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University Daily Kansan Wednesday. Dec. 12, 1962
25
Newton and Murphy
The recent resignation of Quigg Newton, president of the University of Colorado, probably reminded many Kansans of another university president's resignation in 1960.
The resignation of Franklin D. Murphy as chancellor of KU came after a period of controversy, as Newton's resignation did this year. And in both cases, the controversy arose in large part because the men were successful in building their respective universities.
During Murphy's administration, the controversy arose from Gov. George Docking's criticism of the University's operations and his belief that educational institutions did not need as much money as their administrators asked for. KU was criticized by Docking as "a trouble spot that needs cleaning up."
Much of the criticism of Newton came from right-wing elements in Colorado who were worried because of liberal elements on the campus. Controversy arose also because of a state senator's speech criticizing the university's "moral tone," student reaction to a speech by Sen. Barry Goldwater, and the freedom and liberalism of the Colorado Daily. Newton also was criticized for firing CU football coach "Sonny" Grandellius.
BUT DURING HIS term Newton succeeded in instigating many beneficial changes at CU. When he became president in 1956, CU was known throughout the midwest as a party school. Newton raised the academic standards, attracted nationally-known faculty members, and continually pushed for faculty salary increases.
Newton's goal, like Murphy's, was to build a "great university." And like Murphy he was well on the road to achieving that goal.
Murphy, during his eight-year administration, raised academic standards, changing KU from just another midwestern state university to one
which was acquiring a reputation as a leading state-supported institution.
Chancellor Murphy once said, "To spend your time figuring out how to get a university loved by everybody is a waste of time. When you reach that point you don't have a university—you have a trade school."
Newton, like Murphy, was more concerned with allowing students freedom of expression and action than he was concerned with the university's "image." He, like Murphy, realized that any university worthy of the name leads rather than follows the general population, and that such leadership often alarms the more sedate members of the community.
THE ARBITRARY FIRING of Gary Althen, editor of the Colorado Daily, was a blot on Newton's record. It should be pointed out, however, that he withstood pressure to fire the editor much longer than most presidents would have dared to do.
Many Coloradoans, no doubt, are relieved that the controversial president is leaving. But there undoubtedly are some Coloradoans who realize, as many Kansans realized, that the controversy was largely the sign of a growing, dynamic university headed by a dynamic president.
A good university head, must have the courage to stand up to alumni and other people who try to tell him how the football team should be run, which faculty members should be fired, which speakers should not be allowed on campus, how the student newspaper should operate, and what the students should be taught, how they should think, and what they should hear.
Newton and Murphy had that courage, and their universities benefited greatly because of it.
Law Students and Juveniles Editor;
Your first report concerning the activity of law students as a disciplinary court at KU interested me very much. The second article about students releasing themselves of traffic bills was a certain frustration, but it concerned only personal mistakes — I think unjustifiable mistakes — of the involved students. But your story about the assignment of law students to cases of juvenile crimes (Daily Kansan, Dec. 4) surprised me so, that I want to ask a question about it.
DO YOU THINK juvenile criminality is suitable to be used as practical "field-work" as a part of a law course? Isn't it too dangerous for such a matter? Don't affirm this by pointing out that the penalties in juvenile cases are comparatively low. The decisions concerning the penalties are not the business of the probation officers. And punishment is not the main purpose of a juvenile court. The main purpose is education, more than in cases against adults. And the effect of this education is determined by the whole procedure, by the preparations and measures within the court as well as outside the court.
The most experienced judges available in the competent court—not students—should work in this area. The first hearings of the juvenile, and the questioning of parents, friends, and teachers not only can spoil the educative effect of the suite but also can easily hinder the resocialization of the juvenile, if it is not approached in the right way. These complicated procedures seem to be nearly impossible for students to master correctly. Even in the most unimportant violations of the law a wrong procedure against a juvenile must produce a wrong attitude against the authority of the law.
AFTER PASSING the first law degree, young lawyers in Germany have to get practical experience as assistants to judges in different fields, as in the United States. However, the German law graduate appointed to the juvenile judge, who is usually the most skillful judge of the court, would never be allowed to come in so dangerous
... Letters ...
The criminal law case against juvenile violators of the law is about the only and the last chance of education of criminals. There are very few illusions about the educative and resocializing effects of criminal law cases against adults. Are you willing to sacrifice these chances to the education of your law students?
contact to the juvenile plaintiff as the KU law students.
Peter Eigen Erlangen, Germany graduate student
Editor:
(Dear Zeke:)
***
More On Linguistics
Editor: （Doer.'
To your "Linguistic Genuflection" (Daily Kansan, Dec. 4) I say poo (is that layman enough?) and come away thinking that the purpose of journalism really is for entertainment and not information.
I am neither scientist nor lawyer, but I have a deep sense of respect for people in specialized fields who are intelligent enough to make effective use of the tools of their trade, one of which is language. A "jargon," the employment of which appears to insult you, is nothing more than a form of shorthand with which people of common fields can communicate. It isn't designed for the general public and it isn't necessary for them to understand it. And a special language is needed more than ever before in scientific fields, because of the vast areas, of study which are being probed and the great expanse of knowledge which has resulted from scientific discoveries over the past few generations. Indeed, the exactitude of science today demands a high accuracy of communication, and scientific workers would be hamstruck if they were denied the use of these specific, precise terms of definition.
Take your example "free radical vinyl polymerization." To "translate" these words into "readable prose" would result in a 15-line explanation of the title. And even this wouldn't provide the general public with the information they would need to have an understanding of the meaning . . . that requires an education in the field of chemistry.
Val Jacka
I believe it would be much better for you to take your tongue out of your cheek and consider that there are many young, intelligent people on this campus who can understand these terms. Many of them are capable of stepping into various scientific research projects on this campus and making valuable, original contributions to very complex studies. If you're really interested in scientific discovery, why don't you use a more sophisticated approach, and instead of resorting to superficial criticism, take the time to find out what the people involved in the undergraduate research program are really doing at this University? I feel certain that you would have nothing but high praise for the very competent members of our faculty who initiated the program, and admiration for the talented students who participate. The former are looking to the future; the latter may hold the keys to it.
lawrence graduate student
Editor:
* *
Once upon a time there was a boy who killed his father and mother and sister. And god said, "That was a terrible thing to do. Let's hope you were sick when you did it or I shall have to kill you."
A Fable
"Are you very sure it was the boy who killed his father and mother and sister? Are you very sure the boy was not sick?" asked god.
Then god told his wise men to examine the boy. The wise men said the boy was not sick.
So god got ready to kill the boy.
He gave him food, a place to stay,
and plenty of clergymen. When
the day came, everything was
ready. He took off the boy's glasses
and killed him.
The wise men said, "Yes, we are sure."
A few hours later, a newscaster said the boy had been calm and collected. Everyone was relieved that the boy had been calm and collected. Then god rested. And everyone tried to forget the whole incident.
Muriel Thiessen
Newton graduate student
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS by Dick Bibler
—THE MINUTE I LEAVE MY LAB —WHY, HAD NO IDEA HE WAS SERIOUS ABOUT DRINKING THAT SILLY CONCOCTION.
Sound and Fury
Should Direct Action To Individual Students
I am sure that everyone is aware that the prohibition of liquor during the twenties had little success. Those who wanted to drink simply did so anyway. The prohibition amendment solved nothing, and our nation's leaders later realized that it had been a mistake from the start to think that outlawing the sale of liquor would prevent drinking.
Unfortunately, the KU administration has given hints that it will take similar action. The administration feels that the great number of barn parties is contributing heavily to an increase in drinking, theft, and vandalism. The Dean's Advisory Board, undoubtedly acting on the advice of the Dean's office, has stated that unless something is done to reduce the number of barn parties, the administration will correct the situation with drastic measures.
HOWEVER, THE administration has ignored one basic fact: those who are involved in the vandalism, theft, and heavy drinking will continue their immature conduct regardless of any actions on the part of the other students. If students want to drink, steal, or destroy property they will continue to do so whether barn parties are allowed or not.
The administration is right to be concerned about the situation and should take steps to solve the problem, but its actions should be directed against the individuals responsible for the problem and not the student body as a whole.
I FEEL THAT the KU administration has taken a hypocritical view of student freedom and responsibility. A student at KU is
free to express his thought and opinions, so long as he does not transgress the rights of others. In taking advantage of this privilege he is rightfully expected to show maturity in thought and judgment. Students who go beyond their rights in this area are dealt with individually and the student body as a whole is not punished for the actions of a few. This is as it should be.
However, the administration has a different policy concerning freedom of action. Because the administration hesitates to place confidence in the ability of a student to guide his own actions, it becomes a substitute parent for the students. The administration subjects the students to rules which are in fact far more strict than those to which the students were accustomed at home. There are indeed a few persons at the University for whom these rules are necessary, but I feel that it is a great injustice to restrict everyone because of the actions of a few.
A GREAT STEP will be taken towards the solution of the present problem when the administration expresses a greater degree of confidence in the conduct of students. It can do this by reducing the strictness of the rules and the degree of personal regimentation and by placing greater responsibility upon the individual student. The actions of individual students should be dealt with individually.
For these reasons I make this suggestion to the administration: Give the students a chance to live up to your expectations, not down to them.
William H. Panning Ellinwood sophomore
Daily hansan
University of Kansas student newspaper
University of Kalisma student newspaper
Founded 1889, became biweekly 1904, triweekly 1908, daily Jan. 16, 1912.
Telephone Viking 3-2700 Extension 711, news room Extension 376, business office
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NEWS DEPARTMENT
Scott Payne
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
Clayton Keller and Bill Sheldon
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT Bill Shelden
Clayton Keller and Bill Sheldon Co-Editorial Editors
BUSINESS DEPARTMENT
Managing Editor
Charles Martinache ... Business Manager