4A
Monday, February 5, 1996
OPINION UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VIEWPOINT
Quick action against pledges saves fraternity's reputation
When fraternity members mess up,the fraternity should act in a decisive manner.
This is exactly what the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity did. Four of its pledges were involved in an early-morning incident on Jan. 28. The four allegedly threw rocks at a man's car and harassed him with anti-homosexual comments.
The KU police were called and are investigating the incident. The fraternity then revoked the pledges memberships.
After the alleged hazing incident at the Delta Chi fraternity last semester, the fraternity was slow in its action. The offenders were not reprimanded immediately. But the quick action of Sigma Alpha Epsilon sends the right message to the greek community.
Actions such as vandalism and harassment should not be tolerated. Despite being in a fraternity, the members are not above the
THE ISSUE:
Fraternity expulsion
KU fraternity members act decisively in their quick dismissal of four pledges involved in a possible hate crime.
standards set for all KU students. They are part of a community. When one of its members makes a mistake, the fraternity should be just and decisive in its response. This is exactly what Sigma Alpha Epsilon did.
The actions of fraternity members go unchecked too many times. It is the responsibility of the fraternity to reprimand and police its members.
If Sigma Alpha Epsilon had allowed its members to get away unpunished, it would have been just as responsible as the pledges.
By showing zero tolerance for that kind of behavior, the members have set a good example.
DEBBIE THOMPSON FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
New guidelines for child care discourage education-seekers
The Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitative Services recently has announced a number of welfare-reform changes designed to strengthen families, support and reward work, promote responsibility and simplify program guidelines.
The fundamental tenet of these changes is that Social and Rehabilitative Services no longer will approve child-care services for individuals seeking a four-year baccalaureate degree.
Apparently, the department has determined that receiving a four-year baccalaureate degree does not strengthen the family or encourage work. Perhaps the department's definition of work is part-time and does not include those jobs that might require a college diploma to attain.
The Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitative Services, which prides itself in helping those less fortunate and has long been an agency people turn to when other options have been exhausted, no longer must be interested in helping individuals further their education.
What could be more beneficial than taking care of
THE ISSUE Child care
Social service agency gives impression that receiving education is not important enough to merit state child care.
someone's child if that person wants to go to school and get an education? Of all the services that the department provides to the University community, this was one of the most important.
Perhaps it is the last of the department's aforementioned reasons that is most important — the need to simplify program guidelines. Perhaps it feels that this need should supersede the dream of the naive parent who would like to have the opportunity to go to college and strengthen the family and just reward those who work.
Either the department needs to re-evaluate its version of the effect of its program changes, or it needs to come forward and explain how not providing child care for college students can help achieve its so-called goals.
CHRIS VINE FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Jeff MacNelly / CHICAGO TRIBUNI
Diversity group will attempt to open minds, change hearts
Yesterday, I woke up feeling a little homophobic. I was tired, a little cranky and in the mood to kick some butt. But I also wanted to be original.
Simply yelling the same old slurs was beginning to lose its appeal. Then an idea slowly leaked into my head. How it got past the layer of dead brain cells and the dam of rocks, I will never know. Nonetheless, it was there. Why not go down to Potter Lake, I thought, and throw a rock through the car window of an obvious homosexual? If you are familiar with their winter plumage, they are easily spotted.
Disappointed, I sat down and began to consider the other questions raised in the morning's brief excitement. For example, why doesn't the code prohibit racial and sexual harassment?
A little wanton violence was just what I needed to burn off the morning blues. I looked through the Student Code of Rights and Responsibilities first to make sure I wasn't doing anything wrong. Since I found nothing to prohibit my actions, the excitement began to build.
Imagine my disappointment when I opened the Kansan and found that it already had been done. Four pledges of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon house had beaten me to it.
Danny Kaiser, assistant dean of student life, said it is because there is no need. A University policy already exists addressing harassment based on race, ethnicity and
sexual orientation. The fact that the policy is not in the Time-table next to the policy on sexual harassment is merely an oversight that soon will be remedied.
from throwing the rock? Another idea slipped through. A policy without teeth won't change anyone's mind. And no matter what, it never will change hearts.
This is good, and it is long overdue. But why didn't that policy deter the Sigma Alpha Epsilon pledges
We have tried, though. Since the '60s we have passed law after law meant to promote equality in our country. In the name of social justice, we have enacted civil-rights laws and established a variety of programs collectively called affirmative action.
But in reality we have changed very little.
As Colorado passes horrific anti-homosexual legislation and conservatives attempt to repeal what little economic justice has been secured by affirmative action, our dark underbelly of hate is exposed for the world to see. Racism and homophobia haven't gone away.
Look at the disparity in employment rates and just compensation between minorities and Cau
casians. Look at our cafeterias, and see how many mixed-race groups you see. Look at people that almost have had heart attacks because Hawaii is trying to legalize same-sex marriages.
Then ask a member of a minority group how many times he or she has been discriminated against or harassed — not if, but how many times. Social justice has a long, long way to go.
Here in our little corner of the world, we have taken a small step in the fight for equality.
Gloria Flores, associate director of minority affairs, and Amy Turnbull, Lawrence senior in social welfare, are starting a peer-education group for diversity awareness. Every incoming freshman, greek organization and residence hall should be required to hear this group speak.
Adding the anti-harassment policy to the Timetable may increase awareness.
If some sanctions are added, the policy may even change the mind of a potential hate crime perpetrator. But the student-led diversity awareness group has the opportunity to change hearts.
If you would like to be a part of the organization or have the group speak to your classroom, residence hall or social organization, call Gloria Flores at 864-4351.
Join the struggle for social justice.
Todd Histit is a Lawrence senior in social welfare
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
"THE THING THAT I OBJECT TO IS THE SHOPPING MENTALITY THAT I FIND SO ANTI- INTELLECTUAL."
Betty Banks, associate professor of classics, about releasing faculty evaluations to students.
"THIS IS ROTTEN. IVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING. I HAD TO DISMISS CLASS EARLY BECAUSE I COULDN'T HAVE KIDS SITTING ON THE FLOOR."
Beverly Boyd, professor of English, about the lack of chairs in Wescoe Hall classrooms
"I'M PRETTY ANGRY. WHO KNOWS, ANYTHING COULD BE HOT HERE."
"I M PRETTY ANGRY. WHO KNOWS, ANYTHING COULD BE HAPPENING."
Jarrod Ramer, Tulsa, Okla., senior, after having his bicycle, which turned out to be stolen, confiscated by KU police. Ramer bought the bicycle at Play it Again Sports, 1029 Massachusetts.
"I CAN'T SPECULATE WHY THERE WEREN'T ENOUGH CHAIRS. YOULL HAVE TO DIRECT THAT QUESTION TO FACILITY OPERATIONS."
"MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT COMES FROM THE REGISTRAR'S OFFICE WHO DECIDES HOW MANY GO IN WHICH ROOMS.
Mike Richardson, director of facility operations, about who decides how many chairs to put in classrooms.
Brenda Selman, assistant registrar, about who decides how many chairs to put in classrooms.
KU experience diminishes sense of individuality
As students of the University of Kansas, we are all too familiar with the seemingly endless crowds of people everywhere from Jayhawk Boulevard during class breaks to the enrollment center during add/drop times. We have all learned to accept that this is part of life for those who attend a large school such as the University.
However, is it possible that the KU bureaucracy machine may be promoting, perhaps inadvertently, a diminished sense of individuality
towards students who attend this great University? I believe that this is not only possible but actually is the case.
I'll share with you some observations that helped to heighten my awareness of the University's impersonal and dehumanizing academic atmosphere.
Closed class
KANSAN STAFF
openers. These "green cards" can be lifesavers or, more commonly, morale breakers. It seems as if though some, albeit very few, instructors are more than willing to accommodate the needs of students wishing to gain entry into their classes by nondiscriminately giving the openers to anyone who desires them.
This presents an obvious question — why did I have to go through enrollment to be told that the class was closed if, in reality, the instructor will let me, and everybody else, in if we are patient enough to wait until add/drop? Still, I can't complain too much; at least I got into my class, and I can rest assured knowing that I now have a chance of graduating before the end of this millennium, if I'm lucky.
A far more likely situation is not getting the closed class opener. I can't recall how many instructors I have pleaded with, trying to convince them that I'm somehow special and deserve to be in their class. To date, my favorite response is that of the rather nonchalant professor who snarled, "You are not in any way unique at all! Put your ID number on line 63 of the waiting list." You'd think that anyone would jump at the chance to give out one more falling grade.
This presents an obvious question
But at least I'm not bitter.
OK, I know this is far from an original criticism, but I really empathize with those poor souls who have to take chemistry 184. Is there really any need to shove 900 sardines into one tin can?
I think it would be beneficial to hire more GTAs to reduce the number of students per class. It is remarkable to me that many of them do a job equivalent to, or even better than, many professors, simply because they tend to have more time available for discouraged students seeking assistance.
The list goes on, but let me conclude with one memorable event of the past week.
I went to officially declare my major, feeling such pride in myself for coming to a decision that might actually hold for a couple of months. I handed the professor the little of slip of paper with a grin and just a hint of pretension.
Unfortunately, the sense of accomplishment didn't last long. The professor didn't even look at me; he simply signed it and told me to leave. It's not as if I were expecting a free toaster or anything, but a nonverbal recognition of my presence would have been most appreciated, if not entirely expected.
Perhaps the faculty and administration could do more to accentuate and enrich the scholastic and personal atmosphere that the students provide here by acknowledging that each one of us is unique.
ASHLEY MILLER
Editor
VIRGINIA MARGHEIM
Managing editor
ROBERT ALLEN
News editor
TOM EBLEN
General manager, news adviser
Mark Burger is a Topeka sophomore in physics
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HUBIE
By Greg Hardin