4
Friday, April 12, 1974
University Daily Kansan
Editorials, columns and letters published on this page reflect only the opinions of the writers.
Lesson of Kent State
For a freized 13 seconds in the midst of a passionate anti-war demonstration, Ohio National Guardsmen fired a volley into a crowd of four of them and wounding nine others on May 4, 1970.
This event symbolizes a time of student activism and violent protest, a time of red arm bands, "love it or leave it" bumper stickers, of radical politics, radical backlash and dreary, daily reports of continued fighting in Southeast Asia.
The shooting at Kent State is an unforgettable part of the bitter heritage of this generation of college students. Nearly four years later, after the incident had been self-fuilling, analysis, the last episode of the drama is nearing its end.
A federal grand jury in Cleveland indicted seven of the National Guardmen last week for violating the civil rights of the slain students. Five of the guardmen were charged with felonies for the four deaths and. Three others face sentences of one year life. Three others were charged on misdeanions that could result in a $1,000 fine.
Investigation of the shooting had been declared closed by Atty. Gen. John Mitchell in 1971, and the smoldering issue seemed destined to be officially ignored. It was only the persistent inquiry and protest of the slain students' parents, friend and colleague, support of the Kent State administration, that prompted a renewed investigation.
Those who insisted on the investigation said they were motivated not so much by a desire to put the guardsmen behind bars that there would be a recognition, belated that it may be, of the truth.
The handling of the Kent State incident reveals something of how this republic operates. The society is not wise enough to justly deal with many of its problems in a way that is not defensively. But the latest Kent State episode indicates that justice eventually is asserted after the
conflict has been cleared away.
After the Vietnam War the nation seemed to transcend an era of violence and conflict to an era of calm accountability. It is as if the game was played in the '60s and the players are being judged in the '70s for their performance in the game. The period of accountability has covered some unexpected losers. Mitchell, along with many other moguls of Nixon's so-called "law and order" administration, has been dethroned and has legal problems of his own.
Ironically, the government is nearly in shambles but the campuses are quieter. It used to be that the arrival of spring meant a renewal of demonstrations and social and political activism. Now the main activity seems to be the education of old-fashioned education, mixed with a little madness, courtesy of the streakers.
There was a good deal of incoherent shouting and misguided political activity on the campuses in the '60s. But recent appraisals tend to vindicate the overall impetus of the dissident activity.
One reason that the campuses are quieter now is that many of the student demands of the universities have been met, and the foolishness of the Vietnam War policy seems to be generally accepted.
Of course, the old hawks are not patting the backs of Sen. Flulbright or the campus radicals for their early resistance to the war policy. But there should be no doubt that the students of the recent violent era gave some direction, broke rules and made various ways, made life a little more tolerable for present students.
The deaths of the Kent State students will at least have some meaning if they are remembered by those who lived through it. This generation should remember May 4, 1970, and recall: "That was the day that four students were killed because of a senseless war that apart the nation and generated tragic tension among the people. And it should never be allowed to happen again."
Bill Gibson
"SORRY BUTTER LATE THAN NEVER."
BY JONATHAN C. RANDAL
The War Martin Post
Frenchman Continues His Battle
Gaullist Successor
PARIS—Not since his resistance days of World War II has Jacques Chaban-Delmas—endorsed Sunday "by acclamation" as the official Gaillist candidate to succeed the late Georges Pompidou—faced such obvious dangers.
For the first time since the late Charles de Gaulle returned to power in 1988, thanks in part to his support for Gaulais are faced with the serious possibility of losing control of the presidency. And under the Fifth Republic, that is where real power lies, de Gaulle,
Fired as Pompidou's prime minister was de Gaulle had fired Pompidou at the end of his own reign, Chaban was nothing if not calculating in planning his campaign in the presidency. He not only that Pompidou was dying, he also started planning.
THUS WITNITH HOURS of Pompido's burial Bacal-Delmas did violence to a reputation for charm and elegance by jumping the gun and announcing his own candidacy to prevent being frozen out of the race by lesser men.
The dangers come not only from the threat of Socialist leader Francois Mitterrand's Communist-backed candidacy, but from within the euro solid government coalition.
Insiders do not discount entirely reports that within 24 hours of Pompidou's death printers were running off Chabani's election campaign, and he sprinted him sprinting across a map of France.
And Chabana is convinced the polls are right in indicating he is the only candidate who can beat Mitterand and keep the alumni from getting to toweln in power.
IN ANY CASE that image would be in perfect keeping with a handsome man who, at 59, prides himself on being a prewar rugby star, a postwar tennis ace, a good golfer and a politician who delights in running up steps two at a time.
Ined in a long career which reads more like a Hollywood press agent's release than that of an active 20th century politician, his has run into only one major setback.
On the surface he had mishandled a number of scandals, especially one involving his own income taxes. Although technically well within the law in not paying any income tax for several years—because of dividends withheld on his investments—they tortured and tardy explanations, when they finally came, were not convincing.
Chosen by Pompidoi as his first prime minister in June 1968, he was dropped unfortunately three years later and had much the look of an aging political hasbeen.
These troubles were seized upon by his enemies within the Gaullist party which had taken over the Army and held its upperheal with an absolute majority in the National Assembly, but one heavily contested.
THEY HAD BEEN waiting for any excuse to dump a man who genuinely believed France needed a "new society" to unblock itself and who surrounded himself with specialists determined to pass reform legislation. Hubbard forcheck and in May introduced a new Parliamentary vote of confidence—only to lose Parramuthia little more than a month later.
For the first time since he became a
journalist at 18 Chaban was out of a job. Taking a leaf from Pompionid's own campaign to replace his illustrious predecessor, Chaban surrounded himself with a small brain trust, saw people from all influential walks of life, traveled to China, bided his heart as the number he was the herofa of a Gaillard party congress, much to Pompionid's annoyance.
It was a piece of siegework worthy of a man who started out a World War II military career as a private in 1938 only to end up a brigadier general who at the age of 29 played a major role in the liberation of Paris,
CHABAN INCURRED De Gaulle's wrath in 1988 by winning the speeches of the National Assembly against De Gaulle's choice—and was frozen in that job which ultimately ceremonial under the Fifth Republic until retested by Pompidou 19 years later.
Chaban's punishment was meant as an object lesson to those Gaullists who had "gone to the soup" under the Fourth Republic while the general was "crossing the desert" or being out of power between 1946 and 1958.
Yet Chaban was in the key defense
Guest Editorial
"--- WE MIGHT EVEN ENJOY FOR OUR INLAND FRANCE A MARVEL NEW ERA OF CORPORATION ---"
Whistlestop Will Help
Whistlestop is a program designed to give the women of Lawrence one more method of protecting themselves. It is not a panacea, but with community support it ought to be helpful for at least two reasons. First, the whistle provides a non-lethal weapon; it cannot be turned on the woman and used against her. Second, the sound of the whistle is likely to scare the attacker away and summon help. By making the community aware that they can escape if they are alert, the threat of capture will become a very real deterrent to crime.
Reports from the Hyde Park-Kenwood community of Chicago where a Whistlestop program was initiated in March 1972 offer an estimate of 6,000 whistles sold. In a survey sold 16,000 whistles in a community of 46,000. Subsequently, total reported crimes in the community decline 11 per cent in the six month period from March 2 to September 2, 1972, compared with those reported on the "street" crime declined 37 per cent in the same period.
Stinson's allegation that there is a rape hysteria is not true. There is a self-defense slide show that Rape Victim Counselors participate in which is being shown to women's groups all over Lawrence. Since mid-February, we have taken this show to a
Whistlestop is not the ultimate solution to the problem of assaults on women. There is no single solution to this complex problem. However, a Whistlestop program does give a community a way to reclaim its own streets. When citizens see each other wearing and carrying whistles, they know that there is a need for help when in trouble they can count on one another for assistance.
In his editorial on Tuesday, "Whistlestop Won't Help," Jeff Stinson passed along considerable misinformation. He claimed that there have been 20 raps in Lawrence since this summer and that the situation is driven women into a rape hysteria. He could not be further from the truth. In the area on and around the University campus since November 1972, there have been about 35 rapes, 16 assaults, three cases of battery and two molestations. Most of these 31 incidents occurred during spring months.
different group at least five nights a week. After the show we spend about an hour talking with the women and we have yet to see anything resembling hysteria. Furthermore, according to the records of the University Information Center, there have been only nine unfounded rape rumors reported to them since the 1973-74 term began.
Shrison suggested that the money raised to purchase whistles should be used as a reward for information leading to the capture of the suspect believed to be responsible for a majority of the crimes. He pointed out that the money raised to purchase whistles for women; each woman pays for her own whistle. Furthermore, it is foolish to think that when any one suspect is apprehended, our problems will be solved.
Stinson urged the University to invest more in lighting on campus. This is already being done, but it will help only part of campus at night. Stinson also suggested that the campus police spend more time on foot patrol; this too, is being done. But unless Stinson favors a police state, it will always be impossible for the police to patrol.
What Whistlestop hopes to accomplish is the establishment of a system that will augment police protection. With community support, Whistlestop can assure us that when we are in trouble, we can count on one another for assistance.
Kathy Hoggard
919 Louisiane
Editor's Note: In Tuesday's editorial "Whistlestop Won't Help," it was erroneously reported that one man was "thought to be responsible for about 20 raps since summer." Lawrence and campus police said Feb. 11 that there had been 21 raps reported during the past 18 months with 11 of them occurring on Friday and Saturday, and 3 others from Franck Alexander said Feb. 14 that the man who was referred to was probably responsible for 15 to 20 rapes or attempted rapes since May.
Concert Offers Homogenized Rock
By GREGG KILDAY
The Leo Aguire Times
The Los Angeles Times
ONTARIO, Calif. -Every season has its rock concert, every concert its superlative.
Woodstock was the first, the most seemingly spontaneous, and charged-up
THE ADJECTIVES are not all in yet, but if it is to find a place in the record books, it
And California Jam—the day-long rock concert held at the Ontario Motor Speed-
seemingly spontaneous and charisma-
Altamount followed in a burst of violence
The Daily Kansan welcomes letters to the editor, but asks that letters be typewritten, double-spaced and no longer than 150 words. All letters are required according to space limitations and the editor's judgment, and must be signed. KU students must provide their name, year in school and homecourt; faculty members provide their name and position; others must provide their name and address.
and MAMM of a nightmare.
Watkins Glen, at 600, 000 strong, was by far the largest.
"We even went into what we call 'negative advertising' during the final week," he said, referring to the Orwellian small print under the heading "concert provision" that warned prospective concertgoers "no bottles or cans . . . no ventricular camping . . . no alcoholic beverages . . . no animals . . . subject to search."
"The chief of police in Ontario, Chief Kilbrick, he's been great, he worked with us all the way. At first, he was going to cut the sale of tickets off at 100,000, then 150,000, but then he saw we knew what we were doing.
amazed after all the months of anticipation that the party was finally under way.
SITTING IN THE yellow and white canvas tent that had been erected backstage for the comfort of the press and the friends and relatives and assorted entourages, the eight participating rockers and dancers dreamt up the whole idea, beamed like an exhilarated Long Island patriarch at an overly elaborate wedding reception,
ARMED WITH COOLERS and Thermosides and blankets and lawn chairs, the kids filmed good-natured into the speedway, equipped for this suburban rock fest.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KANSAN
letters policy
will be as the most efficient, the most peaceful and, with an estimated gross of $2 million, the most financially successful of the major rock events—"the aristocrat of rock concerts," in the words of one amused participant.
"We looked into four or five concerts before this, but the talent or the place was wrong," said Sandy Feldman, who as head of special projects for ABC has supervised everything from In Concert to the coverage of the return of the POWS.
"This was just a natural."
Located within easy commuting distance of Los Angeles, situated in an established, controlled facility, California Jam seech more a large-scale, backyard barbecue than a massing of what had once been thought to be the counterculture.
The tons of equipment that had been hauled to Ontario in preparation for the concert were illustrative of the planning that ABC Entertainment Inc., in coordination with Pacific Presentations, had put into the 1.3 million project.
What drug problems occurred me
margely by a mix of smoking alcohol, stringent
diet and unregulated drinking.
"It all looks like a middle-aged trade convention," said a technician with Emerson, Lake and Palmer as he watched old friends, veterans of other groups, other organizations, each other, ennumerably shake hands and settle down to discuss it all over beer.
"Whatever happened to the revolution? It's really very depressing."
An All-American college newspaper
Kansan Telephone Numbers
Newsroom—UN 4-4810
Business Office—UN 4-4358
ministry job in 1968 and his critics have accused him of purposely fomenting the army revolt in Algeria which returned De Gaulle to power.
Published at the University of Kansas daily
postings. Mail registration forms to:
examination periods. Mail subscription rates: $8 a
semester, $15 a year. Second class postage paid
with airmail. Admissions are open to students in
activity fee: $1.25 a semester and in student activity fee:
$1.35 a semester. Advertised offered to all students without regard
to race, gender or national origin. Provenance are not necessary those of
protesters are not necessarily those of the Region.
NEWS STAFF
NEWS STAFF
News Advisor Susanne Shaw
Editor Hal Ritter
Associate Editors Chuck Potter,
Elaine Zionerman
Campus Editor Eric Meyer
Editorial Editor Bill Gibson
BUSINESS STAFF
Business Adviser . Mel Adelm-
Business Adviser . Mel Adelm-Humbak
Advertising Director . Diane Schmidt
Advertising Director . Diane Schmidt
Classified Adv. Mgr . Brise Repenstein
Assistant Advertising Manager . David Althaborn
Assistant Advertising Manager . David Althaborn
HIS ENEMIES HACTEED him of all but going into hiding during the critical days of that adventure, a charge Chaban has rebuted by claiming credit for dispatching a clandestine Gaullist command post to Algiers to repress the coup. Long before he showed his political clout by persuading Henry Ford to start a major influence in Bordeaux, Chaban's ability to influence him was the only party ironic title of the "Duke of Aquainte," the name of the ancient regime province around Bordeaux.
Member Associated Collegiate Press
Readers Respond
Whistle Gives
Secure Feeling
Have a night class and when i woke up my car at night, I wear a whistle. I might be able to scream really loud if I was attacked, but I wouldn't want to have reactions would be, thank goodness. But I do feel better wearing a whistle, even if it is just a "symbol," a term Stinson scoffs at. But, even if only one woman out of the 5,000 who reacted to the whistle, all 5,000 are lustified.
I feel better having the whistle around my neck as a sign to someone approaching me or following me that I do not intend to succumb easily. Sure, there is a rape concern on campus—because there is every antifatication for deep concern. But I do not want you to be afraid of women that every time someone comes the least bit near them, they are going to start screaming and blowing their whistles and crying rape. Stinson makes the "cute" comment, "Was that the whistle indicating that classes are over, or another woman doing she was being assaulted?" For things like this, there are making cute comments, so find out!
To the Editor:
Operation Whistlestope is great. Jen Stinson evidently has a very low opinion of women from his remarks in his editorial in the Kansas April 9. The dean of women's life told us out a bunch of whistles to 5,000 hysterical, physical people seems to think, Mr. Stinson, be a man, has never walked home from a class at night alone with the danger of being raped. He has obviously never felt the fear of walking down a road alight at night or in the daytime, a slave was near and being approached by a man, even though it is just to ask the time.
Of course, I am in favor of foot patrols and better lighting and later hour buses, but the dean of women's office does not have the authority to snap its fingers and have all nice things come to pass. Meanwhile, the women need some moral support, such as Operation Whistlestop. And, as for the money needed for a review, this is just one thing on this jerk and hasn't turned him in, that person is just as sick as the attacker.
Instead of covering in corners like frightened animals, we must band together to fight attacks and take self-defense courses to protect ourselves. As so aptly put by one writer, we will only be safe when it is dangerous to attack a man as it is a woman.
Patti Plamann Registrar's office staff member
Point of Hysteria
I agree with Jeff Stinson (Whistlestop Won't Help, April 9, 1974) that fear of rage has reached the point of hysteria. I say it's about time.
To the Editor:
I am not going to buy a whistle, I carry a small aerosol can which contains a substance that will, when sprayed into the eyes of an attacker, blind him. I have not bothered to find out if this condition is temporary or permanent. Frankly, I don't care, I don't care, and I don't care if the brutal asked when I would use it and I replied when he touched me. Women, band together in any way you can, but learn to take care of yourselves, too.
I agree that Whistleston is not going to eliminate rape. (Never heard anyone say it! I don't know.)
If Stinson's concern for the mass of innocent males whose lives will be ruined by a whistle is real, if that concern is real and his concern to do something about rape is also real, I would suggest that he and the doctor office findmd bills to buy watches for joggers.
Christine Leonard 1135 Ohio
Griff and the Unicorn