University Daily Kansan
Friday, December 11, 1970
5
City of Lawrence: What Action for the Future?
By MICHAEL NAGEL Kansan Writer
Lawrence 1970. A mid-America Rip Van Winkle rinkly awakened from the American Dream. The Bible Belt no longer guarantees tranquility. The Bible Belt no longer pinches from its eyes, it sees the problems of America are now clear. In 1970 has yielded a crop of demonstrations, National Guard, violence, killings, fire bombings.
The problems are not unique to Lawrence. Their crisis-glamor is due to their proximity and the fact that they only a little sitbing work into the fabric of contemporary America. Lawrence's problems are due to
the inconsistency of the American fiber.
The 47,500 inhabitants of Lawrence represent the American microcosm. There are the ghetto poor, the angry black, the oppressed white, the contented middle-class, the ignorant, the intellectuals, the right, the left, growing industries, industrial problems, a lack of government governing problems and state and federal government pressures.
The intensity of the Lawrence awakening may be the result of the collage of social elements. The collection of images of defence are common to America. The inept solutions offered by the society also are common to a language has succeeded bureausurge in the sterilization of action.
For example, there are the Lawrence poor who whose income is less than the population. The city poor also amount to an astounding 29 percent of the population.
The cause of their problem might be traced to the birth of American capitalism and economic economy always insure that those who succeed will do so at the expense of others. Solving the cause of such problems does Lawrence do its share in the alleviation of the effects?
Partial solutions to the poverty problem can be sought by education, housing project, job training and job opportunity programs.
Lack of housing development projects testifies to the lack of concern.
The few programs which existed in Lawrence in 1970 such as Headstart and Summer Teen Program were served to those who served some 70 persons.
Subdivisions and other recent Lawrence city additions testify to the prosperity of the community.
However, in several instances blacks refused to work with such groups. Dialogue is commonplace; action is rare. The dialogue as a substitute for action. They want action.
The opening of channels of
did not realistically meet the needs of the Lawrence poor.
An Editorial
Seeming lack of concern is inseparably扣下 action of laction in the face of law. Lawrence 1970 did possess a diversity of black-white dialogue.
communication is only relevant when followed by responsive action.
Lawrence has taken its first step towards the solution of its racial problem by its development of a variety of communication channels. However, communication needs be also instituted between the Indian and other countries, the other Lawrence communities.
The value of such communication reception is that the Lawrence population Such education can eliminate the ignorance and indifference and increase the needs to the needs and demands of the Lawrence poor, black and Indian communities.
Channels of communication are being used as an educational tool in the town-down relationship. The University crises alienated the comparatively liberal University from the naturally conservative
states, "most of our com- munication occurs during crisis situations and people on both sides are critical of each other."
City Manager Buford Watson typifies the problem when he
In this area, Lawrence has crisis demonstrated the need for better long-term communication between the university and the city. Many town-council dialogue groups have been formed. Many fraternity and independent student groups have served the needs of the community.
Buford Watson also says that the development of long-term programs for students and the Lawrence community is hampered by the lack of a well-illusion. The University and Lawrence shall, seemingly unfortunally, be outsourced.
siency can only be compared to the transciency of city officials who are either not re-elected or fired.
As Lawrence awaits 1971, it must not face its problems from a problem in some of its problem areas. In some responded vigorously. In other areas there is an apparent lack of awareness about the misinformation has been established. There has been some action. But meaningless dialogue also has been used.
Lawrence is awake in 1970 to knowledge its problems. if the future, it must understand that although the problem is complex, it must be unique—as unique as the people and times it must now
Community Seeks Racial Solution As Seen by a White
As Seen by a White
By SUSAN FOHRMAN
Kansan Writer
In the last few years race relations have become increasingly strained. Misunderstandings, non-communication and personality conflicts have aggravated the situation. This is especially true of the situation at KU.
An obvious place one would expect to find racial tensions in is evidence halls, J. J. Wilson, director of research holding a university office, told The Washington Post that at the scholarship halls, but he claimed there no undue problems. Wilson observed that offer problems arose on a personal rather than institutional basis.
There are often problems with disadvantaged black students, because they are usually more defensive than others, he said. In many instances, problems that do arise concern not so much racial differences as they do intolerance of others' habits. Wilson said.
MANY TIMES WHAT eventually becomes a race issue not one to begin with. He said, adding that often a situation involves inquiring
'The group knows there have been instances of both discrimination and harrassment, but is unable to get the victims to sign complaints. Without documented evidence, it can accomplish little.'
--both blacks and whites and the original non-racial tone of the problem changes to one of racial tension.
Mick Dick Hansen, assistant resident director of Ellsworth Hall, teaches the course of Ellsworth, both often that "personality conflicts events" in their curriculum. Hansen said the problems in Ellsworth, which houses the largest number of black students in KU housing, are problems of non-compliance with Ellsworth's attendance policy. Ellsworth has changed the format of its student senate. It will now consist of 20 black and 10 white students and will meet for the first time.
Olten also said one of the problems at Ellsworth was that many whites were still thinking in terms of integration and were not able to understand that black students had begun to lean toward separatism.
Olen said Ellsworth was also starting three LA&S 48 sections, which are free sections where anything can be taught if a faculty sponsor is found. For the Ellsworth group, the human relations department will be to run by both black and white trainers from that program.
RACIAL DIFFERENCES in residence halls were matters to Mrs. Carolyn Routh, now resident director of Lewis Hall, was then resident director of the college where eventually it became a race issue was not one to begin with.
She explained that as soon as the problem began, it was much more difficult to get people to be rational. She added that it was not
just the situation in the halls that brought about tensions but also the mood of the entire community.
Lawrence is also trying to alleviate the racial problems now in Lawrence. The Community Concern Workshop, an offshoot of the Human Rights Council, is one of the first organizations deemed Lawrence citizens who feel they should do something. The group meets every Saturday to discuss solutions to racial problems and to discuss racism to racial problems so by the black citizen's choice. A group member explained that Lawrence did not join because they said they were tired of talk but did favor it.
The group occasionally has guest speakers and recently Barbara Sabol, president of Concerned Black Parents, and Willoughby Abner, from the American Arbitration Association, spoke to the group.
THE MEMBERS OF the workshop have divided themselves into sub-sub groups to direct themselves to specific problems. A group member explained that in order for them to be effective, the racial diversity in the community must be approached from other directions.
One approach being given much attention was the registration of KU students as voters. If students have lived in Lawrence six months or more, they meet Lawrence voter qualifications. Those in the work force and those voting can have a definite effect on Lawrence government.
One problem that piques the group is the lack of documented evidence concerning complaints of discrimination and abuse. The group knows there have been instances of both, but is unable to explain why. Without documented evidence, they can accomplish little.
Another community action group is the School Community Relations Advisory Council, headed by Rev. John Felvile. Rev. Felvile was composed of 20 different groups including the NAAP, worn black Parents, representatives from labor unions and KU.
An example of what the council has accomplished is the formation of a group for innovative education. The council was able to get an educational specialist from Columbia to supervise for senior high school students—mostly black—who had trouble staying in school. By working in this group the students will be better prepared to succeed.
A NUMBER OF CHURCH groups have also become involved in Lawrence's racial problems. One such group is the First Presbyterian church's Crisis Class, which tries to bring about changes in cultural changes and improvements in Lawrence's race situation.
Dick Rupert, a member of the Crisis Class, said it had been conducting program to survey black-white relations in general and the Lawrence situation specifically. He said the group tried to keep the race conversation simple. He found that to find ways in which his group can improve race relations.
Ruppert felt that one of Lawrence's greatest problems was its philosophy that it could handle its racial situation without outside help. A resentment of outside aid has created a close-mindedness to outside opinions, further aggravating the situation, he said.
A number of other community action groups also exist in Lawrence. The Chamber of Commerce has initiated a number of programs to aid stalled black-white relations, as have the League of Women Voters and Civil Liberties Union and the Human Relations Committee.
The problems of non-communication and misunderstanding are many times the basis of both the University's and Lawrence's racial problems. Community action groups are attempting to open conversations between members who have been accepted with a more open minded attitude in both city and University.
Blacks Solidified by Racial Stress
By PHYLLIS JONES
As Seen by a Black
Kansan Writer
Traditionally, the college community has been considered isolated from earthly conflicts by a barrier of intelligence and security.
This illumination, however, has been shattered by events of the past few years at universities throughout the country. The University of Chicago is one such institution.
The black population of KU has increased from a small number ten years ago to more than 500. Since 1963 when black students staged a sit-in in Hard Hall to protest the barroring them from campus, there have been rights on the campus as well as in the community has increased.
CONFILCT HAS developed between some black and white students living together in residence halls. Ellsworth Hall, with the largest concentration of black students—the number reaching almost one hundred—is the site of frequent racial incidents.
"The white students are afraid of black students," said one black freshman. "Many of them are from small Kansas towns and had never come in contact with black people. All they know are white, the light and are oversexed, which they learned from their parents."
One black faculty member also attributes part of the reason for racial conflicts to ignorance.
"The white students fail to understand the black lifestyle," he said. "Also, white students do not understand that, as well as blacks, they don't need to be treated like them."
Few black students join white organizations which have separate housing. Jay Straver, assistant dean of men and fraternity adviser, said only four or five black men have joined white fraternities and no black women have pledged white sororites.
"You can't eliminate prejudice inside individual people," said Strayer. "But I believe the organizations are making a sinecre strayer. He added rules automatically eliminating a person because he had have been abolished within the last three years by all fraternities."
In other campus situations where blacks and whites are together, a split is discernible. In 1968, the pompon soup was integrated by the Black students into the cafeteria, which expanded to include two black women and two black men were chosen as yell leader. Although the squares express solidarity with their fellow Black students.
"We cheer together, but we have no personal relationships," said Maryse I. Rockford, III, senior.
PERHAMS THE major area where teamwork is suppose to superade individual feelings is athletics. But, racism and discrimination are still a problem.
"We play together and practice together, but that is it," said one black football player who prefers to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal. He believes that the separation of black and white players is partly caused by white coaches.
"White coaches are prejudged toward white players. A black player almost is to be superhuman to beat them out (for a white coach) because they can play better."
"The coaches also prefer black players who never question their authority," he added, "and by playing favorites, they cause controversy."
"SEPARATION has always existed, but I believe it is increasing," said Mrs. Evalyn Tyler. "Once in a year a few years ago, the school closed."
One black woman who has lived at KU for five years believes the races are moving even farther apart.
The clientele of various taverns around the campus is also determined racially. While the Gaslal Tavern, owned by a black student, has both black and white customers, the Jayhawk Tavern and the Wheel are frequented almost exclusively by white students.
Separation on the campus is reflected, but magnified many times over in the community.
"The situation is worse today than it was two years ago," said Vernell Sturm, director of the Human Relations Commission. He said the main reason for separation is an increased political awareness by blacks.
"The whites can not understand this and are polarized by it," he said.
The Human Relations Commission, which was set up by the city in 1962 but not staffed until 1969, is composed of three blacks and six whites. It serves as a mediating board between individuals who file complaints of discrimination against agencies or businesses.
Last year, the Commission together with the Ballard Center sponsored two five-week retail training classes to place black men and women in various local retail stores. Twenty-three persons attended the five-week retail stores, including Gibson's, Kroger's, and McCraey-Ortiz.
IN SPITE OF these training courses, however, few blacks are employed in businesses downtown in positions where they must
In talking to townpeople, existing polarization assumes a more inous air than discrimination in hiring. Last summer, two students from an elite private school, the other, Nick Rice, was white. Rice was shot at a disturbance by a police officer on *Gleed Street and Dowdell* was killed after a police chase.
Rumors are now circulating about the existence of a vigilant group which threatens to "take to the streets" if another disturber
"I have been told by (a police official) that if another disruption occurs, activities by the extreme right will be more dangerous than those by the left."
Sturns related a personal experience with aroused white-murray after the death of Dowell. He also on night about mugshot companies sent his brother to the company after it had mistakenly been towed by police. They were involved by three white men armed with holguns and riffles who held them back.
WHEN THE THREE men called the police, however, they reported they had "a carhead of niggers out here." Sturns said, causing the dispatcher to send two police cars, two highway patrol cars and two National Guard trucks to the scene.
"When the police arrived, they okayed my release (for the car), but didn't even reprimand the people." Sturms said.
This week's strike staged by the BSU has again revived tension on the campus and in the community. The shooting of a white man in a black student which has been erroneously blamed on the BSU is one that increased hostility and misunderstanding between the races.
"The strike revealed the lack of solidarity between black and white students," said Bill Ebert, president of the student body. "The shooting gave white students a chance to be against the strike. It was not a reason, but a rationalization."
Ebert, however, believes the campus is more liberal than the community.
"MORE RADICAL whites now support the black struggle in America." Ebert said.
what If what Ebert said is true, the number of white radicals in 1966 must have been infinitimal, for white students who actively and consistently worked to change their schools.
"Now we know who our friends are," said Ron Washington, who doesn't need sympathy. We need people actively working to support us.
If then, the move toward increased racial separation is to be reversed, quick action must be taken. Events of the past few years have served to solidify the blacks at KU and in Lawrence and at the same time, polarize the whites.
Welfare . . .
From Page 1
hospitalization, eye care and most of the other forms of medical care.
When a person has some medical work done, the doctor makes out a bill just as he would for Blue Cross-Blue Shield. He then sends the bill to have it audited under what form it is issued (Title 19 or Medicaid). From there, the bill is sent to Medical Audit in Topeka for payment.
The county welfare office also handles many other services to the community.
"The COURT can either send the juvenile to Boys Industrial, Girls Industrial School or they can send them to us. We find foster homes for these kids and oversee their upbringing." Mr. Almudena said. "Our office has no right to achieve custody—only the state can do that."
The welfare department is sometimes
finding foster home for
juveniles referral to services.
"We also take care of the adoption proceedings in the county. We have at least 25 cases pending on adoption all the time." Derrick said.
The Douglas County Welfare Office is also responsible for distributing the food stamps to all those in the county. The stamps are sold two and one half days out of each month.
Everyone on welfare is eligible for the food stamps. There are also some KU students. They use the food stamps, but the welfare office does not record how many students collect welfare.
"I think that in the next few years, we will see an increase in the food stamp program. It will either be this increase or a switch to Nixon's general assistance program. This would bring going to be following one of two theories; either have home and do away with the food stamps, or retain the financial expenditure and just add to the exist 'ug programs," Derrick said.
THE ADVENT of the food stamp program is the latest development in a short, but complicated history of welfare, as we know it, in the United States.
However, this was too difficult a program for the government to administer. For one thing, the vast amount of money spent on staffing for grafters at the level and the temptation for grafters was too much. And it was very difficult for the government to find enough for the workers to become more of a joke and most private employees were reluctant to hire these workers.
Welfare was essentially a measure to get the country on its feet during the depression. Government programs, such as the Works Progress Administration, were set up to provide itself Administration to provide shelter and food for the nation's starving millions.
Most of the early programs were based on the plan of hiring the unemployed to work on government projects. The WPA built dams, highways, public buildings and even actors and musicians were hired to perform public artworks by the agency, the COC (Civil Conservation Corp.) to build national parks and forests, as well as doing work in local parks and recreation centers.
The solution to the problem came with the passage of the Social Security Act of 1935. This act provided a vast system of unemployment insurance and of old-age assistance for the greater part of the working population of the country. Money would be provided to the unemployed in matching basis with the federal government, the same way it works today.
THE ACT ASIMPLED in 1937. In that year the state of Kansas set up welfare office in the state and the county staff started growing and the number of welfare recipients in the state has steadily increased since then.
to $2 million in 1971 and local welfore officials predict it will rise at a rate of about $800,000 a year.
The Douglas County Welfare Budget to 1970 was $1.5 million dollars. It will increase
Derrick pointed out that many people who did not unemployment compensation were unable to afford the benefits they were entitled to the benefits. When this runs out the only place for them to go is the welfare roll. Derrick thinks if these people had been able to receive the benefits would probably be ten per cent or more. Currently there are about 225 persons receiving unemployment insurance in the UK.
What can be done to curb this tide? John Derrick thinks the way the situation is now, very little can be done. He says he is amused by the fact that we talk of getting people off the waffer rolls.
"We've got five and a half per cent unemployed in the state now. How are we going to find jobs for 106,000 welfare clients if we can't get them?" she said. "We're as recently as 25% again." Derrick said.
"The GROUP that's really making the case load risen is the aid to dependendent children one," Derrick said. "Every night in the court room, she always asks for the help. Often times the husband will run off and leave the mother with the children. She can't go to work because it would cost her as much to hire a baby sister as she would be making. So she down to the welfare office and we take over."
Derrick said he sees no solution to the problem.
The Problem is staggering, not only in Douglas County, but all across the nation. In Douglas County the number of welfare clients have increased by 100 percent; we hire a new case worker every six months just to keep up with the load. Many new programs have been proposed, but whether we like it or not, the welfare will be with us for a long time to come. Is question now how is we do slow down it?
Training...
From Page 1
Money allotted to participants who must travel in order to use these facilities is sub-$200,000 per person. The result is that it diminished the value of the program for Lawrence residents who might be interested.
programs available through the State Employment Office do not have facilities in Lawrence. A participant could be required to travel either to Topeka or to Atchison.
**STUMPER Teen Employment Program**
(STEP) was initiated last summer. Working with students from 11 to 61 years of age were included in the program. Plans are now underway to expand
Lawrence, a town of 47,500, including students at the University of Kansas and Haskell Junior College, has 85 per cent of the welfare cases for Douglas County. Power provides certain income depending on the number of persons in a family. For a family of four, the level is $3,200 a year. In Lawrence, 678 people earn less than $3,000 a year. The total of 1,320 people are on welfare in Douglas County, but dependent include Ads to Dependent Children.
THE LOW-INCOME area is east of New York and is the location the chamber is easily discernible. The houses not as large, not as new, and often in need of repair. In North Lawrence, the frequency of demolition is high.
Most of the organizations to help low-income people are sponsored by Douglas College.
The Legal Aid Society is recommended to welfare recipients and low-income people by the welfare office and the Ballard Center. The staff, society, staffed by third-year law students, deals mainly with landlord-tenant disputes, social security and welfare problems and
HELDSTART provides educational facilities, and indirectly babyfitting services
divorce cases. In the state of Kanaa, a divorce costs $500, and most poor people receive no benefit.
The food stamp program is available to people on the basis of their income. Being on welfare is a requirement for eligibility, and therefore it may be difficult to amount of person's income and the number of dependents. Food stamps can be used to pay for basic except imported food or alcohol and tobacco.
houseing project, Hope Plaza at 1st and Michigan. The housing, to be completed, consists of 124 units, 20 per cent of which have rent supplement apartments. The units are a family's income falls below the OEO income guidelines of $3,500, it can rent one of these apartments on the rent supplement plan. For example, a family with an income of $1,000 a month, would pay $32 a month, utilities paid. The market value for such an apartment would be $177 a month.
THE LAWRENCE poverty problem does not seem so great when it is considered in
"The population of Kansas, western Nebraska and western Oklahoma are migrating to many of the larger metropolitan areas such as Kansas City and Topeka. We seem to be in the middle of things. Where you get an increase in population, you are sure to get an increase in people on welfare."
The Federal Housing Authority has fund the development of a low- and middle-income
represents a paradox in that it is of minimal benefit to the mother as a baby's service while she works because she may not be able to acquire skills necessary for a better job.
At Lawrence High School, a job training program for students from low-income families is developing. It is a federal program although the students do go through the high school guidance office to work in the field. Students attend a student work eight to ten hours a week for $1.45 an hour. Three students are involved in it presently.
itself. But in comparison with some other Kansas towns, it takes on more importance. Lawrence cannot console itself with the fact that Leavenworth has a few more poor people, 22.9 per cent of the population earns less than $100 annually, and other towns have lower, and in some cases, much lower rates. For example, Tepekah has 15.7 per cent in this range. Wichita has 15.8 per cent, and Manhattan's percentage is also lower at 19.5. Lawrence does have some programs, but it has no public housing projects, no city organization which received federal funds for housing or economic opportunity programs. Lawrence offers no longer hope for its poor.