PAGE SIX
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1947
Editorial Page
Student Council Wants To Play Detective
By its motion Tuesday night to investigate the University Daily Kan-san, the All Student Council demonstrated its ignorance of the facts of University life. The council needn't feel embarrassed about its action—investigations are a rash that seems to plague the A.S.C. about this time every year.
Betty van der Smissen, who introduced the resolution to investigate the Daily Kansan, wants to know "the reason for so much advertising. . . and where the money from the sale of advertising goes." Miss van der Smissen has good intentions, but a few facts should be pointed out to her.
Nobody Getting A Rakeoff
The money from advertising goes for the expense of publishing the Daily Kansan—where else would it go? No student or faculty member or anyone else is getting a rakeoff. In fact, no student executives on the Daily Kansan, not even the editor or business manager, are paid a cent. Editors of several other campus publications do receive money for their efforts.
As to the percentage of advertising, official post office receipts show that Nov. 17 to Dec. 8 approximately 48 per cent of Daily Kansan space was advertising, which is more than usual because of heavy pre-Christmas ads. Compare this with any major daily newspaper, and you'll find the Daily Kansan advertising percentage below average. And does the council realize that people read ads as well as news? If ads were not read, why would advertisers advertise?
The University press has a mechanical limitation of printing only in multiples of four pages. Therefore, if there is more than an average amount of advertising for eight
pages but too little for 12, we must decide whether we can fill a "loose" 12 page paper by the 2 p.m. press deadline or condense (not leave out) the news into eight pages. Nat An ASC Problem
This is a typical problem, which the A.S.C. would neither recognize nor know how to handle. Besides creating overwhelming confusion, council interference would be about the same as if the Kansas legislature were to tell the Topeka Daily Capital how much advertising to carry how many pages to run, and how much to charge for advertising.
Miss van der Smissen and her fellow sleuths should also be reminded of some other facts. It is the privilege of the council's publications committee members to sit in on all meetings of the Kansan Board, which establishes policy and runs the Daily Kansan. Not once this year has that committee bothered to visit us.
Why Not Come To Our Meetings?
Why NOT Come To Our Meetings:
The A.S.C. wants to audit the Daily Kansan's books, yet if the council's publications committee bothered to attend Kansan Board meetings it would hear a monthly confidential statement. The council has already been informed of the fact that Daily Kansan books are audited by the state.
The Daily Kansan get $1 a semester from each activity book. This revenue is barely enough to pay the
printing bill alone for only three months. Here are examples of subscription prices at other schools:
Iowa State college, $1.50 a quarter, which would be equivalent to $2 a semester; University of Missouri, $10 a year; University of Oklahoma, 5 cents an issue, which would be at least $4 a semester; Oklahoma A. and M. college, $2 a semester; University of Indiana, $2.50 a semester, and so on—all of them having about the same percentage of advertising as the Daily Kansan.
Finally, we quote again from the formal A.S.C. rules:
"The Kansan Board is hereby authorized to govern its activities through its own constitution, provided that such activity shall not infringe upon established policy of the A.S.C. in protection of student rights."
We know of no established policy of the council "in the protection of student rights." Therefore, it would seem that until such an intangible policy is established and defined, the Daily Kansan should continue to run its own business, free from political influence, and in a business-like way.
Last Minute Whim
Besides demanding investigation of the Daily Kansan, the All Student Council Tuesday night sought to ban sale of the Bibler Calendar. Reason given for the ban was an A.S.C. rule that says the council's auditing committee shall have jurisdiction over such publications as the Bibler Calendar, and that such publication
Public Postcard
To Weekend Drivers,
By speeding you can gain a minute, but you may lose a lifetime. Take it easy.
University Daily Kansan.
must submit a proposed budget for approval by the auditing committee. No budget was submitted for the Bibler Calendar, so the council tried to stop sales.
What the A.S.C. failed to realize was that its own rules provide that "it shall be the duty of the auditing committee to give PERSONAL NOTICE to each elected or appointed head" of each publication that is under jurisdiction of the auditing committee.
THE COMMITTEE FAILED TO GIVE ANY SUCH NOTICE TO ANYONE CONNECTED WITH THE BIBLER BOOK. THEREFORE, WHY SHOULD BIBLER CALENDAR SALES BE SUSPENDED ON THE LAST MINUTE WHIM OF THE A.S.C.?
University Daily Kansan
Student Newspaper of the UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Member of the Kansas Press Assn., National Editorial Assn., Inland Daily Press Assn., and the Associated Collegiate Press Represented by the National Advertising Service, 420 Madison Ave. Washita City
Editor-in-Chief Anil Cromley
Managing Editor Martha Jewett
Asst. Man. Editor { Alverna Niedens
Alm J. Stewart
City Editors { John Wheeler,
Gene Vignery
Sports Editor Cooper Rollow
Asst. Sports Editors { Paul Zahn
Bob Dellinger
Picture Editor Hal Nelson
Telegraph Editor John Stauffer
Asst. Tel. Editor Lois Lauer
Asst. Tel. Editor Casper Brochmann
Society Editor Barbara Felt
Immovable Object?
With Governor Carlson's endorsement Wednesday of a University band trip to the Orange bowl, it becomes more apparent that the University administration misjudged public sentiment on such a venture.
When the matter was first brought up last week, the University administration promptly dismissed it with the assertion that spending of $15,000 on a band trip would result in a state-wide scandal. The University can quit worrying about scandals when the governor himself contributes $10 and sends the chancellor a telegram stating that "it would add much to the gala occasion to have the band present."
High public officials are extremely reluctant to go out on limbs, and Governor Carlson would not go to the extent of making public his telegram to the Chancellor unless he Ans certain of public backing.
Many direct student appeals to the stalachouse have been politely referred back to the point of original dispute, but this time the governor apparently hegs to differ with the University administration and in so doing has won the approval of a lot of students.
Especially interesting will be the proposed meeting of the board of regents, Chancellor Malott, and Athene Director Quigley. We'd sure like to be there—we might find out what happens when the irresistible force meets the immovable-object.
Flying Begins At 66
Battle Creek, Mich.—(UP)—Flying began at 63 for Guy E. Russell. Eored by his two-year retirement from his job of making cereals, Russell joined the Battle Creek Flying club and won his license. His next job is to persuade his wife to fly with him, he says.
Beat the Heck out of Georgia TeeK
It Improves With Age. What? The Bitter Bird K.U.'S Spiciest Publication
INCLUDED IN THIS ISSUE:
The Secret Life of Homer Cutlip.
Trip To The Orange Bowl.
- "Who Done It". (A photocrime Mello Drama)
- Fall Party Pictures.
Plus Other Bitter Features.
ON SALE - Tuesday, December 16, ONLY