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Thursday, February 28, 1974
University Daily Kansan
KANSAN
Editorials, columns and letters published on this page reflect only the opinions of the writers.
Rock Chalk Integrity
A lot of work goes into the production of a Rock Chalk Review. Unfortunately, this year we have some of the work is questionable.
Inconsistencies have turned up on all sides—in the dates scripts were turned in for judging, in the judging itself and in the methods that have been used by some of the judges to together their final productions.
Although all of the groups were to have had their scripts turned in by a specific date, one fraternity-sorority team was allowed to turn in its script a day later than the first. The script had supposedly gotten lost.
A last minute change in the procedures for judging the scripts was not made clear to all of the living groups and inconsistencies in choosing the top four scripts may have resulted from the change.
The living groups that submitted scripts all were to be notified at the same time of the four scripts to be in Rock Chalk. However, two groups knew their scripts had been chosen the night before everyone else was officially notified. And one of those two groups had been told they probably should not be one of the four to compete in the Review. This gave the group an extra week for rehearsal.
Rock Chalk offers the competing groups an opportunity to demonstrate their writing, choreographic, dramatic and musical skills. But several groups are receiving aid from people who aren't living in
the fraternities or sororites involved. Not only does this defeat one of the purposes of Rock Chalk, but one of the rules for competition.
Although this may be the first year that some of these things have happened, Rock Chalk has received criticism in the past.
Two years ago, a survey indicated that the Rock Chalk Review was not representative of all students on campus and one of the residence halls was encouraged to submit a script. The McCollum Hall skit was considered to be too obscene to be part of the Review, so at the last minute it was yanked from the program.
Last year, however, Hashinger Hall, the fine arts residence hall, submitted a script that was judged to be the best overall.
This year the four competing scripts were again written by members of fraternities and sororites.
Rock Chalk is sponsored by KU-Y, a campus branch of the YMCA. The blame for any wrongdoing or problems with the Review has to be shared equally by the participants and KU-Y-KU-Y for not keeping a closer check on the competition, and the participants for taking the genuine spirit of the competition too seriously.
So although the rhythm this year may be a little off the beat and the rhyme may not be balanced, the rest of this year's theme, a sojourn in time, still holds true. After all, there's always next year.
Linda Doherty
Guest Editorial
Campus of the Future
The Processing Academy for Citizens of Kansas (PACK) opened its doors yesterday after a 10-month shutdown during which visual surveillance cameras and video systems supplement the audio-spy devices in use since 1978. Hundreds of students in red, white and blue uniforms marched and clapped in perfect union as the Chief of the State declared the campus was another great day for Kansans.
It may not have meant much to younger Kansans who were still in high school during the troubled '70s. For many of them, the ceremony marked another goodbye to a pseudo-culture that we'd much rather forget. Those were the days when the Academy, crown then as the University of Kansas was infested with hordes of students and medicalists who studied what subjects they pleased and were intolerant of state supervision of their lives.
Those old fashioned radicals spoke of obscure concepts such as freedom, human rights and democracy, though they were largely tourists to the carnival in Topeka will remember it was once the city where other citizen citizens actually participated in a festival.
The legislature and the University were evils that went with the political philosophies of those times. For example, the school's founding, before itself retiring into oblivion.
This was in the early 1980s, when the legislature managed to slash the University budget by suggesting that the already underpaid teachers had too much money for their own goods. If the qualins about this pulling back on the real reins, it was induced to look the other way by huge welfare allocations.
Soon after, legislators' interest in University matters increased and by 1975 they were issuing useful directives to students in matters of dress, education, accommodation, course, enrollment dropped to about 12,000 as the students sought more permissive environments. The budget cuts had started an exodus of teachers from college and by this time most of the better teachers and administrators had left.
In 1976 the legislature did away with the Chancellor and assumed his duties. As many as 60 vice chancellors were involved in the lives of a degenerate student body. Enrolment dropped again and this was fortunate because there were only 186
In 1977, the legislature officially took over administration of the University, closed enrollment to non-residents of Kansas and to foreigners and started to teach many obedience courses. A Lew at Wadsworth college was demolished and then rebuilt by friends of the legislators who were in the architecture and construction business. Because colossal funds were needed for this, a law was passed that required all Kansas below the age of 25 to enroll and pay for a University education.
Enrollment, down to 2,900 at the time,
rocketing upockets but the state went into an economic nose dive.
She wished she had been wished all this bad never started.
But it was too late to do anything. By 1982 the people were in arms. A mammoth rally of citizens marched to remind the legislators responsible for this state government the legislators were one jump ahead—in another country. The crowds, frustrated, tore down a 38-foot statue of George Washington near the Union in the 74th, and then went
Since that time, thanks to the wiser legislators who had no reason to run away, things have improved. Our people have enjoyed increasing prosperity in the past two years and are doing any complaint. The University is producing disciplined citizens with uniform, coordinated personalities.
Instead of teachers we have the world's best computers and the computer programs that are useful lives developed. Our unity of purpose and governmental alertness are enabling us to take great leaps and avoid without the distractions of the '70s.
The first month of this year has been filled with news of new triumphs for us. Let us hope this is true for the rest of 1984 —Zahid Iobal
Graduate student in Journalism
National Student Lobby Tries to Sway Congress
Watergate Affects Student Politics
By MARLENE CIMONS The Los Angeles Times
WASHINGTON -Remember that dramatic moment last summer during the Senate interrogate hearings, when Sen. Richard Lugar asked White House aide Gordon Stranach what advice he would give young people in service and in the future of their country?
Strachan, near tears, replied: "My advice be to stay away."
Seven months have passed since those tense few seconds in the old Senate caucus room, and Strachan's words seem to have affected some members of America's student population—but not quite the way he might have anticipated.
live in this country for the rest of my life." Edwards is chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Student Lobby, and the Vice President of the lobby. The lobby is a federation of state organizations, student governments, and individuals who have come together at both the state and national levels to work for the interests of college and university students.
I can't stay away. There's no way I can stay away, Willis Edwards said. "I have to
ONE INDICATION Of Strachan's influence on students might well be in evidence as hundreds of members of the organization are offering a for five-day national conference and lobbying effort. Leaders of the organization are hoping for an attendance from 700 to 1,000, with member students paying their tuition online through the organization's schools. There will be two days of issue
workshops followed by two days of actual lobbying on capital hill."
THE LOBBY, WHICH now calls a membership of 2.4 million students and 300 member schools, grew out of a 1969 effort in California. Two state student lobbies were created then to work in Sacramento for increased student financial aid, low tuition rates and against proposed education cuts. In April 1971, encouraged by the success of the program, a group of students formed a coordinating committee for a national lobby office.
"The term lobbying has had a very negative connotation in this era of Watergate, a connotation of corruption and lies with it—and in my mind it just shouldn't be taken as such." Pressman, an 18-year-old freshman at the University of California at Berkeley, who is
Griff and the Unicorn
"AS A GOP CANDIDATE THEN YOU FEEL ITS PREMATURE TO AKNOWLEDGE THE EXISTENCE OF A THROW THE RAGGON OUT TENDENCY?"
serving as California state coordinator for the lobby.
"The whole purpose of the lobby is to get students within the system," Pressman says. "It's probably the only way we're going to change from the early 1960s. This may sound like a cliché, but we're getting kids on the streets and in the halls of Congress."
seems to be common in the country, we would be the most influential lobby in Washington. That might sound idealistic, since we don't have the money of other lobbies, but we have the potential of more than 8 million students."
"Our position is that by eliminating the youth fae, they are taking away a student's mobility," Roddell said. "There are 1% million students who travel more than 500 miles by taking away youth faes they are adding 300 dollars a year to travel expenses."
MOST OF THE CONCERNS of the national student lobby are financial. It wants to raise funding for education. It wants to keep tuition fees at a standstill. One of its biggest current priorities is the restoration of youth fare and it has already have been ordered plaused-out by the civil service.
To mobilize students who cannot lobby in person, they have run a series of ads, part of which read: "If you've flown recently, note that a youth fare ticket costs about 50 dollars. By this time next year, youth fares will be the past. Unless you do something about it."
"Student needs can no longer be met within the school system or even just at the state level," said Lee Alschuler, one of California's faculty at Berkeley, also chairman of the California Student Body Presidents Council. The support of higher education is now a federal concern. I see no other way. It's a simple fact of life that institutional services need to be provided in support—and you don't get an extra hour of support—dollars by demonstrating in Spread Plaza.
Edwards agreed, "We are concerned about every student in this country, no matter what his background is." But it's more than just a student thing—we are also representing voters, and human beings who care about their country. We are caring people—who happen to also be students."
In fact they didn't give anything anything, and a night stick to twirl around by the strap. Even more unusual than what they didn't have was what they didn't do. They didn't give out tickets, or summoners or warnings. They never arrested anyone or ford them for a routine check. They didn't track down criminals or follow big leads.
To the Editor:
Campus Foot Patrol Wanted to Prevent Crime
As a student at a small college in Pennsylvania I witnessed the implementation of a system that effectively dealt with campus crimes, a problem that faces KU today. The idea worked so well that many of the people forget why it had been started. They didn't realize that the number of thefts had increased considerably. Even one reported that there were no more raped reports during the first year. Even though vandalism wasn't eliminated there was less of it.
The situation here has been aggravated by the fact that we have two police forces that are the best available. The campus police and the Lawrence police are so well-equipped, so mechanized, so mobile and so fast that they are no longer effective.
I suggest that we adopt a plan that I know has been effective on at least one other campus. They hired a group of veterans, dressed them up in blue uniforms and told them not to do anything they did not do was far more novel. They didn't give them guns, they didn't give them cars, they didn't give them cams of mace, rot helmets, intercity communications systems, four-way short wave radios or unbreakable wired cameras.
In fact it is so good that if you happen to be in an area where there isn't a road, like between Allen Field House and Stouffer Place, you could scream for help until the sun rose in the west and no policeman could possibly hear you unless he accidentally left a window open. Everyday they see by my apartment and everyday I see them in traffic booths, but I have never seen a policeman in Lawrence not encased in glass.
Readers Respond
All the people on the security force that I knew spent most of their time walking the parks talking to people, walking through the parking lot or walking from one building to another. They checked locked doors to be sure they were locked, gave directions to them on some dark nights were even known to have escorted a woman across campus.
This solution has a built-in problem of its own. Who pays the bill? I have no idea what the cost would be, but the University could start by selling one car, one year's supply of gas, one riot gun, one pistol and one can of mace. The man previously scheduled to use them could be in charge of the new foot patrol.
I know this sounds like strange behavior for policemen and it was appalling to veterans of high crime and sophisticated police tactics. Not once during the entire year did any of them solve a crime. The only thing they did was prevent crime.
T. V. Lynott Scranton, Pa. junior
GIs Earn Benefits
To the Editor:
10 THE EDITOR:
I would like to express my appreciation for the excellent story concerning the veterans attending KU.
As a veteran myself, I have found the University as a whole to be very cooperative in situations limited to veteran affairs. Programs such as the tuition payment plan and the availability of assistance in counseling and in financial aid must be provided, and from my own point of view and from other veterans I know, appreciated.
Contrary to what sometimes is believed, such things as GI bill payments aren't mere handouts to veterans, but are like all the so-called 'benefits' connected with the military. And that is that you earn every dime of it.
I support the idea that V.A. education, benefits are for too low. Only through part time work and a reasonable income can you support
John England Lawrence senior
To the Editor:
Dubious Requirement
Hal Ratner's editorial defending the foreign language requirement is a nice emotional appeal. It would have been more effective to provide an immediate time to give reasons for the requirement.
His argument is that you don't belong in college if you don't wish to learn a foreign language because a foreign language is a skill, not a subject. You're better, but fire, why? Because Ritter says it.
However, the self-righteous indignation in his editorial proved nothing except his ability to print in ink. He should have written it himself and not from the editorial page of the Kansas.
I have always felt that learning a foreign language wasn't a necessity—perhaps an added benefit, but not a necessity. If Ritter was in charge of my school, then I would be happy to read more by him;
Wes Bartoot
Wes Bartoot
Edwardsville junior
Greek Students Resist Iron Rule
By DUSKO DODER The Washington Post
ATHENS—Greek University students after a year of antigovernment agitation which culminated in rebellion last November, have emerged as a major political force opposing the military rule in Greece.
They also have moved to radical positions. A majority reportedly accepts many communist policies if not embracing the Marxist-Leninist ideology as such.
Several hundred students are still in hiding following the bloody suppression of the November rebellion, and they are said to form the backbone of an underground student movement currently being organized. The movement is masterminded by professional activists and has spread to all phases of University life.
This picture emerges from a series of conversations with student activists and four University professors largely sympathetic to the students' cause. All asked that they not be identified by name for fear of government retaliation.
The young people's revolt last November, which was put down by tanks and mass arrests, was an important turning point in student activism.
THE BRUTAL SUPPRESSION of a nonviolent movement has made radicals of those students who were imbued with a romantic libertarianism when they joined the militants, and that he has reinforced the resolve of leftist militants-ranging from Maoists to Trotskyites—to be better prepared in their next confrontation with the government. Above all, it has convinced a large majority of the restorers to give strength for the restoration of democratic rule.
"One thing we realized last November."
sad a 21-year-old engineering student, "is that we cannot have academic freedom without political freedom. First we must have an end to the military rule."
"I can assure you," said a youthful medical student in a reply that echoed his colleagues' vebels, "that the next time around we will fight back. We will not wait for the police and the army to beat us and kill us."
Significantly, the students feel that they have political muscle. They take credit for the downfall of George Papadopoulos, the governor of Georgia in a 1967 coup and wired it without significant opposition until student agitation began last February. Papadopoulos was outed in a military coup led by Gen. Robert S. Kennedy, the suppression of the student rebellion.
THE STUDENTS SAID they would like to build a new society which would be more galtarian—"a Scandinavian type of socialism, perhaps," one said—and that they would like to see Greece leave NATO with their defense treasures with the United States.
"A vast majority of them have become leftists," said the professor. He attributed this fact largely to the bloodshed of last November and subsequent tough, unyielding policies of the new military government.
THE STUDENTS SAY their movement is spontaneous and that they would support democratic forces against the military dictatorship. "Something is bound to happen soon," said one student, "This can't go on forever."
How widespread such feelings are among the students is impossible for an outsider to determine. The students said they were speaking for most of their colleagues. Later, a distinguished Athens University professor, a man named Benton, in his field, confirmed that about eighty per cent of the students support such views.
In the next confrontation, he added, "We will be united as never before."
Since November there has been no confrontation. The students are facing the militants, who are fighting informers as well as the tough strictures of marshal law. Arrests of students and other antigovernment people are continuing and an antigovernment doesn't intend to bargain with dissidents.
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