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Monday, November 6, 1995
OPINION
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VIEWPOINT
THE ISSUE: HIGHER EDUCATION
Infrastructure needs neglected
The Kansas legislature has been neglecting the needs of the infrastructure of higher education for so long that the construction needs of Kansas' universities now has reached the level of financial crisis. Gov. Bill Graves finally has been able to cut the state's budget, and the Kansas Board of Regents has announced that $288 million is needed to bring the Regents universities back up to acceptable levels.
The legislature has been ignoring the needs of Kansas universities for many years. The Regents estimate that $30.8 million is needed just to bring schools within existing fire codes and to meet requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. How long have they know this? This is not a recent development.
It does not look like the state of Kansas is likely
The Kansas legislature must make improving the infrastructure of Kansas universities a top priority.
to have an extra $288 million, nor is it likely that the legislature is going to make any drastic efforts to acquire this money. Currently,the money only can come from tax revenue, meaning that some other areas of the budget would have to be shortchanged or taxes would have to be increased.
It is time for the Kansas legislature to take a concrete stance on education.Either make higher education a priority or give the universities control over their own funds and be done with it.
Those who have the best interests of higher education at heart should have total control over budgets and the future of higher education in Kansas.
CHRIS VINE FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD.
THE ISSUE; BEVERAGE AGREEMENT
KU should cash in on contract
The University of Kansas should negotiate a campuswide beverage agreement with Coca-Cola company or PepsiCo.
University officials have recently expressed interest in such an agreement. The contract would permit only one beverage vendor to sell their products on campus. The main advantage of such a contract, not surprisingly, is money. A single vendor arrangement would generate $4.9 million dollars in additional revenue for the University.
Some students might believe that the University would be "selling out" if it adopted a single vendor arrangement. However, officials most likely would prompt the students, in the form of a larger campus fee or increased tuition, for that extra $4.9 million dollars in revenue. Most students would prefer that Pepsi or Coke pick up extra expenses, rather than themselves.
Another key issue is that of students' beverage
A single vendor agreement with either CocaCola or PepsiCo would bring the University much needed cash.
preference. Last year, PepsiCo products accounted for 52 percent of beverage sales on campus. However, students purchased nearly 100,000 more cans of Coke than Pepsi. There is not a clear beverage preference. Perhaps a straw pole or student vote should be considered by officials when they make a decision.
The bottom line here is money. Would students rather pay higher fees to have their choice of beverages on campus, or let Pepsi or Coke pick up the tab and only have one choice? It isn't that hard to throw a few cans of one's favorite beverage in a backpack if that beverage isn't available on campus. It is hard to pay higher tuition and campus fees. For that reason, the University should look into a single vendor agreement.
MARK POTTER FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Jeff MacNelly / CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Bumper stickers indicate Republicans' insensitivity
"Work — It's the White Thing to Do." The bumper sticker with this detestable message attacking African-American welfare recipients was prominently displayed on a folding table in the middle of a busy convention hall in Albuquerque, N.M. A smiling, matronly woman sat behind the table, busily collecting money from eager customers. Sales were brisk.
Another bumper sticker for sale attacked President Clinton and took a potshot at gays in the military — "Roosevelt — A Chicken in Every Pot; Clinton — A Fag in Every Pun Tent."
STAFF COLUMNIST
Sounds to me like something on one of Fred Phelps' garish, neon-colored signs. If the sheer bigotry of this slogan isn't enough to get on your nerves, it is also inaccurate. Roosevelt never used that slogan. It came from the 1928 presidential campaign of Herbert Hoover, in which a GOP brochure proclaimed that there would be "a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage" if Hoover was elected. I guess it's not surprising that someone who would express such sentiment is not a history scholar.
Another bumper sticker,
which made a disgusting insensitive slam against people with AIDS, read, "The Miracle of AIDS Turned Fruits Into Vegetables." If homophobia doesn't bother you, maybe a little racism will. Another big seller at the
convention was a sticker that read, "Re-nuke Japan."
What sort of group would have such merchandise for sale at its national convention? No, it wasn't the Ku Klux Klan, the Aryan Nations, the Mark Führman Fan Club or even the Phelps family reunion. It was actually a highly respected political group — the National Federation of Republican Women. The stickers were for sale at their annual convention Sept. 15 to 17 in Albuquerque, N.M.
Whatever you think of Republicans, I think it would be reasonable to assume that the women active in the party would be more sensitive to
minority issues than their male counterparts. Sadly, this isn't the case if the large number of highly offensive bumper stickers for sale at the convention is an indication.
When I started reading the news story about the bumper stickers, I stopped after the first paragraph and thought, "Surely somebody from the National Federation of Republican Women spoke up about these hateful messages."
Apparently, I'm too optimistic. The stickers were big sellers, prompting little or no outcry from convention-goers. One observer, who wasn't a member of the organization, was overheard saying, "If this is the attitude of Republican women, one can only guess at that of Republican men." Indeed.
The National Federation of Republican Women can be contacted at 124 N. Alfred St., Alexandria, VA 22314-3011. The phone number is (703) 548-9688. Why don't you give them a call and let the good ladies know what you think of them?
Chris Hampton is a Lawrence graduate student in education
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Students should not pay for financial woes
I am writing this letter in response to the Oct. 31 article in the University Daily Kansan about the KU busing system. It seems like the Senate members of the transportation board need to start to take responsibility for their actions. All I ever hear about is how great KU on Wheels is and what what an asset it is to students. However, the article revealed that KU on Wheels is $60,000 in debt. Did KU on Wheels lose this money overnight? I don't think so. The transportation board has being trying to cover up a gun-shot wound with a Band-Aid. Unfortunately, it is starting to bleed all over them profusely. The truth is that KU on Wheels has
been running with a negative balance for at least a year and has been forced to use their reserve funds. It's funny that we are just hearing about this problem when we were lead to believe they were no problems. Did the transportation board think the problem would just go away? I don't think so. Now, KU on Wheels may ask for more money from Student Senate. In the end, guess who will pay for the problem. You guessed it — the students. Maybe, KU on Wheels should cut back on their routes and the number of buses running at one time to save money instead of making students pay for it. During tough financial times all businesses are forced to make cut backs. Why should it be any different for KU on Wheels?
Bartlesville, Okla., sophomore
How to submit letters and guest columns
Ryan Sigworth
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.
All letter and guest columns 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.
Generation X thing anyway? It's one thing to be defined by a trumped-up title, such as Generation X, but then to have network television decide what Generation X means takes the cake.
KANSAN STAFF
On a recent episode of "Murphy Brown," Murphy wins an award at her alma mater and goes back to her college to receive the honor. She sits in on a women's studies class, where the students whine and complain and make up reasons to feel victimized. Murphy feels disgusted with the young women — who wouldn't? — and blames their flaws on their youth. Later, as the gang sits in Murphy's old dorm room, they reminisce about the good old days, when standing up for a cause really meant something. They feel betrayed by the youngsters on college campuses, and decide to write this mealy-mouthed group off.
drinking crybals on this topprated show.
Granted, this is Hollywood we're talking about,
but isn't it just a bit disturbing that there are no African-American Friends, no disabled Friends, no fat Friends among the entire group? And aren't we all getting a little tired of the whole
How come my friends don't look like the friends on "Friends?" In fact, how come most people don't look like the friends on "Friends"? In all of NBC's "Must See TV" lineup, it is difficult to find a more beautiful, well-dressed and witty bunch than the collection of coffee-
Now, I may regret revealing this, but I am somewhat older than most of my classmates — at least as old as some of Murphy Brown's gang. But what I see here on campus is not apathy or self-pity or laziness. My editors and the staff at The University Daily Kansan are at least 10 years younger than I am, but they demand professionalism and respect. They earn it, too. In my classes, I discuss everything from the Beijing Women's Conference to Colin Powell, and invariably I learn something from the students — from young people — that the professors sometimes miss. When one of my professors announces job fairs that will be held on campus, my classmates immediately whip out their notebooks, ready to get all of the necessary information. This is not a lazy bunch, to be sure. There was absolutely nothing in the "Murphy Brown" episode that resembled the truth, and it is unfair and dangerous to place these stereotypes on future job-seekers just for a laugh.
Even though I am older than Generation X (I missed being a yuppie by about two years), it is troubling to see this group portrayed as a bunch of whiny losers who sit around drinking coffee, but who still manage to have fabulous apartments. I actually don't mind "Friends;" I just wish it were more realistic and honest. I wish I could believe that Monica used to be fat, or that Phoebe really does make a living doing something. I wish I could believe Rachel could afford to live where she does — and have that unique hairstyle — on a waitress' salary. And why would Joey and Chandler ever know each other? I wish I knew.
STAFF COLUMNIST
No, my friends don't look like that bunch, but they are still there for me when the rain starts to pour.
TV's crybaby 'Friends' are nothing like a Generation Xer
Donna Davis is an Overland Park graduate student in education.
COLLEEN MCCAIN
Editor
DAVID WILSON
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HUBIE
By Greg Hardin