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University Daily Kansan
Friday, October 23.1970
Legal Procedures of U.S., Russia Compared
B-7
Professor Is Authority on Russian Law, History
By BLAKE HIBBARD Kansan Staff Writer
A University of Kansas,
professor is one of the few men in
the United States who is an
author on Russian law and its
history.
Oswald P. Backus, professor of history and art at the Stetson State College in Russia,History in the Law School and will offer a course in Soviet law next week.
What is the difference between Russian and American law?
Oswald Backus
... Russian law authority
American law is based on the Constitution of the United States, and is strongly influenced by English Common Law.
Backus said, the base for Russian law is indicated in various legal codes and the
Socialist Constitution, although there is a difference between what is written and what actually happens.
RUSSIAN LAW was aimed not only at protection of the socialist society, but also had several other goals. Backus said. "The concept of protection included the concept of protection of property rights of citizens.
What would happen if a Russian citizen were arrested and charged with robbery, for example?
The Soviet citizen arrested for robbery, Backus said, would immediately be put in jail and, in contrast to American practice, no bond could be posted. An intervention and hearing would follow
THE PURPOSE of the hearing was to establish whether or not there was a warrant to hold a trial, he said. If no basis for a trial was found, the citizen would be sentenced.
A Russian court has no jury, but a burglar said. There is a chance three people could be the case: one judge, who is a lawyer, and two people who are not lawyers.
The state has a prosecuting attorney and the citizen has the right to file a complaint. The citizen could pay the fees for the defense but did not give his defense lawyer Backus said. If the citizen could not afford the fee, the court appalled.
THE PANEL of three persons render judgment on the case. Backus said, but the judge's decision tends to be dominant. The police often ask him if there is justice as we know it in "victory law."
An example of justice in Soviet law was in the area of housing institutions in housing contracts were the most common disputes arising in Soviet courts, Backus et al. (1975) accused cases are in the U.S.
Backus said there is a shortage of housing in the U.S.S.R., and he has given the number of square meters that may be allocated to each individual in a family. If a member of the family moves out or if the house becomes vacant, during time, the vacated space must be sub-leased to someone else. Two common types of disputes arise in these circumstances, he
The other problem was more complex, Backus said. If a member of the family moves out to another town, the family has three months to find a tenant to take the lost member's space. At the end of three months, if no one is acceptable to the tenant, the family assigns someone to the space.
WHEN THE family returned from its leave of absence, the tenant sub-leasing the space often did not want to move out.
If the person assigned to the house is undesirable as a tenant, he said, a problem arises in at- tion and to remove him from the space.
BACKUS SAID both of these circumstances would diffuse the impact of social life. Therefore, the government at present is precise in lending these digests.
The government even went so far as to prosecute Communist Party officials who use their influence to attempt to evade
Senior Class President Defines Functions, Goals
With this in mind, Nichols and his officers have attempted to set up a variety of activities that can support their service opportunities for seniors.
IT IS IMPORTANT to realize the existence of society's problems, Nichols said, and to work for solutions, "but after all no problem is so bad that you sit back and have some fun, too."
In an interview, Nichols listed what he considered the main purposes of senior class acceso to the community, the public in general and to senior class members are the basis for their positions.
The senior class service committee was established to provide community-minder seniors with a channel for the!
One such organization is the seni-
class cabinet headed by Jin Min.
senior class president from
China, who will define the func-
tions of the seni-class
organization and to make
its activities relevant to all seni-
In times when relevancy is a key factor, members of many organizations are examining their functions to determine the pertinence of their strategies.
By CINDI WILLIS
Kansas Staff Writer
One other purpose for the class organization involved building a library of materials Nichols said. This function was echoed by Dice Wintermatter, director of the University of Alabama Alum Associates said one of the major functions of the class is to provide "an opportunity to know one another and to develop an allegiance to their class and through their class to the
RESIDES GOALS set for the senior class as an organization Nichols described the goals he built himself as the leader of the class.
He said his main goal as a student leader is to "bring people together and make them happy. Our society is pushing people further in their lives. I thought there were obvious distinctions between young and
"We've tried more than any other class to maintain compliance with the new members," Nichols said. He cited the mailing of three class newsletters last spring as one reason. The class budget was going to comply in one form or another.
energies, Nichols said, and presentation of the HOPE Award for the recipient selection was an effort to unite that "great educational system."
housing regulations, Backus said.
MAKING SENIORS aware of what they can do in the University and in the community as a major importance to Nicholas.
involved with the Chancellor's tour.
THE TOUR was one of the most educational experiences of my life. Nike described it as a constant learning experience, both consistently unpleasant.
In an effort to help older people understand the thinking of young people, Nichols traveled to Kansas University relevant to society, Nichols traveled through Kansas with Chancelor E. L. Laurence and to Kansas summer to talk to KU alumni.
"I became aware of a whole new art of listening and being perceptive to the problems of others," he said.
"No problem is so bad that you can't sit back and have some fun, too."
"Jim helped us a great deal in the summer. 'Conard said,' he added, 'We were deeply concerned about the events of the previous months and many were interested in getting involved in the situation as well as the Chancellor's. Jim helped clear up some misunderstanding about what happened."
old people. Changing social attitudes for the better, he said, involves getting the older people to understand youth.
An example of injustice was the situation of the journalist in Russia, he said.
John Conard, director of University Relations, was also
"I hope I was elected not to speak for other seniors but to help organize and lead the activities of the senior class."
"I hope I was elected not to
"i hope for other seniors, but to
help organize and lead the ac-
cies of the Senior Class." he said.
The rights of the journalist as
Nichols said creativity and interest in the individual feelings and thoughts are two differences between the Class of '71 and previous senior students.
IN SPITE of his position,
Nichols doesn't consider himself
a spokesman for the senior class.
He said he speaks for himself.
"I often wonder why I'm really there, if I'm really as good as all the people that have preceded me," he said.
A desire to be acknowledged by people as having done something of value is an important goal for students. A student leader and as a person.
"WE HAVE TO be over-cautious with the costume since it is the only one we have." Slotta said. "We feel the home crowd is most important. That's why we don't (taking it to) away games."
Several years ago the costume was stolen from a fraternity house after a KU-CU football
nature."
spelled out by law were often disregarded. Backus said.
Bilotta said last year they offered the company a new freework. The company refused the offer and produced company, and the "bird" would have to be built by hand. It would involve too much labor.
Jayhawk Costume Grounded at Home
the nobility in Russia and Poland- Lithuania.
Although Backus is an authority on aspects of contemporary Russian law, his research has focused on the 12th century, a period of major history. He is doing research on the legal position and influence of
Backus received his Bachelor of Arts degree at Yale University and did graduate work at Columbia University where he received his M.A. degree, His Ph.D., and completed at Yale University.
Dick Wintermote, executive director of the Alumni Association of North Carolina, the original body book was donated to the student body by the Kansas Union Book Store in the late 1940s. He said it was made of chickenwife and was not nearly as present framework.
HOUSING REGULATIONS
monstrated to the government's
rights of the journalist showed
concern with threats to govern-
ment.
He received his law degree from Harvard University in 1898. He then studied law at the two requirements for the second year law school at the KU Law school.
resident director of an exchange program at Poznan, where he also continued his research.
WASHINGTON  (UPI) —The United States has told Australia, Canada and Britain it plans to withdraw from project objectives designed to develop standard military communications equipment. In announcing the withdrawal, the Pentagon said it would be in favor of a win congressional financial support for U.S. participation.
"My research has become increasingly comparative in nature."
in the matters of litigation of the land rights were the reasons for the acquisition of sources include the land grants to the mobility and the records of the ownership.
research centers and to other universities, he said.
Backus said the land-holding rights of the nobility during the 15th and 16th centuries was a major theme of his research.
BACKUS HAS served four years on the National Defense Committee in Washington D.C., which judges such programs as the Asian Studies programs and the East Asian Studies programs at Columbia University.
BACKUS HAS been to Russia six times in connection with his research.
By JULIE SMITH
Kansan Staff Writer
AS AN EXAMPLE, he said, on land through a grant. This land be in use by many people for its water, stock grazing or some other use.
At this time in Russian history, the concept of ownership by either himself or another existed, he said. The concept of land usage caused legal problems for him.
purchased by the KU student body in 1958, is a hand-made metal structure.
On the first trip in 1957 he was negotiating contracts with Sovitek for changes with the KU library. Large numbers of books are among those in situations exchanging the largest quantity of books with numerous publishers.
MOSCOW (UPI) — Soviet aristocrat, a member of the treasure of 4000 pieces of gold jewelry in the tomb of an ancient warrior in Kazakhstan, the Soviet historian Vasyl Tass said the warrior, possibly a chief of the Saka tribe that once inhabited the region centuries ago. Most of the treasures are the type of animals, the agency said.
"We have to be overcautious with the costume since it is the only one we have."
The University of Kansas Jayhawk costume has been grounded. Vince Bliott, field director of the Alumni club, said the costume was too valuable to wear to any away games.
game. Bilotta said it was finally recovered by the office of the Dean of Men.
Bilotta said the bird costume stirred up quite a commotion on the field. The ball team traveled to the NIT tournament at Madison Square Garden in 1986. It was too big to fly, so many people needed to buy a plane ticket for it. He said the costume's name was listed for "Mrs. Bilotta."
In 1966 Backus was the first Westerner to travel to Lithuania as a research scholar entering the country, and later exchange agreement with the Soviet government since the country became a member of the Union.
When the noble was given, the land many disputes arose concerning the rights of the noble to regulate the uses of the land and control the noble had in controlling whatever uses might exist, he said.
My research has become increasingly comparative in nature, and Most recently, computer science the nature of source materials
Bilotta said the framework of the uniform alone was valued at $1200. The framework, which was
The committee recommended the allocation of blocks of fellowships to universities with federally supported language and
The costume also traveled by plane to the Orange Bowl two years ago. Bilotta said it caused trouble in the parade and at the game.
"WE LITERALLY stopped
crossing the street in front of
Madison Square Gardens."
Bilotta said "People had never
crossed the street before."
THIS YEAR Backs returned from Poland in September after spending seven months at the University of Poznan. He was the
Eldon Puetti, Topeka senior and this year's mascot, said the mascot is picked each year at yell leader tryouts. He last year asked
Puett said even though he could not wear "the bird" to the KU-K-State game he told everyone he was the Jawhawk.
"We believe the home crowd is most important. That's why we don't risk taking it to away games."
the judges had the contestants try on the uniform and do a few stunts. The person they thought would most suit the costume the best was then chosen.
people let me in free everywhere when I told them," he said.
Compliments of Coca-Cola Bottling—Kansas City, Lawrence