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Page 2 University Daily Kansan Friday. May 11, 1956.
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The Forgotten Seniors
Lost: The ASC Final Exam Bill
Along with the stress on high scholarship and honors at the University have come questions as to what has happened to the resolution passed by the All Student Council to exempt graduating students with a "B," or higher, grade average from taking final examinations.
This resolution was passed by the ASC shortly after the middle of this semester, according to ASC officers.
Where is this resolution now? How soon will it be "acted upon?" Why hasn't anything been said publicly about it? Is it to be permanently pigeon-holed to gather dust? These are a few of the questions which are current topics of discussion around the campus.
Many seniors would like to know if, since the ASC of 1956 passed and presented the resolution, the class of 1956 will be able to make use of it. The probable answer to this question is "no!" since the University Senate met May 1 and probably will not reconvene until October.
In 1950 such a resolution (referred to as a "bill") was presented to the chancellor and the University to act upon. However, this bill called for all graduating seniors with a "C" average to be exempted from taking finals and after much debate and counter-resolutions, this resolution was vetoed.
At the Honors Convocation May 2 a University official expressed the appreciation of the faculty and others connected with the University for the high scholarship of those honored at the assembly.
In a recent rating of U.S. colleges and universities the University of Kansas reportedly ranked among the highest academically. A short time ago
a comparison of fraternity academic averages as various colleges and universities showed that KU fraternities were rated highly.
In certain other American educational institutions honors and privileges are readily and unquestionably extended to scholastically superior students. In these other schools students having a consistent "B" or higher grade average need not attend classes or finals, as an honor. Needless to say, true scholars attend as many classes as possible in their striving for a superior education.
With pride and respect for the high academic standing of KU, the criticism still remains that "here you are treated as though you were children or high school students with no sense of responsibility."
This criticism has come from scholars in our country as well as from abroad and, unfortunately, not unjustifiably.
There is now the possibility of changing, to a certain degree, the basis for this accusation.
We are not ashamed of having been called (even sarcastically) the "Harvard on the Kaw" because of our high academic standards, but apparently there is some doubt as to the continued maintenance of such standing if certain responsibilities and privileges cannot be given to our scholars.
It's not an easy thing to achieve a high scholastic average at KU. Standards are high and competition is keen. So why not consign the privilege of exempting graduating seniors with high scholastic standings from taking finals, if they so desire?
We are interested to see how much faith the University manifests in its scholars.
Jim Tice
15 Years Ago
The Acute Problem Of Nationalism
Should the United States follow the policy of nationalism or internationalism? That was the question facing the American public 15 years ago this week. The question was brought about by the swath Hitler had just cut through the Balkan states. With the case of a boy rolling his hoop across the park. Hitler was rolling his gouging swastika across Europe. His latest infamy was Greece, and with its capitulation Britain was shorn of a foothold on the continent. Speculation on where he would move next filled news magazines. Some thought it would be the Suez, some Gibraltar and some didn't particularly care.
Those who didn't particularly care were the nationalists. Their prime interest was in getting the United States back into its 18th century ostrich hole.
Col. Charles A. Lindbergh, the isolationists' exponent, in his April 1941 speech to the America First Committee, said Britain was losing the war and that the United States would be beaten if it tried to intervene; Col. Lindbergh advocated a negotiated peace. He said Franklin D. Roosevelt's policies were moving the United States closer to war and that such policies were not a reflection of the people's will.
President Roosevelt called Col. Lindbergh a defeatist and an appeaser for holding these views. The President's criticism made Col. Lindbergh feel he ought to resign his military reserve status, which he did.
A Gallup poll in 1941 so much as proved Col. Lindbergh incorrect. Fifty per cent of the country was against the United States running convoys for Britain, but 71 per cent favored convoys if doing so was the only means to save Britain.
More than 80 per cent wanted the United States to stay out of the war, but 63 per cent favored entering it if that were the only way Germany and Italy could be defeated.
The Roosevelt administration had committed itself to an all-out effort to assist Britain—everything short of war. Military supplies ranging from airplanes to food were being shipped across the Atlantic; still, the Britains were supplementing their diets with horsemeat. A tax bill by Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau Jr. was being enacted to boost taxes for defense and to cut spending. Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox and Secretary of State Cordell Hull both realized that the country could not back out on Britain, and they supported the increasing war effort with speeches designed to turn public opinion.
To leave the international scene for a glance at Hometown USA, magazines such as the Saturday Evening Post and Collier's were selling for 5 cents, and Life was 10 cents. Coffee was 14 cents a pound, somewhat removed from today's price of 79 cents. Lucky Strike was using the now almost forgotten red and green wrappings. Cadillacs were advertised with a $1345 price tag. Buicks were $915 and Studebakers $695. Women's skirts were up while their hair was fashionably down. The reverse is the vogue today.
In the movie world, Lana Turner was starring in "Ziegfeld Girl." Orson Welles was leading the cast of "Citizen Kane" and Bing Crosby and Bob Hope were on their "Road to Zanzibar." On radio, Kate Smith and Jack Benny were each celebrating their 10th anniversary on the air. This year, 1956, brings Benny his silver anniversary on the air.
Ray Wingerson
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A Good Move
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A New Old Pro
Ike Steals Democrats' Idea By Appointing Sen. George
President Eisenhower can pick up his card any time now in the ancient and honorable order of political operators.
The most popular reason given by suburban dwellers in the Milwaukee area for moving from the city was less congestion. That reason got 18 per cent of the answers, while the next three answers were "cleaner" 17 per cent, "larger building plot" 15 per cent, and "lower taxes." 10 per cent.
This week's presidential primary returns from Indiana do not appear to support that conviction. On the contrary, there is some evidence that Democratic farm subsidy strategy has backfilled. In his third year of office, Mr. Eisenhower is showing that he understands the political game.
On Pentecost Island in the New Hebrides, Melanesian daredevils make terrifying land dives from hillside towers sometimes more than 80 feet high. Their head-first plunges into loose, spaded earth are checked only by trailing vines tied to their ankles.
It is a strange political switch that a Republican president should hurry to Sen. George's side in a moment of trouble, hoping he would remain in the Senate and offering a post of honor and substantial compensation if he did not.
Back there in 1938 it was a different story. President Roosevelt had determined to drive the conservatives from the Democratic temple. He intervened personally in several democartic primary campaigns to prevent renomination of several senators and one representative. The only casualty was Rep. John J. O'Connor, a house veteran from New York City.
The professional soldier who became an amateur politician is no amateur now. His latest maneuver came right out of the Roosevelt-Truman book of tricks, a fat volume. He's signed Democratic Chairman Walter F. George of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to the Eisenhower team.
The Other Foot
York City.
Sen. George was on the list and FDR assailed him on July 11, 1928 in Athens, Ga.
Getting Sen. George on the team was good politics from any angle. The President's batting average in the political league has been steadily improving. Take the farm issue. Congressional Democrats may or may not have played for a veto on the farm bill. There is no doubt, however, that Democratic leaders were convinced that Mr. Eisenhower's veto would hit the Republicans hard in the Midwest.
"Nothing personal in this, Walter," FDR said in an aside to the senator who was on the platform with him. Sen. George smiled but proceeded to give the President a bruising licking in the primary election. The senator remained a champion for another 18 years, but young Herman Talmadge and the years finally overtook him.
At least, the retiring senator has indicated he will take the job, and it seems now that he will be in uniform when the presidential campaign begins. If so, the planned Democratic attack on President Eisenhower's foreign policy will be hampered in some areas.
Sen. George's activities will be as the President's eyes-and-ears in the sphere of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. United States defenses and what President Eisenhower has or has not done about them rank high among the issues which Democrats are raising.
Mr. Felts describes the beautiful and classic Jayhawk statu-to-be as "non-functional" and "non-productive." Certainly his choice of adjectives is most inappropriate and wrong. I submit
Editor:
As a member of the senior class of 1956 I feel compelled to make some comment about the Jayhawk statue which a committee made up of my classmates so wisely and judiciously selected as one possibility for the class of '56 to present to the University as a token, of its appreciation of the things it learned at KU. At the senior class meeting the Jayhawk statue was voted on by the entire senior class and won by an overwhelming majority over the ticket booth, the committee's other possibility for a gift.
... Letters ...
I am sure that those people who now crudely criticize the democratic choice of my class must not be completely informed, must not believe in the democratic process, and must not feel themselves to be a part of my class. I am deeply hurt that Mr. Felts, an ex-senior, should be among those who criticize the thoughtful gift (UDK, Friday, May 4); Mr. Tice on the other hand is not a member of my class, and surely if he thinks his class will do a better job of selecting a gift, which I guess he does (UDK, Friday, May 4), he is entitled to his opinion.
CAREFUL DRIVERS, STAY ALERT!
KEEP CARELESS BIRDS FROM GETTING HURT!
NATIONAL AFFECTION COUNCIL
to those who follow the Felts line of reasoning (if it can be so called) that the functions of the statue are numerous, varied, and clear.
clear.
The statue will symbolize "university strength" and unity, especially when it is painted by the scholars from the farm college; it will give little minds something to think about in their dull (?) classes; it will help somehow to build and to maintain spirit and morale so badly needed to win games and debates; it will promote better inter-school relations when other colleges and universities help us decorate it from time to time and keep it looking beautiful and socialize with us; it will help to provide a home for the poor pigeons which can find no roosting room on Dyche or Watson; and finally the elegant statue will help to solve future problems of unemployment for it will need constant care and tending which will mean that more men will have to be employed by the University to watch over it.
As for the handsome statue being "non-productive" I am sure Mr. Felts used a most misunderstood term. In the first place I think even he knows that non-living things cannot reproduce themselves. In the second place he is completely overlooking the possibility that in the future another senior class might donate as its gift two or three smaller Jayhawk statues to be placed behind our big one. That would be a wonderful tradition for the '56 graduates to initiate: each future senior class would buy a smaller Jayhawk statue to be placed next to ours with the year of graduation printed in big red and blue letters on the base. The usefulness of such gifts would be immeasurable!
Mr. Felts concludes with the statement that he renounces his membership in my class. I wonder if he expects to graduate with his ex-classmates or wait until next year in order to give the professors a chance to straighten him out I say and do so as a member of my class of '56: On with the Jayhawk statue and may my class be remembered for all time as the "class with the bird-brains."
David Hanson Wichita senior
The institution of baseball and the University were both introduced to the state in 1866.