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University Daily Kansan Wednesday, Dec. 6, 1961
An Undervalued Award
The trophies given to living groups ranking highest in their division on Campus Chest solicitations are perhaps the most meaningful awards given to living groups at KU.
Nevertheless there was little enthusiasm shown toward the drive last year, with just a little more interest apparent this year. For some reason trophies and awards recognizing the acting and athletic prowess of living groups have been considered much better booty for house trophy rooms. Many living groups spend more money constructing elaborate Homecoming decorations than they would ever consider giving to Campus Chest.
IT WOULD BE WISE for groups that have underemphasized Campus Chest to re-examine their activities programs and determine the logic that placed each activity in its position on the group's scale of interest. For some reason most living groups no longer consider it important to support Campus Chest.
Upon graduation most students find that they are expected to take part in the affairs of the community in which they choose to live. The atmosphere at KU and other universities in many ways prepares the individual for the community
situation he will find himself in after leaving school.
SOME LIVING GROUPS at KU stress close relationships between their members under the pretext that this will better prepare them for life. These groups have somehow lost view of their goal if they don't stimulate their members to participate in a KU community project such as Campus Chest.
Certainly no one could contest the value of the charitable organizations that will receive funds through campus chest. All are worthy of the support of KU students.
The goal of Campus Chest is not excessive. Almost everyone can afford to give the $1 necessary to help the committee reach its goal. Some people can afford to give more. They should be able to make up for those who cannot afford to give.
IT WOULD BE TO THE CREDIT of KU living groups to recognize the value of Campus Chest and work for the award, which reflects more community spirit than any other award given to KU living groups.
Ron Gallagher
A Conservative Voice
Editor:
Tis a great idea, this one to bring Bowles, Acheson, Rusk, or Stevenson to KU to discuss world crises, the dope from the horse's mouth, so to speak.
'Course it would be absurd to expect these men to suggest a cure, as, indeed, we did not ask the anopheles to cure malaria. (I hope the John Birch Society will not use this analogy to suggest that, because malaria was controlled by destroying the mosquito, we should . . .) However, I think it would be an edifying experience to observe first-hand the mental deficiencies that make these world crises possible.
Til then, though, there is local talent abounding. As a starter why don't we get John Ise, professor emeritus of economic folly, to discourse on American deserters in the Korean War.
We would surely gain insight into the deficiencies of our educational system that made it possible for so many to be unaware of the evil implicit in Communism and socialism and of the beauties of our Republican form of government in
which the individual is guaranteed his independence by economic and political freedom.
Marick Payton
Lawrence junior
* * *
True Spirit of Sportsmanship Editor:
The margin was over a thirty-point difference at a certain juncture in the game between KU and the St. Louis Billikens last Monday. All hopes of even pulling up nearer than that could have been abandoned. But then a cheerful cheer of the KU student body, led by the sprightly cheer-leaders, went forth. Even the radio sports commentator somehow wondered as to why the KU spirit had not been dampened by that heavy ice-cold drop. Thereupon, the agile team loosened up, scored and scored and whittled the difference to a meager fourteen-point lead by the Billikens. And time became the only factor between win and loss!
Such indeed is a true spirit of good sportsmanship. There is reason to state that, win or lose, the quality with which a game is executed in the arena of sports goes a long way towards sifting
the chaff from the realm of good manners in the annals of good behavior in the sporting world
In fact, pleasure in a game consists as much in winning as in accepting defeat with the decorum of good and polished sportsmanship. After all, one team has to win or lose, the better team often taking the laurels; or both teams have a tie; but both teams can never never win in the same competition!
That particular spirit, demonstrated last Monday, folks, was quite commendable. Grant that it may prevail in all games now and hereafter!
Yours sincerely,
Augustine G. Kyei
Ghana student
A Point About Fallout Editor:
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS by Dick Bibler
-AN' JUST WHO WAG LOOKING AROUND FOR HELP ON THAT WESTERN CIV, TEST?"
I agree with Professor Frank Hoeecker's observation in Wednesday's Daily Kansan that some people may injure their bodies as much by excessive drinking and smoking as they would be injured by a slight amount of fallout. But each of us has a free choice as to whether we drink or smoke, and to what degree. We are denied that choice with fallout. We must eat, drink, and breathe fallout whether we want to or not.
Few people drink and smoke to excess. Many do not choose to smoke or drink at all. None of our babies and young children smoke or drink, yet they are the ones who will suffer the most injury from fallout.
Mrs. Helen A. Hartzell 1941 KU graduate
Daily Hansan
University of Kansas student newspaper
Extension 711, news room Extension 376, business office
Founded 1889, became biweekly 1904,
trickweekly 1908, daily Jan. 16, 1912.
Member Inland Daily Press Association. Associated Collegiate Press. Represented by National Advertising Service. 18 East E50 St., New York 22 N.Y. Mail subscription rates: $3 a semester or $5 a year. Published in Lawrence, Kan., every afternoon during the University year except Saturdays. Sundays. University second days and postseason. Second class postage paid at Lawrence, Kansas.
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EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
Ron Gallagher ... Editorial Editor
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Assistant Editorial Editors.
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NEWS DEPARTMENT
Tom Turner Managing Editor
It Looks This Way...
An open letter to the members of the International Club
Dear Members:
Even though it is somewhat late in the semester, I feel that it is impossible for me to remain in office for several reasons which should be known for the good of the club:
Firstly, I am very distressed over the frequency of complaints made to me by many members of the club that "we are just not offering anything this semester." Also, I am at loss about how to answer the following accusations:
(1) The meetings are dull and appear to be "slapped together at the last moment."
(2) The music is getting worse and no one is doing anything about it.
(3) There has been a rather serious lack of information about the Mexico trip, and no mention of the skiing trip.
TO ANSWER the questions "why doesn't the club buy more records or a tape recorder for variety and efficiency?" and "... then what does the club do with its money?," I can only say that I have tried; I was only one of the five officers.
Secondly, I do recognize that the quality of the activities has declined and that there has been a lack of concern over this on the part of the Committee. The difficulties encountered by the committee cannot be used as a defense.
THIRDLY, THERE IS a general disorganization in the Executive due to the conspicuous absence of committee meetings. My efforts throughout the semester to have committee meetings held regularly — as has been the case previously — were turned down by the committee as a whole. It is my contention that this club with 400 members is too large to be run efficiently on such an informal basis.
Fourthly, these statements can be supported with facts.
Finally, I have consulted with three ex-officers who agree that recognition of this situation is necessary for the well-being of the club and for the benefit of the next committee. These statements are in no way meant to be personal grievances; I feel, however, that these issues are too important to be overlooked.
Sincerely.
Lawrence senior
'Boy Friend' Spoofs
By Richard Currie
The word "spoof" is defined by Webster's Dictionary as a hoax, joke or deception. Arthur Roberts, British comedian, coined it in 1889 to describe a game involving hoaxing and nonsense. The definition rightly describes the joyous musical comedy "The Boy Friend" by Sandy Wilson which opened in the Experimental Theatre Monday evening to a highly appreciative audience.
In fact, Lord Brockhurst, a gay old Britiser, uses it in his remarks before the play begins to tell the audience what they will see.
"THE BOY FRIEND," spoofs indeed, the musicals of British halls and pokes fun at the trite dialogue, melodramatic plot, stock expressions and mannerisms so characteristic of that type of British theater.
Briefly, the action takes place in Madame Dubonnet's finishing school for young girls in southern France. A ball is to be held that night but Polly Browne, the inevitable heroine, does not have a beau to accompany her. She pretends she has received a letter from Paris to ward off the catcalls of her girl friends who periodically ask her "Oh Polly, is he coming?" in the most exaggerated, baiting voice. Polly blithely ignores them, gazing at the audience.
Her widowed father, Percival Browne, a British millionaire, comes to the school to check on her but finds, instead, Madame Dubonnet, a former flame. He proceeds to follow her around, reluctantly (He's British), but is finally charmed again by the vivacious headmistress. Polly, meanwhile, has, of course, found her boy friend, a messenger boy, by posing as Madame Dubonnet's secretary. The boy friend also forgets to say he is a millionaire's child. Together they sing, "I could be happy with you if you could be happy with me."
That line is typical of the "Boy Friend's" fun. When Lord Brockhurst, played by Stephen Boozer, Kansas City, Mo., senior, chases Dulche, played by Karen Saad, River Forest, Ill., junior, they sing "It's never to late to fall in love." Dulche lands in Brockhurst's lap only to be thrust away at Lady Brockhurst's icy command "Hubert!" fluttering her fan about indignantly.
Later Madame Dubonnet, played by Karin Gold, Overland Park sophomore, coos to Percival "Percy, Percy please have mercy, cheri, cherii please be merry" and unwinds his reticence. And Polly, played by Sharon Scoville, Kansas City, Kan., junior, and Tony, played by Tom Woodard, Des Moines, Iowa, sophomore, sing "All I want is a room in Bloomsbury."
These are a few of the literally countless examples of clichés "The Boy Friend" ridicules. They are continually thrown at the audience and the show laughs from beginning to end. One might criticize it on the basis it has no dramatic pause between its comedy but hurls relentlessly the trite, stock and ordinary to the audience. Therein lies its value, however, and Sidney Berger, Brooklyn, New York, graduate student, has directed the play with considerable skill to that end. The stylized expressions on Polly's and Tony's faces are an utter farce and the gallant sauntering of Madame Dubonnet is unroarious.
Perhaps the outstanding performance was done by Sylvia Anderson, Chicago, Ill., junior, as Maisie. Miss Anderson was by far the superior school girl of the set of four who danced with the four Frenchmen, feigning unconcern at the passes Bobby Van Husen, played by Larry Sneegas, Lawrence senior, pursued her with. She holds off the four suitors with a hilarious song and dance number "There's Safety in Numbers," throwing alternate kisses and affectionate hugs at them.
After Berger's excellent direction the choreography done by Jerilyn McGee, Butte, Mont., graduate student, deserves applause. In fact, if it had not been for the lively, exaggerated dance routines "The Boy Friend" might not have come off as well as it did. Miss McGee's dance with Wayne Zuck, Shawnee Mission senior, the Carnival Tango, stole the show with its pretended viciousness.
the orchestra, led by Robert Schaff. Herington graduate, gave considerable support to the east, perhaps too much. All in all "The Boy Friend" is a splendid comedy and is heartily recommended theater viewing. It runs to Dec. 13.