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UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Thursday, November 9, 1967
Idealism and Free U.
Is the Free University, in principle, worthwhile?
Because the experiment is now little more than two weeks old, passing-judgment on the actual operation of such a fledgling would be premature. But the concept of a free university as nutured at KU is certainly ripe for examination.
The Free University can be a valuable resource for the regularly enrolled student seeking a supplemental education. As an addition to the existing educational system, the unstructured atmosphere of such an operation could provide the student unsatisfied with the techniques of mass education an intellectually stimulating opportunity.
of the Free University bring considerable knowledge thus gained into the experiment
The Free University as conceived at KU cannot, however, replace the institution from which it grew. Clearly, if students are to teach themselves, each must enter the Free University with some knowledge to pass on, knowledge gained from our formal educational system, possible independent education and the mere experience of living. Indeed, many of the leaders
But if they bring knowledge, they also bring idealism. That idealism, probably the motivating force in the Free University's creation, may have its pitfalls. In an escape from the university "system," the study groups could easily deteriorate into directionless, rambling bull sessions characterized by abundant but shallow opinion, not knowledge. Although there is value in such discussions, they are, without a decided and disciplined effort to transmit knowledge, likely to prove disappointing to the participating intellectual. Such is the danger of a Free University being completely free.
That is not to say, however, that the Free University must adopt the traditional classroom techniques to be successful. Indeed, in the very denial of these techniques lies the attraction and potential success of the experiment. Although relatively "free" courses do exist at KU, they are scarce.
Simply stated, the Free University is a good idea.
Allan Northcutt Editorial Editor
"As A Matter Of Industry Self-Restraint. We Want You Kids To Inhale Only Down To Your Ankles"
Letters to the editor
Dorm food, Iranians
To the Editor:
We, the undersigned, making no mention of the residence hall in which we live, would like to openly express some of our sentiments about the food service.
While we realize that $77.50 per month is hardly enough for room and board, we do believe that the quality, if not the quantity of the food situation could be improved, and that more care could be exercised in the preparation of that food.
For example, although "lady bug," beetles are quite attractive, they contribute little to the flavor or the nourishment of a Jello salad. Also, when a person can break a hamburger bun, staleer over cooked, that it smells like a point of attacker, you can imagine the difficulty involved in eating it.
These are but two of our compli-
plate, and we do not wish to
bore you with more. We invite
other persons to deliver us their
feelings on this matter, either
through the Kannan or through
personal correspondence addressed to any of us, or in care of Food. Box 332 or Box 331, 1734 Engel Road.
Rich Ray,
Topeka senior
Jim Hesseltine Overbrook junior
Don Sutherland,
Charleston, Mo., senior
David Drong.
David Drong
Banner Springs freshmen
- * *
To the Editor:
Returning to the letter from the Iranian Students Association, Wichita, Kan., in your issue of Nov. 1, 1967, the Iranian Students Organization of the University of Kanzai (KU-ISO) wishes to announce that it is not in any way affiliated with the after-said Iranian Students Association of Wichita, Kan.
Mohammed Achiraveh
Iran naval and
KU-ISC president
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Kansan drama review
By Jerry A. Balch
The show begins very weakly. The rossing opening which songs from "Mame" promise does not fully materialize. Not only does the singing lack vigor, but the choreography as well seems half-hearted and becomes something of a distraction.
Theatre Today; and yesterday
Starting with the well-known fact that almost all musicals take their plots from other plays, novels, or stories, six actors conspire in an artificial (some may call it theatrical) fashion to present songs from contemporary Broadway musicals alongside scenes from the plays which provided the inspiration for the musicals. With the exception of the common themes of love and marriage, this is the only thing that binds together scenes from "The Taming of the Shrew," "The Fout-Poster," "The Matchmaker," "The Foimaker," and "I Am a Camera," but nothing more is necessary. If this fact had been realized, the poorly written and poorly spoken introductions to each scene could have been eliminated.
"The Theatre Today" is a somewhat deceptive name for the show that opened last night at the Experimental Theatre. Although an attempt is made to relate all the songs and scenes to contemporary American theater, the most enjoyable and successful parts of the show have not seen Broadway for some years. This is perhaps a partial recognition of the distressing state of commercial theater today, despite the unenviwing landmark remarks in the show concerning Broadway and its omnipresent musicals.
After a slow start, however, the first part of the show quickly gains force and remains very
Michael Fisher's singing of "The Irpossible Dream" is one of the few moments in the show which can really be called dramatic. Perhaps it is a mistake to follow it with "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown." The finale, however, has the vigor that the opening song lacked, and it will leave the playgoer with the feeling that he has spent a most enjoyable evening at Today's and Yesterday's Theatre.
strong until the intermission. Holmes Osborne gives his most convincing performance of the evening as Petruchio, Jeri Walker as Katherine is, indied, a formidable shrew.
The "I Am a Camera" scene is also a bit out of place in the show, but Shea Remeiser as a proper young woman and Jeri Walker as a most unison young woman make the scene quite enjoyable.
The scene from "The Four-Poster" is probably the funniest scene in the show. Earl Trussell and Carol Wilcox are thoroughly convincing as parents waiting up for their teenage sen.
- the second half of the show is less unified. The scene from The Rainmaker seems out of place, although it does provide a means to show off Carol Wilcox's fine singing and acting ability.
The longest scene in the show is actually three scenes from Thornton Wilder's "The Mistchurcher" which, as everyone knows, gave the world "Hello Dolly." Wilder "intended in this play to destroy the disjointed conventions of 20th century drama which had found their way into the 20th century theater. His plan was to use these conventions and situations so artificially that the result would be farce. The play does not read well, but the combined talents of all six performers makes the scene appear astonishingly funny.
Paperbacks
One of the big bestsellers of recent years is among the new paperbacks at bookstore and drug store, *The Robert Urdhison's The Secret of San Vittoria* (Dell, 30 cents)—which will remind some readers of Iguazu Silosa's "Bostoniara" in its description of how an Italian village deals with fascist conquest. Nizi in this case.
Thu:
It is not of the classical edifice of that long-ago novel, but it still stands out above most of the war novels of recent years, and there are ample humor and human interest in the story. The novel is a
big one, and most retailers are sure to enjoy it.
Italy also is the setting of Alberto Motta's The *Fetish* (Dell, 95 cents), another of those seemingly simple but undermost complex stories of relations between the sexes. Morvia is an exceptionally capable storyteller, and this is a dramatic depiction of human desire.
The remainder of the new ones are not likely to endure beyond a few minutes. They include Marvin H. Albert's Tony Rome (Dell,
50 cents), which used to be called "Miami Mylen," but now has a new title to go with the new Frank Sinatra movie, Sex and curves. Another of the Bertha Cool-Donald Linn mysteries by A. A. Fair, Turn on the Heat (Dell, 50 cents), is waiting for you. And there are three by Arna Christie -- The Secret of Chimneys and Murder on the Links (Dell, 50 cents) and Absent in the Spring (Dell, 60 cents). This old gel has been going on and on since about Lincon.
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