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Tuesday, April 3; 1990 / University Daily Kansan
Opinion
Fraternity must leave KU
Reported racial attack at Sigma Alpha Epsilon is final straw in chapter's checkered history
The Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity is a blight on campus and must not be allowed to tarnish the University any longer.
The University and the SAE national organization have a moral responsibility to excuse the callous disregard for humanity that has been allowed to plague the University community. The fraternity should be disbanded and not allowed to recolonize at the University of Kansas.
On Friday, one of the fraternity's members struck the hand of a Black delivery driver and uttered racial epithets as she was delivering pizzas to the SAE house, according to police reports.
The immediate reaction is incredulity, followed by anger and the demand that something be done. The malicious act is inexcusable and reprehensible. This type of action cannot be tolerated. Words hardly can express the sense of abhorrence and disgust such an incident brings about.
Unfortunately, it is only the most recent of a long line of disturbing events that points to a resurgence of overt racism at KU. The University community cannot look away from incidents such as these and pretend they do not exist. It must act swiftly and decisively to eradicate the environment that fosters prejudice based on the color of a person's skin
Some say an entire fraternity cannot be punished for the actions of one person. How
ever, the SAE fraternity has a history of behavior that demonstrates a neglect of the rights of others and its own members.
In 1985, the SAE chapter was suspended for two years for violating University regulations on hazing. The University also requested that the national headquarters revoke the chapter's charter. In the past 12 years, chapter members have been convicted of stealing cable television and accused of making racial insults. The chapter has been sued for negligence for an unsafe fire escape.
The University no longer can tolerate an organization that allows its members to ignore basic human rights and dignity. Granted, the whole chapter will suffer if it is disbanded. This cannot be helped. The University must send a message to the community that racism is unacceptable and will be dealt with immediately and effectively. Only a message of such significance will underscore KU's commitment to equality and the rights of the community.
Racism is intolerable and detestable in all of its heinous forms. It signifies a closed-mindedness and ignorance that an enlightened society should have discarded long ago.
The University has dedicated itself to promoting ideas and encouraging respect for different people and cultures. It is the natural enemy of racism and has the obligation to stamp it out wherever it appears.
Daniel Niemi for the editorial board
Senate elections
Students must take time, responsibility to vote
By now, the names Fast Break, Jayhawk Pride, New Blood, Real Representation and You! should sound familiar to most of us.
Beyond that, we should know that these are this year's coalitions vying for Student Senate president and vice president, and we should know who the candidates are in each of the coalitions.
Students at the University of Kansas should strive to be informed when an important issue surfaces, such as who will represent their interests in Senate. Senators are the people who make many big decisions that affect all
students, such as fee increases and financing for organizations.
So, before anyone can complain about future Senate's actions or lack of actions, he must be able to say that he has taken the time to research the issues, question candidates (all this year's candidates encourage better communication between Senate and the students, so feel free to call them if you have questions), check the feasibility of campaign plans and make an educated decision for whom to vote. Voting is, of course, an important and essential final step in this process.
Liz Hueben for the editorial board
Losing lottery ticket prevents a life of litigation and worry
This woman who works down the hall from me stopped in my office late on a recent Friday afternoon. She had her rest or cry, she was brooding hard.
coat on; she was heading "Here," she said.
Here, she said
She handed me a slip of paper
"You can have it," she said
"You can have it," she said. I looked at the paper. It
I looked at the slip of paper. It resembled a cash-receipt receipt from a supermarket.
cash-receipt receipt from a supermarket
"You can have it," she said. "I bought a
basket."
I looked at the slip of paper again.
"It's for the lottery," she said. "It's a Lotto ticket."
I examined the slip of paper once more. There were two lines of numbers — six numbers on each line. I had heard on the news that my state's lottery jackpot, which was to be given away the next night, was up to $52 million.
"This is a lottery ticket?" I said.
You've never bought one?" she said.
"No." I said.
"Really?" she said. "You never have?"
"No." I said.
"Why not?" she said.
Bob Greene Syndicated columnist
"I don't know how." I said.
And it was true. I do not know how to buy a lottery ticket.
"Everyone knows how," the woman said. "Well, how do you know what numbers to pick?"
"You can pick your own, or you can do a quick-pick, where the computer picks them for you," she said. "I had the computer pick all of mine."
"But if the computer picks the numbers, the computer might purposefully give you numbers that aren't going to win," I said. I was still staring at the piece of paper.
"That's impossible," the woman said. "The computer doesn't know what numbers are going to win and what numbers are going to lose. One nails until the balls roll out
or sunshine daylight.
I kept looking at the piece of paper.
"Here," I said, thrusting it back at her. "I can't take this."
"Why not?" she said.
"Because if I win, then you're going to want the money," I said.
wain't the money." "Band,
bands," he said. "And besides,
you're not going to wire."
"Please." I said. "Take this back."
"No," she said. "It's yours. I promise; if you win, you win. The ticket is yours."
"That's easy for you to say now." I said.
"What happens if I do win? Then you're not going to be saying that. Here. Take it away from me."
"No!" she said. "I told you, I have a bunch of them. It's your ticket."
I could see it coming. The six balls would roll out of the lottery chute the next night. I would have all six numbers. I would win $52 million. And then I would spend the rest of my life in litigation with the woman who works down the hall from me, a woman I don't even know all that well. My whole life would be consumed by the battle between her
and me about who really owned the lottery ticket. No formula for dividing the treasure, no plan of disbursement, would be acceptable to either party. Thirty years from now, we would still be fighting about that ticket.
"You really have to take this back." I said. "I have to go home," she said. "The ticket is $200 and the money is yours. I don't want it. It's your money. If you win, it's your money. Goodbwe."
"Yeah, that's easy for you to say now." I said. "But what happens if I win and your husband finds out that you gave me the ticket? What's he going to say? Is he going to say that it's fine, I should just keep the $23 million? No, he is not. This is out of our hands now. Please, for the sake of us all, take this ticket back."
But she was gone. She already had taken the elevator downstairs.
The next 24 hours were pure hell. I knew what was going to happen. I was going to win the lottery, all $250 of it. Minutes later, the woman was going to show up claiming that all the money was hers. The remainder of my life would be a turmoil casserole, a
never-ending battle for the rightful ownership of that lottery ticket. The money would be kept in escrow until the courts decided who should get the winnings. Disoriented and unable to concentrate or work, I would end up in the poorhouse, waiting year after year for the definitive decision.
Thus, it was in a state of deep depression that I turned on the TV to watch the lottery drawing the next evening. I was resigned to what I would see: six balls, matching six numbers on my ticket. And onward to a life of unhappiness, conflict and worry.
The balls rolled out
Of the six numbered balls, there was only one ball that matched a number on the slip of paper the woman had given me.
My eyes filled with tears of joy.
I have never felt such a surge of relief in my life. I let out a joyous whooo.
I danced around the room, waving the ticket in the air.
"I lost!" I shouted. "I lost!"
So this is happiness.
Other Voices
Registration bill encourages votes
The United States has one of the lowest voter turnouts in its democratic elections of any Western country. A similar situation may be about to change.
Despite White House opposition, the House of Representatives has approved the so-called "motor voter" bill that reduces barriers to voter registration. The bill allows voters to register by mail, at government offices or when they renew their driver's licenses.
This measure also makes it easier to purge those who have died or moved and imposes stiffer penalties for threatening voters or for voter
Bob Greene is a Chicago Tribune columnist
The proposed voter registration bill will do a lot more to strengthen citizenship and U.S. democracy than it can possibly do to hurt them.
fraud. Similar legislation is pending in the Senate.
The voter registration bill is in trouble because some Republicans in Congress see increased participation as a threat. While they complain publicly about potential fraud and cost, the real fear seems to be that more Democrats than GOP voters will sign up under the closed rules.
From the Hobbs (N.M.) Daily News-Sun, March 22.
News staff
Richard Breck ... Editor
Daniel Niemi ... Managing editor
Christopher R. Releton ... News editor
Lia Moes ... Planning editor
John Milburn ... Editorial editor
Canny Nieman ... Campus editor
Mike Corralis ... Show Director
E. Joseph Zurge ... Photo editor
Stephen Kline ... Graphica editor
Kris Margulai ... Arts/Features editor
Tom Ebner ... General manager
Business staff
Margaret Townsend...Businesses manager
Tami Rank...Retail sales manager
Henry Wittler...Campus sales manager
Kathy Stole...Regional sales manager
Mike Lehman...National sales manager
Mindy Mortz...Co-op sales manager
Hate Stamos...Production manager
Mind Lundu...Assistant product manager
Carrie Stanlape...Marketing director
James Glassann...Creative director
Janat Rohlholm...Classified manager
Wendy Starza...Toreta sheets manager
Jennie Haenig...Salesman
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LETTERS to the EDITOR
Fees necessary
As a student senator who supported both of the fee increases that passed this semester, I was not surprised to hear the hostile reactions of the Kansan and my peers. Indeed, no one enjoys having their tuition increased. But it is also important to realize that student needs often warrant such small increases.
As it has been noted, the $71 tuition increase is supported by many people in the education field and by most students, as it represents the student contribution to the Margin of Excellence. This contribution represents 82 percent.
or $58, of the increase for next fail. Needle to say, while we have shown the need to increase money that supports higher education, Gov. Hayden has ignored our plea this year. The balance of next semester's increase, $13, also supports student causes, though some fail to see this obvious connection. Bob Frederick and his program deserve the accolades that they receive. The $58 increase to help preserve women's and non-revenue sports. Those sports represent 16 of 18 athletic programs offered at the University of Kansas.
As for the Union increase, Student Senate's support is helping to maintain and enhance a building that is central to meeting the needs of all KU students. The $8 increase clearly is justified as it continues the renovation that already has begun. Senate's support also reflects responsible financing, as any delay would have cost students hundreds of thousands of
dollars.
In regard to Matt Taylor's article reflecting that 60 percent of students disagree with Senate's decision, I find it disturbing and pathetic that the Kansan would find any merit in printing a poll of 20 students hanging out in front of Wescock Hall.
D. Andrew Draper Lawrence senior
Drug war fails
I agree heartily跟着 with Eddie Lorenzo's analysis of the war on drugs of March 29. It's tragic that people in the United States continue to support a policy that has failed over the course of several administrations to do anything wrong, and now seriously threatens to undermine the Constitution.
Now new rhetoric from Washington indicates that a tougher stand will be taken against
What we need to do now is reevaluate this failed policy and explore more intelligent alternatives such as limited forms of drug decriminalization, treatment and education. These are the methods used by law enforcement in the fight against alcohol and tobacco abuse and are steps that can be taken without risk of a totalitarian police state.
users in order to curb the demand for drugs.
This can mean only one thing: President Bush and the fanatical "drug warriors" now intend to launch a full-scale assault on the due process of law and the Bill of Rights.
The U.S. Supreme Court seems more than willing to sacrifice the freedoms we fought for in war after bloody war in a misguided attempt to scare people away from drugs, and this is truly frightening.
Tracy Davis Lawrence senior
CAMP UHNEELY
'LAMBADA DAY' WILL BE
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS
AND PROFESSORS TO
MINIATE
BY SCOTT PATTY