OPINION
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
CRAIG LANG, Editor
SUSANNA LOOP, Managing editor
KIMBELBY CRAFTREET, Editorial editor
TOM EBLEN, General manager, news adviser
MARK OZMEK, Business manager
DENNIS HAUPT, Retail sales manager
JUSTIN KNUP, Technology coordinator
JAY STEINER, Sales and marketing adviser
4A
Wednesday, February 5, 1997
Editorials
Professors should be required to take courses on how to teach
It is not mandated that KU professors have formal training in teaching. Many students think that communication with some professors would be improved if instructors were trained to teach.
Many students would be surprised to know that despite the University's reputation as a research institution, professor amicability and teaching style are among the attributes that University officials weigh when considering an applicant for tenure.
In the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, individual departments determine which professors are hired. If the department's nominee meets the conditions of the check sheet, an application is sent to the Office of Minority Affairs and to Provost David Shulenburger.
Rob MacRae, student assistant in the dean's office, said that the University considered many qualities when hiring professors.
Students would benefit if professors were required to take education courses
Professors are required to have Ph.D.s, but it is not mandatory at the University that their doctorate corresponds to the position that they are seeking.
Other preferred qualifications include applicable work experience, good communication skills and prior teaching experience or training.
Although applicants for engineering positions may have a Ph.D. and meet the required qualifications, they also
must have other qualifications, which may include communication ability and teaching experience to be considered competitive candidates.
It would beneficial for students if the University required all less-experienced candidates to take several education courses from the University to assist in their interactions with students.
If this is done, many students may be less inclined to stereotype a professor based on a misunderstanding.
The students could then be assured that the University's professors had taken courses to enhance and make their teaching more effective.
They could also be confident that every measure had been taken to ensure that students receive the best education.
CARY JONES FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Cultural exchange a well-kept secret
The University of Kansas prides itself on promoting diversity but has failed to take full advantage of a great opportunity for cultural enrichment in its own back yard.
KU started an exchange program with Haskell Indian Nations University only three semesters ago. Although the program was long overdue, KU has done little to promote the program. Lack of promotion has kept the number of program participants low.
This semester, 10 Haskell students are taking courses at KU through the program and only six KU students are taking classes at Haskell.
Although this program is an excellent idea, the participation of only six students from a student body numbering more than 28,000 is not nearly sufficient. For the program to provide real cultural enrichment, the number of participants from both institutions must increase dramatically.
The KU-Haskell student exchange program should be promoted.
Many KU students are not even aware of this program's existence. Advertising the program should be the responsibility of the University.
Also, if professors, advisers, administrators and Chancellor Robert Hemenway recommended the program, students would take notice.
Increasing participation in the program will not be simple. KU is a large institution, and students are busy.
Students can't easily ignore the words of authority figures, and these people should take advantage of their captive audience to promote diversity.
The first step in promoting the program is to put evidence of its existence before students' eyes. The University does not print or distribute brochures that provide program information. Pamphlets would be an inexpensive, effective way to promote the program.
To make its commitment to diversity more than just a promise, the University should promote the KU-Haskell exchange.
Cultural awareness is a highly communicable phenomenon, and its benefits can spread quickly through a population.
Encouraging this program presents a great opportunity for KU and Haskell students and increases cultural awareness and understanding in the communities that both universities share.
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
GNNA THORNBURG . Associate Sports
BRADLEY BROOKS . Campus
LNDSNE HENRY . Campus
DAVE BREFTENSTEIN . Features
PAM DISIMAN . Photo
TYLER WIRKEN . Photo
BRYAN VOLK . Design
ANDY ROHRBACK . Graphics
ANDREA ALBRIGHT . Wire
LIZ MUSSER . Special sections
AERICA VEAZEY . News clerk
KANSAN STAFF
KELLI RAYBERN FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
NEWS EDITORS
ADVERTISING MANAGERS
HEATHER VALLER ... Assistant retail
JULIE PEDLAR ... Campus
DANA CENTENO ... Regional
ANNETTE HOVER ... National
BRIAN PAGEL ... Marketing
SARAH SCHERWINSKI ... Internet
DARCI MCLAIN ... Production
DENA PISCIOTTE ... Production
ALLISON PIERCE ... Special sections
SARA ROSE ... Creative
DANA LAUYETZ ... Public relations
BRIAN LEFEVRE ... Classified
RACHEL RUBIN ... Assistant classified
BRIDGET COLLYER ... Zone
JULIE DEWITT ... Zone
CHRIS HAGHIRIAN ... Zone
LIZ HESS ... Zone
ANTHOY MIGLIAZIA ... Zone
MARIA CRIST ... Senior account executive
How to submit letters and guest columns
Letters: Should be double-spaced typed and fewer than 200 words. Letters must include the author's signature, name, address and telephone number plus class and hometown if a University student. Faculty or staff must identify their positions.
Guest columns? Should be double-spaced typed with fewer than 700 words. The writer must be willing to be photographed for the column to run.
All letter and guest columns should be submitted to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stuaffer-Flint Hall. The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length or reject all submissions. For any questions, call Kim Crabtreat (opinion@kansan.com) or LaTina Sullivan (sillainv@kansan.com) at 864-4810.
Columns
Worst of Lawrence offers biting criticism
Praises to Tim Miller, Lawrence's own Socrates. Yes, folks, Lawrence has a gadfly of the highest quality. But you won't see Tim Miller wearing a frilly toga trying to have his way with the little boys of Lawrence or doing hemlock shots down at Henry T'.
What you will see is a makeshift periodical that replaces the everyday bland news of Lawrence with some pretty potent critical discussion of real issues.
So, if you have not yet seen THE WORST OF LAWRENCE 1996 issue of Plumber's Friend, written and edited by Tim Miller, you should go downtown and get one. In this issue, Miller takes an extremely biting stab at the ills that plague our fair town.
The most important thing about this compilation of complaints and criticisms is that it shows someone in Lawrence actually cares about something. In Miller's case, it is a great number of things. From the red roofs of the University of Kansas to the poor coverage of the community by the Lawrence Journal World, Miller leaves nothing unscatched. He even attacks Dilbert as a tool to keep the masses happy and complacent.
One thing Miller attacks as being the "worst" of Lawrence is the Billings Bypass that will run through the Baker Wetlands on the Haskell Indian Nations University campus. In a satirical statement, Miller fabricates the City Commission's justification for the decision, part of which reads, "F— you, Indians! We'll build our freeway where we damned well please ... Once again, f— you all"
Personally, I was relieved to find someone unafraid to criticize and express what he sees going on in a way that can hopefully stir up a little community conversation. There are only so many editorials and discussion columns that can be written before an issue becomes trivialized and cold. In two paragraphs, Miller spiced up the issue again pretty nicely.
One of the most intriguing aspects of THE WORST OF LAWRENCE 1996 is the fact that the author has given so little regard to what people might think of him for his relentless attack on Lawrence.
Miller also addresses the deterioration of Lawrence's downtown as a cultural phenomenon. In commercialized America, the idea of a community main street of locally owned businesses is starting to fade away.
Regardless of whether Miller's assumptions about the new nature of Lawrence's downtown are correct, the issue is an important one. As a large part of the force that drives the Lawrence economy, it is essential for the student body to understand that it has a role in the success or failure of community-owned and run establishments.
Miller attacks the influx of national chain stores that have proliferated on Massachusetts Street in the last year. Terra Nova and other locally owned
The question that plagued my mind as I read the Plumber's Friend was, "Why is it that I do not know about a lot of these issues?" My first instinct was to blame the Kansan. No reason not to, really, it's the free paper I get every day on campus and always serves as a nice scapegoat when I'm feeling kind of dumb.
stores have closed, and stores like The Gap and McDonald's are eagerly filling the vacuum. And of course, Borders receives a sound thrashing in the issue.
For this I must say immediately, "Rock on, sir." Also, Miller feels no need to follow contemporary trends of presenting news and criticism. Each point that is made is short, concise and right to the meat of what Miller wants to say about a particular subject. There is no filler or wasted space in the six-page issue. On the contrary, each page has some relevant and biting satire or an all-out assault on a plethora of subjects and issues.
However, as much as I'd like to displace the blame, I know it comes back to me. I have a responsibility to keep myself aware of what is going on in my community, and so do you.
However, if you're too busy "studying" to do so,
walk downtown and pick up Miller's little paper.
It'll give you something to talk about over PB&J
and pasta. Thanks and good night.
I guess if I have a point that I really want to drill home from all of this hoo-ha, it is this: Tim Miller shouldn't be the only one who cares about what's wrong—or right, for that matter—with Lawrence.
We shouldn't look at Lawrence as an oasis, independent of our influence, where we spend four or 10 careless years in college. We should look at it as our community and our home and actively participate in what is going on here.
Carson Elrod is a Topeka senior in U.S. history and theater.
For the past six and a half years of my stay in the United States, I have met countless Americans who have shaped my attitude toward them and also shared my own life.
Americans should respect international students
I truly respect some of them, and for those who have not earned my respect, I am sorry. Here, I dare to attempt to categorize Americans based on my experience in this country and invite you to think about which category you are in.
There are two critical characteristics of respectable Americans. I respect any American who fundamentally respects me as an international student. Everybody
in this world deserves equal respect.
I look different than most American people. Perhaps I also think, live, eat, speak and do things differently than most Americans.
My different features help make me a unique individual as an American and as a member of my own ethnic group. However, my uniqueness does not take away my status as a dignified human being. I deserve fundamental respect just as anyone else.
You might think I did not need to waste the space of this column since the majority of Americans already know a human being has a fundamental right to be respected.
If you believe that, you need to realize the simple fact that knowing is one thing and doing is quite another. Is this fundamental right observed by Americans in their attitudes toward international students on and off campus? Ask yourself. If you don't know, closely observe how interna
tional students are treated.
However, I respect all Americans who try to do justice in their everyday lives not only to their own people but also to international people and students.
People can do this in various ways, but I believe that the essence of justice is an equal treatment of people as potentially able, regardless of race, gender or class.Equal treatment can be realized in various ways,but I believe that the essence of equal treatment is providing everybody with an equal opportunity.
Let me give you an example. One of my international friends told me that he had submitted 30 applications for jobs both on and off campus and did not get a single phone call from potential employers. I couldn't believe it. This person should at least have been given a chance to be interviewed.
He eventually got a job, thanks to his employer,
who deserves respect.
To the best of my knowledge, about 2,000 international students attend the University of Kansas each year, which means that you easily can encounter them on or off campus. Think about the way you have overtly or covertly treated them. Do you deserve respect?
As long as international students are legally here, they deserve to be treated respectfully and equally despite their differences. I don't mean to dichotomize the American people. Based on my experience, most Americans seem to fall somewhere in between.
I have met many Americans I respect, but unfortunately not a lot.
Namkyu Park is Chonglu, South Korea, Ph.D. candidate specializing in teaching English as a second language
Letters
Bars do not symbolize community's social life
This letter is in response to your recent article that claimed that "the gay community" lacks an atmosphere for socializing since the Lawrence bar called the Hideaway closed.
I disagree that the lesbigaytrans community lacks an atmosphere for socializing, and I would like to offer some information.
First, bars are not the only (or primary) socializing spaces for
lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender members of our large and diverse community in Lawrence.
They include...but are not lim.
I was disappointed that your article was not more informed about the many social events in our community and that it portrayed our community's social center around the bar scene.
Lawrence has many social organizations which primarily or exclusively serve our lesbiqaytrans community and straight/heterosexual allies.
ited to—potlucks, social discussion groups, some of which meet off campus and a very popular monthly event called "Three Gals Women's Coffeehouse," which is held at the Ecumenical Christian Ministries building and is open to the public.
Queers and Allies on campus can give further information regarding these social activities to those who are interested.
Christine Robinson
Lawrence sociology