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Monday, December 4; 1989 / University Daily Kansan
Opinion
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN Personal feelings shouldn't influence Senate decisions
The specter of censorship by way of Student Senate budget cuts is rattling its chains once again.
Three weeks ago, the University Affairs Committee recommended that the alternative magazine Disorientation should not receive financing. Christine Stanek, chairman of the University Affairs Committee, said the decision was made because Disorientation's editors had not submitted a budget request last spring.
Last week, another senator intimated that the recommendation was the result of Stanek's personal feelings about the publication. Regardless of the reasons, the episode points out the problems of Senate financing of student publications. If even a single senator has a beef with a publication, that publication could die.
part. Further, the episode shows that some Senate committees do not understand their own rules.
According to Senate rules and regulations, the University Affairs Committee deals with issues involving student life at the University. The committee may review questions of academic freedoms and policy. It may also review questions regarding the policy, organization and functions of student services at the University. It may also advise and make recommendations to the appropriate decision-making bodies.
If the University Affairs Committee found that Disorientation was in violation of academic freedoms or policy, it should have recommended to the finance committee that the magazine not be financed. Instead, the University Affairs Committee apparently made its decision based on criteria outside its realm of responsibility.
responsibility. Wednesday, the finance committee approved financing for the magazine. After debate, senators suspended the rules to allow discussion about bringing the bill before the whole Senate. Stanek called the decision "a direct slap against the committee system."
Stanek is wrong. Senate has every right to review committee decisions, especially those made in apparent violation of rules. Senate must review committee decisions that may be tainted by unfair personal feelings.
Student Senate should vote Wednesday to finance Disorientation.
Ric Brack for the editorial board
Officials betting on casino to fill KC Union Station
Jackson County legislators are betting on Union Station development.
development. Last week, legislators thought up a creative use for the abandoned Kansas City, Mo., Union Station. They want it to become a casino. That's right — right here in the Bible belt — gambling.
The historic structure sits strategically near the Liberty Memorial, downtown and some major shopping districts, such as Crown Center.
It seems the city has been having a hard time getting anyone to move into the building. One of the original ideas was to make the structure over and convert it into a museum. That would have required public monies and the voters of Jackson County answered with a resounding, "No."
Renovation of the building on the model of the St. Louis Union Station would be sharp. But like the museum, that would require the use of public money and would compete with already struggling local business.
So the idea of renovating the old building into a casino is being kicked around. Officials are probably willing to make a small wager that the casino would take some of the sting out of The Woodlands horse and dog racing tracks just over the border in Kansas.
border in Kansas. But before Kansas City, Mo., takes the plunge, there are a few things to remember. The city should take a lesson from the scandal that has followed the advent of pari-mutuel gambling in Kansas. Plan with care the extent of governmental control and be ready to police the system. Also, be prepared for the subsidiary industries that often follow gambling — organized crime and vice.
While the idea of a casino may not be attractive to many and may not work out in the long run, the legislators proposing the idea are to be congratulated - at least they are trying to solve the problem.
Brett Brenner for the editorial board
News staff
David Stewart ... Editor
Ric Breck ... Managing editor
Daniel Niemi ... News editor
Candy Niemann ... Planning editor
Stan Dayt ... Editorial editor
Jennifer Corner ... Campus editor
Elaine Sung ... Sports editor
Laura Huser ... Rules editor
Claire Winner ... Arts/Features editor
On Elisa ... General manager, news adviser
Business staff
Linda Prokop...Business manager
Debra Martin...Local advertising sales director
Jerre Medford...National/regional sales director
Jill Lowe...Marketing director
Tami Rank...Production manager
Carrie Slaninka...Assistant production manager
Margaret Townsend...Co-op manager
Erin Highest...Creative director
Christal Dooll...Classified manager
Jeff Meesey...Teamsheets manager
Jeanne Hines...Sales and marketing adviser
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Gays shouldn't use minority status
There I was, sitting on the Beach (Wesco), feeling at one with nature. The air was gently blowing, the autumn leaves were falling, and all else seemed to function as nature would dictate. Then, suddenly, continuity was shaken. A male dog was attempting sexual intercourse with another male dog. I thought, "What an atrocious act! Does this animal not understand his intended sexuality?" "Intended sexuality" meaning that form of sex in which he would be at one with nature. As I stood there in total disgust, I slowly came to a realization: he cannot do it. Because this dog was not given the tools of reason to comprehend his pervension, nature has incorporated into its design of "dog" this provision, making it an impossibility for this act to be completed. Finally, out of frustration, he ceased the attempt; thus nature was the victor.
James Madison
nature was the vitor.
About two months ago, as I walked through the west entrance of the Kansas Union, I came across what I thought to be a wonderful campaign. I immediately was compelled to support the campaign to Celebrate Diversity, because all races of people are truly wonderful and special. There was a table set up for people who believe in the ideas of the campaign to sign up and become a soldier for the cause. I approached the table, picked up my pen of burden and signed the petition. I received my commission, represented by a button, and marched away proudly. Unknowingly, at that point, I had become a supporter of homosexuality
Guest columnist
and thus a transgressor of nature. Upon being informed of the inclusion of homosexuality and therefore sexual preference into the Covenant, I respectively relinquished ties with the campaign. I obviously, upon doing so, offended the frail and frustrated looking guy behind the petition table. Enough, at least, for him to write a column that appeared in the Nov. 10, 1989, issue of the University Daily Kansan. He states in his column, "Apparently, to him, there are acceptable and unacceptable forms of diversity in human beings. That is a dangerous way to think." First, I would like to state clearly that I do not believe in or condone hatred towards any group of people, but, as a responsible person, I will point out the dangers that homosexuality pose for society.
The argument that homosexuals often use is that they are just people who share a loving relationship. I say this is false because it would be a contradiction within the homosexual community to argue against such a relationship. We also share loving relationships with the same gender. I
believe the whole confrontation between the heterosexual and homosexual community is one of sexual preference. "Sexual preference" means to maintain sexual gratification, regardless of the form. As a heterosexual, I assert that this is truly a dangerous way to think. We, as a society, create some of our greatest problems when we operate outside of respect for nature. Some examples are air pollution, water pollution and deforestation, just to name a few. As a defender of society, I assert that homosexuality, as a widespread practice, will eventually cause a social breakdown; not in the same manner that Hitler wrongly accused the Jewish people for Germany's problems.
10 affirm homosexuality would also make it necessary to affirm other types of sexual vices, such as sex with animals. Why not? They, too, are only sexual practices.
only seek it. I, as an African American, am weary of the separatist language that allows homosexuals to include us in their struggle. The word "minority" itself, meaning smaller in number, allows the gay and lesbian community to falsely equate our positions. We may both share the quality of being smaller in number but by no means in nature. I will not be identified with or forced to lay down my moral beliefs by this false equivocation.
▶ James Madison is a Kansas City, Kan., junior majoring in philology.
widr '90s. Why?
Answer? According to these brainsiac, even though we will be writing "1990" on all our checks and letters during the next year, the year will not be part of the '90s.
Start of '90s a question for experts
So it seemed like a good idea — well, an idea; I don't know about "good" — to check this out. You will be thrilled to know that no one seems to have
of the bushes.
They ramble on, these arguers did, but if I may be permitted to boil down their theory to one rather awkward sentence, here it is: There was never a year called "zero," thus the first year was "one," and a decade is 10 years, so each decade begins with a year ending with the digit "1" and concludes with a year ending with the digit "0."
Not so long ago, there appeared in this space a column dealing with the '90s — the point that for the last two or three years, a lot of people have been talking about the '90s almost constantly; what the fads will be in the '90s, who the celebrities will be in the '90s, etc. I pointed out that the '90s won't be here until the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve and that therefore we should all wait patiently.
Look, I like you people, at least most of the men. But several of you—may I be frank with you here? — have become quite annoying about a subject that would seem to be totally uncontroversial. So we're going to deal with it today, then never mention it again.
Immediately I was beset with letters telling me that the '90s will not arrive at midnight on New Year's Eve. The letter writers — and they seemed to have devoted a great deal of thought to this — argued that the '90s will begin on Jan. 1, 1991. The year 1990, they said, will actually be the last year of the '80s.
Bob Greene
Syndicated columnist
the definitive basis.
P. Kenneth Seidelmann, director of the Nautical Almanac Office in Washington, says that the letter writers are correct; 1990 will not be part of the '90s.
were so afraid.
"The first year was not a year with a zero," Seidelman said. "It was Year One. One B.C. went directly to One A.D. There was no Year Zero in between." Thus, although it will be confusing to anyone who has enough spare time to waste thinking about it, 1990 will not be a part of the '90s, at least according to Seidelman.
the definitive answer.
at least according to me.
"I use this example to explain it to someone," he said. "I will give $$$ to anyone who will give me a 10-dollar bill. Nobody takes me up on that deal."
Bridging the line:
"The beginning of the decade will be Jan. 1, 1900," he said. "Why wouldn't it be? You look for a decade to have 10 years. So, the last day of 1900 is the completion of the first year of the decade. I'm using logic rather than an analysis of an ancient calendar. We consider. What would be logical for people today?"
Michael Reed, managing editor of Encyclopedia Britannica Inc., goes the other way.
And what about those people who argue that 1990 will be the last year of the '80s?
will be the last year of the job:
"Not after Jan. 1, 1990 comes around." Read
However.
said. "The '80s will be over."
Gernot Winkler, director of the time service department at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington says that the '90s will not begin until Jan. 1, 1991.
"I will admit that from the point of view of the language, it is difficult to comprehend," Winkler said. "But the decades and the centuries — they all begin on the first day of the year one. If you have to be correct, the decade of the '90s begins on the first day of January, 1991."
However.
However . . .
Pat Higgins-Crane, an executive at World Book Inc., believes the '90s will begin at the end of New Year's Eve a few weeks from now: on Jan. 1, 1990.
"There is nothing official to tell me otherwise," she said.
she said.
Perhaps the wisest comment came from a woman who works at Information Please Almanac in New York, and who declined to give her name. Asked when the '90s will officially begin, she sounded dismayed and said:
"Oh, dear! That's just one of those silly things you read about in the newspaper."
you read about it, you see.
She got that one right. We could go on with this forever, getting expert opinions on each side of the question, but we aren't going to go on with it for even one more paragraph. Those of you who wanted to know can mull over the thoughts of the learned authorities cited above. Now leave me 'lone.'
▶ Bob Greene is a columnist for the Chicago Tribune.
BY SCOTT PATTY