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University Daily Kansan
Friday. Dec. 18, 1953
Don't Let This Happen
Christmas Epic— Part 1-Happy Day
A wonderful time with the folks, the family, the Christmas tree, the gifts—what a change from examinations and term papers. Nothing to worry about except how to pass those finals next month, but it even becomes easy to forget them, if you try.
Fifteen days at home. Or $15\frac{1}{2}$ or 16 if you're lucky, depending on how far away you live.
Sometimes it makes you think this vacation business is all right. So there you are, two or three days from now, back in the old home town. Naturally everyone crowds around you, plying you with questions.
"How is it down there at KU?" or "What do you think about the football coach being fired?" or "How does the basketball team look this year?" they ask.
And you tell them what you think, giving the facts without bias and just as you saw them happen. As you talk, their admiring glances tell you they're thinking, "Gosh, it must be great to be a KU man." It's at this time when you realize how good life really is.
Then you're at home, and it's Christmas afternoon. Christmas eve is over, Christmas dinner is over, the presents have been distributed, vacation still has nearly nine days to go, and there's absolutely nothing to do but take it easy.
This Christmas vacation is the most, to say the least!
Take it Easy
It's Santa time once more! The test-weary student throws his studies to the winds, after, of course, the finishing touches have been made to the report that was due a week ago. There is a last minute throwing apparel into ye olde suitcase and the recruiting of people to help you close it.
Then there are the 'I'm-goining-to-miss-you, but-I-can't-wait-to-get-home' goodbyes which seem to take literally ages, but finally they are over and you lug your suitcases down to the first floor of your abode and wait for your ride.
Yes, that is a typical day before holiday for most of us. But in the midst of all that helter-skelter tearing around, I wonder how many of us try to find a little time to think of the trite and much-talked about, but so often forgotten word, 'safety'.
The ride arrives and you're off— off to a happy holiday of rest and above all, home cookin'!
There are many slogans of safety directed to the driver such as 'don't pass on curves' and 25 miles per hour of highway and 40 miles per hour on the road.
Take heed to these signs for, after all, what better time is there than Christmas to be grateful for the 1953 accident that didn't happen to you, your friends, or loved ones?
Accidents and carelessness are 'birds of a feather that flock together', so be alert—stay alive to enjoy the turkey, dressing, cranberries, and pumpkin pie, and the free-from-test time.
Unlike the few hours before you leave—take it slow. Don't let an accident happen to you! MERRY CHRISTMAS.
Karen Hilmer
University of Kansas student Newspaper News Room KU 251 Ad Room KU 378
Member of the Kansas Press Assn., National Editorial Assn., Inland Daily Press Association, and National Advertising Represented by the National Advertising Service, 420 Madison Avenue, N.Y. City. Mail Subscriptions rates: $3 a semester or less (as offered at Lawrence, Lawrence). Published in Lawrence, Kan., every afternoon during the University year except Saturdays and Sundays. University staff members may enter second class matter Sept. 17, 1910, at Lawrence, Kan., Post Office Office
EDITORIAL STAFF
Editorial Editor ... Clarke Keys
Assistants ... Jenkins
Chuck Mornock
Christmas Epic---- Part 2-Tragic Day
That's what could be the result of this Christmas season for KU students of 1953. A bright life, filled only with minor worries of school days, shattered in a split second of carelessness.
Many, many days at home, in the hospital-or worse.
The fact that it mars the record is unimportant. The fact that it mars a life is all important.
YOU can no longer say, "too bad," and turn to another page. For YOU are the news in this accident. YOU are the victim lying on the pavement. Or YOU are the driver, looking at some other crumpled form. It is YOU who will not be back to school in January. It is YOU whose friend is no more.
That party with the old gang was sure a lot of fun. Somehow it's just a little different back home. But speed is the same. And somehow it seems when you hit 85 you're going to hit something else, too. The weather may be bad, but there's so much to do and so little time to do it in. Who would have guessed that there would be a car coming over that hill.
Yes, the time of reading about others is over. This accident is hitting close to home. It isn't necessary. That's been proved in the past.
Ask yourself why these things happen. Do a little thinking.
Don't ignore the problem, for the price is too great.
Please have a Merry Christmas!