Daily hansan
Friday, Jan. 19, 1962
59th Year, No. 74
Prof. Harry Shaffer Fights Intolerance
By Dennis Farney
The speaker was comparing the electoral system of the Soviet Union to that of the United States.
Elections in the Soviet Union are controlled, he was telling his audience of faculty members. Elections in the United States are free.
LAWRENCE, KANSAS
"There is only one name on the ballot in Russia," he said, "the name of the Communist Party's candidate. The voter who writes in his own candidate is rare."
THE SPEAKER continued. If he noticed the gray-haired faculty member with the red-rimmed glasses silently taking notes — sometimes copying parts of his talk verbatim— he did not appear disturbed.
he did not appear. But later, the speaker met the faculty member—Harry Shaffer, assistant professor of economics. The experience, for him, proved to be both disconcerting and enlightening.
After the talk, Prof. Shaffer raised his hand.
"A while ago," he began, "you spoke of the secret ballot provision in the Russian constitution as being unreal. How about voting in Mississippi? Is the voting there carried on as it is guaranteed in our constitution?"
The speaker, visibly embarrassed, admitted that some voting discrimination does exist in the United States.
Then he listened to a lecture. Comparing the actual practice in one country (Russia) with the theoretical practice in another (the United States), he learned from Prof. Shaffer, is not the way to impart unbiased knowledge.
"I think that what you have in mind during your lectures is to condition your audience so that they reject the Russian constitution and accept ours," Prof. Shaffer told him.
"But should we not have faith that the people will make the right choice if we present them with the objective truth?
"WE IN THE UNITED STATES today realize that there is a difference between our constitution on paper and the way it is applied—just as there is a difference in the Russian constitution..."
Surprised as he was by this opposition to what he later admitted was a one-sided speech, the speaker might have been even more surprised had he known that his lecturer was not a native-born American, but instead a 1940 immigrant to this country from Austria.
country. But had the speaker known more of Prof. Shaffer's background, he might have prepared himself for a
question about Negro voting rights in the South.
He would have known that Prof. Shaffer resigned from the faculty of the University of Alabama in 1956, after the Alabama Board of Regents dismissed Antherine Lucy, the first Negro student to attend classes at that university.
RECENTLY PROF. SHAFFER sat in his crowded office in Summerfield Hall and traced the developments
Harry Shaffer
leading to his immigration to this country and his coming to KU in 1956.
He placed both hands behind his head and leaned back in his swivel chair, reminiscing.
"I'm Jewish, you know," he said. In 1940 the Jews who could get out of Austria were the lucky ones.
"I was one of the first Jews to register for immigration to the United States after Hitler came to power. After I registered, I went to Italy to wait my turn."
THE WAIT LASTED about three years, he said, with the time being divided between Italy, France and Cuba.
"In France I sold business supplies," he said, "carbon papers and pencils, mostly. In Cuba I taught Spanish to other refugees. I didn't know a word of it when I stepped
Having only the equivalent of a high school education, Prof. Shaffer tried a variety of means of supporting himself during this period.
Skillman Asks No Campus Driving
Students are urged not to drive on Jayhawk Blvd. or its adjoining streets tomorrow and Sunday unless it is absolutely necessary, Joe Skillman, campus police chief said today. He explained that crews will be out with snow plows and other equipment those days and that cars would add unnecessary hazards.
More Snow Covers KU
On the eve of final examinations, students had to face more cold, more wind and more snow again to hear the bitter-sweet parting words of teachers.
And it was cold! Temperatures have dropped to two degrees in the wake of yesterday's storm. Another eight inches of snow sifted onto Mt. Oread's icecap during the storm. There is now an accumulation of nearly 20 inches on the Hill for the month.
Fair to partly cloudy here this afternoon. Occasional snow beginning extreme West tonight and spreading over West and Central Saturday. Not much temperature change. Low tonight zero to 5 below. High Saturday 10 Northwest to 20 Southeast.
No immediate relief is in sight for the first three days of final week, either. Little more snow is expected but the temperature, after an expected slight rise Sunday, is due to go perverse again. Down—in other words—right back to where it is now.
In Kansas City, Kan., and Mo., they've turned smart. After a deluge of 14 inches of the white stuff they've closed nearly all schools. They've got nearly two feet of snow lying around in there.
They caught it in Wichita, too. After a fall of a foot of new snow they are shoveling out of a 17 inch accumulation. This has broken a 12-inch record of 53 years standing.
The word from the Highway Patrol is that roads throughout most of the state are hazardous but that maintenance crews have managed to keep major routes open.
This is the last issue of the University Daily Kansan for this semester. The Kansan will resume publication Monday, Feb. 5.
Today's Kansan Last Issue of Semester
Gizenga's Prison Escape Is Likely
LEOPOLDVILLE—(UPI)—United Nations officials attempted today to ascertain the whereabouts of leftist leader Antoine Gizenga, who was ousted from the Central Congo government and placed under house arrest in Stanleyville.
They said they had had no contact with him since Wednesday. Doubts about Gizenga's whereabouts sprang from reports saying his Congolese captors had disappeared from around his house in Stanleyville without explanation.
There was speculation Gizenga might have escaped, that his Congolese guards might have taken him to a nearby army camp or simply that they might have moved inside the house.
maa's cousin and ally, Col. Joseph Pakassa, was reported at ed Nations sent a plane over Kindu and it sighted
an unidentified twin-engine Beechcraft on the runway, leading to speculation that Gizenga might have flown to meet Pakassa.
THERE WAS NO FURTHER word from Albertville, in northern Katanga, where Central Congolese troops were reported to have mutinied. A Swedish interpreter for two Red Cross officials arrived in Elisabethville yesterday and said the soldiers had started shooting in the streets. Another report said that their officers had shot seven of the soldiers for refusing to obey orders.
Pakassa is the man whose troops are believed responsible for the New Year's Day massacre of 19 Roman Catholic missionaries at Kongolo and the slaughter of 13 Italian U.N. flyers at Kivu last year. Kivu is in Kindu Province.
HOWEVER, THE Red Cross, the Congolese government and U.N. officials were discussing sending a commission there to investigate the reported torture, slaying and dismemberment of the priests. Earlier, a U.N. source had said the world organization was leaving the investigation in the hands of the Congolese government.
Tshombe protested to Central Government Premier Cyrille Adoula yesterday against a reported attack by Congolese troops on Katangese Gendarmerie stationed in the Kisele region of Northern Katanga.
There was speculation the Katanga president might be laying the groundwork for another meeting with Adoula to finally unify the faction-torn Congo.
Adoula has said he might appoint a Katanga official to succeed Gizenga as vice premier in the central government. It also was thought Tshombe might want to report on why the Katanga assembly has not yet ratified the Kitona agreement, which was aimed at ending the mineral-rich province's secession.
$32,000 In Gifts Given Museum
A total of $32,000 in gifts has been given to the KU Art Museum this semester.
Recent art gifts have been evaluated by New York appraisers at approximately $30,000. The 1961 senior class gave $2,000 toward the purchase of "Avenger," by Seymour Linton.
Lipton. A group of paintings given to the museum by John Latshaw, Kansas City, are of major importance, Marilyn Stockstad, director of the museum said. She added that they are important because modern French paintings are difficult to acquire.
Other gifts came from the National Academy of Design, New York, from Joseph Cantor, Carmel, Indiana, and from Hugo Emmerich.
The Latsaw collection included:
a contemporary French oil, "Place Pigalle" by Albert Andre; "Chateau Abandonne" also a modern French oil by Maurice Prianchon; a contemporary watercolor, "Paysage de la Marne" by Hippolyte Petitjean, and an 18th century oil, "Le Comte de Brionne" by Nicholas Bernard Lenicie.
The National Academy of Design gift was a collection of drawings by Kenyon Cox and a landscape oil by William Stanley Haseltine.
Mr. Cantor's gift was two contemporary Cuban paintings, "Cathedral" by Rene Portocarrero and "Composition" by Paul Milian.
Mr. Emmerich gave a 16th century Italian piece by Giavanni Martini de Udine, "St. Joseph." Miss Stockstad said that the piece is one of a pair and that the companion piece is already in the museum's collection.
More ASC Power Is Answer to Student Apathy
(Editor's Note: This is the last article in a four part series on campus politics at KU.)
By Jerry Musil
At and before every election, party leaders discuss means of increasing student interest and participation in student government. But they have not succeeded to any great extent.
Student leaders say if they had more power and more control in student affairs, more students would be interested. This question was asked of the faculty, administration and student political leaders.
LAURENCE C. WOODRUFF, dean of students, said giving more power to student government could be one way to increase interest among students.
"But, student government should handle all the responsibilities it now has before trying to gain more," he said.
He said that some committees and
laws of student government are not functioning or have not been used since they were passed.
since they were passed "The All Student Council (ASC) passed a bill a few years ago to have student organizations register their charters with it. An organization has yet to register under the provisions of this bill," he said.
HE SAID ONE PROBLEM in student government is the lack of continuity. A student leader usually has two years of work and leadership in campus affairs which restricts the amount of experience, interest and desire he brings to the job.
desire he brings to John Grumm, associate professor of political science, said more power would very likely increase student interest. He said students here feel campus politics does not affect them.
He said the University of California's student government has complete control of the union building, the football stadium and the athletic program.
"Of course, they are a licensed corporation under California law and have a permanent secretary which gives them someone who carries on during changes of leaders," he added.
HE SAID STUDENT INTEREST was higher at California than at KU, but not as high as it could be.
"One reason for the lack of interest there is the administration will not allow campaigning on campus."
When asked why the students at California have such power, Prof. Grumm said the administration did not want to bother with it and turned it over to the students.
He said campus politics is good, practical experience in the workings of a party, conducting a campaign and elections, and the legislative process.
TED CHILDERS, Wamego senior and president of Vox Populi, said the problem with student government is very characteristic of KU. "The ASC is great for legislating bills on paper, but putting them into effect is another thing. The Council establishes a committee and says the problem is solved when the committee is named." he said.
committee is thankful He said another problem could be traced back in the history of campus politics.
He said the problem is taking care of itself. If student government continues going at the same level for two more years, the Council can then pressure for more responsibility, he said.
"QUITE OFTEN the important matters which could have been handled, were not because students lacked confidence. The last ten years have been a farce," he said.
"The initiative must come from the Council," he said.
the Council, he said. He said the split elections at KU tend to magnify the problem of student apathy. The political parties
want ideas and issues, and ten-point platforms. They come up with five concrete issues and have to write in five trivial ones, he said.
In discussing the Chancellor's authority of absolute veto over any ASC or student body decisions, Tom Hardy, Holsington junior and cochairman of the University Party said he was doubtful of the need for such a power.
"The ASC recently has given the veto to the student body president," he said, "but the Council can override it with a three-fourths (?) majority. But, of course, they can't override the Chancellor's veto."
HE SAID THE CHANCELLOR and the student body president could possibly work together. If both agree a bill should be vetoed, the Council could not override, but if one of them disagrees, the Council could override, he said.
(Continued on page 12)