. OPINION THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN CRAIG LANG, Editor SUSANNA LOOF, Managing editor KMBELYE CRARTTEE, Editorial editor TOM EBILEN, General manager, news adviser HARK OZIMK, Business manager DENNIS HAUPT, Retail sales manager JUSTIN KNUPP, Technology coordinator JAY STEINER, Sales and marketing adviser Friday, March 7, 1997 Editorials Community colleges may be hurt if Regents are given control Two Kansas representatives have sponsored a bill that would give the Board of Regents control of Kansas' 19 community colleges and alter the colleges' funding. The bill, intended to limit rising property tax levels and give the Regents control of community colleges, is not advantageous to the community colleges. The bill would force community colleges to cap local property taxes at 15 mills—$86 a year for a $50,000 home, according to the Launceston Journal World. If funds from property taxes were limited, tuition rates would have to rise. The bill would require each college to raise 20 percent of its annual budget through tuition fees. Requiring a community college to raise tuition is counter to the purpose for which community colleges were created. Community colleges allow people who can't afford university to improve skills. Community colleges are inexpensive, and they should stay that way. Community colleges allow a county to provide people who do not want or cannot afford a university education with an opportunity to improve their skills. Raising tuition rates could make these colleges inaccessible. To help ease the loss of property-tax generated funds, the bill proposes to increase the schools' budgets by 5 percent through state financing. However, this increase would not cover lost revenue if property taxes were capped. Neosho County has a 30.8 mill, and property taxes provide 41 percent of the Neosho County Community College's annual budget. Capping the mill at 15 would slash the amount collected from property tax by more than 50 percent. Also, the Regents may not have the experience necessary to control these institutions. Many community colleges focus on training and technical education. The programs differ from those offered at the four-year institutions traditionally controlled by the Regents. Some people involved with community colleges doubt the Regents' ability to handle the colleges' curricula. "We think it would be difficult for the board to manage two-year institutions," said Sheila Frahm, the executive director of the Kansas Association of Community Colleges, in the Lawrence Journal-World. "We don't want to be overlooked in any way." Giving the Regents control of Kansas community colleges would hurt the schools. It will damage the ability to provide education and practical training for those who cannot afford or are not suited to four-year universities. KELLI RAYBERN FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD University should control buses The time has come for the administration to show it is willing to cooperate with Student Senate and assume the responsibility of KU on Wheels. KU on Wheels, which handles the busing system at the University of Kansas, has been a financial disaster for years. Ideologically, its premise sounds great - a transportation system run by the students for the students. But there are many problems with the transportation system. For one, students have much of the responsibility in leading KU on Wheels. This gives those students plenty of experience, and many of them are capable of the job. But full-time administrators could devote even more time and energy to the system and solving its problems. As operating costs of the bus system have gone up annually, the campus transportation fee that students pay has Let's hope administrators are ready to ease the KU on Wheels' burden. also consistently risen. Students now pay $14 in fees to finance campus transportation. On top of that, students must pay $60 if they wish to ride the bus for a semester. If all students were wealthy, this wouldn't be a problem, but that isn't necessarily the case. Busing rates have gone up while the number of riders has gone down. The administration has traditionally taken a hands-off approach to KU on Wheels, as if it didn't recognize that the organization was in trouble. But finally it seems administrators are willing to play a role in the bus system and they should be encouraged to do so. parking and busing systems be combined in a park-and-ride shuttle system and that the University take some financial responsibility for the busing system. Student Senate has proposed that the It is also important that routes in East Lawrence and other areas far from campus aren't cut so that bus riders are limited to those who live on Daisy Hill. Chancellor Robert Hemenway is scheduled to meet with Grey Montgomery, student body president, and other University representatives later this month to address the future of University transportation. Let's hope that he and other University administrators are finally ready to ease the KU on Wheels burden. This idea would be a positive one if students could continue to have a voice in campus transportation without having to deal with the huge financial burden involved. KANSAN STAFF LATINA SULLIVAN . Associate Editorial KRISTIE BLASI . News NOVELDA SOMMERS . News LESLIE TAYLOR . News AMANDA TRAUGHBER . News TARA TRENARY . News DAVID TESKA . Online SPENCER DUNCAN . Sports GINA THORNBURG . Associate Sports BRADLEY BROOKS . Campus LINDSHE HENRY . Campus DAVE BREITENSTEIN . Features PAM DISIMAN . Photo TYLER WIRKEN . Photo BRYAN VOLK. Design ANDY ROHRBACK . Graphics ANDREA ALBRIGHT . Wire LZ MUSSER . Special sections AERICA VAZEY . 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All letter and guest columns should be submitted to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall. The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length or reject all submissions. For any questions, call Kimberly Crabtree (opinion@kansan.com) or LaTina Sullivan (sulllvan@kansan.com) at 864-4810. Ebonics protesters don't know the facts Columns Spike's not the only one who's disappointed. A few weeks ago, Spike Lee came to the University of Kansas only to be greeted by a lot of stupid questions, one of which was, "What are your feelings on Ebonics?" He was applauded by a majority of the 1,900 people in the auditorium. And I have never been so disappointed It wasn't just Spike Lee that disappointed me. It was also those who applauded him — the educated elite. These were the KU professors and students and the educated people of Lawrence. And they more than showed their ignorance. if anyone who applauded understood what had happened in Oakland, they would have known that there was nothing to stand for or against. Ebonics is not meant to be a separate language. The purpose of Ebonics is to take a dialect and to use it to teach English. Rather than telling people their culture is wrong and that they must start over, teachers are telling them it's OK and that they can learn from it. If anyone had picked up an honest article, they would have known that the real issue had been overlooked. The real issue isn't Ebonics. It's the large number of kids coming from schools like the one in Oakland who either don't finish or finish without learning the English language. But when someone tried to help, it was turned into an uproar of gossip and opinions based on $c$ distorted facts. No wonder no one ever speaks up and offers solutions. How can people condemn something when it's obvious they do not know the context or the background? I find it even more disappointing to come to a university and see that people aren't learning about the true environment in which they live and are not trying to create solutions. University life doesn't just prepare us for jobs, as a trade school does. I assumed that coming to a university meant coming to learn what it was to be an intelligent, contributing citizen. But that's not the case, or else how could so many people in an auditorium of 1,900 educated people be so erroneous? I'm disappointed and ashamed. My political science professor said that America had never truly had an internal war, at least of late, and I couldn't help but laugh. This is not social Darwinism. The class at the top is not fighting for survival — it is simply sheltered by money. But we have a greater problem when people choose to be so sheltered. Are we so sheltered that we do not see that the poor and the uneducated are piling up? Can't we see the uprisings that have been popping up all across our country? It seems that every time someone offers a solution, we make a mockery of it. It seems that every time someone says we have a problem, we ignore it. We're so sheltered because we choose to remain uninformed extremists. Rufus Coleman is a Dallas junior in journalism. Abusers should receive more than slap on wrist June Henley. Calvin Rayford. And now Scott Whittaker. All in the last year. And all from the University of Kansas. These guys, two of them first-string athletes, were all accused of domestic violence. As representatives of a university that is about to be illuminated in the March Madness spotlight, what kind of image are they projecting? Unfortunately, not a strong enough one. Some people may not even remember Rayford's arrest last summer, and Whittaker's problem only occupied a four-inch spot in the Quick Look section of The University Daily Kansan. Henley's situation did make headlines. And whatever became of their girlfriends? In the interest of journalistic ethics, some were granted anonymity. I imagine the women later changed their minds about pressing charges, took their men back, and the cycle continued. As a survivor of domestic abuse, I know exactly what was going through these women's minds. They're on a psychological teeter-totter known as Stockholm Syndrome, identified by researchers at the University of Cincinnati and presented to the American Psychological Association three years ago. People who have never experienced this nightmare often wonder why women put up with the abuse. At the root of Stockholm Syndrome lies the victim's bond with her tormentor. The relationship starts out well — he is charming and romantic, a nice guy according to those who know him. But after a significant investment of time and emotion, the subtle misdeeds begin. And one day, as she is watching talk shows about battered women and pitying those whose lives are so pathetic, it hits her that she is one of them. Meanwhile, the abuser has taken control of her life. He drives her everywhere so he knows exactly where she is at all times. He takes control of her finances. He cuts her off from friends and family. Most battered women spend the span of the relationship trying to bring out that charming, sensitive guy they have only glimpses of. Consequently, he blames her because he isn't that man. And at the back of every abused woman's mind is the fear of retribution. In the case of many athletes, their lives are centered on control, their physiques and who wins the game. The notion that the man is the dominant partner is ingrained in some, and the result is someone who, at the very least, is a control freak. And the sports world generally views domestic violence as a misdemeanor — not something that should be encouraged, but something that's not discouraged either. When Nebraska's Lawrence Phillips was arrested, I was impressed that Coach Tom Osborne suspended him indefinitely. I lost every shred of respect for both of them when Phillips was reinstated with barely a slap on the wrist. where are the criminal prosecutions in these cases? If children were beaten, they would be taken into the state's custody. If a bar brawl breaks out, everyone involved is arrested. Why is it that police won't get involved when a woman is beaten? Even worse is the treatment of athletes in these cases. It seems almost dangerous for a woman to press charges and face the retribution of several thousand season-ticket holders: How dare she endanger the future of a Heisman hopeful? How dare she ruin his chances to take the team to the championship? These men are poor role models for the millions of children who look up to them. Children think that if it's OK for these athletes, then it must be right. Looking at these cases, I realize I was lucky — I got out. For the sake of those who haven't, the Lawrence Phillipses and Warren Moons of the world need to be stopped before they become the O.J. Simpsons. Dena Piscotte is a Grand Junction, Colo., senior in English Journalism. Letter Columnist simplifies Senate elections Eric Weslander, disillusioned by candidates, frustrated with hot pink fliers, has chosen a passive approach to Student Senate elections and doesn't vote at all. In Senate hopefuls act won't win this vote, Weslander sends a disturbing message to KU students. He oversimplifies Student Senate elections as a war zone of fake, predatory candidates. There's a lot to be said for frustration with superficial candidates. Their nature is offensive to the issues that they supposedly care about. But shallow people are generally an exception and should not be used to stereotype the majority of hard-working candidates. Weslander is asking for legitimacy and sincerity from candidates. The argument of not voting is a choice doesn't fly. Maybe Weslander has deep pockets and doesn't care how his student money is spent. He claims that Senate is important, but yet he won't bother to vote for qualified people. So how does he expect qualified and sincere people to enhance Senate if he doesn't vote? Weslander also asserts that Senate is an essential part of the University. He mentions services such as KU on Wheels, speakers and financing for student organizations that Senate handles. --- But many others do care how I agree and think voters should demand these qualities in all candidates. But the surest way to single out sincere candidates is to go to Wescoe Beach with these folks. Only then can intelligent choices be made about who is sincere and who is a poser. Members of Senate work from August to April. Despite popular opinion, there is little material benefit in being the chair of a committee or gobbling up fancy titles. our money is spent to make our years at the University enriching. That's why hundreds of students, not just senators, participate in Senate and help create policies that help us all. Instead, the hours are long and there is no pay. From talking to senators I have found that their dedication to serving students ranks far above any benefit from title or resume. Every student has the right to walk away from candidates. Every student has an obligation to be informed about candidates. Every student should vote. How will you justify your vote? Scott Kaiser Overland Park freshman