PAGE TWO
SUMMER SESSION KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
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TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1943
SUMMER SESSION KANSAN THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS Lawrence, Kansas
Official Publication of the Summer Session
Editor Dale Robinson
Business Mgr .. Betty Perkins
NEWS STAFF
Bob Bock, Betty Lou Perkins, Bill Koehler, Kati Gorrill, Don V. Grief, Catharante Brown, Dolores Sulzman, Pat Foster, Mrs. M. Elsie Kirby, Maxine Crawford, Theodore Gray, Paula Reeve.
Army Up In Arms Over Library Story In Friday Kansan
The Kansan has received a number of letters, both from servicemen and civilians, in response to the article which ran in last Friday's paper, headed "Library Is Now a Den of Wolves." Practically all of the letters run in the same vein, that of condemning the article as grossly unfair to the men and full of inaccuracies.
The editor of the Kansan wishes to state that such an upheaval is regretful, but he believes that the whole matter is a tempest in a teapot. For one thing, the article was never intended to be taken as literal, but as an entertaining feature. Also, reporters on newspapers are customarily anonymous, a matter which seems to have aroused the greatest resentment.
Parts of the letters published in this issue have been deleted, chiefly for the sake of decency and propriety, but also because of libel laws. Our regrets to those writers who believe their letters have been emasculated by the omission of such material.
Letter to the Editor
Lindley Hall
To "Lady Macbeth"—
I agree with at least one thing you said in your article in the Kansan for August 20. And that was your desire to keep your name a secret. Had I said anything like that, I'd be ashamed of it too.
Granted that some of your complaints are justified. There is a considerable amount of horseplay going on. However, if I were you, I'd check up on my statistics before I make statements about smoking inside buildings, about the number of men who really want to study, and about all soldiers being wolves.
And just jut yourself in the soldier's place. Suppose you had just emerged from six months confinement with no one but 75 to 100,000 others just like yourself, and were then thrown in with many attractive members of the opposite sex. Would you ignore them, freeze 'em dead?
If this is the welcome we are to receive from Kansas, don't be surprised when you hear us, singing loud and long. "We're loyal to you, Illinois."
Polsonously yours J. S. McClurg, Pvt. AUS
Dear Editor:
After reading the article "Library Is Now a Den of Wolves," we have decided to make a few comments on the subject.
Whenever a change is made, there are always those who favor it and
hose who oppose it. If any change were made at the University which would detract from its great name, we would be the first to defend the institution. This time is no exception.
The coming of the service men to the Kansas campus was a change and marked the innovation of new procedures and policies in the regular schedule of the University.
We have all been hearing the unjust objections to the presence of the service men on the campus. You must realize that there probably would be no University of Kansas during these war years if it weren't for the service men.
We have all been hearing malicious rumors and slander hurled against the service men stationed on this campus. With very few exceptions they have been untrue.
During the past few decades, the University has made noteworthy advancement in the peacetime academic world. If it is to continue on this road, it must do the same with its country at war by making every effort to convert all its facilities to present needs. (The United States government undoubtedly is paying a generous sum to the University for use of these facilities.)
Along with objections to the presence of the service men have come foul cries condemning them as not being gentlemen. Such gossip or such statements are not only untrue but seditious. We feel that the soldiers and sailors of the college training programs represent the very cream of American youth. Before becoming affiliated with the programs, they have to pass numerous interviews and examinations. When one realizes how comparatively simple it is for a civilian student to enroll in the University, it is not hard to believe that the caliber of these men is higher than that of average students. Many of the student service men stationed on the campus have traveled extensively, or have held prominent positions in civilian life.
Therefore, they naturally represent an excellent type of student.
When considering the patriotic aims of the student service men as compared with the average aims of the students, one can comprehend the all important goal toward which they are working. Certainly far more important than the ambitious personal aspirations of average students.
If cries are to be made because of the present change on the University campus, we almost think the service men should be making them. Certain groups of retailers have boosted their prices far beyond the OPA price ceilings in an effort to take advantage of the present situation. And there have been still other manifestations of unjust acts toward service men.
Yet we hear no grumbling or complaining on the part of the service men. They all feel that they are extremely fortunate in being able to benefit themselves as well as their country.
Next time we hear anyone criticizing our service men, let us remember if it were not for them there would probably be no University of Kansas for quite some time to come, and perhaps not even an America as we know it now.
Name Withheld.
Editor:
August 20,1943 Lindley Hall
This is in response to the unprovoked criticisms of the ASTR and ASTP which appeared in your illustrious tabloid under the title of, "The Library Is Now a Den of Wovles."
In the first place, there is necessarily a certain amount of confusion in the library due to the excessive number of fellows engaged in study. These boys, approximately five hundred of them, all earnestly desire to get their lessons, and by far the greater number of them are making a much greater effort to that end than the average civilian student. How many civilian students would study three hours an evening, six nights a week?
Granted, there are a few of our number who still cling to some puerile habits which are entirely out of place in their present environs. However, these few are definitely in the minority, and it works a great heardship on the majority of A-12's if the entire program is judged by the actions of such a small percentage of men.
In regard to the smoking, it has been our observation that these rules are being obeyed. However, as before, in a few isolated cases, infractions may be found, but this hardly merits the simile: "The clouds of smoke that float around there get as bad as they do in Willie's Grill."
From this simile of the "anonymous young lady," we have drawn the conclusion that she does not object to such inconveniences on some occasions.
In conclusion, may we say that most of us here are appreciative of the many advantages which the government has provided for us. We are earnestly striving to "make good" under this program, and we want the civilian students to know of our sincerity. Some have indubitably already drawn false conclusions as to the typical ASTP and ASTRP men from the overdrawn article to which we have been referring. We believe it necessary, in the interest of fair play, for you to do all in your power to rectify such judgments.
Sincerely yours,
literely yours,
Room 226-ASTRP
Cadet William W. West
Cadet Charles E. West
Cadet Donald J. Webb
Cadet Horace Winters
Cadet Carl E. von Wooden
Cadet R. G Walker
Cadet Burdette L. Wagenknech
Cadet Zell D. Dever
My dear Miss Anonymous:
We appreciate the fact that the library is not the same quiet, secluded spot it may have been before the advent of the army. It is natural that you cannot put 500 men into a few rooms to study without having a certain amount of noise. We didn't ask to be put in the library to study and even before your article we had asked for another place.
Your article was probably well meant, but we wish that you had stuck more closely to the facts. As to changing the library into a burlesque show, we have been unable to find that anyone took his shirt off. The worst we could find was that several boys wore "T" shirts which are a little scanty, but the navy wears them as a regular uniform and no one seems to object.
We would also have appreciated the truth of the article much more if you had had enough sincerity in your convictions to back them up with your name. You should know that anyone who tries to convince someone else of something will not have much success if he doesn't believe in his statement enough to admit they are his. And we also haven't been able to find a single instance of where one of us whistled at a girl in the sacred confines of Watson library.
I hope you can also appreciate the trouble into which you have got us. We don't know what action the commandant will take as yet, but
you can assure yourself that he will take steps. I hope that after we are punished for something which exists more in your mind than any-place else, you find out about it and become very proud of yourself.
We are having so much free time and leisure around here that we really appreciate a little more trouble from a girl who is afraid to admit who she is. May I congratulate you.
Pvt. Thomas C. Bell Room 316 Lindley Hall
La Casa des Lobos August 20,1943
To the Editor, Summer Session Kansan:
Whatever dyspepsia, mange, or frustration may have agitated the composition of the blast against the army which appeared in this week's Kansan is the concern of no one but its possessor: the fact that the conduct and behavior of some two hundred and fifty soldiers, wearing the uniform of their country, has been not only questioned but calumiously fulminated against is sufficient cause for grave concern and judicious investigation.
The article was in every respect either simply mendacious or an example of gross hyperbole. The statement concerning smoking in the library is false in toto, while the account of the dangers and indignities to which a young lady (sic!) is subjected upon entering or departing from the building would give a reader ignorant of the truth the idea that the favorite pastime of the soldiers is raping co-eds.
A brief poll around the campus discloses the fact that no untoward acts have occurred at all, and that county clerk of each county should be the sealer of weights and measures for the county and that the county clerk should have the care and custody of the county standards. The law was never active and a
(continued to page three)
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