Friday, November 3,1967
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
13
Can't make up minds
Citizenry eyes KU
By Ted Bell Kansan Staff Reporter
Should Lawrence citizens be hostile towards the University? After all, some say, such an attitude would be similar to that of the proverbial dog who bit the hand that fed him.
Others, however, counter that the University is awfully big—so big, in fact, that it's much similar to the proverbial bully of "the bigger they are, the harder they fall" fame.
One way or the other, the very non-proverbial citizens of Lawrence can't seem to make up their minds.
Recently there seemed a faint murmur of ill-feeling when a citizen stood up at the second town meeting held at the Kennedy School. He demanded to know why the city administration was letting the University "run the city."
The issue on the floor was the City Commissioners' concern over the rising costs of city maintenance and police-fire expenses.
Irresponsible!
The following week, Mayor Richard Raney dismissed both the citizen's charge and the idea of any hostility as an "irresponsible suggestion."
A survey of the townspeople's opinion on not only this issue, but on city-school relations in general was recently conducted. It produced results in agreement with Mayor Raney.
Odd Williams, a prominent Lawrence citizen, said, "I think the relationship between the KU family and Lawrence is excellent, and there is no question in my mind that this will exist on a continuing basis."
Williams said that the University is the prime reason why the city has grown to be "the great city that it is."
Jealously by a few
"In every college town there might exist a minute of jealousy on the part of a few. These few take the opportunity of an open town hall meeting to get a forum. To conclude that they represent the citizenry of Lawrence is a mistake.
Fred Frey, a Lawrence liquor store owner agreed with Williams and disagreed with the disgruntled citizen at the Kennedy School meeting.
"I wouldn't say that KU runs the city at all. The City Commissioners seem to stand on their own feet," he said.
Frey also said that it would be "ridiculous" to say there is hostility of any kind because the University is the greatest single asset Lawrence has.
William Meddley, principal of Lawrence High School, remarked that many citizens, including himself, were attracted to a college town mainly because of the presence of a school. "Of course, there are increased services to be financed, but it is worth it."
The Rev. R. Sundbye, pastor of the First Methodist Church, offered this opinion:
The support by the church elders for the University and its students was one of the biggest surprises he had when he first came here two years ago, he added.
Some say the housewife runs the country and the city. So Mrs. Leroy Dutt, 844 Highland Dr., was asked what she thought of the suggestion of strained relationships between the school and the community. Mrs. Dutt has a daughter at KU, so her opinion was that more important.
Presence "great"
"I think the presence of the University is great. After all, where would Lawrence be without it. I've never felt any jealously or hostility, and have never known anybody who could genuinely say they did."
The man on the street was perhaps a little less distinct on the subject but he (most preferred to remain anonymous) was sure that the money the University brought in covered any added expenses that it might cause the city.
Mayor Raney's proposals (not yet official) to help alleviate the city's budget which he claims is strained by the University's presence, met with mixed reactions.
For example, Mayor Raney's suggestion of going to the Legislature for aid either directly, or in a joint package with the five other Kansas college towns (Emporia, Wichita, Hays, Pittsburgh, and Manhattan), met with the majority's approval.
Tax not bad
A few said that perhaps City Hall's abortive attempt in August for a "wheel tax" might not have been such a bad idea after all.
But not a single citizen expressed support to another proposal—mainly to add an extra expense to the student's bill at enrollment, with the money then going to the city of Lawrence to cover added costs of city maintenance.
And surprisingly enough—a few citizens even suggested raising property taxes in Lawrence (they said they'd be willing to pay) to take the pressure off the city budget.
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