Thursday. Sept. 28, 1961 University Daily Kansan
Page 9
Forum Explained By Larry Laudan
Chairman, Minority Opinion Forum
During the last few months the campus has been seething with students quick to give their opinions on disarmament, the Berlin crisis. Communism, and—more recently—the John Birch Society.
This kind of flagrant naivete about the position of certain minority opinions is very common on this, and most other, university campuses. Such widespread stagnation, however, is no excuse for its continued existence here.
In reading articles summarizing interviews which have been held with students on such questions, one is immediately struck by the large number of students who quite honestly reply that they are not aware of the organization or issue in question.
THIS INDIFFERENCE is somewhat alarming; but what is even worse are the situations in which the students have committed themselves to rejecting an idea or group without really understanding what the group or idea represented.
THE MAIN REASON students seem indifferent to many issues such as unilateral disarmament or academic freedom is the fact that such concepts have not often been discussed or debated on the campus. It has been practically impossible, for example, to get anyone on the campus to speak before a group advocating such things as preventive war, socialism, abolition of the HUAC, and a number of similar viewpoints. Because no one has been on campus to give a rigorous defense of these views, it is easy for students to either disregard or misunderstand them.
"Aren't they that extreme Communist group?"
For example, one student, when asked by a Kansan reporter about the John Birch Society, promptly replied.
Nonetheless, some people, such as the student quoted above, already have definite ideas about these groups, despite the fact that they know apparently little or nothing about the group in question. One could protest the fact that existing campus organizations have not fulfilled their responsibility in bringing people with minority viewpoints to the campus; yet this criticism would miss the point.
IT IS NOT the responsibility of the existing groups to sponsor someone with whom they disagree; furthermore, few groups here can assume the responsibility of appearing to endorse the opinions of advocates of such controversial viewpoints. But, there are other solutions to this apparent dilemma.
The newly-expanded Minority Opinion Forum seems to offer one of the sorely needed solutions to this problem. The Forum is designed specifically for the expression of ideas which are unknown to, or misunderstood by, most KU students. It is dedicated to the view, which Chancellor Wesoee expressed, that "it is the basic conviction of this university that there should be no restrictions on the opportunity of our students to voice their opinions freely and to hear the opinions of those with whom they, or others, may disagree."
By giving a platform to any minority group (whether the John Birch Society or the Socialist Party), the Forum compensates, to some extent, for the infrequency with which minority views are voiced or discussed widely here.
William L. Kelly, instructor of advance study and studio clarinet, has been appointed a member of the National Advisory Board of music educators.
Kelly Is Selected To National Board
The board is composed of nearly 500 music educators and band directors from high schools and colleges across the nation, who will meet "by proxy" to consider common problems and to pool professional resources for the benefit of music educators everywhere.
Members of the National Advisory Board were selected from several hundred thousand music educators in the United States, Canada and the Philippines.
Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart—Seneca
"Are you sure you came in with a motor?"
To care correctly for today's cars takes more than a monkey wrench and a screw driver. Experience is the word for our mechanics .courtesy is another. UNIVERSITY FORD SALES
( Students Interested in Pleasure )
★ The Ram-Rods
The Silvertones
Proudly Brings to K.U. These Great Names in Rhythm!
★ The Wailers
★ The Vale-Dairs
★ The Jags
Tomorrow Night, Friday September Swing at SIP's First Big Convention to the Sounds of The Vale-Dairs Fabulous New Group from North-Central Kansas
Big Barn (west Highway 40) ★ Doors Open 8:15 ★ Membership only