PAGE SIX
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3; 1950
The Editorial Page-
Satire On Seating
For several days the Kansan has printed viewpoints on the question of student seating at football games. Nearly everyone has expressed regret that students were subjected to annoyance, but the real regret implicit in the athletic department's reply to criticism directed toward it was a regret for allowing the disputed section E to have been opened to the students at all. The tone of the reply indicates that sections F through R are considered sufficient for the students' needs—in the face of the evidence of the Nebraska game that, even with section E added, many students either will be unable to attend or will have no seats. At the Oklahoma game section E will be roped off, and a large section of the student body will be excluded, so that we may accommodate the "demand"—which means, of course, so that the athletic department may collect $3 a throw from more of the general public. Let us cash in while we may.
Now, may we point out an obvious inference? The students take up seats which obviously are salable, for the clash between one of the nation's top teams and a team quite potent enough to upset it will draw like everything. A great stride forward could be made if the student senate would vote to vacate, voluntarily, not only the disputed section E, but also all those other sections. By simply removing en masse to the hill under the new bell tower, which symbolizes our idealism, the students would make available for sale a huge block of seats, at $3 a throw. We are sure that the team would be inspired to hear the cheers of their rooters coming to them mellowed by distance from the hill; it would add a note of quaint charm to the proceedings, and would certainly be a novelty.
We heartily approve of this policy; it should appeal to that shrewd Yankee instinct in all of us which urges us never to pass up an opportunity to turn an honest dollar. This is that lovable quality that has made our country so much admired by other nations. It accounts for Uncle Sam's being depicted in foreign cartoons, as a charming, hawk-nosed old gentleman with dollar signs on his vest. One can readily see where this quality comes from: we teach it in our schools. The students should cooperate to their utmost with the athletic department's policy. No sacrifice should seem too great for them to make in furthering it, since the only way for anybody to get anywhere, in this world, is by somebody making a sacrifice.
This, of course, is only the obvious inference. We have no hope that any such thing can happen. Some students will not cooperate; they will think that seeing the game is more important than making money. Some people are even so haughty as to think that the game should belong to the players and the students. These are dangerous individualistic reactionaries; they live in a dream of the good old days. Because of them, we shall miss a great opportunity. If it were left to us, we would organize a vociferous minority bloc that would force such people to get in step with the athletic department's wise policy, and stay there, where they belong. We would show them how things are accomplished nowadays. But the world will not listen to our inspiring message, which was perhaps best expressed in the words of the immortal Omar Khayyam, as translated by a 19th century poet:
Ah, take the cash, and let the credit go.
Nor heed the rumble of a distant drum!
Elbert W. Darlington
Assistant Instructor in English.
An editorial in Monday's Kansan, entitled "Proficiency Plus," has brought immediate reaction from a member of the English proficiency examination committee. The article advocated the use of typewriters in the semi-annual examination to be given Saturday afternoon.
Proficiency Examination Committee Resents Kansan Editorial
Apparently, the author of the editorial was not satisfied with the method in which the test is given, for the article's second paragraph said, "the set-up of the examination is not beyond reproach. . even its sponsors admit this."
Having conferred with one member of the committee, the author stated, "Members of the English proficiency committee have offered only one reason for not allowing students to write their exam on typewriters. The clatter would disturb other students."
Mrs. Natalie Calderwood, instructor in English and chairman of the English Proficiency committee, feels that the writer had the wrong idea. "Contrary to the implication," she said, "the English Proficiency committee is not opposed to typewriters. So far as we know, there has never been any real demand for them."
She went on to say, "The committee is entirely willing to experiment—but not until next semester. An examination required of juniors and seniors in three large schools of the University entails more long-time planning than the writer of the editorial seemed to realize."
Several problems are presented in allowing the use of typewriters: first the method of determining the number of students desiring to use their machines, and second, the reservation of rooms which will accommodate quantities of typewriters. All this must be done in advance of registration so that students can be assigned to rooms.
"However, these details we shall probably be able to work out. At least we are willing to experiment," said Mrs. Calderwood.
One drawback concerns the student who is a poor peman, yet does not own a typewriter. Will he feel that an unfair advantage is being taken of him? Certainly the appearance of a paper does have an effect on the reader, even when he is determined that it will not have.
A sentence in the editorial that read, "After using the timessing little mills often enough students realize they can write better on a typewriter. Many persons so condition themselves that they cannot think with a pen," also drew comment from Mrs. Calderwood.
She believes that it is advisable for students who say they can think better on typewriters to also learn to think without them.
"It's rather too bad to be so dependent on a machine, even in this 'age of machines'. We might be caught out sometime without our typewriters—and what a calamity
In self defense, the writer of Monday's editorial offered the following explanation:
I'm sorry to have aroused an air of hostility from the proficiency exam committee, for no such result
that could turn out to be," stated Mrs. Calderwood.
J. G. Mason College Senior
Now is the time to see that students get an even break next year . . . before the seats they are forced to buy can be resold.
was intended. I merely wished to present an idea which, though not my own, has been discussed often among students. Of course I realized that suggesting such an innovation just five days before the proficiency exam would not allow time enough for it to be incorporated into this semester's set-up. But obviously the time for airing views on an affair which occurs only semi-annually is just before or after its occurrence—when the subject is being thought about.
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In Tuesday's issue of the Kansan, Mr. Lonborg is quoted as saying that sections F through R comprise the student section. The figures revealed in Thursday's editorial make it obvious that the seating capacity of these 11 sections are not sufficient to accommodate all students, wives and faculty members.
$22.50
Enjoy a Sea Food Dinner Tonight.
"Hats off" to John Scolly for his excellent editorial concerning the annual student swindle on football seats.
The only way to insure students seats is to reserve them. If the athletic department says that such seating would be "arbitrary," I myself would rather sit arbitrarily on the 10-yard line than to continue arriving at the game an hour or two early with no assurance of holding the seat I take.
824 Vt.
Today's Mail
Dear Editor:
'Reserve Our Seats'
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