PAGE SIX
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1950
The Editorial Page一
'Dear' Editor . . .
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the publicity that you have given the senior class and its choice of gifts. True, it might have been more worthwhile if published prior to the senior class meeting, but I am sure the opportunity to create disunion and cast aspersions is more effective if utilized after a decision has been made. While I thank you for the belated publicity on the gift, I would like to add that there are several facts which you either did not know or did not reveal.
As you have used the Kansan as a sounding board for your dislikes, perhaps you will allow me to defend the actions of the committee and the decision of the class.
In the Kansan for Nov. 14, 1949, an article appeared entitled "Class of '50 Plans Gift," telling of the different gift suggestions under discussion and asking comment by the students. Other articles appeared later telling of progress in the committees. On Feb. 16, 1950, an article appeared in the Kansan entitled "Seniors May Give Opinions on Class Gifts." Here all the gifts which were to be brought up by the committees were listed. After these articles I received no letter or call from W.F.S. about his ideas on the gifts. There was ample opportunity then for W.F.S. to write his editorial as a constructive influence.
In the face of opposition from some in the administration and some on the class executive committee the gift committee refused to make a recommendation on any one gift for the class. We felt that it was up to us to investigate all the possibilities, screen and rescreen, and come out with about four possible gifts from which the class could decide.
At 10 a.m. on Feb. 22, the interested members of the senior class met to decide. Another opportunity appeared for W.F.S. to voice his opinions—that is, if he was there. There was an opportunity for other gifts to be suggested. Each gift idea was explained as fully as time permitted. After the discussion a vote was taken and an information booth was chosen by about three-fourths of those present. It was a class decision and not a committee decision.
Clocks were suggested by members of the administration as a need of the University but some felt that they would not be a fitting gift. An ink fountain was suggested by several students who had seen such a fountain at the University of California where students used to fill their pens. True, the imagination can conjure up some more ferocious fountains and W.F.S. has a vivid imagination. A room for the Union was suggested by several students and some administrative personnel. It had a great many advantages and some disadvantages, as did all the gift ideas. The majority of those present thought either that there would be other classes that could furnish such rooms when they are available two years hence, or that other gifts would be of more service. I do not intend to defend the decision on an information booth as the best decision on the gift. I do defend it as being made by a majority of the seniors who were interested enough in their class to come to the meeting and voice their opinions.
The information booth will be used to dispense information at orientation, Homecoming, and commencement to new students, alumni, and parents. This is only a part of its usefulness for it will be located in a central place so that it may also be used for the sale of play tickets, magazines, campus publications, and other uses.
It is impossible where you allow all interested to vote to do what each wants. But until the time when one man can choose for all of us we must abide by the decision of the interested majority.
But one more thing: please, W.F.S., would you consult the Senior Reception committee a month before the senior breakfast to see if the menu is to your liking, and if not, write your editorials before the choice is made, and not after.
—Robert F. Bennett
Chairman, Class Gift committee
Editor's Note: We do not find fault with the manner in which the senior class gift was selected, only with the selection. If 500 students had voted for it, or if one man had selected it as the gift, we would still be doubtful of an information booth's value—"using the Kansan as a sounding board" as you put it.
Perhaps, in time, the booth will prove its value to the University, but that value will never warrant such an elaborate booth.
No doubt student apathy, and not a perverse committee, was responsible for the selection. Although, the committee's "screening and rescreening" may have been a trifle faulty.
Each year a similar gift is selected, and in most cases soon forgotten. There seems to be no real cause for alarm in the selection of an information booth, except in relation to its usefulness. We haven't been torn apart by a clash of ideologies, just a booth. We'll live.
If the editorial, and the letter, serve in any way to stimulate more careful selection of next year's gift, they will have served their purpose. If not, there will be no great change in things as they exist now. Next year, we might even get the ink fountain.
As for breakfast, we never eat any!
Wheaton college started something with its revival meeting. Now little Asbury college in Kentucky has a four-day-old student confession going with no sign of a let up, and K.U. students of wilder nature are glancing here and there over their shoulders for any little signs.
Dear Editor
Old Saying
Seemingly once again an old proverb has proved its endless life worthy. I am speaking of that familiar saying, "Miracles never cease to happen." That is exactly what entered my mind when I was greeted with the news that K. U. is adopting a 30-year-old custom from Kansas State. That of presenting a Y-Orpheum.
Dear Editor:
Not that we of Kansas State mind in the least that you too enter into the competitive spirit and match wits and talents for the presentation of a great show--naturally ours are great--but, don't you agree that borrowing the idea is enough without taking the name too?
Surely, you have someone there at K. U. who can dream up a name for a show that is sponsored by the Young Men's Christian association. If not, perhaps you would like us to send some Wildcat emblems down the Kaw, just in case you wanted to borrow those too.
--Ross E. Miller
Production manager,
Y-Orpheum,
Kansas State
Here's wishing you success with your production, but, please, try to find another name.
Editor's Note: Y?
Who Be Thee?
Dear Editor:
On reading a letter to the editor, printed Feb. 23 and entitled "Garbage Heap," I was amazed to find myself charged with dragging innocent bystanders into the garbage heap.
There I was, just an innocent bystander reading my college newspaper. Then all of a sudden, a mudball hits me in the back. I wake up finding I--an innocent bystander--have been dragging innocent bystanders into the garbage heap.
Rubbing the mud off as best I could, I looked to see who had thrown the mud-ball. I was not surprised to find that it was my old friend Mr. Name Withheld By Request. He was up to his old tricks. He was slinging mud, calling names, dishing out the propaganda. As usual, my old friend was content to do his name calling without calling out his own.
Had the old boy contented himself with tossing a mud-ball, however fully packed with his prejudices, I might have shrugged the incident off with my usual nonchalance. But no! This time he had splattered in-
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with combination salad, French fries, hot rolls, and coffee—all for
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nocent bystanders. I became highly incensed. And so, Knight of the Woeful Figure that I am, I needs must jount with Mr. Name Withheld By Request.
at
GEMMELL'S
"Always Ready
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717 Mass.
Closed Sundays
I strode into my armory to gird for battle. From the wall I took down my mighty sword and sharpened its quill point. I quickly donned my coat of mail, a splendid contrivance made entirely of facts. Then scooping up my arbalest--no other can compare to it for accuracy--I turned and left for the battlefield. And as I strode along, I held my simple shield: A banner white for truth on a background blue for courage. In the center of that doughty, shield, my name was emblazoned in fine bold letters so that all might see it who looked.
"How doth thou know, old man," quoth I to him.
In a once, I reached the field of battle. But for naught. My wily opponent had fled for his life. This I was told by a gnarled old man I met there.
He sighed deeply before answering. "As sure as my name is Innocent Bystander," he said, "I know it. Thou shalt not find Sir Name Withheld By Request here. He dragged me here, enchanted by a pithy phrase, and then fled as thou appeared on the horizon."
I gnashed my teeth in rage, beating myself for having let the fellow escape. But as I slowly walked away, deep in thought, a deep peace enveloped me. And stopping, I turned and waved at the garled old figure I had left behind. He called piteously to me and begged me to rescue him. I went back then and took his hand and led him away without a word.
As we left that dark field, he
smiled and said, "My thanks to you good sir, for rescuing me from that abominable place, the dark plain of Garbage Heap. But to whom do I owe the honor?"
I answered not but turned my shield toward him. On it he read:
James S. Morris
Journalism senior.
As of November 1, 1949, there were less than 3 million, 700 thousand World War I veterans still living. Their average age was 55 years.
University
Daily Hansan
News Room K.U.251
Adv. Room K.U.376
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"Hey Mac, How'd you like to buy an "A" Theme For English, entitled, "The Rapid Transit Company-Your City Bus Service."