Friday, December 6, 1963 University Daily Kansan
Page 5
Students
By Jim Langford
The student delegation from KU that attended the recent National Conference on Race and Religion in Washington, D.C., said they left the conference with a better understanding of the problems that confront the civil rights movement.
The conference was sponsored by the National Federation of Catholic College Students, the B'nai Brith Hillel Foundation, the National Newman Club Federation and the National Student Christian Federation.
George Ragsdale, Lawrence senior said, "If the students at the conference were representative of our society, there would be no problem."
"WE FOUND OUT the situations and what they were doing on campuses of other colleges," he said.
Arthur Spears, Kansas City junior said, "I felt the highlight of the conference was on Tuesday, when a student from the University of Mississippi who asked to have his name withheld, made a speech saying that there are more students in the south who are interested in the advancement of civil rights. However, conditions prevent them from speaking out. So we also have backers in the south.
He said that the most rewarding aspect of the conference was the feeling of collegiate connection he received after being with other students.
"I found out that KU is a more liberal university than many in the North and Northeast part of the country," Ragsdale said. "There are many we're out in front of, but at the same time we can't afford to slow down."
Trade Views on Tolerance
"I GOT MORE out of the conference by talking to people from different schools and learning what they were doing." Spears said.
He said that in a way the conference was just like taking a course
"I learned more about the Student Non-Violence Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the Congress on Racial Equality (CORE), and what they had been doing." Spears said.
"The conference was conducted by clergymen and members of the
"THE ONES WE talked to said they were in favor of the civil rights bill," Ragsdale said, "and Ellsworth (Rep. Robert F. Ellsworth) said he felt civil rights was definitely a moral issue, was right and that he was personally involved."
Nancy Lane, Hoisington senior said, "I didn't think our congressmen paid any attention to the mail they received, but Pearson and Dole (Sen. James B. Pearson and Rep. Bob Dole), the congressmen I talked with, said they were surprised they had not received much mail concerning civil rights."
NAACP, CORE and SNCC," Ragsdale said. "On the final day of the conference, we were able to talk with our congressmen."
Marsha Dutton, Colby senior said,
"I discovered at the conference that much of the work in the civil rights movement is being done by students. Groups like the student NAACP and SNCC are actually working in the South, making it possible for the movement in the South."
"This is something that is not just up to adults," she added.
"The church groups are doing a great deal and working very closely with these groups," she said.
"TOO OFTEN WE say students can't do a great deal," she said, "but we can do something when we are students."
In relation to what these students felt must be done on KU's campus, Karen Jo Emel, Colby senior said, "What we need is an understanding of the fact, as human beings, we are all involved in the civil rights movement."
She said people cannot remain neutral, but that either they take a positive or negative stand. She also said they should not be open only to ideas, but to people.
Merejo Noellsch, Olathe junior said, "We need to work on an individual basis on campus."
"AN ATMOSPHERE is needed," she said, "where people can look at all sides of the question."
"People who don't know the situation have to be confronted with it," she said, "and both races need to
"Three specifically," he said, "were Rutgers, the University of Wisconsin and the University of Pennsylvania." He added that some have resisted successfully, three at Rutgers held out, but that there was no pressure on the few who resisted because the others integrated smoothly.
confront each other in order to live together in harmony."
George Ragsdale said, "I left the conference with an immediate inspiration to go out and do something drastic to improve civil rights. I was convinced more so that an administration can administer law to the Greek system to integrate and it can be done successfully."
"IN TALKING with students at the conference," he said, "I learned that fraternities particularly had been integrated without incident at northern colleges, and had been done by the administrations of these schools."
He said that on the campus, "Individual Negroes and whites should get to know each other and make an additional effort to become friends. This would break down a lot of barriers."
"Otherwise, the university is not going to even come close to preparing both white and Negro students for an integrated society," he said.
Nancy Lane said, "The most important thing is to change attitudes on an individual basis. Integration has to go both ways," she added.
DON KELLETT, GENERAL manager of the Baltimore Colts, was a football, basketball and baseball star at the University of Pennsylvania, had a fling at pro baseball, coached college football and basketball and was a sports broadcaster before assuming his present job.
"AN ATMOSPHERE of better understanding based on the individual
Arthur Sears said, "Integration of fraternities and sororites is the only thing you can look at."
level is necessary," Karen Jo Emel said.
He said that there you could see something as concrete and as something wrong, and that you knew what had to be done.
He said that the attitudes of students in general are hard to draw up plans about. In relation to changing the attitudes of students, he said, "Who do you go see and when."
"I feel that the administration is not progressive enough," he said. "They let things remain the way they are."
"There's not enough leadership in the civil rights area in our administration."
He also said that he would like to see the administration take a definite personal stand in making an effort to end discrimination in the university's living groups.
The KU Religious Advisors Association was put in charge of the delegation.
Miss Dean said that Father Brendan Downey of the Newman Club, and Arthur Shaw of B'nai 'Brith Hillel were very helpful in the selection of the delegation and working with the group.
- Fish & Shrimp
- Steaks
- Ham
- Chicken
Seafood Our Specialty
Duck's Restaurant
New Location
814 Mass. VI 3-4774
THIS WEEKEND!
We are always happy to serve you with
HAVING A PARTY?
This weekend you and your date can enjoy a fun thing — bowling — and your date gets every other game free!!!! It is two games for the price of one (only 35c)! This offer is good from Friday at 6 p.m. through Sunday at 6 p.m. Drop in and have a great time!
Ice cold beverages Chips, nuts, cookies Variety of grocery items Crushed ice, candy Ice cold 6 pacs all kinds
Ice cold 6 pacs all kinds
DATE SPECIAL
LAWRENCE ICE COMPANY
616 Vt. Ph. VI 3-0350
OPEN TO 10 P.M. EVERY EVENING
STRETCHSTRAPS!™ AND WHAT COMFORT! THE STRETCHBRA™ BY WARNER'S®
Warner's invents straps that stretch! The fantastic stretchstraps stretch over the shoulders, stay firmly put. Gone are the buckles that used to press into your collarbone! The straps stretch down to a low, low back—2½ inches lower than conventional bras . . . won't ride up. Almost every inch of this nylon-and-Lycra® bra stretches to fit (except the beautiful nylon cups). White, Black, A, B, C, $5.95.
WHAT YOU FEEL IN A WARNER'S . . . ISN'T THE BRA!
803 Mass.
VI 3-2241