Students to help in solving problems
Fine Arts School sets up advisory board
By IRENE ECONOMOUS Kansan Staff Writer
Last spring, rapid expansion of enrollment, inadequate facilities and lack of money posed serious threats to continuing the excellence of KU's art department.
This fall the situation is similar, with one exception; students now have a means of communicating their needs to the administration.
A dean's advisory board has been set up, one of many new committees in the School of Fine Arts, that includes students as well as administration, said Collene Collins, Leavenworth senior.
The purpose of the committee, Miss Collins said, is to function in an advisory capacity to help open channels of communication between students and administration; to examine and seek solutions to many of the problems within the school and to instigate action leading to the solution of these problems.
Debaters center on Vietnam
"I doubt that living under the North Vietnamese is much different from living under the communist regimes of Eastern Europe," said Carl Lande, professor of political science, before the Lawrence Rotary Club Monday.
Lande and Arthur Katz, dean of the School of Social Welfare, appeared before the group to debate the pros and cons of President Nixon's Vietnam policy. Katz said that his views and Lande's were basically not too far apart but added that he didn't feel it was the responsibility of the United States to tell the Vietnamese what kind of government they should have.
"Mistakes on our part are the reason we're there now," Katz said.
"Under the Geneva accord a temporary line was drawn across Vietnam to facilitate the removal of French troops from there. The line was to be only temporary and was to have been erased after national elections. Of course, those elections never came about," he said.
"Our aid to an illegal government south of that line was in direct violation of the Geneva convention. Nixon could pull us out right now if he wanted to but he is simply taking action based on what he thinks is best for his personal political posture and that of his party. In taking such a stance, he has succeeded in polarizing the nation," he said.
Lande stressed that if the United States pulled out, a large massacre would take place. He said he felt the South Vietnamese could pull themselves together if given the proper support for any length of time.
"It is true that the South Vietnamese don't have as much freedom as the average American, but in comparison to the freedom of the North Vietnamese, they have a great deal more," Lande said.
"There is more and more evidence that the Vietnamese are supporting the government in the South. Increasingly, more of them are willing to risk their lives as representatives of the South Vietnamese. This makes them prime targets of the terrorists," he said.
WORK ACCIDENTS
NEW YORK-The number of work injuries and deaths per 100,000 workers has been dropping steadily in the past 25 years, says the Insurance Information Institute. In 1968, with an employed labor force of 75.9 million persons, 14,300 persons were killed, approximately 19 out of every 100,000 workers. This was about 36 per cent lower than the 1944 rate of 29.6 deaths per 100,000 workers.
Nov.12 1969 KANSAN 11
The problems that have existed will continue to exist until there is a total effort from the adminfstration, faculty and students. The burden has been placed on the administration and faculty too long." Miss Collins said. "It's as much the students' responsibility as it is anyone else's."
The immediate problem in the art department is a lack of library facilities. Miss Collins said
"This problem is absolutely crucial," Miss Collins said. "The books have been moved to Watson Library and have not been catalogued so no one has access to them."
"It is extremely difficult to keep up with contemporary developments in art when we don't have access to contemporary publications," she said.
The library was previously in the department office, said Downer Dykes, head of the design department. The department office was moved and the old room was turned into a badly needed studio, Dykes said.
"We never have had funds for a librarian or adequate resources for a library." Dykes said.
"I'm sure that many other departments could make just as good a case as we could for needing expanded facilities." Dykes said.
It has been recognized that visual arts needs expanded facilities urgently, Dykes said, but it doesn't appear that the department will get them for another five years at least.
Dykes said it was not a question of the administration refusing to supply funds, but rather a question of priority.
The result of the overcrowded situation, Dykes said, is a lack of cohesiveness. Classes are scattered in many different buildings as a result of overcrowding in Strong.
Lack of art scholarships is another major complaint of students in the art department, Miss Collins said.
Dykes said lack of art scholarships was not a situation unique to KU. The situation is generally the same for art departments everywhere.
"If you go to any university,"
Dykes said, "there is less research done in fine arts than in other departments. It is unfortunate but understandable that private industry is more interested in the sciences," he said.
Another change students favor, Miss Collins said, is student evaluation of teachers.
Dykes said a couple, of years ago such a program existed, but he did not consider it to be one of the major problems now.
CALL VI 3-6425
March for Peace November 15th at the State Capital in Topeka
if you will march and/or drive your car
The "Silent Majority" wants PEACE NOW Speak Up
Vietnam Moratorium Committee
814 W.23rd
8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Daily
Thursday Until 9:00 p.m.
Closed Saturdays at 4:00 p.m.
842-5451
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