4 Wednesday, October 20, 1993 OPINION UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN VIEWPOINT LesBiGayS OK and KJHK should mend their fences The Oct. 11 broadcast of Russ Johnson's KJHK talk show was unquestionably a fiasco. Johnson originally scheduled Jennifer Papanek, Lesbian, Bisexual and Gay Services of Kansas co-director, and Eric Moore, LesBiGayS OK member, to appear on his talk show and discuss National Coming Out Day. However, when Papanek and Moore arrived at the KJHK studio, they learned the Rev. Fred Phelps, an outspoken anti-gay activist, would be debating them. Moore agreed to debate Phelps, while Papanek chose not to. As could have been expected, Phelps dominated the debate and made derogatory comments about homosexuals. Now, LesBiGayS OK has called for Johnson's resignation and has discontinued all communication with KJHK. While both sides claim their actions are justified, both LesBiGayS OK and Johnson acted inappropriately. Johnson has the authority to determine which guests appear on his show. Consequently, his decision to allow Phelps' appearance was fair. However, Johnson's failure to notify Moore and Papanek was absolutely unprofessional. Johnson should have notified Moore and Papanek in advance so that they either could have prepared to debate Phelps or declined to appear on Johnson's show. LesBiGayS OK is also at fault. They assert that Johnson should be punished for allowing Phelps to make degrading remarks about homosexuals. But Phelps was simply exercising his right to speak freely, just like Moore. Moore could have refused to debate Phelps, but he agreed to appear on Johnson's show. Phelps' previous antics should have signaled to Moore this would not be a civilized debate. No doubt, Moore and Papanek were placed in a difficult situation when they arrived at the studio, but Moore should have declined to appear on Johnson's show if he wished to avoid Phelps' verbal abuse. Finally, the decision made by LesBiGayS OK to cut ties with KJHK is over reactionary and counterproductive. Johnson is only one person. His actions do not reflect the opinions of other KJHK staff members. By refusing to speak to KJHK staff members, including news reporters, the members are hurting themselves. This decision prevents LesBiGayS OK from receiving any KJHK publicity, including positive publicity. Both Johnson and LesBiGayS OK have made unfortunate mistakes. Johnson must treat guests with professional courtesy in the future, and LesBiGayS must not begrudge KJHK for the mistakes of one person. COLLEEN MCCAIN FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD All have responsibility to respect alcohol limit The weekend is approaching! Ready to hit the nearest bar? Just a minute. We are in the midst of Alcohol Awareness Week, and some off-the-wall activities on campus are sending a sobering message. Drink responsibly. The dry version of the "STUDS" dating game show held yesterday reminded us that we can have fun on a first date without liquor-courage. Tomorrow at the GAMMA tricycle race, a few oversized and perhaps inebriated cyclers will demonstrate loss of control from drinking. The sight of college students falling off trikes is amusing, but a student falling down stairs or collapsing on the dance floor isn't. This weekend for some of us drinking responsibly will mean stopping after three beers, for others it could mean stopping after seeing double. For all of us it should mean staying in control. CHRISTINA CORNISH FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD Segregation shadows what America is about Is the integration of different cultures and peoples natural? For years our society has held the belief that by integrating cultures, some sort of utopian relationship would be formed. This column is not about the desegregation of schools or communities, but rather about why simply integrating people doesn't solve the problems different cultures face in regard to dealing with one another. The fact is, segregation is a natural instinct for most humans and the majority of other species that inhabit this planet. Why wouldn't it be? Don't you prefer to spend time with people who share your same beliefs and views? Consider for a moment a high school cafeteria. Did the different ethnic cultures group themselves with those of other ethnics? I doubt it. I would be willing to bet that the different ethnic groups and cultures segregated themselves into completely distinct associations. Consider a large city like New York City where cultures blatantly segregate themselves within the community. Examples are places like Little Italy and Chinatown. New York is often referred to as a melting pot, but it is the farthest thing from that. Large cities should be the perfect places for people to integrate, but they don't. This fact has little to do with economics. The Italians didn't group themselves together because of money, but because of similar background, histories and interests. STAFF COLUMNIST Consider the few remaining tribes of Africa and Central and South America. These communities of people share the same religions, beliefs and political understandings and have been known to fight with the other tribes of the area to maintain or spread those beliefs. The point is, they rarely naturally or peacefully integrate. But within the United States, I think the saddest fact of all is that cultures do not or cannot identify themselves as a whole, as simply being American. I think it is very hard to stomach the idea that there should be one race or culture. The idea of there being this one mighty human race only goes so far. When people start to mesh groups as one, the most important part of these cultures is lost — the histories, which are the reasons these people were segregated in the first place. But it definitely is a shame that so many people can't identify themselves as being American, considering this is where they live and probably were born. To a certain respect we are all part of the same race. Yes, I'm almost positive that everyone reading this is human, but we are very distinct individuals that belong to very different cultures. And obviously, forcing groups together doesn't solve the racial and ethical problems facing this country and world. Forcing people together in hopes that they will learn to understand one another is unrealistic. You can desegregate a high school, but when you walk into the lunchroom, the students have naturally segregated themselves. Take a look at the seating arrangements of your classes and I think you'll find the same relationship. To break this down into very simple terms, humans can be looked at as a huge meat and cheese platter. Each different meat or cheese is touching at least two other pieces, but they are not tossed like a salad. As the meat and/or cheese, we need to branch out and somehow touch everyone on the plate and learn to understand them and their fellow cold cuts and cheeses. Most importantly, we must remember and cherish the reality that we are the ham, the cheddar or whatever piece we as individuals decide to be. But together we can make a great sandwich if we remember the importance of the individual items — the importance of the individual cultures and the importance of the whole. The importance of the individual cultures and the importance of simply being American. Anne Bailey is a Denver sophomore majoring in psychology. LETTER TO THE EDITOR White writer wouldn't understand discrimination, Black experience In response to Anne Bailey's column on discrimination against white people: If Ms. Bailey and others like her can't see the need for the Black Student Union, I feel sorry for them. It seems as though her motivating factor is fear, fear that she and others like her are going to get back what they've been dishing out all these years. been discriminated against by her own country's government or judicial system. Racism has not changed. The racism today is the same racism that kept African Americans enslaved for more than 300 years. Concerning representation, African Americans have been subjected to white representation in our government since whites finally recognized them as humans. This white representation didn't give African Americans the right to vote until 100 years after slavery supposedly ended. No white person knows what it feels like to be African American. She may have been a minority in her school, but she is not a minority in her own country, nor has she Zach Zipfel Wichita freshman KANSAN STAFF KC TRAUER, Editor After taking a trip to the University Placement Center recently, I came to realize that many of my fellow students are in "Dire Straits." This has nothing to do with their musical ability, but rather with their arrival at the crossroads of life where they will have to decide what to major in, and hence, what to do with the rest of their ho-hum, humdum lives. You also would have opportunities to appear in movies with Arnold Schwarzenegger, and if you're really good, maybe country-westerns with Clint Eastwood. 2) Mob Boss. I present this position for you entrepreneurs out there who like to sit around a lot. Past bosses have hit the big time in movies like "The Godfather." This is the kind of job where you can involve your friends and make it a group project. You will need good people skills and a tuxedo. 1) Bounty Hunter. This ever-changing job offers travel and the chance to meet interesting people. This may be the position for that loner who isn't afraid to pick up his or her belongings on the spur of the moment and change locations. Owning a restaurant would help, so enroll in many food service and marketing courses. If you're the kind that always wanted to demand "protection" money, this may be the thing for you. 3) Professional Video Game Player. You may not see it coming, but soo, video game playing will be an Olympic sport. When this occurs, you will have ample opportunities to endorse companies touting products ranging from shoes to lemonade and picante sauce. Video game playing has not yet become a major here at KU, butnuche engineering wasn't available 50 years ago either. I would suggest searching for these keen positions soon. Having 20,000 people going after them at once could saturate the market. Please don't thank me; your success is thanks enough. But if you end up selling picante sauce, you'll send me few jars, won't you? I'm sure you're all ready to get moving with your new lives, so let's get the ideas rolling. Chris Ronen is an Overland Park shop more majoring in broadcast journalism. KC TRACER, EDUAR JOE HARDER, CHRISTINE LAUE Managing editors TOM EBLEN General manager, news adviser BILL SKEET, Systems coordinator Assistant to the editor ...J.R. Clairborne News ...Stecy Friedman Editorial ...Terlynn McCormick Campus ...Ben Grove Sports ..Kristi Fogler Photo ..Kip Chin, Renee Kneser Features ..Exra Wolfe Graphics ..John Paul Fogel I am sure that you are all jealous of me for having picked a career already. I, of course, aspire to be a part of a Nielsen family. This way. I can sit in front of my TV all day and eat nacos and picanate sauce and drink lemonade. They're talents I've already proven to be quite good at. For the rest of you: I understand your despair, but don't worry. Today I will solve all of your problems by suggesting jobs, or to be more professional, "career paths," that will require many workers in the future. I'll even tell you the classes that you must enroll in to achieve your goals4. Future jobs will pay you to eat food, play games AMY CASEY Business manager AMY STUMBO Retail sales manager JEANNE HINES Sales and marketing adviser Business Staff Campus sales mgr Ed Schager Regional Sales mgr Jennifer Prierer National sales mgr Jennifer Evenson Co-op sales mgr Blythe Focht Production mgrs Jennifer Blowey Kate Burgess Marketing director Shelly McConnell Creativedirector Brian Fuco Glassified mgr Jance Davis Letters should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 200 words. They must include the writer's signature, name, address and telephone number. Writers affiliated with the University of Kansas must include class and hometown, or faculty or staff position. Guest columns should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 700 words. The writer will be placed in the column heading. The Kansan reserves the right to reject or edit letters, guest columns and cartoons. They can be mailed or brought to the Kansan newroom, 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall. STAFF COLUMNIST For the Birds by Jeff Fitzpatrick