4A
Wednesday, November 1, 1995
OPINION UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VIEWPOINT
THE ISSUE: STUDENT BEHAVIOR
Code would empower faculty
An addition to the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities, which would classify disruptive behavior in the classroom as academic misconduct, needs to be instated. If the Student Senate Executive Committee decides to expand this code, it will allow faculty members to remove students from their classrooms for disruptive behavior.
This kind of policy would give instructors more control over their classrooms, and allow for a better learning environment. It's disappointing that such a policy needs to be instated at the university level.
The way to limit disruptions in class is to empower the instructor. This code would give professors more control in their classrooms. By giving more power to professors, classes can maintain a beneficial learning environment.
Unfortunately, a policy that would enable faculty members to toss disruptive students out of class is needed.
This code, which would include disruptive classroom behavior as academic misconduct, had to be considered because of the disrespectful and immature behavior taking place on campus. If classrooms were a good learning environment and instructors were respected, then SenEx would not be considering this addition. Both students and professors will benefit if this code becomes reality. Ideally, by instating this code, students no longer will misbehave, and professors will not have to refer to the handbook to regain control.
TARA FITZPATRICK FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Senate practices need change
THE ISSUE: STUDENT SENATE
Student Senate's passage of a bill requiring student senators to enroll and attend classes at the University of Kansas indicates problems within the Senate and the coalitions that fill Senate's seats.
The passage of the bill was a reaction to the situation surrounding Stanley Sheldon, former student senator. Sheldon, a member of the REAL coalition, has been studying abroad in Costa Rica this semester and hasn't attended any Senate functions. Previous legislation only required that student senators be enrolled in one credit hour at KU, whether it was on campus or abroad. Thus, Senate had to wait for Sheldon to accrue three unexcused absences or six total absences before dismissing him.
The disturbing part of this bill passed by our Senate is not its substance but the circumstances that surround it.
Such a provision should have been passed long ago. The University Daily Kansan reported that one Senate official thought it was difficult to anticipate possible scenarios with
Common sense says that coalitions should require candidates to take classes on the KU campus.
student senators. Thus, the Senate is forced into "reactive rule making."
This explanation does not suffice. Common sense tells one that physical presence at the University is necessary to represent those that attend it. The newly proposed legislation should have been proposed long ago.
It is possible that Sheldon was nominated as a senator because of his popularity from being associated with a local band. Obviously, such criteria is irrelevant. Sheldon maintains that he expressed his desire to study abroad at the time of his nomination. If a possible senator can't be sure he or she will be present to represent constituents, that person shouldn't even be considered as a nominee.
From now on, coalition members should be more responsible in examining the ideals and intentions of their prospective candidates.
MARK POTTER 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
STEPHANIE UTLEY
Business manager
MATT SHAW
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JAY STEINER
Sales and marketing adviser
Editors
Nawn & Special Sections...Desira Allison
Editorial...Heather Lawrence
Associate Editorial...Sarah Morrison
Campus...Virginia Marghelim
Associate Campus...Teresa Vezayx
Associate Campus
Sports...Jennil Carlson
Associate Sports...Tom Erickson
Associate Sports...Pak Kozt
Wire...Robert Allen
Define coordinator...Tina Fessett
This can be difficult to do on a college campus. The opportunity is here, but generally the ambition is not. It sometimes seems pointless to spend our time and energy on things that appear to have no effect on our classes, work and social life. However, taking advantage of this opportunity can be the first step in exercising our minds. And that is the first step in regaining our identity.
Business Staff
Jeff MacNelly/ CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Campus mgr ... Meredith Hennong
Regional mgr ... Tom Dulac
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Marketing director ... Konan Hauser
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Television is sucking students' imaginations down the tube
Stacy Nagy is a Topeka sophomore in Russian.
Have you ever noticed how we don't like to think anymore? Sure, we go to our classes and write our papers. We do exactly what we have to do. It seems that no one is going beyond that, though. No one is going that extra mile.
Think about it. When given a choice between reading a book that isn't required for class, and watching a TV show like "Friends" or "ER," which do you do? If you are like me, "Friends" wins hands down. But what does this choice say about us?
What it says is that as a society, we have lost our ability to think. We have lost the willingness to exercise our minds and consequently have become mindless. If you don't believe me, consider your daily routine. How much time do you spend watching television or doing nothing at all, and how much time do you spend doing something intellectual that isn't required of you? I understand the need to relax, but unfortunately the things that most people do to relax offer no thought and no imagination. That is, unless you consider Rocky 23, or the latest in a long line of talk shows, creative.
It wasn't always this way. When I was younger, I spent all of my time playing outside with the neighborhood kids. For a long time, we made up our own games. After awhile, those games turned into popular children's games such as tag. And there are a lot of versions of the
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As newer technologies become available to us, we will be able to avoid thinking with increasing ease. However, the attitude that the less we have to think, the better is exactly the type of thought we need to avoid. We need to take time out of our busy relaxation schedules to use the brains we have been given. We shouldn't feel as if we need a reason, either; we should do it just because. Spare time should not be an excuse to stop thinking.
game — regular tag, freeze tag and our favorite, TV tag. But TV tag required knowledge of TV shows and lots of them. Maybe that is when my fascination with television began. After that, I watched television more and more
used my imagination less and less. The problem is that imagination was at one time part of my identity, and when I stopped using it, I lost it.
We are a society that wants to be entertained without any work on our own part. As long as we get entertainment, it doesn't matter what part of our intellect is sacrificed. But it is a trap. We get in the habit of letting someone or something else try to entertain us until we expect it. Lately, it seems that we don't even need to be entertained anymore, as long as we are occupied.
This need to be entertained doesn't stop with television. Video and computer games are becoming increasingly popular not only with 10 year olds, but also with teenagers and adults alike. In addition, the advent of cyberspace renders it possible for people to act in a reality that isn't real at all. It makes me wonder where technology will take us next.
The trend seems to have carried over into my college years. In the dorm last year, there were nights when half of my floor would congregate in the lobby to watch television together. We got very good at doing as little as possible to get by. Some people got even better at doing nothing at all.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Housing department was blamed unfairly
The Oct. 26 editorial entitled "RAs deserve in-state tuition," written by Tara Fitzpatrick, is an unfounded attack on the Student Housing Department. The article reveals that the writer had little knowledge of the facts of this situation. She apparently wrote this aggressive editorial without contacting Student Housing or Jon Long, the very parties she attacked;
The article says, "the Department of Student Housing [was] unable to stick to a decision and has left some RAs to decide whether they can afford to keep their positions."
In a conversation with me, Jon Long told me the decision regarding in-state tuition for resident assistants was not made by Student Housing but rather at a higher level of University administration. At the beginning of the year, his understanding was that current RAs would fall under a grandfather clause and receive instate tuition when new salary policies from budget cuts took effect next fall.
As soon as administrators indicated this was not true (last week), he admitted the mistake and notified all RAs immediately.
Mark Ashbrook
The real disappointment here is irresponsible journalism at the expense of those wrongly blamed. Tara Fitzpatrick should have gotten her facts straight before malding harmful criticisms that represent the view of the Kansan editorial board.
The fact is that Student Housing, including Jon Long, fought to secure in-state tuition for RAs three years ago. And it is only common sense that the student-housing staff would never favor a decision that would deal them such a harmful blow. Yet this is what Flatzpatrick seems to believe when she says, "It's disappointing that ... Student Housing is willing to risk losing RAs by making false promises." Those in Student Housing ultimately had no say in this decision, and they certainly are as displeased about it as the RAs.
Pearson Scholarship Hall
Help is available tor clinically depressed
I have been here for more than five years now, and I have overcome most of the problems resulting from my depression. I fulfilled the requirements of a demanding graduate program, succeeded in research, and I am looking forward to a good career. I hope this letter is one of encouragement and hope to students, especially international student who have fallen tough times.
I read the cover story on Bob McWilliams, KANU disc jockey, with sympathy and interest. I suffered from clinical depression when I began my graduate studies at the University of Kansas. As a foreign student, my suffering may
have been more severe since I did not have the support of family. Friends can be understanding but not supportive enough since they are young and are often experiencing difficulties themselves. Moreover, I have learned that graduate students from foreign countries, perhaps because of a lack of social awareness, fail to recognize that they may be clinically depressed and that they need help. It would be useful for them to know that universities have counseling services that are relatively inexpensive. In general, psychotherapy can be very useful, but it is one's own determination that needs to be marshaled to overcome depression. It is important to realize that depression is treatable, and a severe bout may last for more than two to three years.
V. Vijaykumar
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Ahh, the sweet bliss of enrollment is upon us. It is the ultimate test of a KU student and one of the most confusing things, next to parking, this University has to offer.
Enrollment stresses are avoidable if you prepare
How many times have you stood
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immunization, instead of reveling in the fact you were able to get more than three hours of classes on your first try.
for what seemed like hours in the enrollment line, only to get to the front and find your journey has just begun? It is the evil of all evils — you have a hold on your enrollment. This means you will be frantically tracking down a parking ticket or a library book, paying a fine or receiving ar
The bargaining begins: "I'll take Western Civilization I at 7:30 a.m. if you can give me History 470 at 1 p.m."
When you finally are able sit with the enrollment police, you will wish you would have paid more attention in your logic class because logic is what you will need when you find out that every other student at this University needs your classes, too.
No deal—you lose.
And it looks like you'll have to give up your social life for three 7:30 a.m. classes and pray that you'll be able to get the two other classes you'll need to graduate in seven years.
As you start to believe that you might be better educated at the trade school back home, you look at this glorious campus and wonder how things became so confusing.
We are adults now, which means we no longer have to raise our hands to use the restrooms. It also means we need to take some responsibility. Like enrollment, life is not fair, and we do not always get what we want.
And for goodness sake, remember to pay your tuition. Going through enrollment twice in one semester because of failure to pay tuition is unthinkable and avoidable — and it just might kill you.
First, glance at your enrollment sheet, before you get in line, and make sure you do not have any holds. This seems simple enough, but I've stood in line three times now, with a hold, because I missed this very important step. However, my oversight could be because holds are printed in the smallest type available.
Although enrollment day may prove to be the day that you wish you were back in kindergarten at nap time, preparation can save you a lot of grief.
Third, remember to get the signature and dean stamp you need to enroll. You might be able to forge the signature, but there is no reason to break any laws. And the stamp is going to be hard to copy.
Amy McVey is an Olisthe Junior In Journalism.
Second, take the extra time to write down a few alternate classes. There is about a 100 percent chance that underwater basket weaving, the class you want, is now the most popular class on campus.
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.
How to submit letters and guest columns
Guest column: Should be double spaced typed with fewer than 700 words. The writer must be willing to be photographed for the column to run.
All letters and guest columns should be submitted to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stauffer Flint Hall. The Kansan reserves the right edit, cut to length or reject all submissions. For any questions, call Heather Lawrenz, editorial page editor, or Sarah Morton, associate editorial editor, at 864-4810.
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