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Friday, March 22, 1974
University Dally Kansan
KANSAN commel
Editorials, columns and letters published on this page reflect only the opinions of the writers.
Libel Law Already Tough Enough
President Nixon has proposed a federal libel law that would make it easier for public figures to sue for defamation.
The President's proposals were outlined in a Justice Department memo which said, "Our particular concern is to eliminate the danger of slander or libel as a deterrent to seeking a public career."
The arguments in favor of a federal libel law are specious. The facts are that slanderers and libelers don't have virtual immunity from prosecution and that if honest people are deterred from entering politics, the fear of being libelled is a relatively minor factor.
Current libel law rests largely on the Supreme Court ruling in New York Times v. Sullivan that a public official could recover damages for libel only if a defamatory statement was published with knowledge that the statements were false or reckless disgard for whether they were false. The President's proposals would establish guidelines for courts to use in determining whether a plaintiff had proved "reckless disgard."
The Supreme Court liberalized libel law in New York Times v. Sullivan and subsequent decisions, but it has stopped short of granting complete immunity from libel prosecution. In the case of Curtis Publishing Co. v. Butts, the Supreme Court upheld a libel judgment against the Saturday Evening Post. The Court seems to have considered "reckless disregard" to a failure to adhere
to minimal standards of investigation and reporting.
The White House and the Justice Department have both declared that the aim of the libel law proposals is not to shaft the press. Nonetheless, one can't help but consider the peril that the press and the press has contributed to his current problems.
The immediate conclusion is that the libel law proposal is part of an attack on the press, and an ill-conceived attack at that. Congress should reject any libel law proposal the Nixon administration makes.
John Bender
Bonny Jeans
The argument that fear of libel deters honest men from seeking public office has long been used to support libel laws. Of course, any candidate for public office is subjected to intense public scrutiny which may be at times embarrassing. Most candidates realize this is necessary and the occasional excesses of the press are preferable to keeping a veil of secrecy around political candidates.
Furthermore, if Nixon is interested in attracting more persons to public life, other reforms would be much more efficient. Finance and procedural problems are probably more serious deterrents to persons seeking political careers. Nixon might even consider what effect his own besmirched administration has had in deterring potential office seekers.
May God forgive my mother—she didn't know what she was doing when she discarded my favorite pair of blue jeans.
"Mom," I yelled while frantically clawing through the contents of my suitcase. "Have you noticed that pair of blue jeans anywhere?"
"Which ones are those?" she asked, her face full of concern.
"You know, the ones I robbed from my little brother before I went away to school three years ago; the ones he found in a locker room back in 1966 and wore to play summer baseball in?"
Her eyes lit up in comprehension.
"Oh! You mean the ones with the
Goldwater in 1964' patch over the
hole in the behind?" she said. "The
ones that were faded to a sort of off-
light are so much more visible on
the tops of your ankles because
they were so long that you kept
walking on them?"
"Those are the ones." I said.
"Have you seen them?"
"And weren't those the ones that the knees were worn so thin that they were practically transparent? And wasn't one of the front pockets torn off and all the remaining front buttons just hanging on by a thread? And weren't most of the seams ripped out after you gained all that weight your sophomore year?"
"Yes, oh yes," I said
My mother shrugged and said,
"Oh . . those."
I clutched at her hand. "Mom, what have you done with them?"
She puffed herself up proudly. "I traded them in on a brand new pair of your very own," she said and held up something blue and unrecognizable in its cardboard stiffness.
"Mother, how could you!" I managed to groan after a stunned silence. They were so soft and so sweet, so tender, so perfect—a part of my own body."
"They could practically walk without you, you mean."
"No, I mean how could you give away something that was a part of me, of our family, of the American scene for an entire decade?"
"I didn't give them away," she said. "The store gave me two dollars and a new pair of bluejeans for them."
"I doubt it," my mother said. "I think the store sells them to boutiques in Russia where girls pay up to fifty dollars for them."
I grabbed my coat. "Maybe if I hurry I can get them back."
I imagine that I'll have my new jeans broken in by 1884. By then my old pair ought to be just about ready to fall off some unsuspecting men, so they stand right in the middle of Red Square when it happens.
Bunny Miller
Astronomer No Skeptic on UFO's
By FRANCIS WARD The Los Angeles Times
Armed with this tenacious interest and belief in UFO's, Professor J. Allen Hynek, chairman of Northwestern University's astronomy department, has decided to challenge his skeptical colleagues with what he terms an unmatched scientific effort to determine what it is that people keep seeing that science can't explain.
CHICAGO- Despite persistent scientific debunking, a Gallup poll taken soon after a rash of reported sightings last year indicated that 51 per cent of all Americans believed unidentified flying objects were real, not imaginary, and 11 per cent said they've seen one or more.
Hynke, 63, a small, rather modest man who wears born-rimmed glasses, a trim Vandkeybeard and talks barely above a whisper, doesn't look like a fighter. He has taken on the task of defeating two persuasive, entrenched opponents—an imposing number of unbelieving scientists (many of them fellow astronomers) and a sprawling collection of "kooks, nuts, dig-a-lings and cultists" who, he says, have sweeps of knowledge and nonsense about UPOs that serious scientists don't—or not—touch the subject.
Last fall, there was a nationwide wave of UFO reports. There have been other such "flaps" (periods when a large number of UFO reports come in) since 1947 when a private pilot in Idaho said he spotted a cluster of "flying saucers" near Mt. Rainer, Wash. That alleged sighting gave rise to the persistently held theory that UFO's are vehicles carrying visitors from outer space—and also helped spur a tremendously profitable science fiction industry.
After every "lap," however, most scientists and the Air Force debunk the visitors-from space theory with arguments that UFO's are nothing more than natural phenomena or manmade objects—meteorites, cloud formations, airplane lights, weather balloons, the work of dranksters , or simple misperceptions."
At least 80 per cent of all sightings, Hynke said in an interview, are explainable. Some others probably could be (or could have been) explained if enough data had been collected.
Hrynek says he is not out to prove that of the existing theories about UFO's, which sort of puts him in the middle between debunking scientists and fadists.
But other sightings (Hynek won't say how many or estimate a percentage) simply cannot be explained by astronomers, meteorologists, police, the Air Force, physicists or behavioral scientists, he said. And he wants to "scientifically" find out what these objects are and what causes them.
"There are repeated reports from all over the world from reliable witnesses of what we call UFO's," he said, "strange lights or craft in the sky, near or on the ground, which don't represent any known physical or psychological phenomena. There are also of these sightings which stump the experts which warrant serious scientific study."
Hynek aid his chief weapon to bring "scientific respectability to the search for truth about UFOs" would be the center for UPO studies, which he hopes to launch in 2015. He also said he wanted to keep the focus on science.
The center already is unofficially at work with Hynek as director, gathering data from sources around the country on UFO's and assigning tasks to various volunteers who, Hynek says, range from respected scientists to engineers, pilots, law enforcement officials and laymen who agree with him.
The center hopes to work primarily on gathering, compiling and analyzing data, and doing relevant research into UFO's, either to explain their existence ("to take the Uout of UFO," Hynek sat) or to be able to say with scientific accuracy "that we have the nature that nature is unexplored—phenomena at the moment beyond our present science."
(Hynek invited interested parties to send inquiries to P.O. Box 11, Northfield, Ill., 60003.)
Readers Respond
Obscene Fans Cause Others to Cringe
To the Editor:
As I think everyone who follows college athletics is aware, there has been a growing problem, both locally and nationally, of crowd control at athletic events. In the last few years, there has been an ever-widening debate—thrilling debris-throwing incidents. This year, at our own University our guest, the Notre Dame basketball team, was even pelted with debris as it left the court after the game. It is indeed a shameful situation when a fine team like Notre Dame must endure such treatment at the hands of a host crowd.
Yet there is another shameful situation which exists at University of Kansas athletic-events that is even more widespread than debris-throwing. I have been appalled lately, and particularly this year, at the incredible amount of vulgarity in the cheers, gestures and signs that they shout, make and display, respectively.
The incident that convinced me that it was time to write this letter occurred at the CAIW Midwest Regional finals at Oral-B. I waived the privilege of watching Although I had the privilege of watching a fine KU basketball team win an exciting game from the host team, I also had the privilege of watching a game especially obnoxious KU fan. Immediately before the game began, he bellied on
memorable, "Eat shit, eat shit, ORU," a refrain no doubt acquired from numerous confrontations with K-State fans, but somewhat out of place (if it is ever in place) when shouted at a team whose fans do not shout the familiar "Eat um ear, eat eam," and when he heard it, a good number of rather sedate Tulsans, used to the relatively tame confines of Makeb Center, gave him an incredulous and appalled look. Each time he repeated it thereafter, they all cried. And, I must admit, I did too. It was a shock. It was also that that
I think it is fair to say that if this particular fan was the only person in the crowd who liked to shout obscurities at the top of his lungs, he would quickly learn not to do it or he would not even do it the first time they came along. We all were alone. And we at KU have fallen into the habit of expecting it. It occurs at every important football or basketball game and is even in the windows of dormitories at homecoming (of all times). It goes on without check, and it will continue to go on, even when people with power in the University put a stop to it. The former alternative, of course, is always a much better one than the latter.
The reason I write this letter is that I love the University of Kansas. I want to see it
held in high regard by all people, great and small. To my great disappointment, I witnessed the disgrace of the University of Kansas in the eyes of many of my fellow students. One of our students, I am afraid that the next time the people who were sitting near that student think of the University of Kansas, they will also think of the student and what he shouted at our opponents. Somehow, I will be able to learn of the two together.
John T. Neibling
John T. Neibling Assistant Instructor in English
Civil Servants' Plight
In an article, "Docking Raps Pay Increases," in the Monday, March 11, Lawrence Daily Journal-World, there was no mention made that civil service employees haven't received a "cost of living" increase since July 1973. With food and clothing prices on the steep uprising of $5 per pound, employers have compared to the cost of living increases. It is incredible that the "law makers" would have the nerve to ask for a 72.5 per cent pay hike in the first place, and secondly add that bill to the bill which would give the civil service employees a 5.5 per cent increase, knowing that Gov. Docking would veto the right, since no opinion is in no manner right, since no opinion is worth a 72.5 per cent pay hike).
To the Editor:
Discussions Need Teacher's Skills
Phil McKnight and Jerry Hutchison
Responsiveness, as it applies to questioning in small group discussions, is composed of two complementary skills—listening and response appropriateness. Listening is primarily a technical skill in which students can give statements from pupils so that they can be the main points of a communication. He listens primarily for cognitive content, but also attunes himself to and affective cues because presumably these also affect the instructional process. The teacher who listens carefully should thus be able to recognize cues from content and to summarize the essential meaning of a student's communication.
Wake up civil service employees and let the "law makers" know your feelings and opinion on this matter. Write or call every one of them and express your feelings.
Quoting a sentence from the majority of the public, "It's time we hold our heads high!" and show our feelings on this and other matters this fall in the upcoming elections.
students have said and what direction the discussion is taking. Without a perceptive instructor, discussions can become mere buzz sessions. These are often enjoyable but may not result in the learning desired by the instructor.
the issues and clarity points raised by students. In most classrooms, it is up to the instructor to set the stage for a discussion, establish guidelines and summarize toward the end of the period. It also may be wise to interrupt the discussion to review what
The response of the teacher may be an answer, a question, an elaboration or an interpretation of his previous statement or question. A teacher may even stop group discussion to give students more background information in a short lecture.
Response appropriateness is reflected in a teacher's replies to student communications. During the time between the student's comment and the teacher's response, the teacher assesses the comment and decides what reply might help the student understand the concept being discussed. To respond appropriately, the teacher must listen both to the content and intent of a student's comments and questions so he will know what tack to take to help the student increase his understanding.
psychology department secretary
This is not, of course, to suggest that the instructor does not need to lead the discussion or that he should not direct for fear of being authoritarian. Responsiveness entails appropriateness of response. Obviously, the instructor should help define
Gerda Brouhard
Instructors' responses to students have emotional impact. A review of research on the "riple effect" in the classroom by using this approach supports this idea by pointing to the need for teachers to teacher responses and illustrating the interdependence of elements in the classroom. For example, a teacher's control actions toward a deviant student increase his likelihood of being studied of university students indicated that students who witnessed a teacher's punitive measures toward a tardy student rated the instructor less helpful, less likeable, less authoritarian than did students who viewed supportive actions in similar situation.
Griff and the Unicorn
Chinese Pan Antonioni's 'China' Film
BY ROBERT S. ELEGANT The Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times
The attacks on Corfuclus (long dead) and Lin Paio (not so long dead) make sense—when it comes to internal power struggle. Beethoven, Schubert and Mr. Seagull are clearly lacking in that most essential Chinese music. They lack assaults on them seem fair enough.
HONG KONG-What in the world do Confusius, Lin Pao, Beethoven, Schubert, Jonathan Livingston Seagull and Michelangelo Antonioni have in common? Well, for one thing, they are all villains in their test "thought rectification campaign."
But why pick on 61 year-old Antonioni, the Italian movie director, and his documentary film "China"? This is the puzzle of the week among China-watchers.
PERHAPS THE underlying answer is in the touchy nature of Chinese pride. Or, perhaps, in a long-simmering rivalry within the people's Republic.
There must be at least some truth in the Chinese appraisal—for the Nationalist Chinese on Taiwan chose to air a 45-minute excerpt from "China." Since the time of the war, propaganda, they certainly would not present a film that made Communist China look anything but horrible. (Incidentally, Taiwan's adoption of "Jonathan Livingstonsea" text seems to be the chief reason for Peking's antagonism to that light-minded tale.)
But there are other reasons for denouncing the Antoonion production. And it has it all: it is a game of wordplay, thousands of heated words, the biggest and most virulent attack on any living, non-Chinese artist by far. Beyond its 'anti-torture' intent, it has become a football in China's fistful stair.
HOWEVER, FEARS that denunciations of Western artists such as Antonioni, Schubert and Beethoven pressage a new wave of anti-foreignism are overstated. The fact that foreign artists striking an anti-foreign note has always been—and will always be—appropriate.
Yet any major "thought reform campaign" like the present one makes the Chinese People nervous. They are afraid of being unfairly judged in right course when they were committed.
The answer to this Chinese puzzle is,
before, probably the opposite of what it
sures you.
Madame Mao herself is, apparently, the indirect object of the vehement criticism of Antonioni's film—although the degree of her involvement in its production is unspecified. What the attacks mean, beyond this, is anybody's guess.
She is a natural target for xenophobes. Chiang Ching displayed much enthusiasm for touring Western orchestras, and even had a piano—that archetypically un-chinese instrument—put the communist Chinese stage for the first time.
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