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University Daily Kansan Monday, Sept. 14, 1953
Short Summer— 'That Time' Again!
September—school starts, suntans wane and spirits climb as Jay-hawkers again swing into the grinding, routine, nine-month pull leading to an eventual precious scrap of sheepskin.
Uprisings in Iran, earthquakes in Greece, an economic tie-up in France, the cease-fire in Korea, the new Kinsey report on women all important events-have made little difference in the average student's life.
Probably the thing which has upset him most has been the reduction in the University's ROTC quota for 1953-54. Uncle Sam breathes hard down his neck as he struggles to get enrolled and requests another year's deferment.
The campus hasn't changed much. Bigger enrollment, more cars driving around possibly, a few bushes and trees transplanted by the Building and Grounds men, some of the dormitories and Greek houses redecorated a little, perhaps a few new faces among the faculty—but it's still the same old mill.
Med school curriculum has been changed into one integrated course. New crop of freshmen looks as green as last year's and the year before's. Understand we'll be able to find reserve books by ourselves now at the library. Campanile's still standing; doesn't look like it's leaning yet. And regardless of the disastrous Kansas drought, there's still a little water left in Potter lake.
Nope. Nothing seems changed. Probably be another average year for the KU student—a little study, a little fun, more or less Could be a great year if we could all get inspired at once. If the heat isn't too bad for too long, maybe we can. Anyway, here's hoping. —Mary Betz
Enrollment is a little different-general speed-up. Football team isn't too promising yet. Fieldhouse construction will begin again soon. Some changes in the administrative officials of the University have been made. Probably a few more Saturday classes now.
Kansas Still Saddled With MovieBlue-Noses
Residents of this progressive state were reminded this summer they still had a state movie censorship board when a brief announcement issued from an office in Kansas City, Kan., informed them that Otto Preminger's production of "The Moon is Blue" was considered too indecent for their delicate sensibilities.
The film—a rather inconsequential but neat little comedy—was unconditionally barred from the portals of the Sunflower State. Maryland and Kansas City, Mo., followed suit a few weeks later, but morals elsewhere across the country are being "debased" as "The Moon is Blue" wends its "lewd" way.
Censor, Spare That Film-
The board's report for the month of June states the ungrammatical why-fors: "Disapproved because of sex theme throughout. Too frank bedroom dialogue and many sexy words both in dialogue and action. Has sex as it's (sic) entire theme."
We were privileged to see the movie in Minnesota and noted these "sexy" words; pregnant, seduce, virgin, mistress. The "sexy words in . . . action" we missed. Now we thought that all of these situations—pregnancy, seduction, virginity, and having a mistress—have been depicted countless times in screenplays even though they haven't been frankly labeled such. We also thought that the day was past when these words were relegated to the back fence.
And, actually, none of the naughty words become reality in the movie except the virtuous one, of course. "The Moon is Blue" is basically a very moral movie; a man (William Holden) takes a girl (Maggie McNamara) to his apartment, a number of comedy situations (but no vulgarities) ensue, and in the final clinch they face the altar.
Contrast this with "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes"—to pick a film at random—which was passed without a tremor by the board. This movie also "has sex as it's (sic) entire theme," but its sex is by innuendo. We prefer a little frankness for a refreshing change.
In spite of the board's strident efforts, we doubt sincerely if the morals of the people of Kansas can be classed above those of the residents of our four neighboring states—all of which rely on the maturity of their theater managers and the ability of their citizens to look to their own morals.
Miss McNamara's portrayal of the naive yet no-so-naive young girl is delightful, and David Niven as an engaging roue adds much of the comedy.
look to their own Would that it were so in Kansas. —Jerry Knudson
One impressionable freshman coed is plenty worried. She's now been in these halls of higher learning for almost a week—and has had no lofty thoughts at all, except possibly what to do with the horrid high ceiling in her room.
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Says here that Colorado state authorities slipped extra fish into their streams when President Eisenhower went fishing. Wonder if they shift the golf holes after Ike tees off, too?
Amazing Coincidences dept: The movie "Mogambo," just filmed in Africa, is a re-make of "Red Dust" which hit the nation's screens 20 years ago. Ava Gardner replaces Jean Harlow, and Clark Gable replaces Clark Gable.
For a while there we almost thought the summer was going to slip by without hearing from our publicity-wise (and beautiful) friend, Anne Baxter of that citadel of crazy, mixed-up kids, Hollywood.
One Man's Opinion
Miss Baxter, as all loyal Silver Screen fans will recall, has in the past plunked herself down for some big fat headlines—and jucier roles—by (1) taking up cigar smoking, and (2) introducing an unfortunately short-lived fad of wearing shorts to evening parties.
B: JERRY KNUDSON
But Anne knows her opportunities when she sees them—and she saw one this summer. So, only a few short weeks after Christian Dior dropped his bombshell or laid his egg, as time will tell) of knee-length skirts amidst a startled fashion world, Miss Baxter was among the first to sport the style in this country. As she stepped off a plane returning from Paris, our heroine smiled coily at the flash-happy cameramen and explained ruefully, "It's the fashion. What could I do."
We have a suggestion, Miss Baxter. Behind all that cigar smoke and dazing display of legs, you've got dramatic talent. Use it.
Indians Pioneer Tropic Islands
Teeming India has found an outlet for part of its overflow population—the tropical Andaman Islands, 700 miles south of Calcutta in the Bay of Bengal.
Under a new five-year, $10,000,000 development plan, the Indian government hopes to settle 20,000 persons—some 4,000 agricultural families—on the fertile island chain that once served as a penal colony. Hindu refugees from Pakistan's East Bengal Province have first priority.
Already more than 400 families have moved to the new settlement. Transportation, 10 acres of land, housing materials, seeds, and farming implements have been furnished free to each family. Thousands of acres of forest land have been cleared. Rice, sugar cane, corn, citrus fruits, tea and coffee are being cultivated.
Apportioned to the Union of India in the 1947 partition, the 204 Andaman Islands have an area of 2.508 square miles, slightly larger than the state of Delaware. The Indian government envisions thriving fisheries, cattle and poultry breeding, and furniture and shipbuilding industries in future years.
The Andamans may also be developed as a vacation resort. Secluded coral bays with spacious sandy beaches front coconut plantations. Beautiful lagoons provide natural harbors for sailing craft. The climate is warm but tempered by constant sea breezes.
Port Blair, one of southern Asia's finest harbors, is the Andaman capital. Site of a British settlement in 1789, the port was abandoned years later. In 1858, the Indian Government established a penal colony at Blair but in 1862 shipment from the mainland was discontinued. The Japanese occupied the islands for $3\frac{1}{2}$ years during World War II.
About 700 miles north of the equator and less than 360 miles west of the Malay peninsula, the Andamans are in the heart of the monsoon belt, but, strangely enough, are rarely affected by cyclonic storms.
In past centuries, sailors crossing the Indian ocean gave the Andamans a wide berth because island aborigines tortured and massacred shipwreck victims. Relics of a south Asia pygmy race, 12 tribes of Andamanese roamed the island chain, dug in shallow and small gills with boots and arrow, they spurred permanent settlements. Once numbering in the thousands, less than 100 aborigines remain in the Andamans today.
Hartford, Conn. — (U.P.)—Firemen had an added incentive when an automobile stopped at the station house with its battery cable burning. The firemen's pay checks were in the car. They doused the flames in short order.
Firemen Fight—And How
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS by Dick Bibler
"He's the most sought-after rushee on campus—it's rumored he can cut hair and may even have a barber license."
Stevenson Suggests- Why Not? Could Be!
Adlai Stevenson, home again from his global jaunt, has several deas for improving U.S. relations with the rest of the world.
Why not a "peaceful coexistence" between Communism and the free world? Stevenson asks in Newsweek Magazine. After all, he says, it's possible. He charges the U.S. with having been so blindly trying to stamp out communists that it has totally disregarded such a possibility.
Comments—
We hear that current events-conscious journalism students are founding a new professional fraternity. Name: Sigma Rhee.
Kansan staffman attended summer camp where one lone WAC reservist did her two week's summer training along with 8,200 men. Says it reminded him of KU.
We realize that things move rather slowly in the comic world, but if the B. O. Plentys don't get that bathroom finished soon, we're going to start reading Little Orphan Annie again.
A news release on the forthcoming nuptials of Rita Hayworth and Lana Turner—fourth time around for each—says: "This trip the girls have passed up the moody intellectuals, socialites, and wealthy sophisticated potentates. They've chosen men somewhat like themselves." How's that again, now?
The first news to come over the United Press wire in the Kansan newsroom when the teletype was first turned on for fall service was Minneapolis wheat quotations. Nothing like getting off to a flying start.
Daily Hansan
NEWS STAFF
Executive Editor Clarke Keys
Managing Editors Ken Coy, Rozanne
Bishop Shirley Platt, Chuck Howell
News Editor Eileen Foley
Society Editor Velma Gaston
Sports Editor Don Tice
Sports Editor Ed Howard
News-Editorial
EDITORIAL STAFF
GENERAL STAFF
Editorial Editor Mary Betz
Editorial Assistants Jerry Kudson,
Bob Larson
BUSINESS STAFF
Business Manager ... Gordon Ross
Adv Promotion Mgr ... David Riley
Retail Adv. Mgr ... Ed Smith
National Adv. Mgr ... Jane Megafan
Circulation Ben ... Mattie Bev
Retail Mgr ... Ann Ainsworth
Business Advisor ... Gene Bratton
How about a more positive, S. foreign policy? Adial continued After all, this thing of being "against Communism" is old hat to Europeans and Asians who are beginning to look ascendance at the U. S. Showing them a program of action based upon our democratic tradition—perhaps disregarding for a while our zealously fanatic fight against anything that smacks of Communism—would swing more weight in our favor, he suggests.
A single peace conference won't bring about the desired peaceful coexistence, but Stevenson believes that Communism will become weaker over the years. Gradually Communism is changing character and it the long evolutionary process 'people will become aware of its incompatibility with basic human instincts' and discard it.
Such manifestations of dubious democracy, "book burning, McCarthyism, and insistence upon conformity of thought" haven't raised our prestige abroad, he points out. Such goings-on at home, which seem to repudiate our famed Bill of Rights don't impress foreigners.
Encouraging a wider understanding of the advantages of our free way or life is a better way of winning and influencing allies than communist-hunting, Adalai says. And Adalai is a wise man.
- Mary Betz
State Praises Typhoid Work
Municipal officials attending the 31st annual water and sewage work school here were praised today by Dr. Thomas R. Hood, state health officer, for work in reduction of th Kansas typhoid death rate.
W. H. Sunderland, associate engineer for the water resources division of the State Board of Agriculture warned municipalities to establish legal rights to their water supplies.
Methods of combining water short age by conservation and supplementary emergency supplies were discussed. Another topic was the management ofervation of large treatment plants for subdivisions an small cities.
The three-day school, the older continuous extension course at KI will continue through Friday.