4A
Friday, January 19, 1996
OPINION
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VIEWPOINT
Mason doesn't deserve KU
In a school where tradition and class are valued, Glen Mason has shown a deficiency.
The first sign of Mason's lack of class was his announcement to leave the University of Kansas for the University of Georgia, a Southeastern Conference powerhouse that Mason felt was right for him. Mason declined the higher salary of $400,000 offered to him by Bob Frederick, athletic director — a $200,000 raise — and accepted the $500,000 offer from Georgia. Mason flew to Georgia, without informing his players, to announce his change of venue.
During this speech, he noted the absence of football tradition at KU and how glad he was that Georgians knew how to wave the wheat after a touchdown. Oops, that's at KU. He said how glad he was that Georgians knew the Rock Chalk chant. Oh, that's KU, too.
Well, he really liked whatever traditions Georgia has. Then he decided that he didn't have Georgia on his mind and announced his return as KU football coach. This time, Mason informed his
THE ISSUE:
KU football coach
Mason saw the green, not KU's traditions when he considered switching teams and flying Southeast.
players about the decision before he told anyone else.
Mason rejected KU and the pay increase. He conveyed that nothing was good enough to make him stay on as head coach. So Mason, as punishment, gets to keep the $200,000?
Mason's flip-flop is a minor point in a long story. The real issue is the fact that Frederick was willing to reward Mason for not choosing KU in the first place.
The players welcomed him back and gave him a standing ovation, perhaps for making up his mind. Frederick was so glad to have him back he gave him the $200,000 pay increase he had used as an incentive to stay.
This is unfair.
Mason can come back as coach, but he should keep the same salary he had when he flew to Georgia.
DEBBIE THOMPSON FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Senate should seek vote
The Student Senate should be commended for its efforts to involve the student body in its decisions. Take for example, the news that a new recreation center is to be constructed at a cost of $21 million.
For this recreation center to be built, an additional campus fee would have to be levied on the student body — to the tune of $90 per student. Like many things which might be politically sensitive, the fee would be phased in during the next five years.
Some senators have noted that not all students would support the fee increase. They have decided to hold a referendum.
Given that only 14 percent of students voted in the last election, it is encouraging that senators want a better feel for student opinion. It is a fair bet that they will get it through such a referendum.
A referendum is only a
Referendum needed to gauge student support before increasing fees to pay for a new campus recreation center
general sampling of opinion in which only 10 percent is considered a strong showing of support, which should not constitute a majority view of the student body, nor should it convince all senators to vote ves on this measure.
However, at least the Senate has shown interest in what the student body thinks.
It has been some time since there has been a referendum, and it's about time we have one. In matters concerning student fees, it is the students' money that is in question, not the Senate's. By conducting a referendum, the Student Senate has shown that it acknowledges this basic fact.
TOM MOORE FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Jeff MacNelly / CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Texas gun-permit law poses a threat for all Americans
The state of Texas recently enacted a law that previously had been shelved by furious debate laced with moral consequences. The law permits citizens to carry concealed weapons at all times.
It is a law that has people buying guns at record rates and others buying door locks at equal alacrity. It is a danger law that threatens virtually all of us, whether in Texas or Kansas.
Granted, there are several restrictions and guidelines that accompany the new law. Any applicant for a permit must have no felonious indictments on their record. Also, anyone wishing to carry a gun must attend gun safety and training programs authorized by the state. From there, one is free to roam the streets, gun in hand.
As this law slowly creeps through Texas, more and more private citizens will receive gun permits. In several years Texas will be an armed state.
As Texas' citizens begin to feel some sort of false machismo from their newfound freedom, other citizens of the nation will want the same power. They will want the ability to protect themselves at all costs, regardless of peace, forethought or civility.
It is rather inconsequential that Texas enacted this law. That is, it could have been any state. However this law, regardless of origin, has several problems rooted deeper within the federal government.
One is the virtual acceptance of wanton vigilantism and violence within society. It sends a message to the general public that violence
is a natural and accepted right of being an American. That is not to say that all guns produce reckless violence. Any hunter or sportman will tell you the same.
But what they won't tell you is that carrying a concealed weapon is wrong. They, and many
others, say that it is a constitutional right; we as U.S. citizens have the right to protect our homes, families and person. In a sense, that is true.
STAFF COLUMNIST
However, where should the line be drawn? When should we, as intelligent and civic-minded individuals say enough is enough? Give me the freedom, just don't put the justification in someone else's hands.
Another problem with this law is that it inevitably will make the streets more dangerous for those choosing not to carry a weapon. Texas might be a jilted example since it already has its fair share of crime and gun-happy street uchins.
Dallas and Houston alone produce some of the most startling crime statistics in the nation, not to mention the ongoing wars at the Mexican border and beyond.
To those who before were afraid to wander urban areas, this law signals that things now are equal
"If the crooks got guns, then
we're gonna get 'em too," seems to be the unofficial motto around Texas.
And watch out because it might be spreading to a town near you. It almost is guaranteed that homicide will increase and people will die for every permit issued. All it will take is for the first noncarrying citizen to get blown away at the local Gas' n Sip, and the urban war will begin. The weak will feel stronger with a Magnum on their hips, and the strong will do everything to take that state-certified power away from them.
The reason this law is so scary is that it is one more ringing signal that the federal government is losing control.
Between this law and the recent speed limit increases, the government again is displaying its inability to legislate rationally and prudently.
There seems to be no good explanations for these laws changes, only to say that the government is tired of dealing with such small issues.
However, those on Capitol Hill seem to forget that is their job. These inconvenient little laws will get people killed, but that doesn't seem to bother those striking the gavel or rewriting the law books.
As long as the important things are taken care of, the United States will do just fine. I just hope the legislators remember the country before they bump into some juiced-up redneck on the Capitol steps and he blows a hole in them for invading his personal space.
Carter Voekel is a Dallas junior in English
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Safety of students should be priority
It is a shame that once again we see that the University of Kansas administration does not have the students' interests or even safety as the first priority.
I am writing to express my disappointment in the administration's decision to hold regular classes during the -30 degree temperatures and deadly road conditions on Jan. 18.
Since administrators can drive to the convenient red and blue parking spaces and then toddle into their heated offices for the remainder of the day, they fail to understand that there are people standing at unsheltered bus stops around
At temperatures of -30 degrees and winds of 20 mph, exposed human flesh will freeze solid in less than 10 minutes.
I truly hope that no one was injured by the callousness of the administrators who refused to cancel classes during these life-threatening conditions.
Maybe their office windows were so obstructed with frost that they didn't see the students and professors walking between buildings, trying to keep warm enough to avoid frostbite.
town or walking to class without hats'or gloves.
Campus mgr ... Karen Gorsch
Regional mgr ... Kelly Clementy
Herbital mgr ... Mark Otkmatik
Healthcare mgr ... Steve Wade
Production mgr ... Rachel Gantli
Heather Valker
Mentoring director ... Heather Valker
Public Relations dir ... Angie Adamson
Creative director ... Matt Rawkalski
Internship co-op mgr ... T.J. Clark
Internship co-op mgr ... T.J. Clark
Paul Tobla
Wichita Senior
Business Staff
How to submit letters and guest columns
HEATHER NIERHAUS
Business manager
KONAN HAUSER
Retail sales manager
JAY STEINER
Sales and marketing adviser
JUSTIN KNUPP
Technology coordinator
KANSAN STAFF
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, 11.1 StaufferFlint Hall. The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length or reject all submissions. For any questions, call Paul Todd, editorial page editor, or Craig Lang, associate editorial editor, at 864-4810.
STAFF COLUMNIST
When I was a child, I remember sitting at home because of wretched illnesses and having to endure the few hours of daytime television during which the soaps ruled the airwaves. I was convinced that the hazy film work used for these seedy, melodramatic plots — ever notice how a soap just looks different from other
programs? — actually would increase my sickness.
Soap operas used to really annoy me.
Bad talk-shows replace soaps as daytime's worst menace
Since I have been in college, I have yet to own a television. The only time that I am exposed to the box are during breaks. And with every break, I see how television has changed — commercials are wilder and programs are risi
programs are riskier.
After sleeping until about noon during this last break because I worked nights, I would stroll downstairs and start guzzling coffee. Before looking over the morning paper, I automatically would flip on the television without really paying any attention.
I also have noticed that my old daytime television enemy has been replaced by a more menacing evil — talk shows.
However, strange phrases would pierce my ears during my reading.
"Evelyn not only cheated on her husband, but slept with four of her son's best friends..."
"Today we're featuring eunuch biker gangs."
After hearing snippets such as these, I couldn't concentrate on the paper.
At first, these programs were amusing. Many of these guests appear screwed-up enough to make Rush Limbaugh seem well-adjusted. Watching the talk shows would make me feel good about myself in comparison to the doomed people on stage who were spewing out the tragedies of their lives.
I would watch daily the channel that featured Mark Walberg, Geraldo and Gabrielle.
Campus ... Joann Stirk
        Phillip Brownlee
Editorial ... Paul Tedd
Editorial ... Mark Larsen
Featured ... Matt Hood
Sports ... Tom Brokken
Associate sports ... Bill Petulae
Photo ... Matt Pleikner
Graphic ... Noah Measor
Special sections ... Harolda Bommermann
Wife ... Tare Twemby
On-Site coordinator .. Thin Peesert
Then the so-called expert psychologists would come on and analyze the freaks with problems.
The once-so-funny guests were the next ones to get on my nerves, and I quickly lost patience for their stupidity.
During the first week or two of watching talk shows, a sick smile would still be on my face. But that smile soon turned to agony.
If these flakes are so worried about the state of humanity, why don't they just donate to charities? Instead, they have shows that combine cheap journalism and B-grade movie acting.
"Seeing that you were shot, the two of you obviously don't have a nurturing relationship..."
"You're just an idiot." I would scream at the television. "You just don't drink motor oil!"
What got me at first were the hosts.
The last day that I battled with talk shows was strange.
Really?
Waiting for Gabrielle, I tensed up and started sneering at the opening credits, clutching the television.
As I was about to punch the television, Gabrielle stated the subject of her program.
ASHLEY MILLER
Editor
VIRGINIA MARGHEIM
Managing editor
ROBERT ALLEN
News editor
TOM EBLEN
General manager, news adviser
"Today we're featuring people who take television too seriously..."
I came turned on the television and never watched talk shows again.
Thank god I didn't get into Bay watch.
Ian Ritter is a Leased school in English, history and Journalism
I calmly turned off the television and never watched talk shows again.
THE COMPLETELY POINTLESS ADVENTURES OF BRIGG AND FRO