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University Daily Kansan Wednesday. Dec. 17, 1952
Jayhawker Can Improve If Interest Great Enough
At a recent meeting of the Campus Affairs committee, the Jayhawker yearbook was discussed and very few kind words were spoken. If the committee is to be taken as the true sounding board of campus opinion which it is supposed to be, then something is wrong in the Jayhawker office.
1. There is a poor system of financial accounting with few people knowing exactly where the money goes and what is left.
The primary objections to the present Jayhawker system seem to be these:
2. The Jayhawkuser is under the loose control of a faculty-student board which names the editor and business manager and then lets loose the reins.
4. The editor and business manager are paid too much.
3. The top staff positions often seem controlled by outside groups, namely greek houses.
5. The quality of the finished book is not satisfactory.
The Jayhawker board is the controlling body of the book. It is made up of the bursar, dean of men, dean of women, dean of the School of Journalism, previous editors and business managers who are still on the campus, the present editor and business manager and a representative of the ASC's publication committee.
No regular meetings are held. The board meets only when a meeting is called. Usually its function consists merely of choosing the two top staffers and approving contracts. Otherwise it meets only to discuss emergencies that arise.
The editor and business manager are chosen in the spring of each year for the following school year. Applications are made to the board and each position is supposed to have at least three applicants.
It happens that the editor last year and the editor this year belong to the same social fraternity. The board was aware of this when they made the selection. Kenneth Dam was chosen because he had the best qualifications for the job by virtue of his previous work on other jobs in the Jayhawker staff. Whether or not his fraternity connection made him more eligible for these lower jobs, and hence, later the editorship, is pure speculation.
The board has expressed concern, however, that it often seems such succession is the only choice given it in the applications.
Business manager this year is Frank Norris. At
He received only advice to confer with Karl Klooz, bursar, and report if they came up with something.
one of the two meetings held this year, he asked the board to set up a system of accounting for the Jayhawker, perhaps even hire a CPA. An admirable proposal, in our opinion.
The board has also heard a suggestion that a full-time office manager be set up to do the mechanical end of bookkeeping and bill collecting. The proposal was aimed, not to subtract from the administrative responsibility of the business manager, but to make the system more efficient and relieve the student worker of some headaches.
The solution to financial problems is a complete reworking of the Jayhawker board with a more systematic control and hearing of reports. Financial clarity has already been proposed with two workable plans outlined for the board's acceptance.
Both of these suggestions sound like steps in the right direction but neither has been acted upon. And, at present, one may ask members of the board how much profit the book made last year and where it was put, and be told, "I don't know."
As for pay of the editor and business manager, last year's two top staffers received a salary of $350 plus a 10 per cent bonus which they asked for at the end of the year. The ASC has passed a bill granting this year's editor and business manager a raise of $100.
Another plan which would improve the book's quality has been discussed outside the board meetings. This plan would make the writing of Jayhawker copy part of a laboratory course. Such a plan has definite advantages. The quality could be improved but jobs and courses would be open to everyone. The course would offer credit which could replace salaries. The lab work could include photography courses as well as writing courses.
The quality of the book is a matter of opinion and with the first issue already in the hands of the students, can be judged very readily. In our opinion there is room for a great deal of improvement, especially in the writing.
The most important factor is interest on the part of the students for whom the book is printed. A more efficient system of financial accounting and a better quality book are needed but neither can be had merely by gripping which seems to be the present extent of interest.
Silly Gifts Can Help Toy Drive Succeed
—Roger Yarrington.
A student telephoned the editor of the Kansas recently and made what we think is a pretty sensible suggestion.
He pointed out that at many fraternity, sorority, and various campus organizational Christmas parties, it's required that each person bring a silly, inexpensive "gift" of some sort.
Most such "gifts" serve a very temporary purpose and usually are taken home and end up in the trash can.
Thus, by being just a little selective in choice of such a "gift" University students can make their gift also brighten the Christmas for children in several of the state's orphan homes.
It was suggested that students would do well—in selecting their "silly gift"—to choose one which would fit into the toy category. Then, after the foolishness is over, the gift could be donated to the ISA-sponsored toy drive.
—Phil Newman.
A Syracuse, N.Y., man told a judge that watching television at night made him too tired to go to work in the mornings. Many TV programs do seem to be a bit tiring.
Flashbacks
DECEMBER 17
25 years ago
The debate squad met Missouri in a match that ended in no decision. The subject was: "Resolved that the Republican party should be returned to office in 1928. Missouri took the Democratic side.
DECEMBER 17
The annual Christmas program was held outdoors in front of Blake ball. F. E. C. Bucher, speech defender, was the group's sage holiday source. and the group's sage holiday source.
Kansas was preparing to meet Kansas State in the newly constructed Hoch auditorium. Coach Phog Allen ran the team through a light scrimmage in preparation for the big game.
A University alumni team defeated the faculty, 5-8, in a basketball game. Ernie Quigley referred the game.
Funeral services were held for Prof. William Savage Johnson, 65, chairman of the department of Eng-
10 years ago
Little Man on Campus by Dick Bibler
FRATERNITY HANDBOOK: "A primary concern of the fraternity is to bring out the individuality of typical American boys from every walks of life."
from every walk of life."
Campus Bowl Ideas Practical Plan
Oklahoma's current "footie" game with the Southwest conference in the face of a Big Seven ban on post-season bowl games may result in the Sooners' withdrawal. If this happens, Oklahoma will take with it enough power, prestige, and financial strength to reduce the Big Seven to a second-rate conference.
But the solution, of course, does not lie in a compromise of principle. But it can be found in a compromise of procedure. Several plans have been proposed for the Big Seven by which the conference could sustain its rejection of commercialization post-season games and yet mollify its mutinous component.
The shortsightedness of Big Seven officials is the result of an earnest desire to put the "A" for amateur back into intercollegiate athletics. But their persistence in clinging to an unpopular stand can only lead to the defeat of their principles if key schools like Oklahoma go out on strike and finally find a new position under happier circumstances.
The most practical plan to cross our desk is Chancellor Murphy's "campus bowl" idea. He suggested that the Big Seven champion meet some other conference winner as an annual season climax. But this series of bowl games would be played on the campuses of the schools involved, the revenue presumably to be divided between the two conferences.
Chancellor Murphy's plan eliminates the big city promoter and takes the bowl game away from the sun-drenched winter resorts where many sports enthusiasts are found but few students. The chancellor believes that intercollegiate athletics exist for the students, either as participants or as spectators.
By bringing the bowl games to the campus, the conference would satisfy most of the member schools, collect a useful bit of change, and put the game in front of the students where it rightly belongs.
The plan might also prevent the Big Seven from becoming the Little Six.
—Chuck Zuegner.
lish from 1924 to 1940.
The manpower commission announced the calling up of all army reserves at the University at the end of the semester.
Creighton beat the Jayhawkers in a cage thriller, 38-33, before 1,900
5 years ago
at Hoch auditorium. After the game Coach Allen said, "We will be lucky to win any games back East." The squad was to leave for five games in the East.
The Jayhawkers led by Ray Evans were preparing for the Orange bowl game against Georgia Tech in Miami. They had two other all-Americans on the team in Don Fambrough and Otto Schnellbacher.
The Lawrence fire department was called to the Kappa Alpha Theta house when a fire was discovered in the cook's lounge. Damage was limited to the room where the chair, rug, curtains, and mattress were destroyed.
Mail subscription rates: $3 a semester or $4.50 a year (add $1 if in Lawrence). Published in Lawrence, Kan., every afternoon during the University year except holidays and Sundays. University holidays and summer periods. Entered sack class matter in March 1910, at Lawrence, Kan., Post Office under act of March 3, 1979.