4A
Friday. November 10. 1995
OPINION
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VIEWPOINT
THE ISSUE: AT-RISK STUDENTS
At-risk plan would hurt, not help
The employment and academic rules that are being drafted by the University for increased success of at-risk freshmen and sophomore students are noble. But college students should be allowed to grow up and take responsibility for their own actions.
The plan, which was announced by Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, has three major stipulations.
The first would cap the number of hours these students could work at a campus job at 20 per week. While this provides more time to study, it is unfair to disadvantaged students who need to work to attend college in the first place. Some at-risk students come from disadvantaged homes, and they need the chance to pay their way through school.
Task force's plan to cap hours spent working studying would do more harm than good for the students it targets
The second stipulation
would cap the number of hours that the students could enroll in at 12. It is hard enough to graduate in four years while taking 15 hours of classes each semester. This would force students to stay in school for extra semesters.
Finally, the plan contains a proposal to create a residence hall for atrisk students only. Students would be required to sign a pledge to obey quiet hours and other rules. This could create a stigma for any student who is known to live in "that" residence hall.
The task force that proposed this plan had good intentions. But college students deserve the chance to be what they are—adults.
CHARITY JEFFRIES FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD.
THE ISSUE: TEAM MASCOTS
Mascots ingrain warped views
The use of Native Americans as team mascots is a blatant form of racism. The mascots belittle the culture and image of Native Americans. People who don't see the obviously degrading aspects of Chief Wahoo, the Cleveland Indians mascot, and tomahawk chop are unwilling to expand their perceptions of a different culture.
The drunken clown and the harmonic chop are as close as some young children will get to a "real Indian." Sporting-event spectators garnished in mocking, Native-American attire aren't signs of admiration. Instead, they are examples of the cartoonish conception of native people that popular culture has programmed into our minds. Those children are growing up in a society that uses depraved images of Native Americans, and they will develop the belief that putting on war paint and a headdress and dancing at sporting events gives respect to a race of people.
The term redskin, used by the Washington Redskins, originated in the
Depraved mascot images reflect cartoonish conception of native people, mock the dignity of Native Americans.
19th century when the federal government implemented extermination as the official policy to deal with native people. Instead of bringing in a whole corpse, a bounty hunter could save time and bring in the "red skin" of a scalped head. It would be ludicrous to think that any person would find that respectful or honorable.
As long as the sportsapparel business is profitable, the derogatory mascots will continue to flourish. Once the attitudes of the consumers are changed, the attitudes of the owners will follow the almighty dollar. Chances are there will always be sports teams, but the image of a whole culture is at risk of being tarnished permanently.
As long as team mascots are the best-known Native-American symbols, Native Americans will continue to be viewed as cartoon Indians.
NATHAN TOHTSONI FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Jeff MacNelly / CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Some retirees live with their kids, not in a home
The joke around my folks' place the last few years has been that they're on the short list for a local retirement villa. My brother, sister, and I took a vote and we're willing to give them the parental golden handshake for an early trip to the home. The joke is ongoing and about every few months, one of the three of us kids will say something such as, "I can swing a two-for-one deal if you guys will go now. Otherwise, you lose your slots." The family joke is funny because, one, it's a family joke, and, two, my folks only hit 50 a few years ago. The volume of the television, Mom's "granny" glasses, and my Dad's compulsion to wear dark socks with tennis shoes are the only indications of shuffleboard and 4:30 dinners on the horizon.
The irony of the family joke is that Grandma moved in with my folks several weeks ago. Rumor had her going to the drool and nod unit of some sterilized motel with nice flower beds and Nurse Ratchets right and left who always speak in the first person plural. ("Okay, it's time for our force-feeding of applesauce and soft carrots now.") From what I understand, Mom and Dad took her in because they had room for her and didn't want her exiled to the land of soft voices, softer food, and sponge baths from strangers. Of course, I quickly volunteered to take Grandma's place. Buh-dump.
The decision process to let
STAFF
COLUMNIST
Medicaid fraud, general sibling miscommunications that last lifetimes and potentially awkward future Thanksgiving dinners aside, Grandma moved her afghans and spotty memory into an upstairs bedroom.
Grandma park her numerous ceramic Jesuses over at Mom and Pop's did not go smoothly. Let's just say that the State Department should never let anyone with traces of my family D.N.A. into the diplomatic corps program. So, extended family accusations of
Grandma suffers, if that's not too strong a word, from Alzheimer's or dimensia, or whatever the hell the 90s medical practitioners call forgetfulness. In short, she can tell you who I am, where she lives (now), and how my grandfather walked halfway across Topeka every Sunday afternoon 50 years ago when he was courtin' her. But, unfortunately, Grandma can't tell you what we had for lunch a few hours ago, or that she helped me pick out the shirt I'm wearing in front of her, or what I do with myself in Lawrence these days. Of course, I wouldn't be able to clue you in to two out of three of those things myself.
Grandma's move reflects a generosity on my parents' part that should come as no surprise to anyone who has ever known them. If this column has an obvious point, (and I dare you to search for anything deeper), it is that my folks and many other people out there in that big crazy, congressionally defunded country of ours face the extended family group-home decision every day. Sure, everybody deals with housing their deadbeat twenty-something kids making $5.75-hour at Banana Republic, but it's not uncommon these days for parents to "come home" also.
For better or for worse, folks live longer these days. Modern medicine keeps us ticking and shuffling well into our eighties on the average. Besides voting-like fiends, all these oldtimers need a roof over their heads. Frankly, some rooftops protect metaphorically better than other roofs. Which raises the unavoidable question: Do we ship the octogenarian off and visit her on Sundays, do we sell her for parts (kidding), or do we give her a room and space in the fridge for Eggbeaters?
So, thank you Mom and Dad for taking in Grandma. You give me the privilege of seeing her happy and living in a place where she can feel comfortable, and I can come visit to tell her for the 416th time that I'm in law school.
John Martin is a Lawrence second-year law student.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Creed to act locally must be followed
Think globally. Act locally. It's a good slogan for a worthy cause. It says a lot, but I guess it says different things to different people.
— a march?
I watched mystified (not misty-eyed), as a crowd of KU Environors members strolled down Jawhawk Boulevard chanting something about Burma and Pepsi the other day. As I understand things, Pepsico Inc. is tearing up rain forests to exploit Burmans in a bottling plant or a Pizza Hut or some other venture. Given that this is true, I agree that Pepsico and its affiliates should be boycotted, even barraged with letters of protest. But
If Katherine Smith was "disheartened" to pick up an issue of the *Kansan* and not find mention of her activity, then how shall I describe how I feel every time I walk across campus and pick up papers off the ground, or out of the bushes? How shall I describe my feelings when I go to sit in the grass and find it littered with cigarette butts? How shall I describe what I felt when I saw a bunch of KU Enviors members self-righteously yelling about Pepsico in Burma when they don't seem to care enough about their own campus to keep it clean? "Disheartened?" Try "disgusted." A larger element of local action must be emphasized.
"Think Globally." Be aware that
what you do affects the world at large, whether you can observe the effects or not. Boycott Pepsico. Email them to tell them why, and then pat yourself on the back. "Act locally." Set an example for the people in your world by being conscious of your local environment. Pick up trash. I would like to see Environs members demonstrate local commitment by sponsoring a litter pick-up day. Ride a bike or walk whenever possible. Support cottage industries, eat organically grown food, congratulate yourself for doing the right thing and then keep it up. Teach by example. No one will heed your message unless you heed it yourself.
Ted Fleming Lawrence sophomore
KU athletes do not have it made; funding is insufficient
The debate as to whether college athletes should be paid has been long and heated. It is a complicated issue with no one correct solution. But before people jump on the "athletes get everything band wagon," they
need to consider a few points.
STAFF COLUMNIST
If you are a KU athlete who chooses to live on campus, you have no source of income because athletes' scholarships only cover tuition, books, room and board. Therefore, if athletes choose
or their coach recommends living in residence halls or Jayhawker Towers, their monthly checks cover their cost of living. They don't get a dime in cash. Universities are not allowed to give athletes any kind of extra money besides what is covered in their scholarships. Also, athletes are prohibited from working during vacations, so they either must rely on their parents to send money and other creative, legal fund-raising methods. Technically, the NCAA acts as though student-athletes' sports are their jobs. However, athletes only receive their schooling in return for their efforts on the court or field.
KANSAN STAFF
This is not to say that athletes are not thankful for what the university gives them. Many student athletes could not attend college if it weren't for their scholarships. Some student athletes have no chance of making the professional leagues and are using their athletic talent as a way to get through college. But what about the athletes that make the university millions of dollars — should they be paid? The answer is not simple. If you say yes, then who gets paid how much money and how should it be regulated? If you answer no, then how is a student athlete supposed to have an income when a coach strongly suggests an athlete lives on campus, eats at the training table and has no spare money?
One solution is to allow student athletes to hold jobs. Such a solution would be tough on the athletes but would at least give them an alternative way to make a little extra cash to order a pizza or go to a movie. The fact that athletes don't have the money to enjoy the really simple things in life is ridiculous. The NCAA needs to give in on one of its policies to allow student athletes to get some source of income. The solution also could lie in a stipend regulated by the NCAA given to athletes. A solution needs to be found. The fact that student athletes put in hours of work and cannot enjoy their time away from the court is unjust. Athletes need to be able to have some source of income, whether it's through a job or through the university, athletes need money just as much as any other college student.
COLEEN MCCAIN
Editor
DAVID WILSON
Managing editor, news
ASHLEY MILLER
Managing editor, planning & design
TOM EBLEN
General manager, news adviser
Jenny Wedioke is an Evergreen, Colo., lunior in journalism.
Editors
Newn & Special Sections - Deedra Allison
Editorial - Heather Lawrens
Associate Editorial - Sarah Monton
Associate Campus - Vera Lescayne
Associate Campus - Teresa Veseyna
Associate Campus - Paul Trold
Associate Team - Jemma Green
Associate Sports - Tom Ebrleton
Photo - Paul Kellet
Music - Nina Hammond
On-Page coordinator - Thina Pissert
STEPHANIE UTLEY
Business manager
MATT SHAW
Retail sales manager
JAY STEINER
Sales and marketing adviser
Business Manager
Campus mgr ... Meredith Hanning
Regional mgr ... Town Duke
National mgr ... Heather Barnes
Special Boosters mgr ... Heather Niehaus
Production mgr ... Nancy Buoton
... Krista Nye
Marketing director ... Karen Hauser
Creative director ... Bianca Bronzeau
Classified mgr ... Heather Valter
Internship/o-cop mgr ... Kally仑森
THE COMPLETELY POINTLESS ADVENTURES OF BRIGG AND FRO