Lawrence Velvel Alive and Well in Washington, D.C.
By HARRY WILSON
Kansan Staff Writer
Third in a Series
Lawrence Velvet, a controversial figure while at the University of Kansas, said in a recent telephone interview that he has not created any controversy at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. where he is now professor of law.
Velvet, a former law professor at KU,
became the subject of much debate in
Kansas during the spring of 1970 when the
Kansas Board of Regents, in a March 21
meeting, deleted his name from the list of
KU faculty members scheduled for
the fall semester. Added to the list was
Fredric Latto, then assistant professor of
Speech and drama.
The names of Velvet and Lito were deleted because of their participation in controversial activities. Lito's name was struck from the list because of his participation in the production of a film to be shown behind the Iron Curtain. Congress said the production was done in poor taste for a film to be sent abroad.
FOR VELVEL, the promotion controversy was the culmination of a series of controversial activities. During the 1969-1970 school year at KU, Velvel made several speeches against the Vietnam war and the conduct of the $^4$ Chicago Seven conspiracy trial. In addition, he tried to bring suit against the U.S. government in unconstitutionality of the Vietnam war and contending that an article of the Constitution giving Congress the power to declare war had been violated.
On Feb. 17, 1970, a protest march was held at KU against the Chicago Seven conspiracy trial. Vessel made a speech to the court and insisted that the court actuate at the trial and the use of contempt citations by Judge Hoffman, who conducted the trial. Following the speech, a group of 200 marchers continued to protest, and they destroyed property at the court house.
VELVELS SPEECH prompted an attack by Reynolds Shultz, then a state senator from Lawrence Shultz asked that Velvel he fired because he thought that
Velvel had encouraged the marchers to riot.
demonstrate support for the promotions of Velvet and Latto. Approximately 5,000 students attended a rally in connection to the strike. The strike and rally were peaceful.
The Kansas Board of Regents asked for a report on Velvet's speech from Chancellor E. Laurence Chaimers Jr. Lawrence Blades, dean of the law school, to a meeting of the Board of Regents by Chaimers. At the next meeting of the Board of Regents, the
On April 24, in a Kansas City meeting, the Rogents voted 6 to 2 to promote Velvet from associate professor to professor and Litter from assistant professor to associate
Whatever Happened to . . .
names of Velvet and Litter were deleted from the list of faculty members to be
Chalmers offered to delay the promotions until more information concerning Velvet and Lito could be gathered. The Revents agreed.
On April 8, a student strike was held to
professor The action was taken after additional information concerning the academic qualifications of Velvel and Lito was received from the Chancellor
VELVEL CONTINUED to teach at KU during the 1967-1993 school year before becoming professor of law at Catholic University this fall. He has been there one
month.
Velvel said he left KU because he got a better job. He was not very pleased at KU, and the job at Catholic University offered different challenges, he said. His decision to leave KU was made on the basis of several factors, one of which was the controversy that had surrounded him, he said.
Although he has not created any controversy at Catholic University as he had at KU, Velvet's activities have not gone unnoticed.
"I've been on television and in the papers," Velvet said, "but you must understand that there are a lot of people in the news more than I am."
VELVEL HAS been in the news because of his legal activities. He is representing four Catholic University law professors in a case to test the constitutionality of the wage-price freeze. They are working on the case, Velvel said, because they think the president is elegantly delegated power to the President to put the wage-price freeze into effect.
In addition, Velvel is filing suit in the
count of appeals in an attempt to have the Vietnam war declared unconstitutional. A similar suit filed in Kansas was not allowed by a district court and appeals court, and the U.S. Supreme Court would not consider the case.
Velvel was reluctant to elaborate on his activities. He said that he was doing a brief for a senator and was involved in an action to get political figures to ask the Supreme Court to review the Vietnam war. He is also involved in political activities surrounding the upcoming nominations to Suriname's Senate. Moreover, Velvel is writing an article on the Vietnam war for "The Review of Contemporary Law," a European publication.
VELVEI SAID he enjoyed his work in Washington more because he was a lot of fun to be in and had many chances to participate in more activities. Just being in Washington is exciting, he said.
Asked if he would remain at Catholic University, Velvet replied that he had been offered a deanship but had not yet decided to accept it.
82nd Year. No. 27
Ma' Bell Has Students Upset
Commission Postpones Beer Issue
See Page 5
The Lawrence city commissioners appeared to be rather reluctant to grant a cereal malt beverage license to the Kansas commission on the commission meeting Tuesday.
After two hours of heated discussion the issue was postponed until next week's meeting.
The reluctance of the commissioners was because no one seemed to be quite sure whose responsibility it was to make the decision. Since the University of Kansas is not covered by the city zoning laws some of the commissioners thought the Board of Regents should make the decision. Because the Board of Regents had been appointed final on the last meeting on Sept. 17, many persons at the meeting thought that the matter was meant to have left to the local government.
Appearing before the commissioners, the Rev. Richard Taylor, president of the Kansas United Dry Forces, said that alcohol was the number-one drug problem in Kansas. He said this could not be corrected if the city commission became a judge. Taylor asked for a debtuals闸 Board of Regents take official action on the issue.
Olin Petfish, the attorney for the applicant, said it was not a question of whether beer on the campus was good or bad, but that since an application had been submitted to the applicant had met all the requirements, the commission had to approve it.
Vote was taken on John H. Emmick's motion that the issue be deferred indefinitely until the Board of Regents or the State Legislature passes some kind of action on whether the Union could sell beer. This vote failed 3-2. Because the city commission felt inadequate to make a decision on issuing and distributing Allen, the city attorney was unable to attend the meeting, the commission deferred the issue until next week
According to Frank Burge, director of the Kansas Union, beer would be served in the Union in connection with food in the Prairie Room and in the Hawk's Nest.
Almost Gone But Still Remembered
It's fall, but many people still attempt to cling to the thoughts of summer. Chip Shoan, Bartlesville, Okla., junior, stretched his hammock between two trees at
Potter Lake during one of this week's warmer days, perhaps relieve a summer break.
Kissinger to Visit China To Plan for Nixon Trip
The Associated Press
President Nixon, apparently ready to proceed with plans to visit Communist China, is sending foreign-policy adviser Merrill Lynch on a monthly month-to "make concrete arrangements."
Word of Kissinger's second journey to Peking in less than four months was given Tuesday by White House press secretary Ronald L. Ziecker.
Kissinger himself made a rare on-the-record appearance before White House reporters to disclose that he would be accompanied by a full advance party of technical specialists. From such interviews, he informed the White House Communications Agency and White House Communications Agency.
This development, coming while Westerners continued to speculate on murky happenings that might indicate significant events within China, was seen as indication that the President's plans remained unchanged—as of now, at least.
"There is nothing unusual or unforeseen
that has produced this announcement.
Kissan
Under questioning, he said it was the official policy of the White House and all federal agencies to avoid speculation on whatever happened in mainland China to produce the much-publicized grounding of a National Overseas Preservation of a National Oversea parade on Oct. 1.
Kissinger, who confirmed that Washington has been in direct although "cumbersome" contact with Peking since the early 1980s, emphasized several times that planning for the journey has been handled by the Chinese "mutilously, correctly and carefully and there has been no impact of that change that may be occurring on these preparations."
Profs Give Freeze Mixed Reviews
Zieper said Kissinger and a traveling part of about 10 will fly to Peking during the visit.
Kissinger said he would fly to Peking aboard a presidential jet via Honolulu and would spend no more than four days in the Chinese capital. He indicated the timing of Nixon's visit would be announced soon after his return.
Kansas Staff Writer
University of Kansas economics professors have a variety of opinions about President Nixon's wage-price freeze and economic measures which accompany it.
BY TERRY SHIPMAN
Kenner Stuff Writer
Professor Leland J. Pritchard said recently it was inevitable that some measure along the lines of a wage-price freeze would be enacted. He said the fiscal and monetary policies were no longer sufficient to deal with our economic problems and that deficit financing was not doing as much good as had been hoped.
It isn't a question of whether the plan is good or not, said Pritchard. There simply is no difference; it is that present plan seems to be the lesser of many evil. According to Pritchard, the
Pritchard said the problems were caused by the concentration of economic pressures in the organization for the current situation of inflation and high unemployment. The economic situation will continue to deteriorate, he said, unless controls are
Pritchard saw little gain for the lower income groups by way of the economic reform and called the increase in personal deductions and non-itemized deductions insignificant. He said that big business would benefit greatly from the increased tax on foreign goods and the elimination of the 7 per cent excise tax on automobiles.
Concerning what will happen after the freeze ends Nov. 13, Pritchard assumed that some controls would continue, at least among the major industries and labor unions.
plan is good because it at least recognizes that free enterprise as it exists today must
Pritchard also said that the government would try to eliminate the "cost of living" clauses from union contracts because they are costly and create a spiral of increasing prices and increasing
Thomas J. Weiss, assistant professor of economics, said the whole plan was mainly oriented toward political advantages, rather than economic necessity. Weiss said that the economy was reacting according to the projections of the Council
of Economic Advisors and that the President's action was economically unnecessary. Weiss said that the amendment making the freeze possible, passed only last year, would not have been done had thought the President would use it.
Professor Duncan McDougal said the President took action along the wrong track and that unemployment is the problem of greatest importance, not inflation. McDougal said the President chose to protect the dollar rather than to hire unemployment, a move that shows more concern for big business than for the workers.
One good effect of the wage-price freeze, Weiss said, will be to make unions and big business more cautious, so that they will use more self-imposed control.
In general, Weiss said, strict price and wage controls were not good, since they tend to make it difficult for expansion and natural economic growth to occur.
"A strong dollar will not help someone who is unemployed," McDougall said. He emphasized that the President would have to do something about unemployment
when the problem doesn't go away by itself. McDougal also objected to the wage-price freezes on the grounds that it will force companies to pay more, which is vital to our economic system.
Professor Richard S. Howey said the plan was just not to go work. "It never made sense for me," he said.
Howe said that wage and price fluctuations were performing functions necessary to the economy. He said they could be caused by economic interference by governmental controls.
The current economic problems, he said, are due more to poor monetary policy, i.e., too much currency, and will not be helped by wake-orice fixing.
Concerning the international aspects of the new economic policy. Howey said it represented a protectionist attitude of "getting even" with other countries and would only serve to deny many foreign goods to Americans.
Wise may have summed up the attitude of some economics professors and other people when he said that no one really knew about it, but that only educated guesses could be given.
Asked about the timing of the Nixon visit, Kissinger said:
"We will, of course, discuss that while I am in Poling, and I think we should zero in on a date while I am there and, therefore, not meeting with the event within a reasonable period after that."
The President's chief national security affairs adviser said he expects to meet in Peking, as he did during his secret trip in July, with Premier Chou Enlai.
The announcement of Kissinger's plans suggests that whatever group is in control, Red China means to establish effective forces. The United States, regardless of political conflicts.
Kissinger's second mission to Red China says a good deal about possibilities for future relations between Washington and Peking. It seems also to lessen the importance of the current "What's going on in China?" mystery.
By GARY GREEN Kansas Staff Writer
Gay Lib Recognized At Nebraska, Colorado
Three other universities in the Big 8 Conference, Missouri, Nebraska and Colorado have gay liberation movements on their campuses. The movements at the Universities of Nebraska and Colorado are officially recognized.
The group at Missouri is seeking official recognition but has yet to attain it. The Student Senate at MU has approved the gay liberation movement for recognition. They have to also be approved by the University Committee on Student Organizations, Government and Activities (SOGA) to be officially recognized.
At a SOGA meeting last spring a motion to recognize the gay liberation movement was tabled. SOGA is expected to take up the question of recognition at its next meeting.
ORGANIZATIONS AT MU are supposed to be able to use university facilities, even before they are officially recognized. So we need an movement at MU has denied this.
A CONFERENCE on human sexuality scheduled to have begin yesterday at NU was met with strong opposition by the Nebraska Board of Regents. Strasser said the Regents deplored the existence of the gay liberation movement.
"If officially recognized, the gay liberation organization would not receive funds from the university, but would, however, be able to use university facilities," said Merrill Perlman, reporter for the University at Missouri at Columbia University. "Most of them there were about a dozen active members in the gay liberation movement at MU."
The gay liberation movement at the University of Nebraska is, according to Steve Strasser, news editor of the Daily Nebraska, "the hub of quite a collection."
Among the 15 scheduled speakers at the conference were a couple of gay liberation members who recently were married to each other. One of them is the president of the student body at the University of Minnesota.
The University of Nebraska Gay Action Group was officially recognized during the spring semester of 1971. They have the same rights as other organizations and have office space in the Nebraska Union. Strasser explained that to be recognized as an organization at NU, the group seeking recognition must submit a constitution.
HE ESTIMATED that there were no more than ten active members at NU, and that only two or three were "very active, visible members."
The Association of Students of the
University of Colorado (ASUC) officially recognized the gay liberation movement on campus last spring. "All that it takes to be recognized as a student organization is a name and student membership," said James Manning, managing editor of the Colorado Daily.
The gay liberation organization at CU does receive funds, according to Geller, but he could give no estimate as to how much. He estimated there were about two dozen members in the group on the CU campus.
WHEN ASKED WHAT the consensus of students was on the CU campus toward recognition, Geller replied, "The gay student never become an issue in the way of adoption."
According to representatives of Oklahoma, Kansas State, Iowa State and Oklahoma State universities, there are no movement movements on their campuses.
Chancellor Vetoes $600 For Gay Lib
As expected, Chancellor E. L. Laurence Chailers jr. vetoed Student Senate action allocating $800 to the Gay Liberation Front and $120 to the LGBT legal battle to obtain University recognition
Francis Heller, vice-chancellor for academic affairs, acting for Chalmers mailed the enactment back to the senate without approval Monday.
Chalmers said at the Student Senate meeting last week that if the senate passed the allocation he would veto it. The senate ignored Chalmers' vow and passed the enactment 45 to 23. The senate cannot override his veto.
Chalmers said at the meeting that it would be hypocritical of him to grant recognition to Gay Lib because he would veto any funds appropriated to it. The main advantage of being recognized as a student activity fund, he allowed use of student activity funds, be said.
A Gay Lib spokesman said at the meeting the front had been denied the use of a University meeting place and had charged rent in the Karsasun last fall.
The Student Code guarantees that any registered student may have access to University property to hold a meeting, the spokesman said.