4A
Thursday, November 16, 1995
OPINION
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VIEWPOINT
THE ISSUE: BUS SHUTTLES
Shuttle could ease parking
Home basketball games are notorious for the parking
crisis that precedes them. This parking crunch should not be allowed to interfere with other parking needs such as those for Murphy Hall productions and for students wanting to use the libraries.
By providing a free shuttle service from West Campus to Murphy Hall and Watson library, the University not only would show its commitment to academic priorities but also would help provide for the safety and convenience of all patrons of any University resource.
All parking lots and garages close to Murphy Hall are closed to permitholding students and staff on men's basketball-game nights. The lots are then used for paid parking, and cars remaining in the lots with or without permits — are towed after 5 p.m. But during evening performances at Murphy, patrons do not need to pay to park in Robinson or the lot across from Murphy. Students studying at the
Service to distant lots would provide students with convenient access to libraries and theater when parking lots close.
The solution would be to provide a free bus shuttle for students and theater goers when parking is restricted. The University provides this service for football games.
libraries also must endure unfair parking which impedes their studies.
According to the Lawrence Bus Company, a shuttle service for the entire men's basketball season would cost about $2,520 and could run from 5:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. At $210 per night, this is cost-effective.
The shuttle service for theater patrons and for those wishing to use the libraries needs to be used when normal parking conditions are interrupted. A free shuttle from the unused West Campus parking lots will allow everyone to take advantage of the University's abundant cultural, athletic and educational opportunities.
KELLY DIETRICH FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD.
THE ISSUE: RESIDENCE HALLS
Empty space should be filled
Currently three residence halls McCollum, Hashinger and Templin have empty dining facilities. This empty space should be better utilized.
In 1992 when the Ekdahl Dining Commons opened, it was no longer necessary for each individual residence hall to have a cafeteria, but the cafeterias should not remain empty. Also in 1992, the Association of University Residence Halls created a focus group to discuss ideas about what to do with the leftover space. A variety of ideas were suggested, but follow through is lacking on these proposals.
Little motivation is apparent in solving the problem of the empty cafeterias, and people seem content to let them sit idle. According to Ken Stoner, director of student housing, the three dining halls mentioned are being "under utilized." Students use them as a quiet area to
AURH should consider proposals to utilize the space in unused dining halls by opening snack bars or computer labs.
study, and aerobics classes are held in them. These are both good uses, but the abundance of space still could be better utilized. Residence halls could better employ space utilization tactics in many ways. Ellsworth Hall is a great example of empty space being transformed into a productive area—a computer lab was opened in the empty dining hall. The possibilities of what can be done are endless. Why not put in a convenience store or snack bar while maintaining a place to study or have other planned activities? Something like this would be frequented and utilized by students.
It is a waste of space to continue to leave these cafeterias empty, while they could be used for so much more.
TARA FITZPATRICK FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
KANSAN STAFF
COLLEEN MCCAIN
Editor
DAVID WILSON
Managing editor, news
ASHLEY MILLER
Managing editor, planning & design
TOM EBLEN
General manager, news adviser
Editors
News & Special Sessions... Deedra Allison
Editorial... Heather Lawrences
Editorial... Richard Porter
Campus... Virginia Mergelman
Associate Campus... Teresa Vaxey
Associate Campus... Jake Sharp
Associate Campus... Jenni Carlson
Associate Sports... Tom Erickson
Photo... Paul Kotz
Orton Allison... Robert Altoe
On-line coordinator... Tina Passett
STEPHANIE UTLEY
Business manager
MATT SHAW
Retail sales manager
JAY STEINER
Sales and marketing adviser
JUSTIN KNUPP
Technology coordinator
Business Staff
Museum mgr...Meredith Hennings
Regional mgr...Dominic Dulac
Hospital mgr...Hannah McGrath
Special Sections mgr...Heather Micheau
Production mgr...Nyckie Easten
Marketing director...Krista Kye
Public Relations director...Beth Callis
Creative director...Brigid Bloquett
Internship/o-o-p mgr...Kelly Connally
Jeff MacNelly / CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Race, sexuality are not focus of relationships
In the meantime, the next time you see an interracial couple or two people of the same sex holding hands, don't think of them as an oddity. Don't stare as if you were at the zoo. Remember, the length of the gawk is directly proportional to your degree of ignorance.
Last semester, I had to watch a movie relating to a prevalent social problem and write a report on it. I chose "Longtime Companion," a movie about four homosexual couples and how AIDS affected their lives. It was a difficult movie to sit through on many levels, but the most surprising thing to me was how I was affected by the portrayal of gay couples. Although I would consider myself to be open-minded, watching men casually kissing, gently touching each other and generally behaving like a heterosexual couple made me squirm for the first 20 minutes of the film.
But as the story unfolded, I began to see the men merely as people who loved each other, and my insides settled down. I began to care for the characters, and as some of them died and their partners mourned their passing, I felt for them deeply even though they were different than myself.
And then I realized that was my problem. Even though I had always spoken out against discrimination based on sexual orientation and believed myself free of that sort of prejudice, deep down I always had felt a gay person somehow was different from me. I wasn't stupid — just ignorant.
Many unconventional couples, whether they be of the same sex, different races or widely disparate ages face the same sort of ignorance. I have two friends who are engaged. One happens to be African American and the other Caucasian. Early in their engagement, the Caucasian told a friend of hers about the good news and
Todd Nlatt is a Lyndon senior in social welfare.
STAFF COLUMNIST
Movies, books and TV shows that portray an individual's racial and sexual identity merely as larger parts of a whole go a long way in fostering this understanding. So do oral histories, in which actual people can talk about actual lives without the smoke screen of contrived situations or extraneous, formulated thought. Here at the University of Kansas, Saskia Hoops, Lawrence graduate student, is compiling just such an oral history on African-American/Caucasian couples. If you would like to be a part of the study, she can be contacted at 841-6492. If you would like to read it, it will we in Watkins Library sometime next semester.
when it became known her fiance was African American, her friend replied, "Really? What's that like?"
I'm not sure what sort of mysterious revelations the friend was expecting, but I suspect she was disappointed when none was forthcoming.
What is any relationship like? You have fun, you fight, you touch, you talk, you sit together, laugh together and occasionally sing offkey in the car together — none of this changes because genetics has resulted in an individual having relatively more melanin or a difference in sexual orientation.
Having black skin or being gay doesn't make a person inherently different from the majority in any significant way. While they most certainly have a different social context than I do, they still love the same way, feel the same emotions and need the same compassion and caring from their companions. Whatever differences there may be are entirely arbitrary and socially constructed.
shares my genitalia. I have never had to hide a companion from family, friends or co-workers because their ignorance and prejudice has made that companion socially unacceptable. Relationships are hard enough without these types of burdens trying to tear them apart.
But it would be naive to suggest that these man-made divisions don't make any difference. No one ever has asked me why I chose to pursue a same-race relationship. I have never been hassled by the police or denied housing because my partner has darker skin tone or
We have the power to right these wrongs. While most of us will never know what it means to be shunned because of skin color, sexual orientation or choice in partners, we all know how it feels to be human. Through this comes understanding and true acceptance.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Kansan overlooks Rabin's importance
I was incredibly upset by the lack of attention the Kansan gave Yitzhak Rabin's memorial service in front of Wescoe Hall Monday afternoon. The ceremony was crawling with reporters from Kansas City, Lawrence, and possibly, Topeka. One would think that the Kansan would recognize a heartfelt effort by KU students to remember an incredible leader. Those unable to attend missed a beautiful memorial service conducted by American and Israeli students.
We sang Oseh Shalom, a song for peace, and lit candles. Two Israeli students sang the song that Rabin sang not long before his death, and Israeli students as well as a Palestinian and a Jordanian student spoke about him from their hearts. A monumental part of the service, I felt, was when the Palestinian student hugged his Israeli friend, and they held hands. I still feel overwhelmed when I think about it.
Devon Fitzig
Wichita junior
How can anyone who has heard of the internal struggle between Israelis and Palestinians for so long not wan to cry with joy after witnessing this event? This is what Rabin had been working for, and I think it is a symbol of hope and of peace for all.
Mascots present incorrect images
I am tired of people thinking that the Native American mascot issue is "much ado about nothing," when they simply are not listening or trying to understand what it is about these mascots that is so offensive. When mascots became an issue with Native Americans several years ago, I, too, did not understand what was considered offensive, but that was some time ago, and now I would like to share with you what I have learned. Mascots are supposed to be selected as a symbol of pride and honor, but the fact of the matter is that these mascots have turned into degrading symbols that send out false images about who native people are and what they believe in.
I do not see how anyone can
compare the Jayhawk mascot with that of a Native American. The Jayhawk is a cartoon, an inanimate object that we place pride in by having successful sports teams or excelling academically. Native Americans are REAL people who have sacred beliefs. What fans and sports clubs are doing is taking things held sacred by Native people and stripping the importance away from them. How can it be considered respectful when fans shake Tomahawks around and chant war songs, or paint their faces and put on ridiculous looking head dresses? I see fans mimicking and mocking "Indian" things, and all I see is disrespect. Fans are robbing symbols from Native people, symbols that do represent pride and honor, and they are making fun of them. Isn't that what the fans say they're doing, just having fun? I'm positive that what has happened with the mascots is completely unintentional, but many Native people feel that these mascots have become degrading or disrespectful. Try to listen, understand and show some respect for Native American culture.
Vicki King Huntington Beach, Calif.,
Hiring freeze creates stress in several campus offices
I have come to the conclusion that my boss is an amazing woman. I have always respected her, but recently I discovered just how good she is at her job. My realization has come slowly during the past six months as the University's hiring
STAFF
COLUMNIST
freeze hit our office especially hard.
Our office normally runs with six full-time staff members and three student hourly workers, but at one point was reduced to only three staff members and two students. With too much to get done and not enough help to do it, my boss
somehow made it seem as though everything were normal. She made it seem so normal, in fact, that some of the people outside our staff didn't even realize that we had been understaffed. As I said, she is an amazing woman.
However, lately I have started to wonder when the freeze is going to end. We are better staffed than we have been, now that we have five regular staff members and three student workers. It seems as if things are getting back to normal. Sure, we all have to work a little harder. But we are still a step up from where we were. The problem now is that in these six months the "feel" of our office has changed. While we are friendly and genial to everyone, we seem a little on edge, a little stressed out. And the fact that the office runs like clockwork does not mean that we feel like a finely tuned machine. Generally, I feel ready to break down.
Unfortunately, because people like my boss make it look easy to run an office with a smaller staff, people have the idea that it is. And my fear is that this attitude only will make the freeze last longer.
Stacy Nagy is a Topka sophomore in Russian.
I do understand where the chancellor is coming from. When the University receives less money from the state, it is necessary to cut something. At first glance, a hiring freeze looks like a good idea. Perhaps it might have been, for a limited time. But I am starting to think that the freeze may go forever, when it is increasingly obvious that it is time for a thaw.
By not replacing needed office staff members, the University is depriving students of the service that they pay for with tuition and student fees. Fewer employees means longer lines, more waiting and less personal service. It means employees are overworked, overstressed and, in the end, more likely to leave for someplace better. And it means that although this institution depends on students, it is becoming less likely that the students will come first.
As the freeze continues, I am certain that holes in the system will become increasingly noticeable. Department offices seem to be running smoothly, but small problems are becoming more prominent. I hope that as the student body begins to notice problems the staff has recognized for months, the chancellor notices them too, and this hiring freeze ends. Only when that happens can the students come first again.
This is why my boss is impressive. While student lines in our office have grown, because of her leadership the students always have come first. She has kept sight of why the University is here.
Have your voice heard
Do you think the opinion page is too liberal? Do we infuriate you? Well, get off your couch and apply for the Kansan opinion page. Applications are now available for positions of editorial board members, columnists, and cartoonists If you are interested, you may pick up an application at 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall. They will be due Tuesday, November 28 by 5 p.m. If you have questions, please call Ashley Miller or Heather Lawrenz at 864-4810. Don't let anyone
Don't let anyone else speak for you. Get involved.