Long Shot

I recently read the Backwash column about the Sprint Center webcam posted on top of City Hall. The city actually owns and hosts the webcam directly, and a more up-to-date visual of the construction of the Sprint Center, as well as the Power and Light District, can be found directly on the city’s Web site at http://www.kcmo.org/cimo/webcam1. htm.

Since the Sprint Corp. is capturing the images from the city and then posting them on their own Web site, some quality is lost. By checking on the webcam directly from its source, you can get a smoother look at the Sprint Center.

We would appreciate a follow-up to your column about the webcam so that readers can get the full story.
Donna Mandelbaum,
Kansas City, Missouri

Janovy, August 3 Star Struck

Thanks for your interesting and important exposé on the workings of our local rag — The Kansas City Star — which no longer even bothers with a pretense of objectivity in political reporting.

I work for Mike Flaherty’s campaign and, though you did him no favors, wholeheartedly echo your theme of blatant institutional bias by what is very sadly our only local daily. The Star has consistently misquoted or distorted Mike’s comments to them in order to portray him as a right-wing zealot who can only be stopped by their “chosen” Jason Klumb. It was remarkable to listen to Mike’s interviews with Star “reporters,” as I have, where he talks in detail of his plans for education, Medi-caid and economic development, only to have it translated the next day in print to read: anti-choice and hates stem cell.

By the time this letter is printed, the 10th District Senate race will have been decided. If Jason Klumb is the victor, he will have the Star‘s active intervention (and, by your account, protection) to thank. Let’s hope Jason at least has the decency to publicly return the Star‘s disgustingly biased PDA — affection that he so clearly did not deserve.
Michelle Dreiling,
Kansas City, Missouri

Feature: ³Invisible Men,² July 20 Off Color

The next time anyone wants to do a racism study in Kansas City, please send them my way with their money. It’s no secret that racism is just as prevalent today as it was in the past. The only difference is that people have learned from lawsuits to be more discreet about discrimination.

Kansas City has long been divided by race, and Troost Avenue happens to be the dividing line. The University of Missouri-Kansas City enjoys being on the right side of the tracks, so to speak. The article reminded me of an incident that happened at UMKC a few years ago. I had applied for a UMKC police officer position and was required to ride along with one of their officers. After stopping a black student and feeling confident in the presence of another white male, the officer washed his hands with an alcohol wipe that he called his “jungle juice.”

The next day, I made a complaint to the school president and police chief about the racial comment, and they responded that I was mistaken and that the officer only meant “it’s a jungle out there.” However, after 18 years in law enforcement, I knew exactly what he meant.

UMKC is in denial, folks, and more black students is not the answer. Kevin LaBranche,
Kansas City, Missouri

I found your article startling, given Kansas City’s large Afro-American population and the location of the UMKC campus within the city.

One does sense denial on the part of the administration and faculty. Reading between the lines, it also appears there is a sense of reluctance on the part of the university to reach out. As a former faculty member at another university in Missouri’s system, I discovered the value of outreach in recruiting students for university programs. It is very easy to do and very effective. Simply go to the schools and interact with students. If the university does not do this, it will be difficult for them to secure the trust of Kansas City’s Afro-American community.

Finally, it appears the UMKC faculty and staff are clinging to 1960s mythology in their analysis of why few students (male in particular) attend and complete the university. Has anyone contacted and talked to students who dropped out or transferred?

Thanks for a provocative and thoughtful article.
Kerry McGrath,
Urbandale, Iowa

Art Beat, July 20 Exhibit A

I want to thank Ray T. Barker for his review of the current exhibit at the Belger Arts Center, American Dream: By Design. This exhibit covers design features as disparate as a drinking straw and a 1931 Packard Victoria. I am sure it is not the easiest show to cover in a review.

Mr. Barker visited the Belger twice to explore this exhibit and spent more than two hours with us. We appreciate his professionalism and kind words for the exhibit.
Mo Dickens, Belger Arts Center,
Kansas City, Missouri