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University Daily Kansan
Friday, Nov. 18, 1955.
KU Political Parties Have Had Varied History Since 1943
They said there was political unrest in the Balkans. That was before politics got started at KU on April Fool's Day, 1943. Since then, campus politics have been anything but normal.
In the early years, it was more a matter of independents against the Greeks. Today the question is which Greek party is the strongest.
Before then the rovering bodies were the Women's Student Governing Association and the Men's Student Council. The first head of the new governing body was a coed. This was due to the fact that the war had drained most of the male population from the campus, and an emergency measure was passed to allow a woman from the major campus party to take control "for the duration of the war."
Before 1943 the student body was divided, but it was a battle of the sexes. However, in the spring of 1943 the two groups voted to unite into the present All Student Council.
There was little for the ASC to do during the war years. Uncle Sam kept the men busy in their spare time and the students, mostly women, were also too concerned with the war to become interested in student government.
Little To Do
After V-J Day, interest began to pick up. Pachacamac dominated politics and managed to crush two opposing parties in a span of four years. Government was controlled by the fraternities. Soon, however, a few non-Greeks began to organize. Unfortunately, the first independent
parties met the same fate they do today—a short life.
Independent Parties Struggle
Independent Parties Struggle Non-Greek parties find it hard to gain and keep support. Many independent students don't bother with politics, figuring the fraternities and sororites will win anyway. Also the Greeks are partly organized to start with and this makes the going easier. Independent leaders find it hard to get across the idea that they are trying to help the non-Greek population.
The PSGL, Progressive Student Government League, managed to maintain opposition to the Greeks for several years before shouting "uncle" in 1947. At that time the party tried to reorganize, but in December of the same year all efforts were abandoned.
Another non-Greek party, Independent Men's party, threw in the towel in 1949 after unsuccessfully battling the Greeks.
Pattern Still Holds
This same pattern has been evident all through KU's history, Greeks traditionally dominate KU politics. Independent groups are formed periodically, but soon die from lack of good organization and continued support.
Although Greeks dominate student government, they must always be aware of internal disruption. There is never a dull moment. One faction decides it is being slighted and breaks away to form a new group.
The latest break came two years ago when Pachacamac split, dividing into AGI, Allied Greeks and Independents, and POGO, Party of Greek Organizations.
KDGU
"The Voice of Mount Oread"
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This will be the last broadcast until Nov.28
Welcome Home Alums!
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DRAKE'S
Last year POGO won the election, but AGI got the ASC to hold another election on the grounds that the first one was run illegally. AGI won the reelection. Common belief was that it was a case of who stuffed the ballot box the most.
AGI combines Greek and independent students. Thus they have been more successful in the past elections. However, some discontent has been shown by the independents because they feel the Greeks are running the party and not allowing them equal rights.
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Coeds, Military History Mix In ROTC Etiquette Course
Teaching KU coeds to be good military wives in a pleasant and entertaining manner is the object of the ROTC "etiquette" course, now being offered by the department of military science.
The class meets at 8 p.m. Tuesdays in the Kansas Room of the Student Union.
The course has been requested by AWS for more than two years. With so many young men serving in the armed forces, the AWS believes that many young women also find themselves closely associated with the armed services.
General orientation, background, and history of the services were
discussed at the first lecture, Col. Thomas B. Summers, professor of air science, explained the purpose of the course, outlined the lecture program, discussed rank identification and pay scales, and answered questions by the 50 coeds present.
Future lessons will cover overseas duty, air base facilities, traditions, changes of station and moving procedure, retirement pay, death benefits, pensions, social life, and jobs available to service wives both in the states and overseas.
Field trips to Forbes Air Base in Topeka and the Civil Air Defense Base at Grandview, Mo., will complete the course.
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RISK'S Out at 12
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