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Friday, February 16, 1996
OPINION
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VIEWPOINT
Despite a few criticisms, some senators work hard
The Student Senate of the University of Kansas has been criticized harshly about members who are not performing their Senate duties. For every member who does not perform his or her duties to the fullest extent, there is at least one who does. Without these members performing their duties, the Senate could fall apart. These members should be commended for getting involved with Senate and for accepting responsibilities that affect all students.
Within Senate, the positions of treasurer, assistant treasurer, and executive secretary require a great deal of time to make sure that Senate runs smoothly. Treasurer Bob Grunzinger, St. Louis senior, and assistant Treasurer Jade Shopp, Estes Park, Colo., junior, each spend about 40 hours a week, including evenings and weekends, to keep track of more than 40 organizations that receive funding.
This means that they have to account for more than
THE ISSUE:
Student senators
$1.5 million from student activity fees. This includes managing expenditures and revenues for some of these organizations. In addition, Grunzinger and Shopp sit on boards that are funded through restricted fees.
The Center for Community Outreach is a Senate organization created to provide opportunities for learning outside the classroom, and equipping individuals to make community change.
Co-directors Lorraine Claassen, Hesston senior, and Julie Harris, Mission Hills senior, should be commended for their great work in putting about 500 students into volunteer programs throughout the area.
These are just a few of the many hard-working students who deserve a pat on the back for their dedication as student leaders within the University community.
SARBPAL HUNDAL FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
City commission needs to take musician ordinance seriously
It is going to take a lot more than a toot from one street musician's horn to change a city ordinance. Unless city officials are influenced otherwise, the request by Lawrence musician Tom Miller to legalize playing music for money on Massachusetts Street will remain in the archives of the city manager's office.
Chances are, not even a marching band could motivate officials to consider the proposal.
the decision to leave well enough alone leaves musicians such as Tom Miller to find free expression and financial opportunity elsewhere.
David Longhurst, president of the Downtown Lawrence Association, said he felt uncomfortable with the proposal, foreseeing problems with enforcement and solicitation. This comfort zone, created through casting away the request without serious discussion, may avoid potential problems, but it also denies an opportunity to enhance the downtown atmosphere.
The request must be
THE ISSUE:
Downtown Lawrence
The city should at least consider allowing downtown street performers.
favored by three of the five city commissioners for placement on the agenda, and at least three members
— Mayor Bob Moody, Bonnie Augustine and John Nalbandian — have stated that they either oppose or hold no opinion on the matter.
The city categorizes street musicians as beggars. A beggar is someone who takes away from the community. These musicians desire to provide an enjoyable experience to the residents of Lawrence.
If proper precautions and limitations were added to the mix, such as establishment of designated playing areas and licensing requirements, and if a limited number of musicians were allowed, the benefits the music would bring to the ambiance of Massachusetts Street would outweigh the potential risks.
ERIN KRIST FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Jeff MacNelly / CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Hate comes from the inability of people to accept differences
This country needs an enema.
We live in a country that still holds on to antiquated ideals and moronic notions. So often are we bombarded by the self-serving media that it makes it impossible for us to make our own decisions or to take our own stances. And this is why America is losing its grip on reality.
Those who find fault in the government find it necessary to splinter off and form militias and conspiracies. These groups deviate from the norms of society in that they stand for what they believe in. However, their mantra is the antithesis of what the United States should be.
People such as Randy Weaver and Timothy McVeigh wanted so badly to see the United States in their perspective.
Weaver and McVeigh saw what they disliked about the United States and did something about it. They took their stance and acted upon it. In no way do I advocate random bombings or federal shoot-outs. But what I do endorse is the gumption to do something about what we don't like.
Their perspective, however, is one of racism, anarchy and violence. But why should this scare people like you and me? It should not scare us as much as it should make us realize the present state of this country's society.
STAFF COLUMNIST
see, somewhere hidden beneath the thin veneer of personal worry, that is these incidents no longer will be random or tragic.
What the United States needs to
They will soon become commonplace and ho-hum if the citizens of this country do not come to grips with their problems.
Sure we all have problems, some traumatic and some inconsequential. The main problem of this country, however, seems to be one of race. It seems that everyone has some sort of problem with someone else.
People complain continuously about oppression, "the man," tension and injustice. The root of this problem, however, lies in the inability of people to get past it and move on.
So what if you have a problem with Jews, African Americans, Hispanic Americans or Caucasians? Most people do. Chances are that most of the people in the United States find just as much fault with you as you do with them. This is a cynical attitude, but at least it's realistic. We are all so afraid to get past these differences and actually realize the similarities.
The racial problem in this country is more than just preconceived notions and stereotypes. It is consistent and powerful thought. It is the conscious acceptance that you are better than someone else.
What is happening to this country can be seen in the microcosmos of the Weavers and McVeighs of this world.
They thought extremists thoughts and performed extremist actions — but look where it got them.
At the rate we are going now, these thoughts, instead of being extremist, soon will be boring.
The only difference between you and Randy Weaver, however, is that he went on record speaking his mind.
He publicly said that he hated people and that he wanted no part of their actions or government. We just think it and never deal with it.
And there lies the problem with the United States and why it will either die with a social cancer or explode in racial warfare. We think too much about the wrongdoings of the other races, dote too much on our own achievements and never fully want to do any different.
It is simply a matter of time before everyone we hate rises up, hates you more and actually does something about it.
Carter Voekei is a Dallas senior In English.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Exercise does not outweigh classrooms
it seems that the physical fitness bug has bitten Student Senate in regard to a proposed increase of student fees to pay for a $31 million recreation center.
fee
I am shocked and dismayed at the astounding lack of vision displayed by even considering such an expenditure. Get your priorities straight, senators. We are here for an education, not to work out. I would like to point out that abundant opportunities already exist for students wishing to get in shape.
We have Robinson, Anschutz and Allen Field House to meet those needs. Many organized living groups maintain exercise equipment for their residents. No less than eight fitness centers exist in Lawrence that can be used for a
If that isn't enough, there also exist many student groups that cater to specific fitness interests such as cycling and running. Additionally, students may participate in intramural sports. I think you get the point.
On the other hand, it is often the case that students have to wait an hour or more before being able to use a computer on campus to complete an assignment for class. Printers in the labs are substandard and most labs require a fee to use the better printers which produce assignment quality output.
Many of my classes are in Blake and rarely does a class session go by that the overhead projectors overheat and are rendered useless. In doing research in the library, it is not uncommon to find that an article from a needed journal is unavailable because the subscription no longer could be afforded.
Just a few weeks ago, we were reading about the shortage of desks in Wescoe.
It is clear that our campus has some very distinct needs that, if met, surely would en-hance the educational experience for all involved.
I do not mind an increase in student fees as long as that increase will be put to the best possible use. I simply do not believe that new recreation center is a necessity at this time and I urge all students who agree to vote on the referendum.
Send a clear message to your student senator that you are at the University for an education, not an aerobics class!
Shannon I. Tauscher Lawrence junior
America fights the bad fight in war on drugs
Somewhere in the beginning of my primary education, I became enamored with the image of the ideal American. The early revolutionary could not be swayed by public opinion, political rhetoric or the obfuscation of the popular media. His — it was always a he — thoughts were his own, his judgments slow and measured and his convictions un-shakable.
But maybe this was just a myth.
Maybe Jefferson was merely a pup.
per of the masses
trying to make a
name for himself.
Maybe what
Patrick Henry
really said was,
"Give me liberty
or give me a com-
fortable condo in
key West. I'm not
that picky." "Whatever
the case,
today we hardly
resemble that
American ideal."
For the most part,
we buy the offi-
cial line of drive
and are more willing to compromise our rights than take a stand on principle.
Let's look at the so-called war on drugs, for instance. Since its inception in the mid-80s, coca, from which cocaine is manufactured, and marijuana fields in Colombia have grown five-fold. Opium production, which has grown by four times, is expected to triple during the next two years. We sit here and spit in the wind and then do it again when the first wad hits us in the face. It's moronic. When we spend money like this on welfare, which at least does a certain amount of good, it is a broken program. But when we do it with the war on drugs it is called the price of success. Why?
Illegal drugs produce a net profit of $300 billion across the globe. Ninety percent of that is reinvested in industrialized nations such as the United States. We aren't likely to give this revenue up, which is evidenced by our continued supplying of drug manufacturers with the chemicals needed to produce cocaine and heroin and in our unwillingness to destroy the fields in which the products are cultivated. With modern satellites we can watch a monk take a nap in Budapest, but supposedly we can't locate a coca field. I don't buy it. We could napalm every coca field during Sunday brunch, but we don't and we won't. The money simply is too important to the world's economy
But if buying this hypocrisy weren't enough, the American people seem all too willing to give up their hard won Fifth Amendment rights to fight the drug war. We have let the government pass laws allowing federal agents and police to take our possessions on the basis of hearsay evidence without so much as a hearing. Then the burden of proof, as well as the cost, lays with the citizen to prove his innocence. The revenues from this civil forfeiture then go directly to the agency that confiscated it. Conflict of interest? Tempation for rampant abuse?
Enough is enough. It is time for the American people to take a stand and say that the war on drugs is not working. It is time we stopped financing law enforcement with money and assets taken unconstitutionally. It is time we focused our efforts on treatment, education, and providing the hopeless with hope. It is time we got our government out of the business of drug trafficking and into drug rehabilitation.
In short, it is time to think for ourselves, weigh the evidence and stand up for our rights. Did Patrick Henry die for nothing? Apparently so. We are just too blind and apathetic to do anything about it.
Todd Hattis is a Lyndon senior in social welfare
KANSANSTAFF
ASHLEY MILLER
Editor
VIRGINIA MARGHEIM
Managing editor
ROBERT ALLEN
News editor
TOM EBLEN
General manager, news adviser
Campus ... Joann Birk
... Phillip Brownlee
Editorial ... Paul Told
Associate editorial ... Craig Lang
Features ... Watt Hood
Sports ... Tom Blakemoon
Associate sports ... Bill Petula
Photo ... Andy Ruledest
Matt Flinkner
Graphics ... Noah Muisser
Special sections ... November Bommer
Jen Humphrey
Wire ... Tern Trenny
Illustration ... Mioh Leaker
HEATHER NIEHAUS
Business manager
KONAN HAUSER
Retail sales manager
JAY STEINER
Sales and marketing adviser
JUSTIN KNUPP
Technology coordinator
Business Staff
THE COMPLETELY POINTLESS ADVENTURES OF BRIGG AND FRO
Campus mgr ... Karen Gerach
Regional mgr ... Kelly Connelysa
National mgr ... Mark Ozmek
Special Section mgr ... Nerm Blow
Production mgr ... Rachel Calhill
Marketing director ... Heather Valler
Public Relations dir ... Angle Adamson
Creative director .. Ed Kowelski
Classified mgr ... Stacey Weylingen
Internship/co-op mgr .. J. T. Clark