4
Monday, December 12, 1988 / University Daily Kansan
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Lowering the level defining intoxiation would save lives
An individual goes to a tavern and drinks beer until he cannot walk a straight line, and his speech is slurred. That person might be too intoxicated to drive, but in Kansas he isn't legally intoxicated until his blood-alcohol level is .10 percent or higher.
That is why lowering the level of the blood alcohol used to determine whether drivers are intoxicated, as proposed by last week by Gov. Mike Hayden, is a good idea.
Although Hayden has not endorsed a specific lower level, he said he favored the idea. Cutting the limit in half to .05 percent alcohol is a reasonable adjustment that would no doubt discourage drunken driving and help save lives.
But legislators and the governor must realize that lowering the level is only part of a solution. The same people who exceed the 10 limit will exceed the lower limits, too. This is why legislators should continue to keep the penalties for drunk driving strict and why judges should give offenders stiff sentences.
But lowering the level at which a person is considered legally drunk will help law enforcement officials combat a serious problem. And anything that makes people who drink more aware of what a dangerous combination alcohol and driving are deserves support.
Tony Balandran for the editorial board
A wish from Bethlehem
Bethlehem celebrated an anxious Christmas last year. Troops with assault rifles and tear-gas launchers kept watch around the Church of the Nativity to prevent a violent Yuletide "message" from Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza strip.
Now it came about in those days that a decree out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth . . . And Joseph went up from Galilee . . . to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem . . . in order to register, along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.
This year. Rethlehem will not celebrate Christmas
Opinion
Two days before this year's election, three Molotov cocktails struck a Jerusalem-bound bus on the outskirts of the West Bank town of Jericho; a young Israeli woman, Rachel Weiss, and her three children died in the blaze.
... And she gave birth to her first-born son; and she wrapped him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Young Israeli soldiers follow the policy of using "force, strength and blows to put down rioting," by wielding boots, batons and rifle bouts against hundreds of unarmed Palestinian men, women and children. The first to die was a Palestinian woman shot in the chest — mistakenly, according to the Israeli military — while she was hanging out her wash.
And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night.
The 104,000 strong standing Israeli army continues its attempts to contain the uprising of 1.4 million Palestinians not willing to submit to Israel's 20-year rule in the West Bank and Gaza strip.
And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
Hundreds of Palestinians flee in fear every day, from tear gas, rubber bullets, mass arrests, imprisonment and deportation. Fresh waves of violence wound babies, split families, disrupt education and sour all hope for a peaceful future for both sides.
And the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord . . ."
"Glory to God in the highest,
And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." This season, wish for peace.
Muktha Jost for the editorial board
The editorial board consists of Michael Merschel, Mark Tillford, Todd Cohen, Michael Horak, Julie Adam, Julie McMahon, Christine Martin, Tony Balandran and Muktha Jost.
News staff
Todd Cohen ...Editor
Michael Horak ...Managing editor
Julie Adam ...Associate editor
Stephen Wade ...News editor
Michael Merschel ...Editorial editor
Noel Gerdes ...Campus editor
Craig Anderson ...Sports editor
Scott Carpenter ...Photo editor
Dave Eames ...Graphics editor
Jill Jess ...Arts/Features editor
Eton Ebom ...General manager, news adviser
Business staff
Greg Knipp ...Business manager
Debra Cole ...Retail sales manager
Chris Cooper ...Campus sales manager
Linda Packoik ...National sales manager
Kurt Marestemil ...Promotions manager
Sarah Higdon ...Marketing manager
Brad Lenhart ...Production manager
Michelle Garland ..Asst. production manager
Michael Lehman ..Glassware manager
Stephen Hanlon ..Sales and marketing adviser
Letters should be typed, double-spaced and less than 200 words and must include the writer's signature, name, address and telephone number. If the writer is affiliated with the University of Kansas, please include class and hometown, or faculty or staff position.
Guest columns should be typed, double-spaced and less than 700 words. The writer will be photographed.
The Kansan reserves the right to reject or edit letters, guest columns and cartoons. They can be mailed or brought to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall Letters, columns and cartoons are the opinion of the writer or cartoonist and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University Daily Kansan. Editors, which appear in the left-hand column, are the opinion of the Kansan editorial board.
The University Daily Kansan (USPS 605-640) is published at the University of Kansas, 118 Stauffer Fhall, Lawrence, Kan. 6045, daily during the regular school year, excluding Saturday, Sunday, holidays and finals periods, and Wednesday during the summer session. Second-class postage is paid in Lawrence, Kan. 6044. Annual subscriptions by mail are $50. Student subscriptions are $3 and are paid through the student activity fee.
POSTMASTER. Send address changes to the University Daily Kansan, 118
Snuffer-Flint Hall, Lawrence, Kan. 60405
So long, farewell and thank you
One could wax nostalgic right now
After 73 issues, including four special magazines and three special sections, where we covered NCAA probation, tornadoes, plus/minus and parking, among other issues, the Kansan is closing shop for the semester. We hope we have served you well.
But I would rather take this space to extend my thanks to the Kansan's entire news staff. They have put in long hours to produce one of the nation's best college newspapers every day while also going to class and holding other jobs. It is a tough challenge, and they have met it.
You have seen the names of the reporters and photographers, as well as the top editors who are listed on the masthead in the lower-left corner of this page. I would like to thank them, and I will hope that they will have spent a semester doing vital work without any public credit. They deserve much more.
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN staff
Michael Horak, managing editor; Julie Adam,
associate editor.
Todd Cohen
Editorial: Michael Merschel, editorial editor; Mark Tilford, associate editorial editor. Cartoonists: Stephen Kline, Tom Michaul. Columnists: Derek Schmidt, Mark Jost, Janet Neo, Tom Brennan, Rachel McCarthy. Editorial board: Todd Cohen, Michael Harle, Julie Adam, Michael Merschel, Mark Tilford, Christine
Editor
Martin, Tony Balandaran, Julie McMahon and Muktha Jost.
News: Stephen Wade, news editor; Elaine Sung,
coachsq editor.
Campus; Noel Gerdes; campus editor; Donna Stokes, associate campus editor; Joel Zeff, assistant campus editor; Rebecca Cisek, assistant campus editor; Jennifer Reynolds. Librarian: Jill Ferrison.
Sports: Craig Anderson, sports editor; Tom Stinson, associate sports editor.
Photo: Scott Carpenter, photo editor; Forrest MacDonald, associate photo editor. Photo librarian: Vanessa Fuhrmans. Photographers: Laura Husar, Sandra Watts, Dan Starling, Stainte Brendebath, Kathy Wismer, David Brandt, Cathy O'Neill, Robert Stone, Scott Wallace, Shauna Noeflet. Jeff Johnston.
Arts/Features: Jill Jess, arts/features editor.
Graphics: Dave Eames, graphics editor. Artists:
Stephen Kline, Gary Pratt, Brad Sneed, John
Sopinski, Kim Mallory, Elisa Sneegas and Mutiah.
Layout editors: Jennifer Hinkle, Denise La Croix,
David White.
Wire editors: Jennifer Rowland, Christine Martin,
Julie McMahon.
chief cifs: Chris Ralston, Michael Fuhhage, Jill Jess, Virginia McGrath.
Copy editors: Juile Rhim, Ellen Payne, Phil Wilke, Jeff Moberg, Kathyn Lancaster, Kira Gould, Karen Boring, Holly Giostra, Susan Gage, Cory Powell, Ed Morrison.
Reporters: Terry Baurth, Jay A. Cohen, Donley, Jefust Emo, Mark Fagain, James Farquhar, Janell Gow, Deb Gruver, Cindy Harger, Grace Hobson, Barbara Joseph, Jeremy Kohn, Mark E. McCormick, Debbie McMahon, Katty Monk, Daniel Niemi, M. Meredith Relph, Dave Stewart, Craig Welch, Ken Winford and Laura Woodward.
Last, but not least, the people at the backshop who greet sleepy student editors every morning at 5:30 a.m. to paste up the paper. Their patience, grace and good cheer are sincerely appreciated.
University Printing Services. Colleen Beckwitt.
Chris Jennings, Lawrence Sinks and Bill Thomas.
Todd Cohen is an Alta Vista senior majoring in journalism and political science.
Excuse you! And you and you and . . . .
Unsure how to explain why your final project isn't done? Worry no more
If there's one thing that you learn from studying journalism, it's how to whip up a mean cheese
OK, you don't learn anything about cheese souffles in journalism; you are, however, supposed to learn something about piquing the interest of readers by using interesting first paragraphs.
There probably is no better place to write about excuses than here at the Kansan. True, this isn't the only place on campus where people have deadlines, but I'd be willing to guess that more are missed per person here than anywhere else on campus.
With the air here charged by years and years of excuses for missed deadlines, I thought it might be an appropriate location for inspiration for an all-purpose missed-dedicated letter.
Although I arguably might not have learned that lesson too well, I have learned a little about deadlines. And as students across campus go about trying to squirm out of theirs, I thought it might be a nice public service to save everyone a lot of trouble by offering an all-purpose excuse letter.
... you have to do with this letter is circle the appropriate choices and slip it under the office door of the professor who teaches the class for which you didn't do the work. Try not to present this, or any other excuse; in person; most professors, it is it rude to laugh out loud in the face of a student.
If a face-to-face confrontation is unavoidable, you'll need to be able to generate a lot of sympathy. Be sure to look disheveled and boneweary and not just hungover. And remember that
Michael Merschel Editorial editor
even if your excuse has nothing to do with illness, a professor always will be more kind to someone who isn't feeling well, so you might want to set both yourself in a cast or be prepared to throw up or something.
Feel free to clip 'n' save this column; a good excuse is a thing of beauty forever.
Dear Professor,
I am sorry to have to tell you that I will not be able to finish my (term paper/research project/master's thesis) on time. I know that I have known about it (for a month/since the semester started/ since I enrolled), but I know you are (compassionate/orate/a passover) and will understand my plight.
I had every intention of working diligently on this assignment. I even (read several books/conducted several interviews/stopped by the library last night and asked the reference desk what the heil should do). But then (1 had a problem/disaster struck/I got bored and turned on "Cosby").
As you know, (my grandmother has been very ill/I have a crippling disease/I'd do anything to get
out of this). So when the absolute worst happened — (she died for the sixth time since I've been at school/I had a relapse and am writing from intensive care/I saw that it was 5 a.m. and hadn't even typed the title page) — I was unable to finish the assignment.
Under normal circumstances, I would (put my nose to the grindstone and get to work) pick myself up, dust myself off and try again/whip out any piece of crap that get to it out of the way). But you would avoid heavy thinking/my biorhythms are real low/I'm just lazy) and I won't be able to.
As if that weren't enough, I won't be able to finish the assignment before I go home. I have to leave early because I'm from (Chicago), and unless the plane leaves now, I'll be in a holding pattern until after Christmas/Denver, and unless the plane leaves now, it won't be able to penetrate the smog and get me into the city. As if that wasn't enough, I leave now, I won't be able to finish all my shopping until after Christmas).
Thank you for being so (understanding/caring/gullible). I promise I won't only get the assignment done as soon as I can, but I will do an extra good job. I don't know if not say mean things about you on the evaluation.)
Sincerely,
(your name here)
Good luck and have a nice, work-free finals period.
■ Michael Merschel is a Lakewood, Colo., senior maoring in journalism.
BLOOM COUNTY
by Berke Breathed