University Daily Kansan Monday. Oct. 31. 1955.
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS by Dick Bibler
Modern Age Goes Sour At Stadium
The modern age of speed, electronics, atoms and power-infested automobiles is great. But sometimes we yearm for the days of tranquility, wood fires, coonskin caps and horse-drawn carriages.
We will readily admit the cheerleaders did a fine job—Rock Chalk, "one play all the way, block that kick, and push 'em back."
Such a yearning for the old days was brought sharply into focus during the Kansas-SMU football game.
You have to give that P.A. system some credit, though. It got the spectators to yell. You could hear the shouting throughout our section: "Get that mike away from here, shut up, and maybe I can hit that thing with a section of the bleachers."
But a great many student spectators would have given a carload of stale popcorn and watered Coca-Cola to find a way to silence forever the cheerleaders' public address system—not to mention a bell lifted from "old 197" and several pounds of gunpowder.
Most of the students in our section of the stadium—directly in front of the loudspeakers—could stand the bell and fireworks. They sounded off only when touchdowns were scored. But the incessant yelling in that infernal microphone wore the nerves to the breaking point.
Although we couldn't always hear the organized yells during the game, we certainly could hear one cheerleader's loud criticism of our yelling prowess. What that cheerleader didn't know was that we could not get our minds off that grating noise long enough to join in.
We feel sure this situation can be remedied in time for the next home game.
If we can't get rid of the microphone, maybe we can sell ear muffs along with the programs and eye shades.
—Ted Blankenship
Archie's Cousin Huron Disagrees With Mass
Argued late into the night with Cousin Huron. He says now that Governor Hall has given "Picnic" his stamp of approval (ex officio et ex hypotesis) everybody'll probably hop on the Cadillac—but not him.
"Do you mean the actors were no good?"
"What could they do with a play like that?" he asked reasonably. "The whole thing was a collection of clichés-plus a plug for Carson McCullers.
"People just don't act that way," Cousin Huron said. "And if they do, they shouldn't, at least not in a play."
"But the actors did good."
"Yes, it was a respectable college production, with honors going to' Howard and Rosemary. The other two school teachers were also excellently cast."
"What's your gripe, then?"
"Besides actors and a good set, there has to be a play. What was this play about?"
"Are you going to tell me the plot?"
"Well,—it was about—it was a slice of life."
"Well, there was this family in a little town in Kansas . . . "
"But didn't it get meaning from those voices at the end: "Where you go! Madge?"
"Was that what the play was about? You can't give a play meaning with a tape-recording off stage. That's carrying a false deus ex machina idea too far."
"Whose life? Real life? Who's kidding whom? Was that fellow Hal believable? Even those girls, Madge and Millie, were made to sound as if they were trying to parody themselves playing roles. The first night audience itself had so lost the illusion of reality that in the poignant (and embarrassing) scene between Rosemary and Howard it laughed loud and long."
"So it wasn't a slice of life?"
"It was a bit of everything—and nothing, part real-life, part caricature, part plain grotesque, like those three high school boys."
"But you've got to admit it was good theatre."
"Oh, yes, it was 'good theatre', all right. Won the Pulitzer Prize, you know."
—Archibald Dome
'HEY FELLAS! COME SEE WORTHAL'S NEW PIN-UP.'
... Letters ..
Editor:
May I congratulate the pep clubs, the cheer leaders and the student body on the excellent cheering at the SMU game. The cheering has been ragged and uninspired. At the Southern Methodist game it was exciting to watch and hear.
I have felt that as KU has grown larger, has battled through the struggle of the war years, and has begun to get back on an even keel, somewhere a great deal of her school spirit has been lost; but I was encouraged at the SMU game. The spirit is there. Let's hear it again. Let those boys on the field know you're proud of them. They are doing a fine job. Let them know it every time.
Those who attended the game last Saturday were fortunate indeed. They heard ALMOST ALL of the Rock Chalk! Our Rock Chalk has been carried all over the world, and with it the name of KU. We have coming back to the games for the last several years, ever hopeful that once again that wonderful old yell would ring out over the hills. But, no! We have only been able to hear fragments of it, picked out from the yells from thousands of throats as the ball is kicked off. CAN'T THE STUDENT BODY BE TOLD TO WAIT UNTIL THE ROCK CHALK IS FINISHED? Surely the yelling can be more inspiring than the Rock Chalk.
Down through the years another tradition has been lost, too. When I was a student we never left our seats at the end of a game until we had given the Rock Chalk. And, believe me, it's a memory never to be forgotten. Can't that old custom be brought back again? Put that fine school spirit behind the Rock Chalk. It certainly wouldn't be hard to do, and would offer the most thrilling reward! Try it and see!
Loyally. Nadine Long Moore '29
He Should Have Tried It ROCHESTER, N. Y., —(U.P.)—A police officer arrested a man a few blocks from the Treadway Inn when he became suspicious of a bulky object the individual was attempting to hide under his coat. It turned out to be a gallon jar of strawberry preserves. The brand name on the jam jar was "Old Honesty."
He Should Have Tried It
Loyally.
BOSTON—(U.P.)—The Massachusetts state police fleet of cruisers is to be equipped with airplane type seat belts for greater safety.
Safely Seated
Norway has been awarded a $127,000 off-shore contract to produce 60 and 81 mm mortar shells for NATO.
Devout Rooster Crows About It
NORMAN, Okla. —(ACP)— A chuckle from the Oklahoma Daily's "Meekly Speaking" column:
A farmer invited the pastor of his church to his home for Sunday dinner. The farmer's wife had fried two chickens for the meal so she set them at the table and they all sat down to eat. Before the farmer and his wife finished helping themselves to the vegetables on the table, the pastor had completely devoured both chickens. Just as the minister pushed his plate aside a rooster crowded loudly in the farmyard.
"That rooster sure sounds like he's proud of himself," observed the pastor.
"Well, he dern sure should be," quipped the farmer. "After all, he has two sons in the ministry!"
It's Getting Crowded
LOS ANGELES — (U.P.) Dr. Howard J. Nelson, University of California geographer, reports that 90 million Americans now live on 1 per cent of the nation's total land area. This has resulted in urban land values being raised to a point where they are worth more than all the non-urban land put together.
And All Noisy. Too
BOSTON — (U,P) — A survey disclosed that there are 7,500 drum corps in the United States and Canada.
Cash farm income during the first five months of 1955 fell three per cent below a year ago for the country as a whole.
UNIVERSITY
Daily Hansan
University of Kansas Student Newspaper News Room, KU 251, Ad Room, KU 376 Member of the Inland Daily Press association. Associated College Press association. Advertising service. Advertising service. 420 Madison Ave. N.Y. Mail subscription rates: $3 a semester or year. Postal mailing and semester if in Lawrence! Published in Kans., every afternoon during the University year except Saturdays and Sundays. Announcements and examination periods. Entered for publication matter. Sept. 17, 1910, at Lawrence, Kan., post office under act of March 3, 1879.
DEPT. OF SPORTS
John Herrington  Manager, Managing Editor
Madelyn Brite, Gretchen, Iumene C. Six, Lee Ann Urban, Assistant Managing Editors, Louis Hall, City Editor; Bob Walt, Administrator; K. Walpole, Telegraph Editor; Marion McCoy, Society Editor; Jane Peelnovsky, Assistant Society Editor; John Moss, Society Editor; Sam L. Jones, Assistant Sports Editor.
NEWS DEPARTMENT
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
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Ted Blankenship Associate Editor
BUSINESS DEPARTMENT
PRESS DEPT.
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Manager; Jack Fisher; Circulation
Manager.
Lilac Lane Steps Risky In Winter
At the fall of the leaf comes the fall of the year. The dark clouds gather, the biting wind blows over the Hill, and before we know it winter is here.
There probably isn't a prettier place in the world than the KU campus when the snow begins to fall, but we're wondering if this year's snow will bring with it a sight not quite so lovely—the usual slipping, sliding, falling procession down the steps north of Watkins Hall.
The noon whistle brings a throng of students headed homeward for lunch, only to find mass congestion. A slow tedious line holds the one side railing for dear life.
Trying to descend these steps after a recent snowfall is like walking down a sheet of solid ice. During the winter these steps are far from adequate for the number of students that must use them every day.
The noon trip homeward still might not be so bad if the steps were cleaned daily. The fact remains that last year the snow was packed harder and harder, day by day. Many students walked blocks out of their way to avoid a bad fall and a congested stairway.
We're all looking forward to winter, but we're not looking forward to the prospect of breaking our necks because the only steps leading down the Hill from Lilac Lane will be covered with a sheet of ice.
If new steps can't be built to stop the congestion and danger, surely the snow and ice can be removed from the old ones.
Marion McCoy
U.S. Should Back Algeria, Saar
Following up the recent United Nations walkout by the French delegation, the results of the Saar election put a tremendous strain on Franco-American relations.
Although the State Department has refused comment on the situation, the twin jolts to French political prestige caused great concern in Washington.
We believe the time has come for the United States to ask itself the question: Should we continue our full-fledged political support of France?
Though still recognized diplomatically as one of the West's Big Three, France is probably the weakest link in the NATO and Western European Union chains.
Economically, the country is virtually dependent upon the U.S. for its existence. In 1954 $276 million in new grants were given to bolster the French economy. This figure represents more than the entire amount given to the Near East and Africa.
In return for this financial aid the United States receives one major concession—the right to build military bases in France and Morocco.
France has come to the colonial crossroads once again. In Algeria, full independence is now desired, and in the Saar, unity with the German fatherland is wanted.
Militaristically, the country is but a shadow. Rebel forces defeated it in Indochina and have made it look inept in Morocco and Algeria.
Should the U.S. back France or should it go along with the peoples of Algeria and the Saar? We believe it should follow the latter course.
Colonialism is dead. It's time that some of the European nations realized this. In attempting to hold their outlying possessions, they've allowed their inner selves to decay.
Also, West Germany is in far better position to be of real aid to the cause of the West than is France. Friendship for old times' sake has no place in the fast-moving international politics of today.
Our stand should be made clear to the French as soon as possible. Either they should act in the spirit of the West or be relegated to a subordination's role.
—Leo Flanagan