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Wednesday. March 7, 1973
University Daily Kansan
KANSAN commer A Sense of Purpose
I have been back in this country about a year, having spent most of the past $2\frac{1}{2}$ years on a soul sabbatical in the Near East. Those years, half a world away from the raw American campuses of the late 1960s afforded considerable balm for the spirit.
I have toyed with the idea of writing about my current impressions, or perhaps reflecting upon the substance of my life abroad. It seemed either topic might be of some utility to those who themselves may be contemplating life elsewhere.
In the past week, several occurrences dovetailed into what should tell a far more eloquent story about life. I would solely from my own life abroad.
I was introduced in Kansas City to a youngrug merchant who is soonto leave for a buying trip to Afghanistan. He wanted me to sharethe knowledge of the country and my disputable knowledgeof carpets available in the area.
The fellow was quite concerned with horror stories about the bandits of Afghanistan. I immediately recalled a recent New York Times piece on the drug trade and the low value placed upon human life in that area.
More pointedly, I recalled the last people who had asked me about such frightening possibilities, the Kunst brothers from Minnesota. I recalled their meeting with them and their own later tragic encounter in Afghanistan.
Their story merits thoughtful attention.
John and David Kunst left Wasea, Minn., in June 1970 to literally walk around the world to generate publicity for UNICEF.
They were not seeking publicity for their own sake, nor were they involved to my knowledge in any conceivable commercial exploitation. They were simply two extraordinary young men, quietly determined to perform a most extraordinary feat.
I spent an evening with the Kunts between two small fishing villages in eastern Turkey. They were primarily interested in talking to a friend of mine and me about points of interest that they might see in their then-forthcoming trip across Turkey.
In the course of our conversation, as hard as it tried, I was unable to get away and speak to them. We have own experiences or situations behind their commitment. They
weren't evasive; they appeared rather genuinely unimpressed with the tableau.
Some months thereafter, I was grieved to learn that the Knunts had been set up by Afgan bandits and that John had been killed. David had been wounded and was back in the United States.
Last week, David Kunst and another brother Peter, returned to Germany.
There were no great waves of publicity across this benemed land, just small stories buried inside large metropolitan dailies near the department store ads. I think the Kunsts would want it that way.
It seemed more than just a tragic ending to a great adventure. There was a terrible finality about it, something that further lessened the sum of all men's hopes, something dishearteningly Conradian.
It is the same thing I felt in a boat on a small southwestern lake at the moment the first human step fell upon the moon. Just as I could not see the astronauts, I cannot now see the Kunsts.
I would not portray the Kunst as heroes, nor as lesser subjects for emulation. I would only ask why more of us don't find, or can't find, our resources of spirit which would suggest such an attempt as theirs.
What is the point of all this? It does not have to do with rug dealing in Afghanistan, with me or even with the Kunst. It has to do with you and all of us, our sense of purpose, direction and hope.
I think that the Kunsts stand for something very positive. I'm not precisely certain what it would be, but I know how to show the feeling the engender in me.
Where will we go when we leave KU? To a job in the private sector? To work for the government? To plunder the foundations, in search of graduate giveaways? Or skibumming, beach-bumming, dopebumming, maybe just plain bumming.
But I know what they're about,
and I know that from some point in a
higher dimension, the earth gleams
more brightly from their effort.
Will any of us have the courage, the vision to not only take the appealing public step of crossing national borders, but to go further and risk a life beyond our own inner borders?
Godspead, Peter and David. And thanks.
—C.C. Caldwell
Kurt Waldheim, the successor selected by the Security Council, speaks both languages, and German.
French Achieve New Status In Language Squabble at U.N.
French diplomats argued for linguistic balance in hiring people for the U.N. Secretariat, the big bureaucracy that does research and paperwork for the United Nations. This was in 1985, when it became a geographical balance, big-power balance, and balance of ages.
"What we need is a French speaking Thant," declared the French foreign minister, Maurice Schumann.
The French also are quick to bring up linguistic aspects of any decision in the assembly. They speak English, but they use the new U.N. environment of
Associated Press Writer
By SHIRLEY CHRISTIAN Associated Press Writer
UNITED NATIONS—A polite guerrilla war is going on here over a question of languages.
A combination of General Assembly resolutions, diplomatic mading and the arrival of nearly 100 French in a former French and Belgian territories in Africa have placed a position of French in recent years.
It was well understood, for each of the ability to speak French was qualified for anyone aspiring to succeed U Thant as secretary-general a year ago. It tked the job right now, only English in U.N. business.
English is the tongue most widely used at U.N. headquarters, but French, the traditional language of France, is alive and well fighting.
Those who speak English are not resisting seriously the French advances. They are sitting back with the self-satisfied knowledge that anyone in New York needs English to shop at the supermarket and understand what language he speaks in international diplomacy.
fice—"because, among one considerations, French is spoken there." English-speaking Kenya eventually was selected.
The United Nations has five official languages: English, French, Spanish, Russian and Chinese. Any of these may be used in speaking to the General Assembly for 132 delegations, nearly 70 regularly speak and prepare resolutions in English, either because it is their native tongue or their second language. About delegations use French, 20 in a few Russian and one Chinese.
Many employees benowned the action, particularly Japanese and Indians whose native tongue is not an official U.N. language. They already had learned the new rule in theory, the new rule message have to master a third language to be eligible for promotions.
Within the Secretariat, onl English and French are workin languages used in meetings an documentation.
A series of General Assembly decisions since 1967 has sought to correct that. They require that Secretariat *employees in categories be able to handle at least two of the five languages.*
"Both languages are equal, but previously, English was more equal than French in practice."
Michel said a more lenient view usually was taken of the language rule in hiring and promoting persons from countries where an official U.N. language was not the native one.
? Strikes for Affirmative Action
By STEVE RIEL
Editorial Writer
A visit by a civil servant *tra*s stirs much action on this campus. Presumably federal officials have come and gone almost unmodified. But a visit by two *tra*s from the UK, Health, Education and Welfare caused much ado at KU last week.
The officials were here to check into University compliance with an HEW directive requiring that faculty specify that affirmative action must be taken to rectify disparities in the utilization of minorses and women at internships that are government contractors.
would have seen signs of affirmative action, or at least of good public relations on the campus.
If the officials did much checking at all last week they
Signs, actually more flats than informs, informed passability that "Discrimination Is Prohibited" and that "Equal Employment Opportunity is found in Watson Library and in the Kansas Union. Also, last Thursday the most recent draft of the KU Affirmative Action Plan was printed in this newspaper. The officials probably stirred more action in one week than has been stirred in many months of sole-searching by the Affirmative Action Committee. (A causal relationship between inspection and University actions can be disputed, but the coincidence cannot.)
This sole-searching, or looking into affirmative action out of the public eye, began in early 1972 when KU adopted anEqual Opportunity Policy Statement. Nearly a year has elapsed since the university's Plan, which was printed March 1 in the Kansan, was the product of revision upon revision, mostly done out of public view.
As recently as one month ago, proposed SenEx revisions to the plan were beyond the public reach. After reviewing Affirmative Action Office two or three weeks ago, as I did, and asked to see proposed SenEx revisions of the plan, you would have been told they were not for public release.
BURY MY HEART AT WOUNDED KNEE
Presumably, there were reasons for keeping the revision process under wraps. It might have been inconvenient or time-consuming to have kept the plan, but it was being embarrassed to air the extent of disagreement with the plan—plan that finally emerged from committee. These are only suppositions, for the plan really was not publicized until it "finally" draft was completed last week and a agreement or disagreement with the plan has yet to be heard.
discouraged in preliminary phases. This is a poor beginning for a program that certainly can stand on many of its merits.
The development of KU's Affirmative Action Plan, so far, has lacked the participation of the entire University community, which the plan itself demands. The program "General Policies," Subsection B, Number 9 states, "Active participation and cooperation of all members of the University community is encouraged in all areas." The detailed aspects of the Affirmative Action program."
By all appearances, participation of all members of this community was not only solicited, but was actually
But beyond considerable bunging at the University level, the Affirmative Action Plan begins with an even greater handicap. At a time when affirmative action, an expensive tool of government, you look at it, is being encouraged in a requirement by the federal government, that same government is proposing that federal funds for education be cut back. How is it possible to introduce major innovations in hiring and advertising at universities? Are there are at an abysmal low. That may prove to be the stickiest question yet.
The KU Affirmative Action Plan either requires or implies a need for training programs, child care and other educational women's courses, additional funding for women's athletics, tutorial services, publicity for the action plan and funds for enrolment in special stipulations. Add up these costs and other incidentals and the plan represents the "substantial expense" mentioned at the inclusion of Section I of the plan.
But the framers of the KU plan were pragmatic in many senses. They stipulated, for example, that financing for sections of the plan would be provided "as soon as possible." The phrase will mean in elapsed time remains to be seen. A lot depends on federal response.
From my perspective, affirmative action at this University is under attack. DNA strikes against it. Undue secret in preparation of the plan has shrouded it from necessary community exposure. Although, the university's Raymond Nichols, the plan subject to continual consideration," it is a little late and somewhat inefficient to seek revision now, when it would have been provided at an earlier stage of the plan. As it stands, the plan is technically "elitist."
The second strike against the plan is a miserly mentality at the federal level. By proposing cuts in funding, education, the same government that properly proposes action to address the problem of funding for its implementation.
I am not so skeptical as to envision a possible third strike against affirmative action. Three strikes would mean metaphorical damage, but I only note that the end I would like to see for an inspired HWE directive.
Affirmative action is necessary. What's more, it is needed here. The University of Kansas, if nothing else, needs to review its policies and its hiring and admissions priorities. Women and minorities should be encouraged and fully included in the community. Furthermore, hidden institutional "negative action," should they exist, must be discarded.
The burden of affirmative action ultimately must rest with students, staff, faculty and administration. Although late, it is not too late to "comment on the plan," Opinions, criticism and praise are solicited by provisions of the Act by the chancellor of this University.
As the plan notes, "In order to effect a meaningful change in existing patterns of operation, the development of specific objectives and goals and of detailed procedures and timetables for action, then may be carried out with the active involvement and participation of all segments of the University community."
James J. Kilpatrick
Amen.
Indians 'Bribed' into Compliance
WASHINGTON—The theft of government documents, by rampaging Indians caused a front-page splash. There were headlines again when Indian leader Hank Adams was arrested as he tried to return the first large cache of stolen documents. The attacker, and jailed my associate Les Whitten, adding to the uproar.
Lost in the hullabaloo of the documents, however, was the story they tell. We have tried to dig out this story from thousands of interviews we have showed us. These documents tell how Indians have been cheated out of their water, mineral and timber rights. And the Indians, indians contend, was a worse crime than stealing documents.
Written was questioned before the grand jury about whether the story of documents would sell newspapers. He replied that the plight of the Indians, unfortunately, didn't sell newspapers. It nevertheless important story which we intend to continue telling. Here is a new installment from the stolen Indian papers:
Early in our history, white men hornsweighed Indian leaders out of their valuable resources by offering them whiskey, blankets and geygaws. The documents show the form of the bribes has changed.
Corrupting the Chiefs
Corrupting the Chiefs
Instead of bright trinkets,
beheaded by the chiefs to the tribal chiefs to keep them compliant. The National Tribal
Chairman's Association (NTCA), for example, has regularly received funds from the government.
One private memo from former Indian Commissioner Louis Bruce promises $50,000 from the U.S. Treasury to finance the tribal chief's convention. There are other references in the documents to government subsidies for the chiefs. "On October 5, 1972," begins one memo, the commissioner, who appointed the commissioner a proposed contract for Fiscal Year 1973 with NTCA, with a projected cost of $299,532. The Bureau is presently reviewing this proposal. . .."
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In return for all this government green, the chiefs often help the government work its way with the Indians. This relationship shows through the confidential minutes of a typical high-level meeting. The top brass of the Interior Department acceded, according to the minutes, to the assistance of tribal problems. "Who speaks for the Indians?" asked Harrison Loesch, Assistant Secretary of the Interior. "I hope NTCA will become the voice."
The chiefs agreed to speak to the Indians and Secretary of the Interior Rogers Morton quickly offered, "We might provide some expense money to NTCA." Loesch asserted but suggested the money should be paid out as "consultant fees."
Business Manager
Carol Dirko
There was no reluctance from the Indian chiefs to accept more money. "Mr. Secretary," nodded
former NTCA president William Youpee, "we need several people fulfilme to work as our staff." Morton immediately promised: "Yes, we should give them all the help we can."
This handout system has produced such men as Raymond Nakai, the former president of the giant Navajo tribe, who has been selling out Navajo water rights. They say he always did the government's bidding. The Navajos, therefore, forced him to sell the land to Donald who is battling the sport interests for the water rights.
Compliant chiefs, with government comminence, have sold out Indian rights again and are now competing for Fort Peck Indians, for example, agreed to a contract that gave a communications company 49 per cent of the capital mercial venture for only $8,900. The Indians, for their share, put
Government funds, of course,
are channelled to the tame Indians who go along with the government. When dissidents break the laws, Broken Treaties, Loeach issued instructions that no resources, directly or indirectly, would be given to aid any participant. The obediently joined the government in condemning the dissidents.
up government and Indian funds totaling $189,000.
Secretary of the Interior Morton recently invited us to confer with him on Indian problems. We came away impressed that he is genuinely eager to solve the problems and challenges of the Indians. He noted, for example that he has been able to increase the budget for Indian needs. He also accepted our suggestions that he listen to the grievances of the Indian dissidents.
(C) 1973 Washington Star Syndicate, Inc.
Readers Respond
Incorrect on No-Fault
To the Editor:
In an article printed in the March 6 edition of the Kansan a statement that no fault insurance could be a detriment for some people in Kansas because Kansas was my state, and my conversation with your reporter, which lasted more than two hours. I stated my statement, and it totally
misrepresents my position on no-fault.
Griff and the Unicorn
By Sokoloff
The only context in which I mentioned the rural character of Kansas was in the area of urban state. I also noted that proportionally more one-car accidents in Kansas than in an urban state such as New York. The drivers who are also operators of the vehicles are not now compensated through liability insurance. The first party no-fault insurance program does receive compensation although nobody else was at fault, and even though they were at fault the parties did not suffer smaller under no-fault, as compared with present liability insurance premiums, would therefore be much smaller in rural states, such as Kansas, than in urban states.
I am particularly concerned about the misstatements in the article since, as a member of the Special Committee on Motor Vehicles and as a member of the National Conference on Uniform State Laws, I have for two years participated in the drafting of the Uniform Motor Vehicle Act, a much stronger no-fault bill than the one now being considered in the House of Representatives. I have made my views before committee of the legislature an advocate of no-fault legislation. Neither to the legislature nor to your reporter I ever said that it could be a detriment to some of the people of Kansas.
William A. Kelly Professor of Law