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Tuesday, November 8, 1988 / University Daily Kansan
Opinion
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Minority task force report doesn't say nearly enough
The Minority Issues Task Force report released last week by the executive vice chancellor's office is a weak presentation on the vital issue of racial discord at the University of Kansas.
The report's basic flaw is its inefficiency in pinpointing problems and suggesting practical goals. For the most part, the recommendations state the obvious and consistently avoid any plans for specific action or timetables for when such plans should be developed.
The task force first met April 7. It was divided into four subcommittees that investigated previous task force reports, the campus climate for minority participation, and student, faculty and staff issues.
After seven months, the task force has produced a report that is slightly more than six pages long: three pages of introductory material and three pages and a few lines of recommendations.
None of the recommendations has any background or follow- up plan.
- Several recommendations stress the all-to-familiar need to increase financial support for minority students and staff. The focus is on the general need rather than the specific plan. The task force has failed to identify the potential financial resources that are waiting to be tapped merely with a good grant proposal.
In another recommendation, the task force suggests that "as an incentive to recruitment, the executive vice chancellor and vice chancellor for academic affairs should develop a mechanism for tangibly rewarding those academic units that successfully recruit minority faculty." What do they mean by tangible reward? A pat on the back? More scholarships? Cash prizes?
For instance, the Minority Engineering Program, independently run by the School of Engineering, receives an annual average of $40,000 from corporations. This year, the program has received $50,000 from one corporation alone to start its early entry summer program. The time is right to solicit for corporate contributions. The report makes no recommendation for such a plan.
The report also suggests that race relations, history and experiences of minority groups in American life be included as curriculum material in a required course on race relations for all students. If 26,000 students need to complete a course on race relations, is it possible to recruit or train faculty for this course? KU might set a precedent by attempting this, but how could finances be arranged?
could finance be arranged.
Other recommendations leave readers guessing. For instance, the report suggests that "core curriculum required courses should especially try to recruit minority faculty and graduate teaching assistants as well as other individuals sensitive to minority concerns." Why? Is it to present role models for minority students or to increase awareness of minority culture among non-minority students? How can the University identity "individuals sensitive to minority concerns"?
certis
■ The task force suggests training and educating several campus groups to handle minority concerns. What ought to be the nature of this training?
How can the chancellor and executive vice chancellor regularly reaffirm our institutional commitment to the improvement of race relations and to the value of diversity"? What is the reason behind establishing an Office of Multicultural Affairs administered by a vice chancellor? Apart from cooperating with the Office of Foreign Student Services and replacing the Office of Minority Affairs, what are the plans for the new operations? At present, the Office of Minority Affairs is administered by a vice chancellor and aims to serve students belonging to all minority groups. Will this suggestion result in just a name change?
The report does not address a real problem at KU, that of strengthening and coordinating several minority programs that already exist. Instead of using existing programs such as the Minority Affairs Outreach Program, Upward Bound, SCOrMEBE (the minority engineering program), BALSA (the minority law program) and others as a background, the report gives the impression that KU needs to start from scratch.
The task force's best recommendation is the suggestion to keep the task force in place for a year to monitor the implementation of its recommendations. Perhaps that would allow sufficient time for the task force to start and complete its homework.
Muktha Jost for the editorial board
The editorials in this column are the opinion of the editorial board
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K·A·N·S·A·N
MAILBOX
A vote for Quayle
By now we have all heard what the Democrats think of the Republican nominee for vice president. The Democrats are convinced that Dan Quayle does not have the qualifications to hold such an important job. It is my belief that the Democrats' anti-Qaukai campaign came about solely to cover up Michael Dukakis' own lack of qualifications.
Dan Quayle's many years in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate have given him invaluable experience in the areas of agriculture, domestic spending, foreign policy and many other areas. In my opinion these experiences are crucial to a possible chief executive.
Michael Dukakis has not had the experience needed to become vice president, let alone president. Dan Quayle has. Michael Dukakis knows this to be true, especially in foreign policy. How does he compensate? He takes a ride in a tank. Now he can say he is an expert on national defense and foreign policy.
I would like to suggest to Mr. Dakikas that he step aside and allow his running mate, Lloyd Bentsen, to become the Democratic nominee for president. Bentsen is eminently more qualified to become the leader of the free world than Michael Dakikas. If the Democrates would like a word of friendly advice, I want you to take the man at the top of the ticket. A Bentsen/Dakikas ticket would have a better chance of winning than the one with Dakikas at the top.
As for me, I am one concerned American who looks at qualifications. George Bush and Dan Quayle have qualifications. Michael Dukakis does not. The Democrats have no room to talk about Quaile. I'm voting Republic!
Jonathan D. Beeker Prairie Village junior
As one of a series of programs on alternative religions, the forum on witchcraft that took place at ECM was part of an exploration of other religious traditions in today's pluralistic society. The open discussion led by Sue Westwind, Tim Miller, assistant professor of religious studies, and Lt. Mike Hall of the Lawrence Police Department was a thoughtful and insightful experience for the 230 KU students and local residents present.
Faith seeks understanding
Eric Schmidt's note of concern in the Nov. 4 Kansan about the alternative religion forum at Ecumenical Christian Ministries on witchcraft may well-intentioned, but completely misses mark
Jesus spoke of the great commandment to
The Rev. Jack Bremer Director/campus pastor Ecumenical Christian Ministries
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind (Matthew 22:37)." Our minds are talents given by God to be used, not to be buried in the ground. Persons of significant Christian faith need have no fear of open discussion of anything, especially in the marketplace of ideas on the University campus. One of our motts at ECM is St. Anselm's fides quarrens intellectum, faith seeks understanding. A narrow, self-righteous, fearful, anti-intellectual attitude is not representative of healthy Christianity.
Nikolas Huffman joins the many "get out the vote" pleas of election years, which range from absurd "plea, we could end up with Hitler," when in fact Hiller was voted in to disgust (John Kenneth Galbraith proclaiming that "individuals don't matter unless they contribute to society") to elementary school logic ("If you don't vote, you can't complain" — what is that, Amendment XXX of the Bill of Rights?). I am a non-voter by philosophical belief, and I believe that refusing to vote is just as sacred a right and just as moral a choice as pulling the lever for some bozo.
Not voting a choice
So long as I am free — because I am free — I will not be soothed by the state's "bread and circuses," I will not ignore their mockery of the rights I cherish, and I will not join the election-day farce of affirming that, yes, the emperor's new clothes are beautiful, when I know he is naked. My obligation to the principles of freedom is not narrowly defined by the safe curtain of a voting booth. Rather, I cling to the archaic belief that my individual rights are mine by right and not conferred by fiat of the state. That revolutionary belief (shall we say, American Revolutionary belief?) leaves me with the onerous responsibility of effecting change by the
In a society that practiced democratic ideals, non-voting would be a viable alternative, for lack of a majority would indicate lack of support for the ruling group, which inevitably would translate into a reduction of power for those in control. In a state that calls itself democratic, there is no parallel consequence. The state's power is never dimmed but grows exponentially with the willingness of its subjects to fund it. Thus, non-voting is unacceptable, because the state, having usurped the real thing, requires the semblance, the trappings of freedom, as its sanction. Hence the "vote to make your voice heard" is only the state saying, "If you now don't bother with our government at work, and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that my voice doesn't mean a damn to those who steal my money, whittle away at my rights and then tell me I have an obligation to sanction what is done in the name of "democracy" when the real beneficiaries are the entrenched bureaucracy, the liberal panderers, the corporate sophphants, the whole metange that nourishes and is fed by the state at my expense.
exercise of speech, resistance, and the printed word, and not by a sanitized vote for a state-approved "candidate of my choice."
Cynthia Ingham publications editor School of Business
Support for Charlton
I would like to reply to the letter of Hicks and Gladabach about the election campaign in the 46th District of the Kansas House of Representatives.
I worked for Rep. Betty Jo Charlton as her legislative intern during the 1988 session of the legislature, and I am coordinator of her campaign for re-election. I know Rep. Charlton is responsive and responsible. She serves all the seats she represents in Congress. She drives home every night when she is working in Topeka. She is more accessible to constituents than most legislators.
Rep. Charlton is dedicated to higher education. She is a life member of the KU Alumni Association. Both her sons are KU alumni. She taught Western Civilization without pay for 14 years. She supports the University wholeheartedly in the legislature.
Perhaps Rep. Charlton's opponent would not be "irresponsive" (as the letter writers called Rep. Charlton), but he is certainly irresponsible. He has brought national campaign tactics to Lawrence.
Vote today. Vote for Betty Charlton in the 46th District.
Clint Burnette
Topeka senior
As a player for the Kansas men's soccer team, I can attest to the feelings surrounding our team these days. We've had a successful season (18-2-3), winning two tournaments, and are preparing for the National Club Soccer Championship in Ames, Iowa, Nov. 11-13. Everything that has become a reality for the team this season never could have developed without the determination and hard work of our coach, Glenn Shirtliffe. I could write forever detailing the things he does for us.
Bittersweet success
What is a shame to me, as well as my teammates, is that this hard work put forth by coach Shirtliffe and the team is virtually unnoticed by the school. Our program is run on a twostring budget. Kansas soccer's budget for one year is less than a single football player's. Kansas soccer, without question, should be a varsity sport, and coach Shirtliffe can win. It makes me sick to watch coach Shirtliffe do what he does for KU and the soccer team for nothing. Glenn Shirtlife is the heart and soul behind Kansas soccer, and he deserves a lot more than he's receiving now.
David Stoneburner Overland Park junior
BLOOM COUNTY
by Berke Breathed