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University Daily Kansan Wednesday. Feb. 8. 1956.
Some Students Are Opposed To 'What's Wrong' Series
'Biased, Ignorant'
Editor:
Your editorial of February 2 "What's wrong with the Greeks?" is without a doubt one of the most biased and ignorant articles I have ever read.
Rather than argue with utter nonsense, I have cut out the last paragraph stating that the Greeks "on this campus, as on other campuses, are on their way out" and will call your attention to it in 1966.
We shall see what we shall see.
Ethan Smith, Jr.
Lawrence Senior
'Not Informed'
Editor:
We the undersigned would like to reply to the editors刊 published in the University Daily Kansan on February second and third entitled "What's Wrong With the Greeks" and "What's Wrong With the Independents."
It is our opinion that the Kansan editorial editor is not completely informed of the student leadership situation of the University in 1956. In his editorials he has compared student leadership in post-war years when World War II veterans led campus activities, with the present day leadership. It is our feeling that perhaps there were years when the one-man Huey Long type of leadership was recognized, even accepted. But Kansas University leadership has changed and progressed with national trends to a greater interdependence, with the many, not the few in positions of responsibility. There's more to student leadership than just campus politics as Mr. Jones has implied. Perhaps there is no one person who can guarantee twenty-five hundred independent votes or an equal number of Greek votes. But we ask—is this desirable? We think not. Students today are able to think for themselves—they
don't want to be corralled like the proverbial sheep. To us this is an indication of a greater degree of individuality rather than that "we are losing that old American aspect of individuality".
"If this campus is any indication of what America is coming to" the situation is certainly not sad, as indicated by Mr. Jones. Rather it is a sign that American institutions of higher education are fulfilling their primary aim—that being to prepare young men and women as citizens able and willing to assume responsibility.
Signed: George Sheldon, Salina junior; Jim Lowe, Winfield senior; Bill Buck, Kansas City, Kan., senior; Roger Thomas, St. Joseph, Mo.; junior; Joan Sherain, Paola senior; Vic Viola, Abilene junior; Perry Rashleigh, Little River senior; Bill Hirsch, Deshler, Neb., junior; John Myers, St. Joseph, Mo., junior, and Jim Miller.
'Incredible'
Editor:
It's been quite interesting following your crusade against everybody in the UDK. We now know what's wrong with the Greeks, the Independents, and the Faculty.
Your latest poll of opinion on the Faculty seems to deserve special consideration. Assuming you used the utmost care in collecting your information from 6,500 students over the past year it is somewhat incredible to read about the three comments "far above the petty grips." Besides Freshmen, who naturally have little means of comparison, and habitual gripers there are quite a few students at KU who think we have a darn good faculty. Having attended a few other schools myself in this and foreign countries it has always been surprising to me to see how much effort and individual interest KU instructors do devote to their students. While fully understanding your great sorrow over John Ise's departure I cannot see how this necessitates the conclusion that there are too many instructors "biding their time till retirement." If you want to throw mud, why not be specific? Or write a nice little editorial about "What's wrong with the weather?"
With due credit to your investigative fervor, how about slowing down a bit? Your series of "What's Wrongs" has just about outlived any usefulness.
Hans H. Traver
Erding, Germany
Special student
'Logic Is Obscure'
Editor:
Your Mr. Jones is, apparently trying to start a fight, and he will probably get one, since there are many people on campus who will leap to his challenge without reading the editorial carefully.
He berates Independents for "going along with the crowd"—by not joining together to fight the Greeks. The logic is obscure. The Independent is compared to the Greek—both "trudge and follow, ..memorizing—just as the next guy is doing." This situation is, apparently, caused by the Greek being organized, and the Independent not.
Much as I hate to grace Mr. Jones's exercise in absturse logic with an answer, I'm afraid I must.
I am Independent. I have been throughout my college life, and will continue to be. I passed up chances to go Greek because I felt that, by living independently, I would have more freedom and more opportunity to express myself in whatever way I felt inclined. If anything, I was attempting to be as unorganized as possible. (During my four years in the Air Force, I had all the "organization" I wanted, thank you.)
I feel, moreover, that I have benefited by being Independent (Really Independent, rather than Organized Non-Greek). I am a Physics major, but have, since I returned to College, written articles for a student newspaper (in Kansas City—not here, of course), acted in several plays and, in addition, have studied enough to learn quite a bit about art, music and literature—and I have never memorized, never followed the "one line of thought," never felt mechanized. How sad, now that my bubble has burst, to find that I am just another organized facet in a disorganized organization of unorganized organisms. What happened? I thought I was being individualistic—exercising my right to be organized or not, as I saw fit.
A prevailing attitude I have run into is that no one will believe that I like being Independent, and running my own life. I enjoy the freedom of being able to go anywhere with anyone I like, any time I like. I get a kick out of studying when I crave knowledge, of drinking with friends when I crave companionship, and going into Kansas City, when I feel oppressed, either by the "small town" or "super-collegiate" atmosphere.
I'm not alone. Many Independents have been offered chances to go Greek and have refused because they felt (a) they would be giving away some part of their personal liberty, or (b) they would stand to gain nothing from "being organized."
Participation in campus politics is a matter of personal preference. Bearing the individual for not participating, is like berating the individual for not playing football (out of 8,000 students, how many play Varsity football—the equivalent of active campus politics?). Try, instead, to realize that not all students desire organization and participation—starting from that basis, some understanding may grow.
Whether this letter will be printed or not is problematical. However, I
wanted to reply to a senseless denunciation, Mr. Jones has little on no concept of individualism except perhaps:
"Individualism is the freedom or the individual to behave exactly as
- John Branigan Kansas City, Mo. Sophomore
How?
Editor:
Who is this Sam Jones, anyway? He must be the biggest leader on campus to have such insight into the campus political and social life.
We know very little about the various leaders on campus, but at least we *admit* it. Come on, Sam! What's the matter, did your girl "Dear John" you or something?
What do we do now? There seem to be quite a choice for student affiliation—dissipated Greeks or lethargic Independents!
Who says the Greeks have "the best resources available to develop campus leaders?" Who says the Independents are "worse than the Greeks in forming their own private (reundancy there) little cliques," and are not interested in intellectual advancement? Saim Jones! Who's he, a combination Solomon-Chancellor Murphy?
By the way, how did he get to be editorial editor? Try him out on features, since he wrote such a dandy under the head "Momentous Problems Still Unsolved."
Sharon Rickel, Holton freshman; Kay Moreland, Kansas City, Mo. freshman; Frankie Eberly, Seneca freshman; Caroline Watkins, Cobleskill, N.Y. freshman; Carole Houck, Syracuse freshman; Lida Stark, Manhattan freshman; Sally Slade, Clay Center freshman; Pat Ellis, Scott City freshman
WW II Propaganda Is Prominent
Jayhawkers who passed up the weird savagery of "Rashomon" Friday night might have been treated to a startling exhibition of the vagaries of perspective if they happened to catch instead "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" at the Granada theater.
The Ruptured Duck saga of Capt. Ted W. Lawson and other Doolittle raiders, remaking the rounds as "an M-G-M masterpiece reprint," is as racking a good war picture as it was when released in 1944. But several lines of dialogue, still reflecting the Metro studio's contributions to the wartime propaganda effort, seem rather out of context today.
carrier wallows through the Pacific—"Those smokestacks (pointing to photographs) are the foundries. Two Japanese brothers owned them. I don't recall their names, but I remember I didn't like 'em."
Item: A naval intelligence officer's comment as he briefs Capt. Lawson (Van Johnson) and his B-25 crew on their specific bombing target as the
Item: One of Capt. Lawson's pilot buddies (Robert Mitchum) remarks in a night-before-the-raid scene—"I don't hate 'em. I don't hate Japs, but I don't like 'em."
Times do change, don't they?
Item: Capt, Lawson's farewell to the Chinese intellectual, son of a native doctor who helps patch up the Ruptured Duck crew after it plows into the surf along the north China mainland following the raid—". I'd like to come back, myself, to fight with you. But we'll be back. Maybe not us but others like us. You're our kind of people."
Jerry Knudson
'When You Meet The Queen'
The article advises persons meeting the queen to be at ease, but if they are not, "the personal charm of Queen Elizabeth always dispels nervousness."
Our latest communique from the British Information Service deals with Queen Elizabeth's visit to Nigeria. In the midst of millions of unrelated facts about Nigeria, the brochure contains an interesting article entitled "When You Meet the Queen."
"For a woman, meeting the Queen is naturally an anxious occasion, but it is all carried out quite simply. The person escorting Her Majesty will say that he 'has the honor of presenting Mrs. or Miss So-and-so.' The Queen offers her hand. (It will be gloved. No statistician has ever managed to reckon how many people the Queen shakes hands with every week, but it must be hundreds.)
The article lists two methods of meeting the Queen. The first is formal presentation in court, and the second comes when her majesty is making a visit or a tour.
If by chance you have been selected for presentation to the Queen, you will be advised on what to do and what to wear. If your name does appear on the list, the British Information Service offers the following soothing words of wisdom.
"You take her hand and curtsey. She should be addressed in the first instance as 'Your Majesty' and afterwards as 'Ma'am,' pronounced 'Mamm,' or by the very old-fashioned, as 'Marm.'"
So that's all there is to it. The article gives no information as to how males meeting the Queen should behave, but if the opportunity arises, just be yourself. The Queen will be glad to see you.
-Dick Walt
New York City now has a law making any automobile driver who blows his horn unnecessarily liable to a $10 fine. Bet no one could make it down Jayhawk Drive and around the Chi Omega fountain without at least a gentle toot.
"That is all there is to it. And from her smiling appearance, you will know that the Queen has thoroughly enjoyed meeting you. That is the experience of thousands of people all over the world."
After attending the first few days of class, we're ready to give up. After six semesters of searching, we'll concede there are absolutely no pud courses in the University.
Guess we'll go drive around the block a couple thousand times to take advantage of the low prices brought on by the local gas war.
.. Letters ..
Speaking for all pedestrians, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to t, the thoughtful motorists on and around the campus. Why this commendation? Because of their tremendous consideration on these slushy days for the people walking on the sidewalks and standing near street corners.
Editor:
These Barney Oldfields instead of trying to avoid these puddles when traffic allows, seem to aim for them. And instead of cutting their speed so as not to send up such a spray, they nonchalantly blast along at speeds exceeding the limit. And this is fact and not imagination.
So to you hot rods, I say thanks, you've really shown what animals humans become when they get behind the wheel of a car. And I hope that all the parking lots are closed and that cars are banned from the campus, then maybe some people will grow up.
Leo W. Flanagan Chicago senior
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NEWS DEPARTMENT
Arnison McCoy ... Managing Editor
Larry Hell, John McMillion, Harry Eliot, Jane Pecnowsky, Assistant Manager
City Editor, Joe George, City Editor
City Editor, David Webb, Telegraph Editor;
Daryl Hall, Assistant Telegraph Editor;
Ann Kelly, Society Editor; Fleecia Fenberg, Assistant Society Editor; Kent Williams, Assistant Society Editor; Bob Eyle, Assistant Sports Editor; John Stephens, Picture Editor.
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
Sam Jenkins - Editorial Editor
Dick Walt, Associate Editor
Editor:
We recently called the Jayhawker office for the purpose of obtaining information concerning the correct procedure for having one's picture put in the graduating issue of the magazine. We were told by a member of the staff that we would have to have our pictures taken by the Estes Studio. When we asked if we could have our pictures taken by some other studio, we were told that the "Jayhawker" has an exclusive contract with Estes and hence no other studio's picture may be used.
If we have understood the situation correctly, we feel that this is unfair, because it is a situation wherein not only are competing studios eliminated completely, but where a hardship is rendered on the student who may be able to obtain portrait results equal to that of Estes Studio for equal or less money. Since then we have discussed this situation with several students, and we would like the officers of the "Jayhawker" to explain in the Daily Kansan columns why this particular business rangement exists.
Lola H. Harris
Lawrence senior
Nasrollah Vagar
Lola H. Harris
Graduate Student from Iran (Editor's Note; Hank Wittenberg, editor of the Jayhawker, was contacted on the matter of senior pictures. He indicated the following to be the essence of the contract with the photographer: (1) John Estes takes four full page ads in the Jayhawker each year, which brings about $400 in revenue to the magazine; (2) All group pictures, meaning the fraternity, sorority, dormitory and professional fraternity pictures, are given free to the Jayhawker; (3) Regarding the senior pictures specifically, the Jayhawker receives a portion of the cost paid by the student to the photographer for the pictures; (4) By having one photographer take all the senior pictures, the Jayhawker is assured of having all photographs with the same background, the same quality and the same contrast, eliminating a "checkerboard" makeup. Wittterberg expressed confidence in Mr. Estes's work, and added that with one photographer doing all the work, the editors of the Jayhawker are able to cut production time and costs, for a better magazine.)