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University Daily Kansan
Peace Corps Defends Ministerial Member
By Norman G. Cornish United Press International
WASHINGTON -- Rep. Otto E Passman, D-La., has urged the Peace Corps to from its National Advisory Council a Presbyterian minister who allegedly has a record of past activity with Communist front groups.
But Peace Corps director R. Sargent Shriver Jr. rejected the request. He said two exhaustive FBI investigations showed nothing "... which would indicate this man was a Communist . . . or a fellow traveler."
Previously secret Congressional testimony made public today identified the council member as the Rev. James H. Robinson, who also is head of an organization called "Crossroads Africa." The group conducts a student exchange program between the United States and Africa.
SHRIVER, in an appearance before a House appropriations subcommittee which Passman heads, acknowledged that Robinson's past activities with front groups had been probed by the FBI before his appointment by President Kennedy.
"Many people in the Negro community at times have been members of organizations which were very strong for civil rights." Shriver said. "Sometimes these organizations contained members who were either extreme leftwingers or actual card-carrying communists..."
Shriver said, "They have signed statements along with others that sometimes perhaps they shouldn't have signed. But they did do these things all during the 1930's and 1940's and maybe some even in the 1950's."
Shriver said Robinson was one of the nation's "outstanding experts" on student exchange matters and had been praised by former President Eisenhower for his work.
THE PEACE CORPS chief said Robinson's appointment also had been checked out with Sen. Thomas J. Dodd, D-Conn, vice-chairman of the Senate Internal Security Subcommittee, and the late Rep. Francis E. Walter, D-Pa., chairman of the House committee on Un-American activities.
But Passman said he thought it "would be a lot better for the Peace Corps and America if you would just get rid of a person such as that and replace him with someone who does not have such a smudgy record.
"... There is no use having people with reputations as questionable as this man's . . ." Passman said.
Shriver said that after all investigative steps had been taken he was fully satisfied Robinson was not a Communist or fellow traveler.
SHRiver SAID Robinson will automatically go off the 24-member council when his term expires this year, but no action will be taken to remove him.
ASC Dusts Off Bills; Chancellor Endorses
A group of All Student Council bills and resolutions which had gone unsigned for as long as ten months received the signature of Chanceillor W. Clarke Wescoe last week.
John Stuckey, Pittsburg senior and ASC chairman, blamed a secretarial mixup in the ASC for letting the legislation lay around. Stuckey added, however, that such mixups have occurred in the past.
"When we last compiled the ASC constitution in 1962, we found some unsigned bills passed while Frankkn Murphy was chancellor," he said.
Chief among the unsigned legislation was a bill creating the Student Advisory Board to counsel new students.
Both Stuckey and Reuben McCornack, Abilene senior and student body president, said the legislation's validity was not in doubt because the chancellor is given no deadline to have the bills signed.
Casting Completed for Nine Roles In 'Madame Butterfly' Production
Martha Randall, instructor of voice, will sing the role of Madame Butterfly; Sharon Sooter, Lawrence graduate student, will sing the role of Suzuki.
The cast for the KU production of "Madame Butterfly" has been announced.
Sandra Stucky, Moundridge senior, will sing the part of Kate Pinkerton; Edward Sooter, Lawrence graduate student, the part of B.F. Pinkerton; and David Holloway, Gas City senior, the role of Sharpless.
Winell, Maryville, Mo., senior, the part of Prince Yamadori; Robert Seeley, Shawnee Mission freshman, the Bonze, and Michael Riley, Columbus sophomore, The Imperial Commissioner.
Tom Winston, Dallas, Tex., senior,
will sing the part of Goro; Roger
"Madame Butterfly," one of Puccini's best known operas, will be presented in English Nov. 1-9 at 8:15 p.m., in the University Theatre.
This production will be staged by Lewin Goff. The chorus director will be Clayton Krehbiel and the conductor will be Robert Baustian. The Little Symphony will play
The Little Symphony will play the music for the opera.
Seniors' Gifts Are Evident Throughout KU Campus
Every year since 1873, the KU graduating class has presented a gift to the University, but how many of these gifts are remembered and who gave them?
The variety of gifts includes crabapple trees, bird baths, a sun dial, a vacant lot and even insurance policies. However, the majority of the classes gave money to the University's studet loan funds.
"They thought the booth chairman was nuts building it." Mildred Clofdler, assistant secretary of the Alumni Association said. "Students laughed at the idea of it being a shelter while waiting for buses."
ONE GIFT, the information booth in front of Bailey Hall, was considered quite absurd when the Class of 1950 presented it.
The Class of 1915 gave the bulletin board in front of Watkins Memorial Hospital and the Class of 1931 gave the bulletin board in front of Watson Library.
Many gifts have become appreciated by the student body without knowing they were gifts. The covered entrance to the Student Union was a gift of the class of 1957 and several classes gave money for various rooms in the union.
The first gift to the student loan funds was $4 by the class of 1883 in 1910. The amounts grew and one of the larger gifts was $2,500 by the Class of 1930 on its 25th anniversary.
Another gift ridiculed by the student body was the bronze statue of the Jayhawk by the Class of 1956, secretary Clodfelter said. But now it seems to have become respected.
THE CLASS OF 1943 gave the dance area by Potter Lake for student recreation and the Class of 1948 gave money to build the steps leading to the Campanile.
Also many of the classes gave bells to the Campanile.
A unique gift was an insurance policy taken out on the life of president Clarence G. Munns by the Class of 1929. The gift matured on their 25th anniversary for a sum of $1,450.