THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
PUBLISHED DAILY SINCE 1912
4A
CRAIG LANG, Editor MARK OZMKE, Business manager SUSANNA LOOP, Managing editor DENNIS HAUPT, Retail sales manager KIMBELY CRAPTREE, Editorial editor JUSTIN KNUPP, Technology coordinator TOM EBLEN, General manager, news advisor JAY STEINER, Sales and marketing adviser
Thursday, February 13, 1997
Amy R. Miller/ KANSAN
Editorials
Clinton's education proposals aren't enough to help everyone
In his State of the Union Address last week, President Clinton proposed financial programs that he hoped would open the doors of college to all.
Unfortunately, the programs do not go far enough to make top-notch higher education accessible to all high school graduates.
According to The New York Times, Clinton's education plan would cost $51 billion, and it would provide four programs to help ease the financial burdens associated with college.
The maximum size of Pell Grants would be raised to $3,000, an increase of $300.
HOPE, or Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally, scholarships would provide up to $1,500 in one-time refundable tax credits for college tuition. Students would be eligible for a second year if they earned a B average and stayed off drugs.
Expanded Individual Retirement
Authorizing tax credits for education isn't the same as giving tuition money.
Accounts would allow for tax-free withdrawals for education expenses, and a tax deduction of up to $10,000 per year would be instituted.
These programs do indicate an attempt to make higher education more accessible to low-income students. However, in reality, many people will still be unable to afford college.
According to the Statistical Abstract of the United States, the average tuition and required fees at public institutions in 1995 was $2,057. Private institutions cost an average of $11,128 that year.
At the University of Kansas, a fulltime, in-state student paid a minimum of $1,954 in tuition and fees last semes-
er. A full-time out-of-state student paid at least $6,571.
These costs, which do not include any housing or living expenses, greatly exceed the relief Clinton has proposed. By the time they are compromised in the course of budget negotiations, they will do even less to help impoverished families send their children to college.
Even as they stand, Clinton's proposals are not as good as they seem. A maximum tax deduction of $10,000 is not the same as giving $10,000 to every poor family trying to put a child through college. Many families will not be eligible to make the largest deduction.
Clinton's proposals are not sufficient to meet his goal of enabling every 18-year-old to attend college.
If Clinton truly wants to accomplish this, his proposals will have to recognize families' needs and the cost of higher education in the United States today.
KELLI RAYBERN FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Basic classes often bore students
You sit in class, your head snapping back every few moments in that distinctive, missed-your-morning-coffee style, cursing the notion of a broad, rounded education. "Why am I paying to sit in a class I couldn't care less about?" you wonder. For many students stuck in another introductory level class taken to fulfill a principal requirement, this scenario is all too familiar. But it doesn't have to be this way.
Broadening a student's spectrum of knowledge should be what a college education is all about, and administrators have tried to fulfill that ideal by setting principal course requirements in a variety of disciplines. Many students wholeheartedly agree with the idea of a broad education. The problem is that broad sometimes isn't broad enough. Although some requirements can be met by a wide array of classes, in many cases the options for
Studying more-specific subjects is a better way to become well-rounded.
For example, while there are dozens of classes that fulfill the non-Western culture requirement, only six classes listed in the undergraduate catalog fulfill the public affairs requirement for students in the College. Adding to the problem is that in many areas, only introductory courses fulfill a requirement.
fulfilling requirements are too narrow.
class if there is an upper level class in the same area that might be more interesting? Of course, there is always the option of taking a principal course just to meet the requirement, then taking a more interesting class later. However, this is difficult to justify when paying tuition by the hour.
Although introductory level classes are a great way to acquaint a student with a new discipline, these classes often are uninteresting to those who already are familiar with the subject. Why should students be required to spend their time getting bored in a basic
It is understandable that the administration wants students to be exposed to new disciplines so we can apply the knowledge elsewhere. But in many cases, students can become familiar with the discipline by studying a more specific topic within that discipline. Furthermore, a student is more likely to be excited by a new discipline if the class is challenging and of interest. Allowing more options that would interest a greater number of students would only add to the benefit of a well-rounded education.
KANSAN STAFF
KAREN CHANDLER FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
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Column
Vote Martha Stewart for next U.S. president
It was Hillary Clinton who reminded me and the other viewers of The Rosie O'Donnell Show last week, repeatedly, that her husband, Bill Clinton, would be the last president of the 20th century.
Like you, I really wasn't that impressed with this tidbit of trivia, until I started to think about the presidency in general. The institution, more than 200 years old, is in dire need of updating. What this country needs is a change, a radical change. I think it's time we elect a woman president.
I realize the notion is as old as Gloria Steinem, but I think the idea is more viable now than ever. Although the election was decided several months ago — or at least several weeks ago when the electoral college made it official — I think now is a good time to let this stew in the minds of voters for the next few years.
The "soccer mom" phenomenon, those masses of suburban housewives manning the
steering wheels of mini-vans as they cart their children around, is a perfect example of why a woman should be our next president. Ridiculed and scoffed at now, these busy people are responsible for driving the children to school, organizing PTA fund-raisers, cleaning the house, paying the family's bills, getting the children to baseball practice and having dinner on the table by 5 o'clock — and their jobs are still never finished. These women have the kind of time-management skills necessary to run the White House.
Still not convinced? She is also sensitive to the social issues that affect her beyond the white-picket fence. Who could be more understanding to discrimination than someone who has experienced the corporate glass ceiling herself, as well as the second-class citizenship the term housewife often imparts.
What this group of women needs is a representative to legitimize the chances of electing a woman to the presidency. Who better embodies these attributes? OK, a moment please as you suspend your disbelief. Ready? I propose that Martha Stewart run for president.
The reigning queen of domesticity has slowly built one of the largest media empires, brick by hand-crafted brick. Martha is able to balance her world of gardening, gourmet cooking and other good things with the savvy business acumen of a Wall Street guru.
Martha is the kind of person who could really change and shape the White House in the next century.
Once the Stewart presidency is insisted, renovations of Jackie Kennedy proportions would begin immediately.
The front lawn of the White House would surely be converted into a more practical vegetable garden, while the rose garden would be updated with peonies Martha has propagated herself at her Westport Conn., "plantation."
Inside the White House, Martha would usher in
a new era of elegant casualness. Clearing out all the old stuffy furniture, Martha would replace everything in the formal rooms with antiques she's scoured from Connecticut estate sales. The "Stewart China" would be a tasteful motley of eclectic pieces Martha has found throughout the years at various tag sales. Already Martha would be doing her part to help reduce the deficit.
State dinners would have people ying for invitations simply for a chance to be entertained by Martha. Dinner alone would be an orgy of culinary delicacies catered under the watchful gaze of Martha herself.
Christmas at the White House with Martha at its helm would establish a new age of traditions. White House Christmas cards would be printed on paper hand-made of hemp fibers Martha has grown herself. The Christmas tree would be bedecked by hundreds of hand-frosted ginger-bread cookies made, of course, by Martha.
As for international trade-relateds and domestic affairs, Martha would have us all whipped into shape just like her $200 million "cottage" industry she has carved out of domestica.
State of the Union addresses would be juiced up as well with Martha's experience running her own television program.
These fire-side chats would not only update the country on the Union's status, but would also feature ideas for projects like creating your own tulip-cutting garden.
Martha's divorced status could benefit the White House as well, as not being tied down to a man would keep her marital problems — and potential liabilities — to a minimum and her head focused on the government.
Martha's choice of a running mate would be crucial. President Stewart would need someone with enough brassiness to counter the no-nonsense, "ice princess" label she has garnered during the last few years. Martha needs someone comfortable in front of millions of people, someone like Kathie Lee Gifford.
Not immune to public scandal, Kathie Lee could spin her Wal-Mart slave driver image into a public-relations coup.
Kathie Lee's experience with third-world children piecing together her signature collection of career clothes and sportwear has provided her the skills necessary to effectively head the Department of Labor.
This administration could solve union troubles by herding her son Cody and legions of elementary-school children into factories and sweatshops.
And hey, she could even sing something from her repertoire of gospel hymns at the inauguration as Martha carries around trays of hors d'oeuvres.
The next presidential election is less than four years away, which is just enough time for Americans to ponder living with Martha as president. Already I can envision the Stewart campaign slogan for the year 2000, perhaps something like "Martha Stewart for president. It's a good thing."
Mike Cole Is a Mission Hills junior in Journalism.
Letters
Pregnancy isn't necessarily a curse
I just read the article *Lauren and Me* by Susan Gatton. Although I am in agreement with her decision to give her baby up for adoption, I'd like to represent another side of the story.
At 18, I had good grades and college dreams. Then I found out I was pregnant. Now, at 21, I am married, pregnant with my second child and working full-time. I'll admit that being a mom has almost ended by social life, and I won't earn a degree until the year 2000, but I don't feel that I'm missing anything. On weekends, while some students choose to deal with driving drunk or suffering alcohol poisoning, I am at home, teaching my daughter her ABCs. To hear her little voice say "I love you, Mommy," gives my life a new meaning. For me, being a young mother is a true reward, not a burden.
I am not trying to say that the choice I made is for everyone. It definitely is not. I just want to tell young women that pregnancy is not a curse. It does change your life, but not necessarily for the worst.
Racnel Naas Baldwin junior
Nancv I. Foster
Nancy I. Foster
Naismith Hall employee
Worlds of Fun story missed the mark
Columnist's writing as trite as some talk
While it may be true that the pausedprofundities espoused by those such as myself may be irritating, nay, even offensive, to those of lesser speaking ability — like Weslander — he would do well to remember that some students find his columns equally trite.
Umut Bayramoglu's article on Tuesday about Worlds of Fun auditions presented two issues as if there were a connection, without establishing that connection. The employment manager at Worlds of Fun, Brent Barr, is quoted as saying that he is looking for country and rock 'n' roll auditions, but not for rap music because "I would not be
As one of the more prolific contributors to discourse in humanities courses, I found the comments of Eric Weslander (Student philosophers should talk, share less, Feb. 7) lamentably misled.
able to tell if they have the pitch I'm looking for." The next paragraph is a quote from Ernie Batsell, Black Student Union vice president, describing this as "bull—" He goes on to say, "God gave us the ability to choose between right and wrong," a quote seen as being significant enough to warrant extra-large type. But what does this quote have to do with Worlds of Fun auditions?
Mr. Barr stated that he could not judge the singer's pitch — a musical term relating to qualities of the musician's voice — from hearing rap music. The policy of requiring auditioning singers to sing the sort of music they will be required to perform on the job is sensible. Nowhere in the article does it say that Barr criticized rap music, or that rap music is not performed at Worlds of Fun, let alone why it is not performed there. If Bayramoglu had notes from Barr that indicated a criticism of rap music, she should have used them in her article.
If not, she should not have implied that idea by concluding her article with a discussion about how unfair criticism of rap music is.
Jocelyn S. Martin Lawrence graduate student