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University Daily Kansan Thursday, Sept. 21, 1961
Nuclear Poison
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS by Dick Bibler
The recent increase in the radioactive fallout level has again focused attention on the nuclear arms race. Not only are people concerned about the arms race aspect of the recent nuclear tests, they are also very much interested in fallout, the product of these tests.
The Russian tests are the only ones which cause fallout. The underground tests conducted by the United States do not cause fallout since there is no way the radioactive particles can get into the atmosphere.
THE RUSSIANS SEEM TO BE UNCONCERNED about the fallout danger. Although no one is yet sure of the exact effects of fallout, most scientists agree that fallout is detrimental to some extent. Yet the Soviets continue to pour their radioactive garbage into the atmosphere that engulfs us all.
Thus they expose not only their own country but the entire world to a danger that is thought by many experts to increase incidence of birth defects and leukemia. Although the link between fallout and these dread diseases has not been definitely established, only a madman would risk the entire world's health on the possibility that fallout will some day be proved harmless.
The radiation level of the atmosphere is fairly stable. The nuclear poison from one A-bomb remains in the atmosphere for many years. So, the radiation level will soar as the Russians continue to test.
THE IRRESPONSIBLE ATTITUDE OF THE Russians concerning fallout is almost an invitation to budding nuclear nations to follow suit with their own atmospheric tests of "dirty" atomic weapons. It is possible that if other countries start testing, the radioactive fallout level will increase from its present "safe" level to the point where it will pose a real world health problem.
There is little we can do about fallout, except breath it, eat it with our food, and drink it in our milk and water. But everyone can be aware of the possible dangers of fallout. Now is the time to inform yourself of what to do in case of a great increase in the radiation level — as there would be in case of nuclear attack.
The nuclear tests that are being conducted on the other side of the world do affect the lives of the KU student, as they affect the lives of every world citizen. The weapons Russia is testing now may be the forerunner of a bomb that could some day fall on your town or poison your air.
AMERICANS MUST BE PREPARED. They must know what to do if today's tests turn into tomorrow's war. President Kennedy has recommended that more shelters be built in order that more Americans might survive any possible attack.
What would you do in case of nuclear attack? Where would you go? It is doubtful that you could find the proper accommodations anywhere on KU's campus. There is not a single marked shelter on Mount Oread.
Ron Gallagher
No U.N. Co-operation
The present fighting in Katanga Province of the Congo between U.N. forces and Katanga troops and mercenaries is a good example of the old adage that force is the ultimate argument in all international disputes. It is also typical of a particular kind of attitude toward the United Nations that is held by many nations. Far too many nations are willing to comply with U.N. requests only when it suits their own purposes. The short history of the United Nations has already provided us with a number of examples.
THE SOVIET UNION REFUSED TO COOPERATE with the United Nations in 1956 when it suppressed the Hungarians' revolt against the communist state that had oppressed them since World War II. Despite U.N. censure, the Russians went ahead with their military intervention in Hungary.
The Red Chinese are guilty of the same kind of behavior as the Russians. They were condemned for their aggression in Korea and had to be driven out of South Korea by U.N. military forces. And while it is true that Red China is not a member of the United Nations, it should be remembered that Red China aspires to membership. Such actions are hardly in tune with that aspiration.
BUT THE COMMUNIST POWERS are not the only ones which have caused the United Nations difficulty. Britain, France and Israel invaded Egypt in 1956 and a special U.N. task force had to be created to patrol the border between Egypt and Israel after the troops of the three invading powers were withdrawn. It is possible they might not have withdrawn had the United States not thrown its weight behind the resolution calling for withdrawal.
The cases cited all clearly fall within the definition of international relations. They are therefore within the legitimate scope of U.N. activity, as defined by the nations which founded the United Nations and gave it its purpose and authority. The continuing refusal of many nations to honor U.N. authority or advice in solving their international disputes except when it is expedient encourages others to do the same. The United Nations cannot be effective as a mediator while such an attitude governs the actions of its members.
—William H. Mullins
Daily Hansan
University of Kansas student newspaper
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NEWS DEPARTMENT
Managing Editor
Linda Swander, Fred Zimmerman, Assistant Managing Editors; Kelly Smith, City Editor; Bill Sheldon, Sports Editor; Barbara Howell, Society Editor.
Tom Turner
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
Ron Gallagher ... Editorial Editor
Bill Mullins and Carrie Merryfield, Assistant Editorial Editors.
BUSINESS DEPARTMENT
Don Brown Business Manager Don Gergick, Advertising Manager; Bonnie McCullough, Circulation Manager; David Weins, National Advertising Manager; Charles Martinache, Classified Advertising Manager; Hal Smith, Promotion Manager.
Letters
Thanks to Mr. Laudan
It is astonishing to find such uninhibited thinking from one of liberal sentiments. Indeed, I would not be surprised to find Mr. Laudan a conservative, perhaps even an objectivist, five years from now for he surely will not forever be satisfied with the muddy logic of liberalism.
My thanks to Mr. Laudan for his letter published Sept. 19. I suggest that those who read Mr. Kempton's diatribe on the YAF in the Sept. 20 Kansan re-read this letter.
Marick Payton Lawrence junior
P. S. to Carol McMillen: Why does the NSA adamantly refuse popular election of its delegates?
Short Ones
Common sense is not so common. — Voltaire
Gratitude is not only the greatest virtue, but even the mother of all the rest.—Cicero
"IT SHOULD BE INTERESTING TO WATCH HIS NEXT MOVE."
International Jayhawker
Memories Return
By Breon Mitchell
(Editor's Note: Mitchell was a member of the German section of the KU Summer Language Institute.)
My memories of Germany and the German people come back to me easily now and my impressions are still clear. The excitement and value of my first trip to Europe will be hard to forget.
As members of the German group of the KU Summer Language Institute we were, in effect, guinea pigs. The whole trip was an experiment designed to determine if the obvious advantages of studying German in Germany were great enough to outweigh the additional costs and difficulties of a summer school program there. The results of the summer's work showed the program to be well worth the effort. As a part of the final examination on our return every student in our group took the C.E.E.B. German Proficiency Exam. Of those passing, one-half (some eight or nine students) attained scores on this test higher than any ever recorded previously at KU. We spent 17 hours a week "in the valley" (our German equivalent to "on the hill") for six hours credit. But after the work there was never a lack of things to do and see.
We traveled. We saw Germany, the splendid churches, the clean countryside and the pretty, neat homes. We felt the enjoyment of life in Vienna, went sight-seeing in the Bavarian Alps, drifted along the canals in Venice, and walked along the Left Bank in Paris. We walked on both sides to be sure.
In general we lived. We ate, slept, sang songs on the bus, made friends, and had a wonderful time. Our best song was none other than our "Alma Mater" which, accompanied by the Rock Chalk Chant, never failed to be received with enthusiasm. Then there was for each of us the little personal things that each remembers for himself.
The Bavarians in southern Germany take life easy, work hard during the day and drink and sing in the evening. Among the workers and farmers there seems to be a general knowledge and appreciation of U.S. help and a uniform attitude of friendliness toward the U.S. We spent many pleasant evenings talking with the people.
We met the people. On discovering that we were students they treated us with a respect and courtesy to which students here are not always accustomed.
We also attended cultural events: operas, ballet, the theater, and philharmonic concerts. Included were: Hans Richter Organ Concert, Munich State Opera performances of "Tosca," "Fidelio," "The Flying Dutchman," and "Tales of Hoffman"; three performances of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, and Brecht's "Caucasian Chalk Circle."
For those interested in art there were the major art museums of Europe with literally hundreds of works by Rubens, Rembrandt, Titian, Breughel and so forth. Our only complaint might have been that there was too much to see, a problem something like having too much money.
A blending of culture, study, travel, and living; an integration if you will, of all these experiences into one—a wonderful summer, important and valuable, our first time in Europe. It won't be my last.