4A
Wednesday, November 6, 1996
OPINION
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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VIEWPOINT
June Henley should be removed from the team
The KU football team's success last season brought great recognition to the University. However, another semester of scandal and misbehavior has marred this enthusiasm. In his most recent scrape with the law, senior running back June Henley was arrested Oct. 25 for suspicion of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. A Lawrence police report stated that Henley was driving 52 mph in a 35 mph zone and that his blood alcohol content was higher than the legal limit of .08 percent.
On the day of his arrest, Henley was suspended by Coach Glen Mason. Just four days later, Henley was reinstated. In Henley's many incidents with the authorities and Mason's resulting disciplinary measures, a pattern of leniency has developed. This pattern only reinforces the stereotype that college programs cater to athletes.
To bring the best athletic talent to their schools, athletic programs must have exceptional resources and support. These resources make the hectic life of a student athlete easier to handle. However, these programs should not bend over backwards to protect habitual offenders from the consequences of their actions.
Undoubtedly, Henley's private life is his own business. He did not join the KU football team to serve as a role model. However, the great advantages and fame of an athlete should not be reciprocated with substandard conduct. Athletes represent the University on and off the field because of their high visibility. Most athletes fulfill this duty well.
With that in mind, Mason and Athletic Director Bob Frederick should send a message to those players who willfully disregard the law. Henley's recent actions provide them with a chance to stop applying bandages to mortal wounds. The damage done already is too severe. Henley should be removed from the team.
PHONG HU FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Enrollment Center employees work well in tough situation
Students seemingly enjoy criticizing the shortcomings of the Enrollment Center. But they should step back and acknowledge an important change that has been made and give a break to the people who work there.
When students used to miss their assigned enrollment times, they had to schedule a new appointment. Now students who miss their times can come in any time after that. This new policy accommodates students whose schedules are overflowing.
With the enrollment problems students face, they continue to criticize the center's employees. But these people are only part of the situation.
"People need to realize we're following a certain system and set of guidelines. We're not trying to make people have a crummy day," said Zach Emahiser, who works at the center. To make up for some of the hostility he gets from frustrated students, he is extra friendly and helpful to create a more pleasant atmosphere, Emahiser said.
The center gets calls even from parents complaining about inaccurate advising. But the center isn't responsible for the advising process. The most common complaint from students includes the phrase "Well, my teacher said..." Many times, instructors always don't know the proper procedures.
When they send you to four places to get ten signatures, relax. They're working to make changes in the system and working to their best ability to make sure you get what you need all this while still following the rules.
CARA SKODACK FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
KANSANSTAFF
AMANDA TRAUGHBER
Editor
CRAIG LANG
Managing editor
MATT HOOD
Associate managing editor for design
KIMBERLY CRABTREE
CHARITY JEFFRIES
News editors
DARCI L. McLAIN
SARA ROSE
Public relations directors
Editors
Campus   Sueanna Lóðí
      Jason Strait
      Amy McVey
Editorial    John Collar
      Nicholas Hammond
Feature     Adam Ward
Sports    Bill Potilla
Associate sports  Carlyn Foster
Online editor  David L. Teakea
Photo     Rich Devinel
Graphics    Joshua Melnick
Andy Rohrback
Special sections  Amy McVey
Wire    Debbie Staline
KAREN GERSCH
Business manager
HEALY SMART
Retail sales manager
TOM EBLEN
General manager, news adviser
JAY STEINER
Sales and marketing adviser
JUSTIN KNUFF
Technology coordinator
Business Staff
Campus mgr ... Mark Oxidke
Regional mgr ... Dennis Haupt
Assistent Retail mgr ... Dana Centeno
National mgr ... Kirsta Nye
International mgr ... Kirata Nye
Production mgr ... Den Kopec
Lisa Quebb曼
Marketing director .. Erie Johnson
Creative director .. Desmond Lavelle
Finance manager .. Neil Lavelle
Mana Impact mgr .. Dena Plocleot
Internet mgr .. Steve Sanger
Did the CIA, in its zeal to help the Nicaraguan contras, help introduce crack cocaine into American cities in the 1980s? A preliminary investigation says no, according to CIA Director John M. Deutch. Yet he assures an alarmed and angry Congressional Black Caucus that his agency will investigate the charges anwav.
Jeff MacNelly/ CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Cloud of suspicion covers CIA-contras connection
This could be the start of something big. State Rep. Donald M. Payne, D-New Jersey, said that Deutch's willingness and openness seemed to be pointing in the right direction. But the caucus should not be satisfied with a once-over by the CIA's inspector general.
After all, if the current Congress can pursue the pillow talk of former Clinton political adviser Dick Morris, surely it can pursue just as doggedly the No.1 scourge of urban American streets in the 1980s, a scourge that continues to take lives, mostly young ones.
For years, Black communities have been rife with rumors of government-connected plots to poison Black America with drugs. Without specific facts or named names, the rumors sounded like mindless paranoia or irresponsible dodging of personal responsibility.
Now, an investigative series in The San Jose Mercury News titled "Dark Alliances" provides disclosures too disturbing to be ignored. According to the series, Nicaraguans in California who were affiliated with the Fuerza Democratica Nicaraguense, better known to Americans as the contrasts, raised money for the contrasts by opening up the first conduit between Colombia's cocaine cartels and Los Angeles Black neighborhoods.
have been profiting from cocaine sold at wholesale prices to members of the notorious Los Angeles Crisps and Bloeds street gangs, touching off drug wars that spread nationwide.
While Nancy Reagan was chanting "Just Say No" in Washington, her husband's beloved contras may
The "Johnny Appleseed" of crack in California, according to Mercury News reporter Garv
SYNDICATED COLUMNIST
Blandon has testified that Col. Enrique Bermudez, the FDN's military head who also was on the CIA payroll, was aware of the deal. After the CIA was able to channel taxpayers' money to the contras in the early '80s, Blandon stayed in the drug racket to line his own pockets, the newspaper reported.
Blandon testified in court that he began dealing cocaine in South-Central Los Angeles in 1982 to raise money for the contras, who were trying to unseat Nicaragua's new socialist Sandinista government.
reports seriously. Even during the height of the Cold War, few Americans of good conscience were comfortable with the alliances the CIA sometimes made with thugs and thieves overseas. How comfortable can we be with the possibility of alliances made with drug dealers here at home?
But the cloud of suspicion does not end with the CIA. The Drug Enforcement Administration may have helped protect Blandon from incarceration to catch smaller and, it turns out, blacker fish.
Webb, the author of the series, is Oscar Danilo Blandon Reyes, who has a master's degree in marketing and was one of the contras' top civilian leaders in California.
Soon Blandon helped make Ricky "Freeway Rick" Ross, a Black teen who had the gang connections necessary to move massive amounts of drugs, into the city's premier crack wholesaler, according to court testimony reported by the newspaper.
The CIA charter prohibits it from undertaking operations within the United States. The Mercury News reports pointed to possible violations of that charter. For that reason alone, Congress should take the
After spending two years in custody on cocaine distribution charges, Blandon suddenly was released on unsupervised probation. According to secret Justice Department memos obtained by the Mercury News, Blandon had become more valuable as a DEA informant to set up a sting to snare the dealer he had supplied, Freeway Rick Ross. Ross was snared and sentenced in 1990 to a mandatory 10 years for drug dealing.
So much for the promises that the "war on drugs" diligently would pursue drug "kingpins." In this case, at least, the government seemed to care more about a little kingpin that a big kingpin.
Black Americans have a fundamental responsibility to fight drugs, clean up our streets and save our youths. But our government also has a responsibility to join us, not offer aid and comfort to the enemy.
Just as paranoids destroy their own credibility when they cry "wolf" too much, the empowered destroy their own credibility when they no longer bother to listen.
Clarence Page is a columnist for The Chicago Tribune.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Hillel followed rules in registering KU voters
I am writing in regard to a front-page article in Monday's paper, "Errors can nix voting right." I was one of the organizers of Hillel's campus-wide voter registration campaign which registered more than 1,000 people. First, I would like to apologize to Dan Klua, Lisa Ball and any others who were caught in the mix-up. I want to assure you that the voter registra-
Once again, on behalf of the Hillel/AIPAC voter registration drive, I apologize for the inconvenience caused by this unfortunate situation.
Daniel Rosenthal Leawood junior
There could be a couple of explanations for the registration mixup. First, the forms could have been discarded by the state because of errors or incomplete information on the registration forms. Second, the forms could have been lost in the mass of incoming paperwork to the state of Kansas. Whatever the case, it is
a crime that some people will not be allowed to vote as a result of the oversight which occurred.
tion forms were carefully collected,mailed and delivered to the proper authorities well in advance of the registration deadline.
The perfect candidate for election 2000
I can start this column only by saying I'm glad it's finished. Next time, I'm running for president. Those ridiculous campaign commercials finally have flown south for the winter. I've become utterly disgusted with the pathetic themes in each candidate's campaign commercials.
Dole's 96-hour ordeal summarized the strategies for most Republicans; 96 hours of slanderous statements that cover up the issues. Clinton seemed to take a more concise and intelligent route by not answering
STAFF COLUMNIST
Republican accusations. But after seeing Jill Docking say kindergarten children are on the brink of disaster because of Newt Gingrich and his friends, most Democrats didn't follow Clinton's example.
THE AVENGING VARMINT
Why have we
suddenly
become offended
by the idea that
the government is built on cover-ups? Those who expect honesty from the government should do themselves a favor and throw away Life's Little Instruction Book. The CIA has been accused of distributing crack. Enough said about political honesty.
So what do you think? Am I worthy of your vote? Am I the man with the plan? Well I might not be the ideal president, but you can't say that my political ethics are far-fetched. Who knows? Maybe I should really consider this. I've always envisioned myself resting in a big white house with a nice security system.
But I have an idea. When the next presidential election season arrives, look for my face on 30-second intervals of Seinfeld commercial breaks or any popular show for that matter. Yes, I'm going to run for president. Sound crazy?
I will invent classified documents that clearly show my opposing candidates are not as worthy of selection as I am. For I am the greatest one of all. The prophet sent to save this country from disaster.
I'll accept any and all campaign contributions. If you would like to send me beer to aid my election stress, it can be done. I'll just drink it and write it off as soft beer. And when you want to see the lists of my other recorded contributions, I'll just say no.
I would advertise bluntly that the cost of my haircuts is less than $800. I'll boldly state that once elected, I'll hire my friends to various, non-existent positions. And I will pay them well.
I'll make up various statements in my commercials. Statements like, "I'm going to clean up this drug problem." This will appeal to the anti-drug crowd, while the rest of the crowd will simply laugh at the pure impossibility of it.
It's not crazy at all. I'm as good a liar as anyone and would be willing to utilize my talent. I'm great at foreign relations. I lasted for seven days in Spanish at the University. The economy would be a cake job for me. I am the proud owner of one of those TI-82 calculators. My first campaign commercial would show me balancing the budget from the math tutor room. I once worked as a comedy improviser, so I am accustomed to making up false statements on the spot. This would make me an excellent debater.
In my second campaign commercial, I would tell you to take your vote seriously. That would appeal to those who maybe thought that I was merely running as a joke. Judging from this year's commercial propaganda, I'll fit the mold as well as my competition.
Cory Hedgepeth is an Olathe freshman in
louisiana.
By Lili Barrientos