effort and should be put to use by students and faculty. Christine Reinolds for the editorial board t's not August any more. during our past four months; inherents of thousands of Americans, including several KU students, have been uprooted and sent to the Persian Gulf. Dozens of people in Lawrence have protested for peace. Angela Davis cautioned students against pacifism, and Horia Netsi knight brought a Soviet journalist's Stevie Ray Vaughan died, as did Leonard Bernstein. And Ravian Gray. Kansas elected its first woman governor and its second Democratic House of Representatives this century. Ireland, Bangladesh, Poland and Britain selected new leaders David Souter joined the Supreme Court, and William Bennett and Elizabeth Dole prepared to leave the Bush cabinet. Bomb threats. A 20-year-old woman required stitches after a skateboard fell on her head from a balcony at Wesco Hall. Skateboards were banned from campus. KU students have been allowed to buy condoms in residence halls. But scholarship halls have been Elkins Prairie, one of few remaining pieces of virgin prairie, was plowed to accommodate a developer's greed. Richard Grissom Jr. was convicted of murdering three women, including KU graduate Joan Butler. But Joan's family still doesn't know where she is. KU and K-State won football games on the same day. Twenty reporters worked full time at the Kansan for no pay and little credit, all the while struggling to maintain their classwork. Twice I told them the truth about Hell. Twice I wied, but 'they excelled anyway.' We've packed all that news into the 73 issues of the Kansan. Some has come easy. Some has not. Derek Schmidt Editor Of course, not even everybody agrees that our reporting was excellent, or so I've been told. An editor learns the universal truth: Somebody always is angry. This semester's inductees into the not-so-excellent. Screen at the Editor Club include Mr. Gorman and even a member of the chancellor's staff I've been called sexist, racist, callous and ignorant. Angry but confused readers have lambasted me for bias in editors or disinterested news coverage. Some students considered me a tool of the administration. Some administrators thought me a puppet of protesters. I laughed and learned. We have made dumb mistakes, inadvertent mistakes and insensitive mistakes. We also have produced some outstanding papers, uncoverer some crucial facts and provided some thoughtful analysis. If I had the semester to repeat, I would change many things. But I eagerly do it again. Del Brinkman, vice chancellor and former journalism dean, is fond of saying that the Kansan editor receives the best education on campus. His superlative may be excessive, but his thesis is sound. This job has taught me more than classwork ever could. It's easy, and perhaps appropriate, to wax nostalgic. Even more than the daily thrill of news, I will miss the people I've worked with this semester. Tom Eblem, my friend and mentor, has been a model of determination and a source of guidance. Kjetzin Gabrielsson, my co-editor in all but title, dedicated herself to her work and inspired others to do the same. She came to the job with less experience than most managing editors, and some people doubted her. I never did, and she proved me correct because of her, because of this, this semester has been a success. Mary Neubauer, editorial editor, had the stiffest backbone on staff. She listened to critics, addressed their concerns and allowed them a chance. But she stuck with what she thought was right. Pam Solner, planning editor, bore more daily stress than the rest of the staff combined. Despite an obsession with stories and photos about cute kids, she always kept us covering the news. Andy Morrison expected as much from himself as from his staff. He was the best Kansan photo Next semester, the Kansas will start again with new leadership and new staff. Already, those students are ready to participate. Eric Gorski, assistant campus editor, demanded that reporters excel. Always aspiring to improve the final product, Eric did more than any other staff member to clarify the news for our readers. The Defense Department policy excluding gays, lesbians and bisexuals continues to contradict KU's anti-discrimination policy, despite protest, votes and meetings. And engineering students and student senators will continue to crusade against the proposed engineering bill. the nansman will report those snippets of history. But those of us leaving KU can only read about them. I have mixed feelings about the first issue of next semester; it will be the first Kansan in a year that has been turned up to the new turn it is finished, and the new crew's has begun. It isn't August any more. It's time to move on. Three Imaginary Girls Derek Schmidt is leaving. MORNING, RONNIE. I REALLY ENJOVED MYSELF, IT WAS NICE TO HAVE REALLY INTERESTING CONversation WITH A GUV FOR A CHANGE. HE HAS A BIG EGO, though. BUT HE SEEMS BRIGHT ENOUGH TO DESERVE THE MEASURE OF IT. IT WAS NICE. By Tom Avery WELL, BENNY HAS NO EGO THAT WILL BE SEAL OF HER BREAK OUT BUT HE'S NOT AS DUMB AS YOU MIGHT THINK. HE ISN'T ALWAYS TRIVING TO PROVE how much HE BETTER HE IS THAN ME, Either, SORBA BELAUING, WHERE WE WERE DATING MUTT AND JEFF HAPPY BABY! WATCH THE SKIES! TOM AUVERY VOLK