Date: Tue, 18 Apr 1995 10:53:59 -0500 (CDT) From: Kevyn Jacobs To: "Kansas Queer News [KQN]" Subject: UDK LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ABOUT ERIC MOORE STORY FROM THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS - LAWRENCE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1995 ================================ TRUTH IS INCOMPLETE IN ERIC MOORE STORY In response to your editorial about why you printed details of Eric Moore's life that would clearly cause him personal damage, I think your justification that "truth" was at stake seemed pretty flimsy. You assumed that Moore resigned as director of LesBiGay Services of Kansas and withdrew his name from the Student Senate race because he was aware of the leak that would be made public about his criminal record involving a child and that "health reasons" was not the true story. You seem to overlook the fact that he had just been tested HIV positive which can become a lethal killer, if you haven't heard. Perhaps knowing that he would be under fire would have made his role as director and Senate candidate all the more difficult and could have placed his health in greater jeopardy. It seems to me that your idea of "truth" leaves no room for compassion and certainly fits well with the circus atmosphere our society likes to put up around public figures when they slip up. I could see no valid reason why you needed to print details of Moore's past because he was no longer in office or in the Senate race. I wonder if somewhere in your mind you were prompted by homophobia and the stereotype of the gay man as child molester. I wonder if there wasn't some good old fashioned gay bashing behind your pursuit of what you call "truth." -JAN THARP, Overland Park graduate student SOMETIMES LIES ARE BETTER THAN 'TRUTH' In response to the editor's "Moore story reflects paper's commitment to the truth," let me point out that the Kansan has chosen to propose a new solution to a classical ethical dilemma. The classic dilemma is what a person would do in Nazi Germany who is hiding Jews in the attic to protect them from impending harm. When the police come and ask, "Are you hiding Jews in your home?" should the truth be told because it's "the truth" or is the loving thing to lie? The editorial board has chosen a new and crueler solution: not only stand for the truth, but publish a front page newspaper story with the headline for all to see, "There Are Jews in the Attic. At least you wouldn't openly add "Come and get 'em." -ROBERT N. MINOR, professor of religious studies EDITOR'S EGO HURTS COALITION'S CHANCES The Kansan's vaunted integrity took a back seat to Stephen Martino's ego early Thursday morning, when he insisted, over much protest, on dredging up the past and slinging it all over our faces, just because he could. You're a truly powerful man, Martino. At what point did the Kansan begin its annual tradition of routine background checks for all Student Senate candidates? 1995? Is Martino really interested in truth in journalism, as he professes, or does he have personal motivation to influence the election? Ask the question, which coalition was most hurt by the article Martino anguished over publishing? "The Kansan is not in the business of destroying lives; it is in the business of reporting the truth,", Martino said from up on his moral high horse. He neglected to mention that the Kansan is indeed in the business of destroying the Student Senate election, which was successfully done in Thursday's Kansan. Perhaps Martino is attempting to pad his future employment opportunities. I hear the New York Post and The Globe are hiring. -STEVEN BEDELL, Belleville, Ill, graduate student DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS INCLUDE FREE PRESS I'm writing in regard to the article that reported Eric Moore's resignation. I completely support the decision made by Kansan editor Stephen Martino to run the story. Most Americans are proud to live in a democratic country that guarantees us numerous freedoms, including freedom of the press. We must never take these rights for granted. It is evident to me that staff members of the Kansan weren't digging up dirty information about Moore. They simply weren't willing to bury facts in order to keep everyone calm and happy. I don't envision Martino having an evil smile or gleam in his eye when he decided to run the story. From his editorial, his decision to run the article was obviously very difficult for him to make. I commend Martino on his decision to provide readers with the entire story rather than a half-truth. -SARAH GOLDMAN, Prairie Village senior MOORE'S PAST OPEN FOR PUBLIC DISCOURSE I commend the Kansan's decision to run the story about Eric Moore's criminal record. As Matt Gowen said in last Friday's editorial, when a person is in a public position, they are going to be the subject of public discourse. Running for Student Senate places him in such a position. Frankly, I think Moore should have known better. If I had done something like he had done, I would have never run for public office. I would also like to respond to the quote made by Stevie Case, residential senator and candidate with the REAL coalition. In Friday's Kansan, Case is quoted as saying that the story regarding Eric Moore's criminal record was "destroying one person's life." Why don't we all (just for kicks) think about what Moore's past actions have done to his victim? Now, I am not saying that we should continue to punish sex offenders for years after the fact, but if Moore did not want anybody to know about his past, he should have never been a candidate for Student Senate, which is a very public position. - BRIAN ENGLAND, Lenexa sophomore