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University Daily Kansan Monday. March 22.1954
Controversy Explodes Over Speeding Fines University Students Don't Receive Unfair Treatment Who Knows? LETTERS From a business junior: From a college junior:
Charges by a University student in a letter to the editor printed in last Tuesday's Kansan have touched off a controversy about the enforcement of city traffic regulations, and it appears the student may have lacked caution in both writing and driving.
The student, Hanlan Parkinson, business junior, said Lawrence police have found a "gold mine" in University students. He said he could understand how the city could afford a new police station, and he thought student drivers were not receiving the same treatment as Lawrence drivers.
Parkinson was basing his opinion on proceedings in Lawrence police court March 12, when he was one of several University drivers fined for speeding.
Actually Parkinson was one of nine who were fined for traffic violations that day. One was a local man, one was a student at Washburn university, one was a KU student charged with reckless driving and an illegal left turn, and five others were KU students caught in speed traps set by the campus police.
Both Jack C. Maxwell, city police judge, and Joe Skillman, chief of the campus police, had answers for the charges by Parkinson. "I would make the flat statement that in all cases in the city court students have been dealt with fairly," Chief Skillman said.
Judge Maxwell said the same system applied to both students and townspeople. Speeders are fined $2 a mile for speeds greater than 15 miles per hour in excess of the posted limit, but the fine is $1 per mile up to the first 15 miles per hour over the limit. Drivers are given the benefit of doubt for 5 miles an hour over the limit, Judge Maxwell said.
Of the five students caught in speed traps, three were fined $13, one $30, and one $32 for a total of $101.
Since the beginning of the semester, campus police have been conducting a campaign against speeders, setting up speed traps on the campus to catch drivers who are exceeding the campus speed limit of 20 miles per hour.
Such violations, incidentally, as speeding, reckless driving, or running stop signs on campus streets are considered city violations to be handled by the Lawrence police court. Campus tickets are given only for violations of particular University regulations, such as parking in restricted zones or over-parking in 30-minute time zones.
It may be that Parkinson happened to be present in police court on a day when an unusually large number of University students were fined. Several weeks ago on an assignment for a class, we were present in this same police court. On that particular day only one University student was fined—for driving the wrong way on a one-way street—while several Lawrence persons were fined for various reasons. Quite different generalizations could be made from that session of police court.
We somehow doubt that University students are being discriminated against by either Lawrence police or the police court. The statements made by Chief Skillman and Judge Maxwell should be sufficient answer to the charges by Parkinson.
—Sam Teaford
That student whose car rolled 150 feet down the "Hill" while he was studying in the Journalism building needs to be more careful. He might have been given a ticket for exceeding the campus speed limit of 20 miles per hour.
It has been stated, at least by our enemies, that "snob hill" is an appropriate term to describe the University.
That designation doesn't fit at all, says J. Irvington Moray, social scientist and author of a book, "Snobbery Made Easy." Mr. Moray has been studying social habits at KU in preparation for his latest book, "It's Fun to Have Your Nose in the Air."
Mr. Moray, believing that anyone can become a snob if he tries, has outlined several behavior patterns which he says are necessary to adequately being arrogant.
Actually only a few KU students are snobs, Mr. Moray claims, and he says even they are poor examples. "But most KU students are downright friendly," Mr. Moray said contemptously.
Turning first to introductions as an example, Mr. Moray said most persons usually say, "So nice to meet you." A true snob would say "I'm most Hello." How can he say it wice when this fellow where he doesn't know, or hardly care, whether it was or not?
If the other fellow tells him the same thing—"So nice to meet you"—the socially correct snob might reply, "Yes, wasn't it!" It may sound insolent, but Mr. Moray says this is the price of being haughty.
Preferences in music offer an other good chance to be snobbish, Mr. Moray believes. "Let's say someone mentions the music of Stan Kenton as outstanding among his popular contemporaries," he said.
"Many persons like Mr. Kenton's music, and the beginning snob is eager to concede he has a fine orchestra. But to be really pompous," Mr. Moray said, "a snob would indicate a liking for a musical group such as Blackie Jackson's Packrats, who might be playing in some dark cellar in St. Louis unknown to any but the elite."
Following current customs in dress are taboo with the better snobs, in Mr. Moray's opinion. "Such commonplace items as Italian hair-cuts or suede jackets are out," he said.
As for Stan Kenton, Mr. Moray indicated the true snob would consider his music rather boorish and uncultured. "Rejecting anything that is approved by the masses is part of the creed," he said.
The ultimate in being snobbish about grades, the social scientist said, is reached by those who make average or below average grades and then brag about it. The true snob realizes that a C or D in a course by no means reflect on his unquestionably superior intelligence he explained.
Grades allow students to show off their hauteur. Mr. Moray said, "Generally one looks up to those who make high grades," he said, "Therefore, one may easily have pride if he makes the honor roll, but a snob would indicate he made the honor roll with only the slightest effort on his part."
I asked how anyone could make friends, following such procedure.
Daily Hansan
"That's a problem," Mr. Moray admitted.
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I was glad to see the campus police and a local judge take issue with Harlan Parkinson's letter which protested the excessive fines slapped on KU students. However, the points of these so-called "fair-minded" individuals appear rather inconsistent and void of facts. One might point out that their arguments reflect some of the thick-headed actions taken by these men up to this date.
Parkinson's protest brings to light several other problems which have always intrigued me: 1) Just what is the relationship between the campus police and the Lawrence city police? 2) What commission do the hill flatfoots receive out of these tremendous fines?
3) What authority, if any, do the campus cops have in setting up hidden speed traps in the middle of the campus at 10:30 p.m. to catch these vicious criminals? 4) From what source of funds does the salary of the campus police come? 5) To my knowledge I have never seen nor heard of any speed trap so slyly conducted by the Lawrence police. 6) And what of the unusually steep fines skipped on us?
Furthermore, I suggest that our chief campus cop get his facts straight before making legitimate complaints sound like a novel of falsifications. He stated that Parkinson was ridiculously in error when he said the total fines amounted to $133—according to Mr. Skillman it should have been $101. I suggest to Mr. Skillman that he check up again because Parkinson was wrong! The fines amounted to a grand total of $160.
And what of the student who was fined $25 for making an illegal left turn? I'm sure this condition was slightly exaggerated, since the offense occurred at 2:30 a.m.
Yes, Mr. Skillman and Lawrence cops, the facts should be brought to light—only in a different manner! We students are determined to make the real facts known and expose unjust practices which have been raking in exorbitant financial rewards. —Larry Greiner
Skillman Explains Status of KU Police
Editor's note: To answer the questions raised in the letter to the editor by Larry Greiner, business junior, the Kansan contacted Joe Skillman, chief of the campus police.
Answering the question about what the campus police receive out of the fines, Mr. Skillman said "Nothing whatever." He made it clear all fines go to the city of Lawrence.
In reply to the first question—the one about the relationship between city police and campus police—Mr. Skillman said campus policemen have commissions from Lawrence and also deputy sheriff's commissions from Douglas county, since not all of the University is within the city limits.
As for speed traps at 10:30 p.m.
Mr. Skillman said there weren't
any at that time of the night,
but he explained the campus is
patrolled on a 24-hour schedule.
Campus policemen have a civil service status and are hired and paid by the University, Mr. Skillman said.
In the Kansas of March 16 there appeared a letter from Harlan Parkinson complaining about fines levied upon students for speeding in Lawrence.
I might suggest that the only approved way to avoid punishment is to obey the very understandable laws of Lawrence. Having seen a great deal of reckless driving on the part of students passing through residential areas, I don't wonder that the citizens would demand that steps be taken to correct this situation.
In answer to the lest question. Jack Maxwell, city police judge, stated last week that the city has a system for fines which it has been using for years, basing the amount of the fine on the speed of the car.
Speed traps also are arranged and used quite commonly by Lawrence police, Mr. Skillman said.
Greiner also questions the total amount University students were fined the day Parkinson was in court. According to the figures listed by the police court docket, seven students paid a total of $156 in fines that day.
A fine of $34 is small compared to the life of a child, or even a family pet. If a man breaks a law that is intended to protect other people, he has no cause to complain about paying for it. I happen to know of a Lawrence citizen who was fined an equal amount for the same offense, so to refute Parkinson's "sour grapes," I would point out that Lawrence citizens get no special consideration.
Complaints of the nature of Parkinson's letter seem to be all too common at KU. Having lived in various towns in which were located colleges or military installations or both, I speak with a little experience when I say that the attitude of the people of Lawrence toward the students is remarkable.
Remember, they don't have to be nice just to get our business—we'd have to buy from them in any case. But the local citizens have been willing to overlook a lot of things that they might rightly complain of, and they have always been very hospitable to the people attending school here.
If they happen to be concerned with keeping their streets safe, then I think that they would be perfectly justified in fining student speeders. They do the same to Lawrence citizens caught speeding.
Let's stop throwing underserved complaints at Lawrence, and start appreciating the loyalty and friendliness its citizens show to KU.
Terry N. Fiske
Uncle Joe McCarthy has done it again.
One Man's Opinion
And this time his reckless accusations are centered on one of the best radio commentators on the air - Edward R. Murrow.
On a Thursday night question and answer program with Fulton Lewis Jr., McCarthy accused Murrow of having been connected with a Moscow school described as revolutionary.
Quoting from a copy of the Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph for Feb. 18, 1935, McCarthy read a listing of Edward R. Murrow, assistant director, Institute of International Education, as a member of the National Advisory council of the Moscow university summer session.
He quoted the newspaper as saying Moscow university taught "the violent overthrow of the entire traditional social order."
Issuing a statement, Mr. Murrow said that he had been assistant director of the Institute of International Education, which he described as an organization arranging inter-country exchange of students and professors, and in that capacity was a member of an advisory committee for a summer school in Moscow. But he said the school was called off by the Russians before it began, and all that took place was a tour of Russia, in which he did not participate.
Murrow described the broadcast statements as "McCarthy's latest reckless handling of the truth."
How right you are, Mr. Murray.
McCarthy's diatribe is nothing more than the latest effort to keep his name in the headlines—which it did. Everything that Senator Joe does makes the headlines now.
Reprinted from the Campus
-reprinted from the Campus
Chat, North Texas State