KANSAN comment
Athletics: Between the Poles
Big-time collegiate athletics is moving into the often unstable realm of politics and rhetoric, which can alter the entire tenor of sports beyond recognition.
The Sam Goldberg case is neither an isolated incident nor the raving of an over zealous, politicizedick. It is the most visible sign locally of a trend materializing in dressing rooms across the nation—a trend that promises to give coaches Monday morning ulcers just as frequently as do Saturday's bobbed passes and missed blocks.
Yet this emerging role has yet to be completely defined, thus, cross-culture conflicts arise resulting in the schizophrenic athlete.
The athlete today is confronted on all sides by a youth-oriented culture that condones and encourages involvement by all its adherents. Consequently, the role of the athlete is being redefined along the lines of the culture that he must call home.
The modern athlete will eventually find
his political identity, only to the dismay of those who regard him as just so much beef. This is certain.
The question that waits to be resolved is this: can the athlete play a dual role without completely emasculating the nature of athletics altogether?
There are those who would have the two (politics and athletics) divorced completely. This would eliminate the possibility of a continuum, on which a sane group could inherit the ground between the extremes.
If athletics were to slip entirely into the domain of politics, it would lose some or all of the impartiality that spurs spirited competition.
Yet to deny the athlete the opportunity to bring his problems into the public view—to ignore his rights as an individual, not just an athlete—is a travesty of justice.
Resolution of the differences in philosophy between the two extremes is
The Groundwork for Change
One of the most consistently eloquent spokesmen for orderly necessary change in the American educational system today is KU's chancellor, E. Laurence Chalmers.
In that address, he sought to examine the conflict in values which he believed underlay much of the discontent in America today, and to suggest possible solutions for the resolution of that conflict.
Chalmers is much sought-after today as a speaker, and change is a theme which is central in most of his speeches. Too many of his eloquent pleas for orderly progress receive scant attention in the press.
Typical of Chalmers' recent speeches was one he delivered recently before the Lawrence Kiwanis Club, "The Management of Change."
Chalmers said he was convinced that the war in Southeast Asia, as well as poverty, prejudice, and pollution were only "highly visible symptoms" for which "we will not find lasting solutions ... unless we also solve the underlying value conflicts."
A basic conflict today in American society, in Chalmer's view, is the conflict between those who see the acquisition of property and wealth as the primary goal, and others who believe that only property and wealth are necessary for the fullest realization of their potential.
In suggesting solutions for resolving that basic conflict, Chalmers noted that higher education was under attack "because society always attacks its own institutions when the source of stress is internal." Society is attempting to cure its ills by blaming the problems of today upon its institutions, such as the free press, the courts, public higher education, and even democratic government itself.
"There is no inherent conflict," Chalmers said, "only the potential for conflict."
Student evaluation of course material with an eventual goal of allowing students to tailor their degree programs to individual needs was another academic innovation Chalmers said foresaw. Another, mentioned in several previous speeches by Chalmers was the "steady erosion of arbitrary blocks of time (e.g. 50-minute classes, three meetings a week) and arbitrary methods of evaluation (set formula for determination of grades).
Solutions cited by the chancellor included participation in decision-making processes by students "in all of the decisions that affect the non-academic parts of their lives."
In his convocation address, Chalmers described "thoughtful, humane, orderly, encompassing, significant change" as "the single most difficult task a university faces in the immediate future." Chalmers has been active in seeking orderly, constructive, change within the educational system. Through his many speeches to groups of all varieties, and through his repetition of change as a central theme, he is perhaps laying the necessary groundwork for the acceptance of change by those who will have to accept it if it is to be successful.
"We must use that social laboratory (the larger society around us) as a lasting basis for learning the theories, the methods and the contents that our graduates may use to solve the critical social problems of their generation," he said.
Perhaps most potentially significant thing in the resolution of value conflicts is the elimination of barriers between the academic arena and the larger society, especially in the social sciences and the professional schools, he said.
indigenous to the vitality of athletics, and will come only as the result of understanding and determination.
—Bob Womack
Tom Slaughter
International Students Hurt By Housing and Isolation
LETTERS
Both the comments attributed to Peter George and Chuck Friedrichs in the Sept. 21 Kansan and the reply by Alex Thomas in last Wednesday's Kansan raise some very interesting questions.
1) Do these comments indicate a genuine interest in the deplorable housing conditions under which most (foreign) students live? I am afraid (and I hope that I am wrong) that they do not.
To the Editor:
For the last five years, I've heard the same record played again and again without any concrete results. It is certainly nice to grab some votes for a politician . . . a politician . . . a politician . . .
2. Is housing the only problem faced by the so-called foreign students? Again, I am afraid not. Students are often isolated to which international students are reduced. Only last spring, I introduced a simple online course.
It is no secret that many an international student lives in a slum, full of roaches and devoid of hot water. And it is no secret that many international students look for the day when they can part with
Dos Passos' Conservatism A Buttress
As most of your readers know, the leading American novelist John Dos Passos died September 28. In the 1820's, he was the most influential literary figure in the defense of Sacco and Vanzetti, out of which grew his vast and memorable trilogy, which includes *The Mystery of the later part of his life* was spent writing books on the early history of the United States. In these books he traced America's liberal heritage, hoping thus to renew his countrymen's appreciation of it. Much of his so-called conservatism (usually based in the 1840's) consisted of his attempt to buttress the liberal heritage against Communist totalitarianism.
There is plenty of literary criticism on Dos Passus in Watson Library. What I have tried to add is a note at the end of the book.
To the Editor:
One of his literary friends has written that hundreds of people considered Dos Passos their best friend, and that most of them were unknown to each other. Some of the most glowing tributes to Dos Passes are in E. E. Cummings' writings, particularly in his letters, where he declares that any nematric "jury" could be convinced that Dos Passos "one of the earth's Loveliest with a capital 'L'"
Assistant Professor of English
on this campus.
The results of the questionnaire point to the existence of an "international Island."
It seems to me that both the administration and all other concerned parties have overlooked the fact that international students look at themselves as a guest, and a guest cannot make demands on his host.
the cold and lonely winters of their dim rooms. Badly needed are programs that promote the sharing of experiences between the international student and his American counterpart. Such program offers encouragement of mutual communication, campfire discussions and on-the-spot discussions (e.g., discussions in which groups of international students go to a certain fraternity or residence hall and initiate it) as well as discussions that is important that such confrontations should involve reflect the rich variety of cultures on this campus.
After all, how are we going to understand each other if we can't talk to each other?
I believe that it is the duty of the administration to take some meaningful steps. I also believe that it is in the interest of a sane and peaceful world that students and groups should cast away the shell of isolation and apathy that brought us to where we are.
With an international community of well above 800 students and faculty, the University of Kansas can and should pride itself by having a sizeable international community with a good deal of personal involvement—and receive from those students who have a live, touch of what other cultures are like.
Has this potential been realized? Although a few of us—because of the length of our stay and our cultural and travel experiences—have had that opportunity, the great majority remain locked in their "岛."
Wouldn't it be a real tragedy if all that international (and not foreign) stock is carried away by the war?
"Yes, Grausch. I can see your point, but if you moderate yourself to get in contact, won't you have to keep it? What will happen to your financial support if you suddenly yourself as a serious reformer"?
RAPPING LEFT
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Graduate Student
Abdul Sald
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
"How can you solve problems by avoiding them in the interest of winning votes?" Spartacus quered.
"Easy. After we win power we'll have a free hand to change the country. But until then we can't do it, we concentrated on education, we necessitates making the placetable comfortable, we would lose—and then what could we do?"
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"Do you want to solve our country's problems or simply get into power, because, friend Gracechus, 'I bear you cannot do both.'
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"You want to move too fast!" Graccus answered. "We may alienate what support we have, or harden our own hand—enough raising money as it is. To win in politics, we must pick one issue that we on-line do it drive it home to the public."
READER'S DIRECT SALES & SERVICES, INC.
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This is by GUS DZKEGKA
An excerpt from an old Roman manuscript reported recently recently ruins by an archaeological expedition. Although we not certain of their authenticity, we find the contents to be unscarcely timely and so command them to your study.
"As you know, I want to solve the problems."
The Foibles of Ascending to Power
Gracechus and Spartacus were discussed how to change the society of the empire. Gracechus was busy working in the campaign of a liberal dovish senator and was attempting to increase services of his more militant friend.
"Of course the system is not perfect," Graecus argued, "but change comes about piecemeal; we must work. We have to worry, two years ago there were hardly any dovish candidates and now we find them throughout the empire. You will be doing the cause of us, you should be good if you work with us."
"Your offer seems a tapping one, Grachus." Spartacus replied, "but will we be able to broaden the issues of war that we have faced not an isolated military mistake. Our foreign involvement is integral to the economy of the empire as it will become more difficult to increase over the last few years. Even if we are able to force withdrawal from Gaul, further inward threats elsewhere are inevitable."
"We might get into trouble . . . "
"Might? Isn't it true that to run for imperial or high provincial office today, you need vast sums for charolers and students to publicize your campaign, not mention that you attend festivals, to buy votes?" "Yes."
"And isn't it true that in order to get this money, you get to convince the wealthy that it is in their interest to support you?"
"Yes, Spartacus, you are right."
"How are you going to do that if their intrests are served by the same system you are trying to reform?
"But Spartacus, what you forget is that, once we gain power, we can forget about our wealthy backers."
"Do you think that will really work, Gracechus? What about getting money for your next campaign—either for reelection or for higher office where, I suppose, you will be able do even more good? Do you
"You are naive, Gracchus. How often do you find saints sterving for power; or rule over others? And how long do they remain saints after that? A good man is buoy enough ruling himself.
"Surely, anyone can run for office and anyone can vote, but the real selection of him who to rule occurs is that those who are acceptable to the
"You might have a point, Spartacus, but we will be different."
"And remember this, Grachus, any politician capable of lying to the rich get money is equally capable of lying to us to get our assistance—and we are less important to his future than the wealthy."
know of any politicians who haven't the courage to educate the people in their campaign, but who deliberately throw away their political politics by choosing to be one-term leaders?"
"I was afraid you would say that, dear Graesch. But to me it is evidence of either your naïve or worse, the infatuation you have developed over the prospect of power. I hop that you are wrong, but it would that power is your first love and reaffirms that power in love and second-class courtesan in your eyes, for once you are successful, you will arrest your face from her in public."
"But still I must disagree, Spartacus, for it seems that you must be wrong."
ruiling class- get financial backing and good publicity. Those who aren't are made impotent - or killed. That is why fundamentally there is never political candidates. What the political wealth's millions does not breed, the love of power does even in good men. Voting is power on major because those issues never come to light. Republic? We have a plutocracy."
'Understand you could use a little help around here.' x