Page 2 University Daily Kansan Friday, Nov. 14, 1953
New Committee To Govern Policy
Yesterday afternoon the Kansan board revised a section of its constitution and created a student-faculty committee which will govern Daily Kansan editorial policy. The revision is printed below.
By its action the Kansan board ended a long tradition of editorial prerogative. Previously the Daily Kansan's editorial page content and policy was determined by the editor, subject technically to the Kansan board. Carbons of all editorsials were presented to the Dean of the School of Journalism for approval.
The old method was functional. It worked well at times when speed was needed, and, to our knowledge, no editorials were ever banned from the Kansan. The Dean's criticisms, when there were any, were on technical presentation rather than the views taken.
Under the new method the editorial editor will discuss issues to be presented on the editorial page with a committee. The committee consists of five Kansan editors and two faculty members. The faculty members are not voters.
The board may not dictate what the editor prints but it may veto a proposed stand or prevent the presentation of any issue by a majority vote. By this means, making editorial policy the result of a group decision rather than one person's, the comments appearing on the editorial page will represent Daily Kansan policy rather than merely the editor's opinion.
That the new method itself is better than the old, in that it gives more responsibility to the students, is unquestionable. The strong feeling against the change arose from two other factors.
The vote on the revision of the constitution was not unanimous. The issue has been the subject of much discussion and many were not entirely in favor of a change.
Some felt a change would endorse expressions of a few who say Kansan editorial policies have not been satisfactory. The feeling that the editorial staff had gone astray and a change HAD to be made aroused opposition to any change, no matter what it might be.
Also, the feeling that recent pressures on the Kansan because of its editorials might bring grave consequences and perhaps even censorship if a change was not made, enhanced the hostile feeling.
How effective the plan is will be revealed in time. It appears to be entirely in the hands of the students. It is a student committee for the administration of a student trust. It is a valuable trust and we hope the plan succeeds. Roger Yarrington.
Full Revised Section Of Kansan Constitution
The editorial department shall be headed by an editorial editor chosen by the editorial committee and approved by a majority vote of the Board at the last regular meeting of each half semester for the ensuing nine weeks. He shall be assisted by two associate editors, who may or may not be members of the Board, appointed by him and subject to confirmation by the Board.
Article 2. Section 2
It shall be the editorial editor's privilege to designate either associate as head editorial writer. The associate editors may be challenged at any time by a majorite vote of the Board. Re-appointments shall be permitted in the editorial department, but for only one additional term, the total service of one individual to be no more than two terms.
The editorial committee shall consist of the current editorial editor, the two associate editors, the managing editor, the city editor, the chairman of the Kansan Board, the faculty member teaching The Editorial, and the Dean of the School. The two faculty members shall have no vote.
The committee will meet once a week to discuss editorial policy and content, with the editorial editor presiding as chairman. The editorial editor may accept or reject any policy decision arrived at by the committee; and the committee shall have the power to veto, by majority vote, over any policy views that the editorial editor may personally desire to express.
Inasmuch as expression of opinion on controversial issues in editorial form on the editorial page is inevitably accepted as policy of the Kansan, such expression shall not be made without the approval of the editorial committee. The faculty member teaching The Editorial shall be faculty adviser on the editorial page.
One Man's Opinion
Now that the Republicans are in power, it will be interesting to see exactly what they will do with the hundreds of thousands of acres in public lands.
By JERRY RENNER
One phase of the Republican platform which deals with the public domain says: "We favor restoration of the original Republican lands policy."
by Dick Bibler
It is true that the party under the conservation efforts of Theodore Roosevelt established the Forest service, which saved the American public millions of acres of timber and grazing land, entire watersheds and hundreds of power sites.
But it is also true that the Republican, with their belief in individual and state's rights over the central government, may bring into action another Republican policy which has continually sought to destroy all conservation efforts and public lands in the West. This faction is composed of big cattle men who have always lobbed and fought the creation of public land reserves, national forests and fought the measure that authorized the public to charge stockmen a fee, albeit small, for grazing on public lands.
In the past there has been a public-lands policy of Republican cabinet secretaries who handed over the public coal lands to private operators, gave others free hand with the national forests, and turned over public oil lands to private operators.
In Hoover's administration it was planned to turn over these public lands to the states so they could be purchased for a song by the big cattlemen. Frank Barrett, Republican congressman from Wyoming, was unsuccessful in this plan a few years ago. He is now in the Senate—a victorious candidate on Nov. 4.
All Republican attempts in the last 20 years would indicate that the party has renounced Theodore Roosevelt's policy for a policy more agreeable to the stockman.
The grazing plank of the Republican platform would permit a stockman to purchase public land for some small percentage of its actual worth and, of course, lower than he could lease it for.
If the stockmen gain absolute control of the grazing land, what will happen to the great acreage of watersheds, the logging industry, the great dams? Will they be subservient to the cattleman or will he pass to private companies—to the detriment of the American public?
The public lands plank of the platform seeks to strip the Forest service of its power to regulate the grazing ranges and give that power to the holders of grazing permits, a small fraction of the western stockmen.
The body consists of almost 50 per cent water, which must be replaced continually.
What about the greater percentage of mining, irrigation, municipal, industrial, and recreational interests represented in the West? Is the old accusation that the Republican party is one of vested interests true? The 83rd Congress and Eisenhower will tell us.
Mail subscription rates; $3 a semester or $4.50 a year (add 1 a semester if in Lawrence). Published in Lawrence, Kan., every afternoon during the University year except Saturdays and Sundays. University holidays and examination periods. Entered second class master Sept. 17, 1910, at Lawrence Kan., Post Office address act of March 3,
Little Man on Campus
Plans Alone Won't Aid Housing Need
The University is very much aware of the inadequate housing situation at KU and has made some concrete plans for the remedying of the situation, according to Chancellor Franklin D. Murphy at the housing meeting last night. But the acknowledgment and recognition of a problem, and even the actual statement of plans will not solve the housing problem. More is needed and required.
Student feeling has been aroused, and many are interested in actively participating in helping the University obtain more and better housing for students. Now is the time to promote organized student participation, such as the committee proposed by the Chancellor.
But the membership of such a committee must be carefully selected. The possible danger of such a committee composed entirely of ASC members could easily result in making this problem a political issue. This has already been somewhat the case, and as Dr. Murphy expressed it, this issue is much "too serious to be used as a political football."
Each student interested in this problem, which covers a number of situations, wants his own particular area of interest and endeavor to be advanced. This is only natural, but if the desired goal is to be gained, only by cooperatively working together can something good and useful be accomplished.
The administration and the students are both responsible for the present state of affairs. Two and three years ago when appropriations were being made by the State Legislature for buildings now being built on the campus, evidently housing was forgotten in the pressure of classroom needs. The administration was aware then, as now, of the coming increase in enrollment, and students were living in the same conditions as now; but appropriations were not made.
This same mistake must not be made twice. The ball has started to roll, people all over the state of Kansas are recognizing the need and they must not be allowed to forget. For the best and most satisfying results, students and administration will have to work together. Just because the problem has been defined and accepted as a problem, there is no reason for relaxing or forgetting the situation as it now exists.
—Mary Cooper.
A local newspaper carried a picture of the centuries old ceremony of naming a new Iowa chief, but it looks like progress has overtaken this phase of Americana, too. In the center of the picture was a gnarled old brave with feathered bonnet, buckskins and Air Force sun glasses.
Short Ones
Two projectors blew out recently in Korea while showing the same torrid dance sequence from Rita's latest movie. Poor guys . . . as if they didn't have enough to frustrate them.
A case against a parrot for using profanity was tossed out of court when the parrot refused to swear for the judge. It is a smart parrot that knows when to keep his beak shut.