4A
Monday, December 4.1995
OPINION UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VIEWPOINT
THE ISSUE: PARKING FINES
Increase lacks explanation
It will soon be more expensive than ever to park illegally at the University of Kansas. The recent proposal of the University Parking Department calls for an across-the-board increase in parking fines as well as an increase in athletic event parking fees.
Increasing the fines in order to discourage individuals from parking illegally is an acceptable proposal. However, the tremendous increase in funds raised from this increase needs to be accounted for.
Each class of parking fine will be increase a minimum of 50 percent, and some will be raised as much as 100 percent above the current rate. This equates to an increase of similar proportions in the amount of money collected by the parking department from parking fines.
The question this raises is, of course, what will
the surplus of money be used for? If the price of a residence hall parking pass is going to go up $15 dollars in order to put up lights on Daisy Hill, what will this fine money go to?
Illegal parking deserves punishment,but offenders deserve to know how the money will be used.
The increase in athletic event parking is between 67 and 150 percent above the current rate. This obviously equates to an extraordinary jump in the amount of money generated from athletic event parking.
The Parking Department has the right to increase the parking fines and consequently the obligation to report where this money is going to be used. Profiting from those who get caught parking illegally and who attend athletic events is great, but let's see the money put to good, documented use.
CHRIS VINE FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Students need to take action
THE ISSUE: STUDENT INVOLVEMENT
The majority of students at the University of Kansas came here because they thought it was a great place to further their education. And it is. However, just like any institution, it has its problems. Students often can be heard grumbling about the shortcomings of life at KU. Unavailability of classes, unfair treatment at sporting events, and an archaic enrollment system are just a few items on the grievance list.
Unfortunately, students can't escape blame for any defect at the University. A general lack of student participation and voice in the daily operations at KU does nothing to change the programs and practices that students dislike.
Most departments and offices on campus attempt to gain student feedback on their operations. Random surveys, suggestion boxes and seminars are just a few ways administrators try to get in touch with the feelings of the students. Even the chancellor, Robert Hemenway, has taken part in town hall meetings. Students should
Complaining about KU does no good unless students give feedback to departments and they listen.
Student Senate is a great tool for students to hold administrators accountable and voice opinions. After all, other than scrutinizing funding, that is what Senate is there for. If students and their senators ever maximize the potential of Senate, it could become very powerful. Unfortunately, judging by student attendance at Senate meetings, that isn't likely in the near future.
utilize these opportunities to express their opinions. But just voicing one's opinion isn't enough. There are administrators who ignore the feelings of students in their decisions. They should be held accountable. The students own this University, not the bureaucrats.
While the phrase "get involved" may be overused and cliche, it still rings true. Don't let students be a product of the system. Make the system a product of the students.
MARK POTTER FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Jeff MacNelly / CHICAGO TRIBUNI
Scholarship promotes tolerance, acceptance
In April 1992, some KU students were working in the Gay and Lesbian Services of Kansas office when the mail arrived. Imagine their surprise when a $500 check for the organization fell out of the envelope postmarked from Los Angeles. A letter from Chris Caldwell, 1979 KU graduate, explained the gift.
While Caldwell was a KU student, he was active in Student Senate and a member of a fraternity. One of his friends, Don Green, was also a fraternity member and participant in Student Senate. After graduation, when both were living in New York City, they came out to each other. Neither of them had revealed their homosexuality in their time at KU.
Many years had passed when Caldwell's letter arrived. Caldwell had moved to Los Angeles, where he now lives with his partner. He sent the check in memory of his friend, Green, who had just died from AIDS complications. In his letter, Caldwell explained that he wished he had participated in LesBiGayS OK and that he and Green had been comfortable enough to be come out earlier. He said he hoped that by donating money to LesBiGayS OK he could help to make more students feel comfortable with being homosexual.
STAFF COLUMNIST
When Olympic gold-medalist Greg
Louganis spoke to a sold-out Kansas Union Ballroom audience during the 1995 LesBiqCy Awareness Week, he made a similar point. Although Louganis was aware that he was gay, he too was afraid to come out while he was in college. In fact, he didn't publicly acknowledge his
homosexuality until much later, after he learned that he was HIV-positive.
I can't help but wonder how Louganis' life might have been different had he grown up in an environment that values people for who they are. Instead, like many lesbians, bisexuals and gays, Louganis grew up believing that much of society hated him because of his homosexuality. To grow up surrounded by hatred clearly takes its toll on the self-esteem of many members of the gay community. And with a lack of self-esteem comes an increased likelihood for participating in risky sexual behaviors. If we are to teach people to practice safe
sex, we must work to bolster the self-esteem of those who are most at risk.
The members of LesBiGayS OK used Caldwell's gift to establish a scholarship fund based on service to the gay community, among other things. After his lecture in April, Louganis requested that his entire speaker's fee be donated to the fund. The scholarship fund is about 85 percent of the $10,000 required by the Kansas University Endowment Association to establish a permanent scholarship. If the goal is reached by Feb. 1, the first award will be given in Fall 1996.
The scholarship will be called the Don Green/Greg Louganis Scholarship. Donations to the fund can be made through the LesBiGayS OK office or directly to the Endowment Association. Checks should be written to the Endowment Association and include a memo indicating that money should go to the Don Green/Greg Louganis Scholarship.
Let's hope that the scholarship will encourage those who work to improve conditions for the gay community to continue their efforts so others will feel more comfortable coming out.
Scott Manning is a Lawrence graduate student in French.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Late fees won't solve parking problems
I'm sure I'm not the only one who read that article about on-campus parking in Monday's Kansan. I'm also sure that I am not the only one who has received parking tickets. I have received two tickets recently, and I find myself wondering why those tickets have the little clause, "If not paid within 15 days, ticket will increase to $15." (Instead of $10.) The parking department said it was only trying to cover its costs. It is trying to pay for lots of improvements and expansions. As far as I've seen, there are no improvements and definitely no expansions. (If there were expansions, I wouldn't have received the tickets in the first place.) Surely I'm in the majority when I say I don't want to pay for
parking improvements that won't be seen in the 20th century.
We all have important things to deal with as students: finals, bills, the rising costs of education, etc. But one of those things should not be over-priced fines. I'm thinking the parking department might impose a new policy of charging to get on campus.
One last complaint: The fines are high enough already. Why does the fine have to increase 33% if not paid within said days? The parking department makes sure to withhold grades or degrees or something, and everyone knows students need grades and degrees. To the parking department I say, be patient, wait a little while, and you'll get your petty cash for improvements and expansions. Ha.
Justin Schmidt
Wichita sophomore
How to submit letters
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 home-town if a University student. Faculty or staff must identify their positions.
All letters should be submitted to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall. The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length or reject all submissions. For any questions, call Heather Lawrenz, editorial page editor, or Sarah Morrison, associate editorial editor, at 864-4810.
KANSAN STAFF
COLLEEN MCCAIN
Editor
DAVID WILSON
Managing editor, news
ASHLEY MILLER
Managing editor, planning & design
TOM EBLEN
General manager, news adviser
There are things that society can do to help stop spousal abuse. One of the simplest is to change personal attitudes and end the cavalier attitude toward abuse that I heard at the basketball game. Because attitudes influence behavior, changing attitudes would go a long way to destigmatizing the abused and to putting the stigma on the abuser. An attitude change also could help create laws that would protect the abused.
Many abused people will not speak up, so I am here to tell you that abuse does exist. It is alive and well, and it is not the victim's fault. It is not something to be taken lightly, and it is not something to ignore. If you think it is rare, wake up. It happens, and it happens often.
I know that not everybody has the attitude I witnessed at the game. There are many people who recognize that abuse is a large problem in our society, and there are some who try to help. However, there are an equal number who will read this and wonder what the big deal is. Until everyone falls into the first group, the behaviors will not change. If they do, society will become a safer place. It also will become a better place.
STEPHANIE ULTLEY
Business manager
MATT SHAW
Retail sales manager
JAY STEINER
Sales and marketing adviser
JUSTIN KNUPP
Technology coordinator
Stacy Nagy is a Topka sophomore in Russian.
Right now, women are more likely to be injured in their own homes than anywhere else. Although the injuries are caused by more than abuse, violence is one of the major factors involved. Many times, the abuse isn't bad enough for the victim to go to a hospital, and so the amount of abuse may be higher than it appears. Unfortunately, the unwillingness of many to act makes it more and more difficult to leave an abusive situation.
Spousal abuse is a large problem, hidden behind the doorways of women (and occasionally men) who are too scared to stop it. This fear comes in part because many people are not willing even to try to help. As in many other situations, people make the excuse that "It isn't my business," and consequently, many people who have the opportunity don't speak out when they witness or hear abuse. These excuses, however, only make the problem worse.
Business Staff
Editors
Campus mgr...Meredith Henington
Regional mgr...Tony Dulce
National mgr...Heather Barnes
Special Sections mgr...Heather Nihanea
Production mgr...Nanoy Euston
Kristia Nye
Marketing director...Konan Hauser
Public Relations Director...Becth Gahli
Director of Human Resources
Classified mgr...Heather Valier
Internship/oop mgr...Kelly Connassy
At Saturday's KU-UCLA game, I found myself screaming at the top of my lungs. During a disappointing first half, some people around me began to complain about the officiating, and for the
The road to ending abuse begins with new attitudes
I have big problems with the idea that any type of violence is funny, and I have even bigger problems with people joking about it. The attitude expressed by those students makes me sick to my stomach.
STAFF COLUMNIST
agreed. But some things that they were yelling at the referees almost made me want to leave. The worst was a comment in the first half. heard someone shout, "The rebeats his wife!" followed by a round of laughter. I did not find it funny.
News & Special Sections...Deodra Allison
Editorial...Heather Lewswirt
Associate Editorial...Sarah Morrison
Campus...Virginia Marghelm
Associate Campus...Teresa Vaezay
Associate Campus...Teresa Vaezay
Sports...Jenni Carlson
Associate Sports...Tom Erickson
Photo...Paul Kotz
Wire...Robert Allen
Online coordinator...Thina Fassett
HUBIE
By Greg Hardin