4
Friday, January 22. 1971
University Daily Kansan
KANSAN comment
Will Swahili Survive at KU?
Feelings, attitudes, and then the events of recent times have made the world, and more particularly the campuses, more aware of the existence of Africa. The study of the dark continent has become a necessity than an academic pursuit.
The University of Kansas did no less than other institutions of higher learning when it established the Department of African Studies. The department, however was dismissed in several cases, even before it had been established.
One of the languages of the continent has now been brought to the University of Kansas, and it too is being dismissed. Some colleagues of mine grinned half-derisively when I tried to discuss with them the merits of introducing Swahil at them
They grinned and would not say if they thought the Swahili program would continue, or flounder for lack of interest or for some other reason.
The truth of the matter is nobody really knows. I suspect not even the administrators themselves know whether next year or the year after, it will be good economic judgement to budget for a course in Swahili. Hopefully this course will turn out to be more than an experiment, but on a more basic level, the presence of the course in the university curriculum will be judged by the use it will be put to by those who have expressed an interest in learning the
language.
Compared with other languages already being offered at this and other universities, Swahili will have the partial advantages of curiosity and secular interest. Everyone has at one time or another heard "ole" or "nein" or "ja". But I say a few words to someone in West Africa and they may respond, "English as any dialect can be—and they invariably ask me what African language I'm speaking."
Perhaps only a part of one percent of those who will trudge to the classrooms five times a week to struggle with Swahili have expectations of ever using the language in school. All that, all. Comparably the same thing can be said of German or French, Spanish or Portuguese. But there are enough interested students around to warrant continuation of these languages to higher levels. Whether curiosity or engagement is necessary to warrant the teaching of advance courses in Swahili remains to be seen.
After all, most of us remember basic words like "muchacha" and "Fraulein" and "jeune fille amie" after ten hours of Spanish, German or French. But, whereas these languages may be considered to have preserved positions on the curriculum, the existence of Swahili may be short lived if after ten hours of language the only words students will remember will be "uhuru sasa."
-Duke Lambert
Toward a Better Lawrence
Reprinted from the Lawrence Daily Journal-World
The selection of reports of violence and unrest in Lawrence and on the Kansas University campus as the Number One news story of 1970 in Kansas is fully understandable—but regretful. The selection was made by Kansas editors and radio-television executives who make a daily evaluation of the importance of news reports and who are well equipped to determine which stories have the greatest impact on readers and listeners.
Most Kanans have had unusual pride in the accomplishments of the University and they have taken Lawrence as a delightful place in which to live and work. Through the years Lawrence has been among the residents, Private earnings have been above the average and employment is stable. For the most part housing has been considered good and the cultural advantages have been superior. Permanent population growth has been moving about 1,200 a year for the last decade.
No wonder the state was shocked and amazed when glorious old KU seemed to be a center of rebellion and the city of Lawrence was shaken by shootings, racial clashes and turmoil. If it had happened in Kansas City or密苏鲁 the reason would have been why in the quiet, beautiful, contented and distinguished old city of Lawrence?
Lawrence undoubtedly was too smug and complacent, and older residents were not aware of a buildup of discontent among many local people, particularly in rural areas. They deserve greater opportunity for reward and more recognition. Nor did older residents recognize that a few militant dissidents who moved into the community last year were determined to wreck and burn and rebel; to destroy the church; to toil for plumb discontent in the ranks of frustrated and disturbed young people.
Some suspicion and hatred will continue to exist because that seems to be the way of the world; too many people are self-centered and biased that they cannot understand or be moved by the thinking and the ambitions of others. But, most signs currently point toward greater understanding in our community. It is a fact that the way we talk about one can believe that fighting and bombing are more conducive to peaceful existence than down-to-earth discussion of problems.
The big problem today is whether or
not meaningful and purposeful
passions will get the attention they
should have
If 1917 is a better year for this community it will be because all sections of our society and economy make a determined effort to make Lawrence a more fair, compassionate and comfortable place to live. Furthermore, the University and the city must make an effort to discourage malcontents and unscrupulous members of the community. The record will show that among those who were recruited to come to Lawrence last year were many of those who have planned rebellious measures.
Thousands of young people at the University have definite ideas on change in society which they believe will improve the general welfare, but only a very small group is believed to compose the hard core of the destructive group.
If as a community, we are to improve, townpeople must make every effort to provide a citywide philosophy of fairness to all people. We must not tolerate slum housing or group hatred. We must respect rules and laws. We must encourage further development of the community affection for KU that has existed since Lawrence pioneers provided the site for the school.
Administrators and teachers at KU should do everything they can to improve the educational facilities at the University. The students and those who financially support the University want the faculty to conduct the best possible classroom teaching program; to do their best to help young people become more knowledgeable. The campus should never be a playground or a secure laboratory for rabble-rousers or show-offs who are not interested in teaching.
Students at KU should be mindful of their good fortune in being able to attend an outstanding institution, and they should demand the services of superior teachers and administrators. While taxpayers and generous benefactors have provided the institution, the students more than anyone else can determine the excellence of their school if they are joined by teachers they will instill in dedicated teachers; if they regard Mount Oread as a place primarily to play around or to sound off recklessly, they in return will get inferior classroom and laboratory leadership.
The days of great accomplishment for KU and the city are ahead if the townpeople, the students, the faculty and officials want it that way. Excellence is attainable. Surely that must be what the great majority of us desire.
THE MILWAUKEE JOURNAL
124 N. All rights reserved 1973
'Don't worry. We won't cut you down beyond an acceptable level.'
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A Look at the Legislature
I've always been interested in politics and majored in political science as an undergraduate at the University of Washington, I
Getting Elected No Easy Chore
Finally, one precinct reported in for our State Representative campaign that 84 to 69 in my favor. From that narrow lead, I steadily built a 57 per cent margin. Victory was on the campaign campaign seemed worthwhile.
Bv PAUL R. HESS
Editor's Note: This is the first of a series of articles that will appear in the Kansan from time to time while the Kansas Jayhawk author is a first year law student, a member of the University Judiciary and the youngest House of Representatives.
Mr wife and I were watching the "big board," as they call it at KAKE-TV, in Wichita, the first precinct vote tabulations in our district to come rolling in at the Election Eve Party. Other candidates and friends were nervous about the vote I could see in opposition standing by himself across the seas of faces.
returned to Wichita early last year, where I grew up. Jobs were hard to find and finally some half-jokingly said, "Okay, Hess, why don't you run for office?" After thinking it over, I decided to plunge—even though the odds were low that he would win the old "bid" with no money, and on the Republican ticket running against a two-term incumbent Democrat in a Legislative disqualification, I sent a Republican to Topeka.
First, I had to sell myself to the Republican County Chairman and persuade him to try to keep other Republican candidates out of the primary on August 4. That was not likely, but everyone else in the district who was a Republican thought that Larry Holmes, my opponent, was too entrenched to be beaten. So, with no primary opposition, I could easily all my efforts on my opponent for the November 3rd election.
I had to visit all the preclinic committee members, line up support and map out strategy during the summer, since I was starting law school at KU on August 31. I had to keep my ex-
Quotes in the News
Bv United Press International
"We've had an exceptional amount of interest by the public. They are turning in doves in their own cleaning equipment."
possibility of some U.S. airtrain ferrying supplies and some personnel in Cambodia but that has not taken place."
SAN FRANCISCO-R. W.
management supervisor,
volunteer efforts to clean
up the oil slick on beaches along
the coast.
WASHINGTON-Ronald L. Ziegler, Press Secretary to the president, commenting on the use of U.S. airtail in Cambodia;
WASHINGTON — President Nixon, giving his reasons for halting work on the cross-Florida barge canal:
"I would not rule out the
"A natural treasure is involved in the case of the barge canal—beautiful, semitropical stream, one of a very few of its kind in the United States, which would be built by construction of the canal."
pensist trim so I decided to invest in some good old shoe leather and walk my district. One other small chore—raising over a $1,000! Try it sometime, especially when over 11 per cent of Wichita's labor force is unemployed. I did end up working there at some more at the very end of the campaign to meet additional last minute expenses.
Designing my campaign
tumor was more fun. A
bigger was more than just fun.
Students from Friends University
made my yard sign for me—all
My wife's contribution to the campaign was to write a note to every registered voter in the district. That took her 10 weeks. Each voter wrote a note before the general election, reminding them to go to the polls and asking them to support the man of their choice.
I commuted every weekend to
Letters to the editor should be typewritten, double-spaced and should not exceed 500 words. All letters are subject to editing and condensation, according to space limitations and the editor's judgment. Students must their name year in school and home town; faculty and department; position; others must provide their name and address.
Letters policy
Wichita from KU to campaign.
Friday evening, all day Saturday,
and Sunday afternoon were
opened for registration. By the
way, early last summer,
we had written every registered
voter's name and address on a
three by five card, and arranged
their information. This was done so we could send a letter to all registered voters and also so I could go up and down the blocks with a stack cards in my
hands by their first name at their door.
I'd close the short conversation by telling them that I'd enjoyed talking to them and hand them a
When a person answered their door, I'd say something like, "Hi, Jim! I'm Paul Hess, your State Representative candidate. Just wanted to say 'hello' and ask for your support on election day, for you." Or just to express concerns or questions about your state government?"
small campaign card with
mine on picture it and 10 things that I
had only one person out of several
thousand that ever slammed the
door in my face and that was a
name, who said, "We don't want any."
The last week before the election, I walked eight hours a day for a final push. So by the time I got to the KAKE-TV studios for the Election Eve Party to watch the returns, I was exhausted. In an opinion-controlled event, I gave short victory statement on TV. Then we headed for a couple of parties.
After that, my uncle and I went
after car and picked up all of my
backpack. I headed to Shari and I headed back for
Lawrence so I could make my
9:30 law class that Wednesday
the campaign was over.
'Sorry, madam. We have no room at this inn.'
Griff & the Unicorn
ONE CAN'T UNDERSTAND
OR BEGIN TO SOLVE LARGE
PROBLEMS UNTIL ONE IS
ABLE TO REALIZE AND
CONSIDER THEIR FACULTIES
DIFFICULTIES INHERENT
IN ONESELF...
CAUSE IN POINT - YOU CAN'T REALLY COMPREHEND WHY YOU ARE UNABLE TO GET ALONG WITH YOURSELF, OR WHAT IS WORNING YOU OF YOURSELF; or FOR YOUR MOBBER OR ANYONE ELSE, FOR THAT MATTER.
By Sokoloff
. AND WHAT'S WRONG
WITH EVERYONE ELSE IS
THAT EVERYONE IS A
Fool
IT'S QUITE
SIMPLE, YOU SEE
"Copyright 1971. University Daily Kansan"
Those Were the Days
50 Years Ago Today
Coasting (better known today as 'traying') was making a comeback after being neglected for several years. Because coasting on the streets of Lawrence was prohibited in 1914 after a fatal accident, students were taking their boards to Mount Oread.
40 Years Ago Todav
Several University of Kansas women requested that the legislature sell bonds to their banks.
Jeannette MacDonald and Reginald Denny
Construction work on the new concrete stadium would begin next week.
The State Senate moved to crack down on drug abuse. A bill was passed that prohibited
could be seen in the movie, "Oh, for a Man," at a downtown theater.
Kamaya Adult Math Thema school虐蒙村
Kampala Adult Math Thema school虐蒙村
25 Years Ago Today
The University 'hand' was working toward making some records, probably of KU school
A letter to veterans who were returning to KU suggested that Marvin Grove was open to anyone who would like to set up a mattress in a stable for the duration of the housing crisis.
Student group meetings in individual churches for Sunday evening were cancelled so that all students could attend a religious meeting in the Kansas Union that night.