PAGE SIX
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 1949
The Editorial Page-
Loyalty Oath-Yes
We cannot reason that the anti-Communist oath will destroy academic freedom. It is actually a means of holding on to the very same academic freedom which some persons fear they will lose because of the oath. When you have a Communist state you have the exact opposite of academic freedom. The oath does not hold any reins on freedom to teach the truth.
It does not play into the hands of subversive elements as some persons let themselves believe. While it is true that the Communist will probably perjure himself by signing the oath, he will not be forced to defend himself when faced with prima facie evidence of his subversive activity. Until the oath became law, no Communist teacher or public official in Kansas was threatened with the possibility of facing a perjury charge with the consequent penalty.
When faced with prima facie evidence which shows by the "clear and present danger" test that a person has violated or is violating the concepts upon which this country stands, then it is time for action. In this sense the oath is not an infringement upon civil liberties, but an aid to them.
Academic freedom will be at stake only when a teacher violates the obligation and responsibility to teach the truth.
We do not propose that spies go to work in the classroom to find out who is to face the "clear and present danger" charge. Nor do we say who is to decide whether a teacher is a Communist when the teacher denies political affiliation. These are, however, major points which need much consideration.
We do contend that the oath itself does not add to any Red hysteria. It rather serves to protect our freedoms in a very definite way.
We live in difficult times—changing times. We cannot jeopardize the security of this country by allowing those who advocate its otherthrow by force to hold any public position. Something had to be done about this menace. The oath is a practical way of helping to assure our protection.
—Leonard Snyder.
Loyalty Oath—No
Although the legislature has saved Kansas from the Red peril with the anti-Communist oath bill, an equally important bit of legislation was overlooked in the last minute hubbub of adjournment.
What about tidal wave relief?
Of course it's true that the nearest ocean is 1,700 miles away, but then, the nearest Communist probably isn't much closer.
A bill for tidal wave relief would be about as necessary as our new loyalty law, but it wouldn't be nearly so harmful.
At best, the oath will smother classroom discussion and make any teacher think twice before he criticizes the government in any way.
At worst, it will cause the resignation of some of our best professors and will drive potential talent away from Kansas.
Any professor who signs the oath will need to use caution when he discusses Communism in his classes. He cannot discuss it objectively, for some would say he advocated it.
The law is definitely a threat to academic freedom when instructors cannot examine all forms of government and economic systems without fear of dismissal.
Anyone who should actually want to overthrow the government can get a clean bill of health merely by scratching his name on a piece of paper.
It is sad that an otherwise progressive legislature had to mar its record by passing such a law just before adjournment.
—Douglas Jennings and James Scott.
World's 'Biggest Eye' Seeks Answers To Universe Riddles
By PAUL F. ELLIS United Press Science Writer
United Press Science Writer
New York—(U.P.)—The world's "biggest eye," an eye that may permit man to see" how his universe began, has gone to work.
The eye is the 200-inch mirror telescope atop rugged Mount Palomar, in Southern California, in an area that is free of Los Angeles' smog.
The eye already has picked up the light years from earth. That is about 6,000,000,000,000,000,000 miles, light traveling six trillion miles in one year.
The first pictures taken of the distant star field will be released soon. To the average person, the picture won't show much. To the astronomer, the pictures may solve the riddle of the universe—how it began; its makeup; its age, and whether it is expanding, as is generally believed by scientists.
One of the first serious observations with the big mirror was made in a "selected spot" in the constellation Leo. Objects believed to be at the full power of the mirror—one billion light years—were picked up. They were merely fuzzy white dots, about the size of a pin point. Further studies may show whether those dots are moving farther into space.
It may be that those distant stars are no longer in the heavens, because the light which was picked up by the big mirror has been traveling through space for millions and millions of years. Since they first threw off light that is now being picked up, the stars may have moved on over the horizon.
The Palomar astronomers are not seriously concerned with further astronomical exploration of Mars—but they do want to settle one thing, once and for all. That is: Are there any canals on the face of Mars?
From time to time astronomers have reported observing lines on Mars—lines that seem to have a symmetrical design. A good, clear photograph of Mars, has never been taken. The earth's own atmosphere is shaky and blurs what pictures have been taken. The shakiness may be compared to the ripple of water running over pebbles in a creek.
With the big mirror, however, the
"Since everyone's on time this morning, guess we'll just have a 'shot-gun' test."
KU, City Schools To Stress Reading
A summer reading workshop sponsored by the School of Education will be organized in co-operation with Dr. E. L. Novotny, superintendent of schools in Lawrence.
Thirty-five elementary school pupils and 35 high school students will be selected for the workshop from the public schools of Lawrence, said Dr. H. P. Smith, director of the reading laboratory.
The purpose of the workshop is to improve the students' reading speed and comprehension and to give training for teachers in reading, Dr. Smith said.
The students will be supervised by about 30 University students who will be selected from the summer session graduates and seniors. Classes will be held one hour each day from Monday, June 20 through Friday, July 29 at Liberty Memorial High School.
With the first "big eye" pictures about to be released by the California Institute of Technology, which operates Palomar, numerous wild rumors have begun to reach the scientists. One is that the astronomers have found a square-shaped star with eleven lights. Another rumor is that the telescope has found an opening in the constellation Orion, through which the gates of Heaven can be seen.
scientists hope to get a picture between "ripples." If such can be taken, a clear picture of the face of Mars will be available. Man will then know if Mars ever was inhabited, or is now. There have been theories that Mars is now a dead planet; that it already has gone through an age of life, such as the earth is in now.
By Bibler
Discretely, the Cal. Tech scientists deny the rumors. But they persist, just the same.
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He Doesn't Like It
South Haven, Mich.—(U.P.)—Mrs. Paul Mixer spotted a sign in Texas, between San Antonio and Del Rio reading: "This is God's country. Don't drive through it like hell."
YOU'LL ROAR as never before
His love for the Senator's daughter was above reproach . . . Oh Yeah?
SEE
It's woo-woo woo-nderful!
You, too will get a kick out of
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Engineers' Meet Will Begin Friday
Five student branches of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers from a four-state area will be guests of the University at the annual engineering conference scheduled for Friday and Saturday. Marion Burgert, engineering senior, is in charge of arrangements.
Several speakers will compete for prizes to be presented by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the parent organization of the student branches.
Schools to be represented include Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Okla homa A. and M., Kansas State, an Nebraska.
They Just Laugh Their Troubles Away
Cambridge, Mass.—(U.P.)—Nobed believed a youth when he entree the offices of the Central Scientific company and announced; "This is stickup."
The clerk, Elizabeth Nau, left the and continued her desk work. customer entered the office and M' Nau went to chat with him. The holdup youth stood uncertainly for a few minutes and walked out of the office.
The assistant manager, Arthur W Hall, said there wasn't much money in the office anyway. The firm most of its business by checks.
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