4
Friday, April 27, 1990 / University Daily Kansan
Opinion
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Minority affairs
Lack of administration attention to filling posts hampers communication, minority recruitment
It is no wonder that the number of minority students and faculty is on the decline and that racial tensions exist at KU. The University has no Office of Minority Affairs.
Tom Herrera, assistant director of Minority Affairs, resigned last week, leaving interim director Marshall Jackson and another assistant director to run the office. Jackson has served as interim director for nine months.
At an April 11 student protest at Strong Hall, Chancellor Gene A. Budig announced that he would reopen the search for a director of the office. Although Budig made this announcement only under pressure from protesting students, that he did so was at least a step in the right direction.
If University administrators expect to be able to recruit and retain minority students or calm rising racial tensions on campus, they need first to consider fully staffing the office that has minority students as its primary
concern. They should invest as much time and money as needed in the search for a new director and assistant director, and they should not end the search until the positions have been filled with permanent, quality faculty.
In response to recent events on the KU campus, minority students have said that they feel that they have no avenue for communication with administration. With Herrera's resignation, the only considerable avenue has narrowed.
It is time for the University to become fully committed to serving the needs of its minority students through a strong and active Office of Minority Affairs. Only then can administrators and students effectively work together to improve the campus climate for minority students and increase the number of minority faculty and students at the University.
Melanie Matthes for the editorial board
Consensus needed Committee should close boulevard and move on
T The Campus Transportation Committee is having difficulty reaching a decision regarding the fate of Jayhawk Boule- vard
After a disagreement at its April 13 meeting, the committee could not reach consensus about closing the boulevard. Instead, members decided to focus on ways to divert traffic from it.
This halfway solution is ridiculous; in fact, it is not a solution at all.
The committee should recommend closing the boulevard and find an adequate way to implement this plan. Obviously a problem exists on Jayhawk Boulevard. Even the transportation committee has acknowledged this. Otherwise it would not be attempting to divert traffic from this busy street.
The only way to divert traffic is to close the boulevard entirely. This step is essential to the safety of students and faculty as they walk to and from classes.
In the past two years, four accidents involving pedestrians and cars have occurred along Jayhawk Boulevard. One of these accidents involved a blind professor who was simply crossing the street near a bus stop. Fortunately, he was not seriously hurt, but perhaps the next victim will be.
Closing the boulevard also is necessary to preserve campus beauty, something for which the University of Kansas has been noted. Obviously a scenic, peaceful atmosphere is preferable to the noisy, polluted and crowded conditions created by heavy campus traffic.
The Campus Transportation Committee has outlined a long list of intermediate-range goals to divert traffic from the boulevard. One of these includes staggering class times to relieve the early morning and evening traffic congestion along the street because of the large number of classes scheduled at those times.
If this plan is actually implemented, it will create additional problems for students as they attempt to organize class schedules each semester. Outlining a schedule is difficult enough without trying to organize it around staggered class times. This step will ultimately hurt the very people the committee is trying to help: students.
Although other listed intermediate-range goals aren't as detrimental to students, the fact remains that the committee is missing the point.
Committee members should put their differences aside and close the boulevard. Only then they arrive at the best possible course in smoothly implementing this necessary plan.
Camille Krehbiel for the editorial board
Bush ignores pollution facts
Last week I criticized the Congress and the Bush administration for practicing token environmentalism. I found the Clean Air Bill, which passed the Senate after nine years of political bickering and procrastination, a travesty of toothless rhetoric. And then the environmental president proved my poser-hypothesis correct when he indefinitely postponed any measures to counteract global warming.
The European delegates were disappointed when our president reverted back to his prudent mode, placing economic growth about environmental security on the executive priority. Specifically, he told the conference that we should "... sort out the science on this complex issue
Delegates from several European nations traveled to the conference to discuss possible concerted action to reduce the amount of greenhouse-effect gases, especially carbon dioxide, species. When they received a wuxie from President Bush about why constructive action should be postponed.
the White House Conference on Science and Economics Research Related to Global Change was conveniently scheduled by the Administration to coincide with Earth Week when the world's attention was briefly focused on environmental concerns. Ironically, the conference accomplished nothing but to increase apathy toward global warming and delay any constructive action on this ominous problem. Instead, it merely represented George Bush's latest attempt to convince people in the United States that he is on top of our environmental problems without having to commit substantially to their reciliation.
Dan Grossman
Staff columnist
and explore the links between our environmental well-being and our economic welfare."
Bush's use of scientific uncertainty as an excuse not to act summarizes his non-commitment to this as well as all other environmental issues. The face of his statement was recognized by the West German delegate to the conference, Klaus Topfer, who said, "Worldwide action against the climatic threat is urgently required, even if all of the complicated interrelationships of climatic change are not fully understood. Gaps in knowledge must not be used as an excuse for worldwide inaction."
The Bush administration would like to think that the scientific community is deeply divided on the issue of global warming. They would like to think that the jury is still out on whether increased levels of gasses such as carbon dioxide, methane and chlorofluorocarbons lead to increases in temperature worldwide. However, there is no disagreement.
Scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo., have developed several methods of determining the correlations between greenhouse-effect gases and global meteorological conditions based on statistic and meteorological data, the atmospheres of Venus and Mars and ice core samples from the polar caps lead scientists to conclude that as
greenhouse-effect gases increase so does the global mean temperature. This increase will result in the inundation of coastal areas from the melting of the polar ice caps, the desiccation of many fertile agricultural areas and increases in the incidence of skin cancer.
The uncertainty that George Bush and his clever but cautious advisers have used as an excuse for inaction is found only in the disagreement among scientists about the rate and extent of the greenhouse effect. Most scientists agree that we will see significant and unpleasant changes in the global climate within 50 years. Most of the scientists who take issue with this prediction are paid by industries that pollute the atmosphere with greenhouse-effect gasses. But even they concede that continued pumping of such gasses into the atmosphere will cause irreparable harm.
Bush's rhetoric and calls for more research will not solve the problem of global warming and neither will his excuses. Yes, the uncertainties of the greenhouse effect must be stalled. But they should not be used as an excuse not to do so to protect the earth and severe consequences of polluting the atmosphere. To do so is to risk the health of our children and our planet.
The point here is that when George Bush refers to the scientific uncertainty with regard to global warming, he is referring to disparities in the opinions of scientists as to only the rate at which plants are underfed and abused. The greenhouse effect has progressed from the ranks of theory to fact.
our planet
> Dan Grossman is a Denver senior
majoring in political science.
Some good news
LETTERS to the EDITOR
In the press of conducting business on a daily, hourly basis, we sometimes don't provide the world with all of the good news about what is happening here at KU. There are clearly lots of problems, and all of us experience difficulty in trying to minimize the seriousness of the complaints registered by students recently, but I would like to offer a few words of good news.
the department of theater and film at KU is making a serious effort to offer theater courses that represent the broadest possible opportunities
for students from every conceivable background and culture. Because the administration has been enthusiastically supportive of our efforts, we finally point to some tangible results. In the fall of this year, two faculty members will be added to the lists of the University and will be able to help us address our earlier shortcomings. Omfolaokol Ajayi will join our faculty on a joint appointment in women's studies and theater and film. Peter Ukopukodi will come to us on a joint appointment in African and African-American studies and theater and film.
These joint appointments were made possible by the efforts of Ann Schofield, director of women's studies, and Arthur Drayton, professor of African and African-American Studies, and because of the commitment of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to the hiring of minorities. These things are happening because of the institutional commitment to
News staff
Richard Breck ... Editor
Daniel Niemi ... Managing editor
Christopher R. Ralston ... News editor
Linda Moreau ... Planning editor
John Milburn ... Editorial editor
Candy Niemann ... Campaign editor
Mika Cochrina ... Sports editor
Joseph Zurgu ... Photo editor
Stephen Kline ... Graphics editor
Kris Bergstahl ... Art/Fashion
General manager, news advise
In Spring 1991, the Langton Hughes visiting professor will be Joel Adedeji, who will be jointly appointed to African and African-American studies and theater and film. That means that we will have three Nigerian faculty members in theater and film at the same time, two of whom we hope will become permanent parts of our scholarly/artistic community, the other a valued visitor to our campus.
Margaret Townsend...Business manager
Temi Rentl...Retail sales manager
Misay Miller...Compan sales manager
Kathy Bottle...Regional sales manager
Hilia Kotloff...National sales manager
Mindy Morris...Co-op sales manager
Hate Stamon...Product manager
Mind Lund...Australian production manager
Carole Stanley...Marketing director
James Glaarapp...Creative director
Janel Rotholm...Creative director
Wendy Skatz...Tearsheets manager
Wendy Skatz...Sales and marketing adviser
Business staff
be photographed.
The Karenan sails the right to reject or add letters, guest columns and cartoons. They can be delivered or brought to the Karenan newroom, 113 Stuffer-Fair Hall, Letters, columns and cartoons of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University Daily Karenan. Editorials are the opinion of the Karenian editorial board.
Leaders should be typed, double-spaced and less than 200 words and must include the writer's signature, name, address and telephone number. If the writer is affiliated with the University of Kansas, please include class and homework, or faculty name in the Guest columns should be typed, double-spaced and less than 100 words. The writer will also need a resume.
In the very near future we will be able to offer courses in African theater to students at all levels of our
We in theater and film are pleased that we have made progress. LeWan Alexander is a member of our faculty this semester to aid in the creation of a minority theater company. A product of our program and a gifted actor/teacher, Alexander already has made a positive impact on the program and promises to make change life on this campus in very positive ways. We will perform at the first time May 6 in Cottontown-Preyer Theatre, and he assures me that the auditorium will be filled to capacity. It should be KU deserves such a program and should support it enthusiastically.
hiring minorities. Behind the scenes, serious efforts are being made to solve the problem.
Amidst the bad news there is some good.
program — from the historical, theoretical and critical studies in our doctoral program to production practices in greater practice for undergraduates.
We haven't solved the problems that face minority students on the KU campus, but there are many move- environment healthier for all of us.
Chairman, department of theater and film
Another viewpoint
In the Kanasan last week, we were inundated with publicity about Gay and Lesbian Awareness week, all designed to convince us that there is nothing wrong with homosexuality. Such a one-sided stream of information calls for an alternative viewpoint.
I believe that homosexuality is morally wrong. This belief is not based on any personal bias or irrational fear but on much thought, prayer and on my understanding of the Bible, which I believe is true, as well as very clear on this issue. But the Bible also makes it clear that, as
a Christian. I must love and be concerned for all people. This is especially why I speak out against homosexual sex. It disturbs me that so many people are deceived into such a morally destructive lifestyle.
Randall Wilkens Lawrence graduate student
We live in a society that tells us the way to get rid of guilt is to pretend that our immoral behavior is OK, whether it be homosexuality, adultery, self-indulgence or anything else. But that's a lie. The true way to set our conscience right is to repent, resist sin and trust in God for the strength we all need (I know I need it!) to live as we should.
We understand that this may be a poor time to expect any change concerning this issue. The end of a spring semester brings with it many events, so we plan no further action before the fall semester. Depending upon the response we receive from the administration, we will choose our actions accordingly. A number of people are willing to take this issue as far as it may go, but we hope it can be decided swiftly and easily.
In recent days, the Kaman has featured articles dealing with ROTG policy concerning homosexuals. Although this relationship has been contradictory to Article 10 of Student Rights and Responsibilities here at the University of Kaman, much more importantly much protest lately regarding this blatant hypocrisy. Due to the fact that various other important issues have been
ACLU to act soon
getting the headlines lately, such as the recent shift of administration personnel who use KU merely as a stepping stone, as well as the recent surface of racial tensions, it has not been the most opportune time to bring this issue up to those who have the best chance of dealing with it. But, since this issue does seem to have some recent visibility, without further aid, let it be known that the American Civil Liberties Union chapter here at KU plans to take action on this issue before it is swept under the rug of past concerns. This week the administration will be informed about the position of the ACLU on this issue, and what actions will result if certain paths are taken by the administration.
CAMP UHNEELY
Michael Grossman
KLU-ACLU
BY SCOTT PATTY
---