Real Live Howdy Doodies
TV Probes Amusing, Unfair
Page 2 University Daily Kansan Friday. September 18, 1952
Televising of Congressional investigating committees in action may never increase their doubtful effectiveness, but it will bring something new in low comedy to viewers tired of TV's stale comedians.
The telecasting of this summer's Kansas City inquiry into labor disputes is a case in point. It was a farce throughout, but it was watched and applauded by what must have been the largest audience ever to sit in on a program coming from WDAF-TV.
What they saw was a half-baked burlesque that wandered and turned without meaning. The main performers were a group of labor union executives (clearly labeled "bad guys") and their opponents in the melodrama, a crew of sharpshooters from the Congress of the United States and some people who wanted the union men brought to justice.
The most astonishing thing about such an investigation is the way in which the investigators are free from the rules which confine those being investigated. It was apparent that, though testimony was given under oath by all witnesses, the investigators had figured out ahead of time whose stories were true and whose were false. This doesn't seem quite cricket. The usual procedure was for the investigators to nod sympathetically and encourage witnesses who were complaining against the conduct of the unions. When the union men came to bat, though, things changed. They were badgered, contradicted, accused by the investigators, and occasionally called liars.
If it is agreed that the function of an investigating committee is to listen to testimony in an objective manner, then the congressmen in the Kansas City investigation were guilty of despicable misconduct
and trespassing on the rights of American Citizens. The faulty point in the technique of the investigators was that they were too eager to mix a little judging in with their investigating. No person who has taken an oath, and accordingly faces prosecution under the laws of perjury if he gives false testimony, should allow an investigator, be he congressman or what have you, to call him a liar.
and trespassing on the rights of American citizens
Besides the shabby treatment of witnesses, there were other aspects of the hearing which kept it at an undignified level. On occasion, there was a flare-up between committee members because of their particular political affiliations. One member wailed because he thought that he, as "the minority member of this committee," wasn't being told everything the other members were told.
Then, too, there was an undercurrent of cheap political campaigning. The various members competed with each other to face the camera and spout dramatic phrases. It often was obvious that the line of questioning being pursued by an investigator was calculated to bring a big laugh from the hundreds in the courtroom and—more important—the millions watching the telecast. Few opportunities were overlooked by the congressmen. Though they may botch up the job as investigators, they are without equal as crowd pleasers.
Right now, some of the figures who appeared at the investigation are being brought into court. It is almost certain that while there they will be treated properly, because the prestige and traditional dignity of the American courts have been too dearly bought to be swapped for anything so cheap as the opportunity to appear on television's most amateur amateur hour.
Tom Stewart
O East Is East, And West Is West, But—A Man's A Man For A' That
The following article was written by D. Deane, an Evanston chang student in business from England).
It was October 1950. Like all freshmen, I went up to Cambridge University a weekend before the other collegiate arrived. In Cambridge there is no orientation week. Thus my arrival for orientation on Mt. Oread has afforded me a new and single experience—single in that I have never been orientated before and expect never to be orientated officially again.
(To begin with, I offer a bare statistic—men in the University of Cambridge outnumber the women students by 10 to 1. A KU freshman
The experience has led me to inquire why the induction into the life of the two universities should be so different. Odious as comparison may be, I am prepared to withstand its boomeramic effects.
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Mail Subscription rates: $3 a semester or $4.50 a year (add $1 a semester if in summer) for every afternoon during the University year except Saturdays and Sundays. University courses are Enrolled second class, master Serie 17, 1910. at Lawrence, Kan., Post Office
at Lawrence. Kahl, Post Ohn under act of March 3, 1879.
At KU orientation seems to me to hold three main purposes: 1. To acquaint the new student with the buildings, atmosphere, routine and traditions of the university. 2. To give him the opportunity to meet his professor, administrators and other new students—including men—before the beginning of classes. 3. To put him through placement tests, medical tests and registration and to arrange his course of studies.
might immediately say, "No girls. Of course there is no need for orientation," and then praise the name of Cecil Rhodes that he had sufficient good sense to send American scholar to Oxford.)
For this a freshman arrives one week before the beginning of the semester. At Cambridge a new student arrives two days before the beginning of term and then solely in order to ease the administrative load of senior members of the college staff before the rest of the students arrive. Nevertheless the purposes of orientation have to be carried through just as effectively at Cambridge as at KU, and I intend to show how this is effected by a different method and approach.
1. The English student offers shyness and disfavor towards a tour of the University buildings. He prefers to make his acquaintance over a period of time. Perhaps the basis of the different approach lies in the fact that Cambridge encompasses the whole city, whereas KU is confine to a campus. At Cambridge an in
At last it can be revealed! Chancellor Murphy in his convocation speech yesterday very casually mentioned the "6,800 odd students" enrolled at KU.
production to the atmosphere and traditions of the College and University is afforded in a different way.
COMMENTS
One of our friends says he now agrees with P.T. ("there's a sucker born every minute") Barnum, after reading that Sen. McCarthy has captured the heart and hand of a former beauty queen.
***
Perhaps there should be an investigation of Sen. McCarthy. He seems to have been caught red-handed by the charming young lady
The English exchange student on the campus feels right at home already after hearing several students say they were going to a class in the Old Bailey.
First, the student is encouraged to find out everything for himself and second, he is assisted in distinguishing himself as an undergraduate immediately after he arrives at the university. He will have to buy and wear during certain hours of each day his academic gown and will wear his college colours in his scarf, tie and sporting clothes. By this, he will feel himself as much a part of his college and university as a new pledge man feels himself a part of his fraternity when he undergoes the initiation ceremony and wears his fraternity pin.
2. The Cambridge student accepts the difference in status between his teacher and himself and would be embarrassed by too speedy an acquaintance or too hearty a handshake. The student perhaps is too suspicious of his teacher—after all, no heartless examiner can be above motion when he offers early and easy friendship—and thus avoids an acquaintance which is slow and most respectful. In fact, he will not meet the president of his college until a tea party is arranged after half term.
Again, in respect to his fellow students, befriending is a slow process. An English student would resent orientation in order to speed it up. He prefers to find his set slowly or his shoes, as a Yale man might say—find the man who wears the same regimental tie or blazer buttons, belongs to the same London club or sports a recognized public school's tie.
3. The University of Cambridge uses a different registration system. The University is broken down to 19 men's and two women's colleges and each college has its separate administration. Thus registration and administration are decentralized and sufficient time is found in the two days before term starts and during the term itself to attend to the freshman's needs outside an orientation week. I should add further that the selection of courses is not so problematical since the fields of study are not so numerous and the choice in each course is much narrower.
In conclusion I must assert that my article offers contrast and not criticism. In different circumstances, different methods have to be used. Orientation is essential to the present KU system and so long as it remains the same, "Floreat orientation!"
At least one new student was thoroughly confused by enrollment, even with the new speed-up system adopted for use this year. Bret Waller, fine arts freshman, drew the above cartoon Monday while waiting in one of the long enrollment lines at the Union.
Trinity Lutheran Church 13th and New Hampshire R. W. ALBERT, Pastor
Sunday Service 9:30 a.m.
Student Bible Class 10:00 a.m.
Lutheran Student Assy. ---- 5:30 p.m.
17th & Vermont
Immanual Lutheran Church
(Missouri Synod)
Sunday School
Bible Hour ------------ 9:45
Sunday Worship -- 10:00
Student
Supper Meeting ---- 5:30
(Gamma Delta)
EVERYONE WELCOME
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