Monday. October 16, 1961 University Daily Kansan Page 3 Letters to the Editor... P-T-P and Foreign Students Editor: I have read your guest editor of October 11, "Dawson Praised," and I am wondering whether this article is the result of misinformation or American journalistic sensationalism. It is possible that the "People-to-People" people do a lot of good work for the foreign students, but to state that the foreign students at KU were previously neglected does a great injustice to other campus organizations, the dean of foreign students and the individual Americans of this area that organized or offered us hospitality in the past. From my observations during the past three years, the majority of foreign students could not handle all the invitations they had to dinner or for whole weekend stays, and if any of them did not visit with American families, it was entirely their own choice. It appears that Mr. Dawson is receiving credit for many programs that have been in operation here at KU long before he came. C. T. Constantinides Cyprus graduate student * * * Defends Greeks Editor: In answer to Mr. Eugene Gold's comments on "Greeks and Discrimination" which appeared in the Kansan on Friday, Oct. 13, we three Greeks (obviously muzzled) would like to speak out. Mr. Gold assumes that "members of these groups are inhibited from active participation in social issues..." and uses as an example discrimination. In the past year, a Greek was one of the most active men in the organization and activities of the Civil Rights Council. Nationally, "muzzled" Greeks have taken the lead in civil rights and continue to do so, while at the same time their opponents have also been Greeks. Where, Mr. Gold, is your "specter of social ostracism" in these men's lives? Where is this overwhelming fear which you so gleefully say renders us unable to act? Kansas. Greeks, moreover, have repeatedly taken the lead in liberalizing national policies on discriminatory membership restrictions at their respective national conventions and conferences. Mr. Gold speaks of "certain set policies" some of which, he asserts, are dictated to us by our national organizations. How can these "set" policies be "dictated" to us when each of us participates in forming these policies? We are proud of our own fraternity and are proud of the other fraternities in KU's Greek system. Nowhere does there exist a Greek system of such strength and caliber than at KU; a system in which each of us finds room for our own individualistic feelings and actions." We do not yet feel the grip of Mr. Gold's "invisible muzzle." Bruce Bee, Kansas City Senior Dick Harper, Kansas City Senior Byron Lollon, Kansas City Freshman Moral Suasion Supported Editor: Camus Described as Modern Hero By Stewart E. Nowlin CAMUS ADOPTED THE "ABSURD" in order to bring meaning into the world of man. The absurd presented man with the idea that nothing was true (presumably excepting this statement) or ultimately justified in his life. The gods did not reply to the rebels of antiquity any more than they (or He, depending on one's personal convictions on the matter) do at present. "The heavens are empty," explains one of Camus' characters in "The Stranger." The rebel is the man that confronts the absurd and wrestles for an answer to the problems of evil and death. Lucretius, Epicurius and Prometheus all faced the same problems, and ended by concluding that the gods either did not enter into the affairs of men or were responsible for all the misfortunes on earth. The Christ did not even answer the rebel's questions satisfactorily. Dying on the cross, he forever separated man from the heavens by affirming rather than denying, in a spectacular manner, the existence of an evil and death that had no answers on earth. Marquis de Sade later accused God of being the "supreme outrage." Milton, Vigny, Byron and other of the romantics glorified Satan as the real savior of man, or at least as a wronged angel who defended the rights of man. All of these "rebels" were faced with the idea that life might have no meaning. Then where was meaning to be found? Kiekegaard posits a leap into faith. Unfortunately, there have been people who scoffed at such an idea for fear that when they landed they may (Editor's note: This is one of the English proficiency examinations from a session test that was rated excellent by the English Proficiency Committee.) Perhaps more than any other person of our time, Albert Camus has devoted his life and art to civilization. His untimely death has transformed his life into a destiny which can now be judged as a completed effort devoted to man and his relationship to the world. Camus' contribution to civilization was, very generally, dichotomous. First, he presented us with an intellectual outlook on the world in toto; i.e., he attempted to bring order out of chaos. Secondly, Camus contributed to the cultural advance of mankind through his art. Both contributions were positive. That is to say, Camus elevated man from a being of sin or crime (the view of traditional religion on one hand and Marquis de Sade, Ernst Junger, or Celine on the other), and yet kept him below the height of the gods (those who deified man such as Rousseau). Camus placed man on earth where he belonged, but sometimes forgot. Man was placed in the tension of limits between the absolutes of "heaven" and "hell." Chancellor Wescoe's "moral suasion" is the only sensible policy for the administration of the University. The housing list is not an approval list. It merely seeks to help students who are looking for housing facilities. To bring pressure on the housing office would make it hard to find places for students to stay. Why burn down the barn to get rid of the rats? I hope Chancellor Wescoe will continue to lead the University and the city of Lawrence toward complete integration, using methods which will alleviate, not intensify, the problem. well be "impaled upon their own dignity." Nietzsche gave the world the ubermench. Hitler used this concept, exactly in the opposite sense of what Nietzsche intended, to justify his wars, blond stormtroopers and his campaign against the Jews. Through Hitler, the twentieth century became aware of itself. If no one in the past could justify what is done, then everything is permitted—to the strong. As a corollary to this truth, it was necessary to accept the fact that nothing was true, a somewhat confusing position. CAMUS ANALYZED THESE rebels historically and intellectually in "The Rebel." His plays, essays and novels were constructed around these same ideas that were developed in this philosophic work. Through these books he presented the world with a new meaning. First, one must not only accept the absurd, but live it. Then, and only then, can life be "revealed" for what it is. One recognizes limits to action and ceases to fight, or die, for nothing. One becomes a Staurogin without the privilege of committing suicide. (To give assent to suicide is simultaneously to justify murder.) There is some type of a wedding feast with the world. Camus' hero, the absurd man, is the "common" man who gives himself to life and this world. He denies all other worlds, of necessity. If this hero accepted any other world, he would transfer his responsibilities in life to some deity or idea (such as communism). If one cannot accept the responsibility for his intercourse with men, one will affirm penceilence, war, crime, murder, etc., to be the "natural" way of the world, shrug his shoulders, and disappear into the night. CAMUS PRESENTS ALTERNATIVES; terror and death, or the limits. Camus was no savior of mankind: he had seen enough saviors. He only wanted to prevent civilization from going rampant and tearing itself apart. He did not ultimately solve the "big questions" of evil and death. He merely showed how evil could be reduced and death accepted — on human terms. Camus contributed much to civilization and to humanistic thought in particular. He wrote for the here and now while never forgetting the future. He transcended the absurd and gave meaning to life. He sang the lyrics of nature for the benefit of man. Civilization can either accept conditioned limits or absolutes. Camus was convinced, from both historical and intellectual standpoints, that the Greek "ideal" of limits was not only correct but the only possibility left for mankind. Camus was, in a word, human. From the Magazine Rack From the Magazine Rack The Control of War By Stephen King-Hall The sole purpose of nuclear forces is deterrence; if this fails, all is lost. Nuclear energy has thus turned the traditional policy of keeping one's advanced weapons secret upside down. If we want our deterrent to have its full effect we must make sure our enemy knows exactly how awful our weapons are. He must also be convinced of our willingness, in certain circumstances, to press the button. But there is bound to be an element of doubt in the West's deterrent, since we have not decided and cannot decide where the button should be and who should press it in exactly what circumstances. Mr. Lester Pearson, former Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, is on record as saying that even to hold a conference among the Western powers to decide these questions would break up the NATO alliance. It is fantastic to suppose that the democratic states would or should agree to such decisions. Our potential enemy is, therefore, forced to guess what we would do. If he guesses wrong, all is lost. Even if we presented the Soviet Union with an ultimatum: accept our terms on a specific situation (such as the perennial Berlin problem) or full-scale nuclear war will ensue, how could they be sure we were not bluffing? Is it likely that all fifteen NATO countries would agree to carry out the threat? Russia might argue with much plausibility that it was most unlikely. And yet a deterrent that is not credible is not a deterrent. Bob Strevey Norcatur sophomore Faculty Criticized Editor: "In interviews with seven faculty members, two opposed the action, one supported it, one declined to comment and three felt they lacked sufficient information to comment." Daily Kansan, Oct. 11, 1961. TO THE THREE WHO LACKED sufficient information: Gentlemen, from here on out I want no lectures from you about lackadaisical students. I want no more superior attitudes toward freshmen, no more patronizing of sorority girls. In other words, you and the other faculty members who lack sufficient information — don't you know what's going in the world? But hold, men. Maybe I'm being unfair. Maybe some of you out there in faculty land really do know but don't want to say anything about the situation. You know, big brother and all that stuff. LOOK, GENTLEMEN OF THE learned profession. I think you ought to go easy on us in the future. Some of us know what the score is, and some of us have the courage to be fighting your battles. Sincerely yours, Arnold Barton Wichita sophomore - * * NSA Test Run Called For Editor: At a recent ASC meeting (Wed, Oct. 11), an amendment to a bill was presented which, if passed, will disaffiliate KU from the United States National Student Association. As NSA Coordinator, I am, naturally, most concerned about this, but not for the obvious reasons. There is more to this issue than meets the eye. AT LAST SUMMER'S NSA Congress, the Young Americans for Freedom, a conservative group, announced their intentions to start a movement this fall to get as many schools out of NSA as possible, because NSA is "too liberal." There is a new YAF group on the KU campus, and I wonder if they haven't been doing some of the pressuring to get KU to withdraw from NSA. Last spring I submitted a new bill to the ASC which, when passed, would have continued our affiliation with NSA. At that time there were rumors that the bill would be defeated, automatically bringing about our withdrawal. But the bill was passed by an overwhelming majority of 12-2, and this made me feel that the ASC was definitely FOR the NSA. But over the summer something strange has happenend, because suddenly this fall there is a movement to disaffiliate, without giving the new NSA Committee a chance to show what it can do. IT HAS BEEN SAID that the NSA Committee did not do a thing last year, and I would disagree. I would also point out that, although KU has been a member of NSA since 1955, last year was the first year there was an organized committee that met regularly, and it was also the first time KU ever held a Regional Convention or sent its full quota of delegates to the NSA Congress. However, the NSA Committee was hindered by the fact that there was a 50-50 split of liberals and conservatives (also a 50-50 Vox-UP split), and the group was not given any funds with which to operate. The new NSA Committee this year has realized that there have been some mistakes made in the past, and it wants to correct them, if given the chance. It has lined up an extensive program, and intends, first of all, to inform the students about NSA by giving talks at organized houses, debates on the merits of NSA, and by sending out literature. AS A MEMBER of the All Student Council, I have, on occasion, seen the ASC act upon matters without sufficient deliberation. If the ASC votes at its next meeting to disaffiliate KU from NSA, I feel that it would not be acting in the best interests of its constituents, the students on campus. There is more involved in this issue than $500 dues. This issue has become an issue of personalities and of outside, conflicting political interests. I do not feel that the ASC could act wisely or objectively on the matter at this time. I WOULD THEREFORE PROpose that NSA be given one year's probation by the ASC. The NSA Committee itself should be given sufficient funds and support to promote a truly worthwhile program on campus, and it should then begin by informing the students of its background, aims, and purpose. THEN, AT THE END of this year, the issue should be brought up again for reconsideration, but only after the students have been suf- siciently informed about NSA and seen it in action. At that time, I'd like to see a Student Referendum vote on the issue, and let the students themselves decide whether they want to remain in NSA. I feel that this is the ONLY fair way to deal with the issue of NSA disa- ffiliation. What do the rest of you think about this idea? Carol McMillen Coldwater. Okla.. senior Daily Hansan University of Kansas student newspaper Founded 1889, became biweekly 1904, triweekly 1908, daily Jan. 16. 1912. Telephone VIkling 3-2700 Extension 711, news rooms Member Inland Daily Press Association. Associated Collegiate Press. Represented by National Advertising Service, 18 East 50th Street, Yersey, United States. Mail subscription rates: $3 a semester or $5 a year. Published in Lawrence, Kan., every afternoon during the University year exp. Expenses include University holidays and examination periods. Second class postage paid at Lawrence, Kansas. NEWS DEPARTMENT NEWS DEPT. 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