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UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
TUESDAY,OCTOBER 14,1941
The KANSAN Comments...
MILITARY TRAINING MISFIT OR BENEFIT?
In the Loyola Maroon for October 3 appears an editorial criticizing the militaristic state of mind gripping the country at present, and expressing opposition to military training in high schools and colleges.
The editorial concludes: "The uniform and brass band have no place in a college or university. Would it not be better to train men to avoid war and its consequent evils than to train bodies to fight wars?"
Train men to avoid war and its consequent evils? You may as well train them to avoid the fact that the sun shines or that water is wet. The old saying "It takes two to make a quarrel" no longer holds. It takes two willing nations to make peace, but one unwilling nation can make war regardless of the wishes of the other. That is our position. The people of America are opposed to going to war, but are also opposed to a negotiated peace (Munich was lesson enough) and will resist any attempt to establish the Nazi system in America. All our wishes for peace will not prevent Nazi aggression, be it military or economic, if Germany is victorious in Europe.
We agree about the brass bands. They just don't belong anywhere, least of all in the present-day military system. On the uniform question we take issue. In the recent war games, the worst complaint of commanding officers was the general lack of skill among the lower classes of officers. The "ninety-day wonders" of the last war were a joke to many people, but the joke had a tragic twist sometimes on the field of battle, when many lives were lost due to complete inability of officers to handle situations.
West Point alone cannot train enough skilled officers to meet the present emergency, with their blind devotion to the "plebe's bible," and the fact that students are chosen by congressmen. Where else to go but to the campus, where the intelligent young men of America should be. In federal land grant schools, two years of military training is compulsory. Two or three hours a week of drill does not turn a sensible boy into a bloodthirsty monster. In most schools, any further military training is optional, but many boys take advantage of the opportunity to put themselves in line for officer's positions upon graduation. At other schools, military training is optional, but the R.O.T.C. ranks in these schools are filled, too. Even advanced courses are well attended.
Granted that such a system, even though partly optional, is militaristic. If we are training for the future, we must look to the future. In that future may be war—not a war of our choosing or desire, but one which will be forced upon us, and which we must win to remain a free nation, and which we cannot win without being prepared.
WAR AND THE WEAKER SEX
A number of pictures and stories have come from the Russian battlefields telling of the part played by women in the war. Russian women have been on active combat duty in the air force and infantry, as well as serving in the factories behind the lines.
Whether soldiers of the allegedly weaker sex have superior fighting qualities, or merely exercise a psychological advantage over their male adversaries, or indicate a lack of reserve
manpower, is hard to say, but women have been mixed up in men's wars for a long time.
Joan of Arc probably was not a brilliant military strategist, but she stepped up the morale of the French armies back in the 15th century, until captured and burned by the English. America has glamorized Molly Pitcher for taking her husband's place at a cannon in the battle of Monmouth during the Revolutionary War. Whether the gunnery became more effective because of Molly is questionable, but the psychological effect she created was of considerable value to the battered American forces.
In our time, women have become more effective fighters. During World War I, Russia had a band of women soldiers called the "Battalion of Death." This battalion fought alongside the men, earned a reputation for its fighting ability, and suffered terrific casualties before Russia surrendered.
In the present war, women are active, both on the fighting front and in the factories. Women have been accorded an honored place on the production line, and are credited with being more efficient than men at delicate tasks that require steady fingers and limitless patience. English women are acting as transport pilots, ferrying planes from factories to air bases, leaving men free for combat work.
Perhaps a woman's place is in the home, but in modern warfare, with the civilian bombings, the home has in effect become as much the battlefield as the actual fighting front. Consequently, we shall probably see women taking an even more active participation in the war.
OFFICIAL BULLETIN UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
No.22
Vol. 39 Tuesday, Oct.14, 1941
Notices due at News Bureau, 8 Journalism, at 10 a.m. on day of publication during the week, and at 11 a.m. on Saturday for Sunday issue.
EL ATENEO: El Ateneo will celebrate with a picnic at the home of Miss Elliot on Thursday. Oct. 16. Meet in 113 F.S. at 4:30 and transportation will be provided to the picnic. All members who plan to attend please sign list in Spanish office—Frank Pinet, president.
CATHOLIC STUDENTS: Rev. Weisenberg will be at room 415, Watson Library Thursday from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.-Matt Heuertz.
CLASSICAL CLUB: The Classical Club will meet at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday evening, in 306 Fraser Hall. Moving pictures of Roman subjects will be the feature of the program. Those interested are cordially invited.-Bill Muxow, president.
JAY JANES: The Jay Janes will meet Wednesday at 4:30 in the Pine Room. Genevieve Harmon, president.
QUILL CLUB: Mrs. A. J. Mix will speak to Feoh rune of the American College Quilt Club at 7:30 Thursday evening in the Kansas room. Election will be held. Mary Elizabeth Evans, chancellor.
NOTICE TO PREMEDICAL STUDENTS: Premedical students who are interested in making application for admission to the University of Kansas School of Medicine for the freshman class of 1942-43 should submit applications as soon as possible. Application forms can be obtained from the School of Medicine Office, Room 10, Frank Strong Hall. O. O. Stoland, secretary.
W. S.G.A. TEA: W.S.G.A. tea for all University women in Women's Lounge Frank Strong Hall, Wednesday 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.-Lois Worrell, social chairman.
Student Paper of THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS Lawrence, Kansas
DIRECTORY: Copy for the Student Directory is now being prepared. Students who have not filed addresses and telephone numbers at the Registrar's Office should do so at once. James K. Hitt, assistant registrar.
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Subscription rates, in advance, $3.00 per year, $1.75 per semester, Published at Lawrence, Kansas, daily during the school year, exhibited from September 17, 1910, at the office at Lawrence, Kansas, under the Act of March 3, 1927.
Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer, who once walked in on their own funeral, have nothing on Fred Robertson, head man of I.S.A. Last night the Independent Student Association was holding a meeting in the Pine room of the Memorial Union building to decide who would be their new president to fill Robertson's shoes, which they understood he had vacated in favor of army boots. Robertson, they grieved, had been drafted.
During the discussion Claudine Scott, Corbin hall, looked to the door and shrieked. "Burp! a ghost!"
Fred sauntered in, explained that he had been rejected and would be glad to continue in office himself.
From now on he will be known as Huck Burp Robertson.
A school-spirited Spanish student wrote on the board of room 119, Frank Strong hall, Friday afternoon, "Vamos a vercer la universidad del Nebraska? Infiernos, si," which translated is the popular "Are we going to beat ..." query and answer.
A terror campaign is being waged on Wahnaton Phelps, Alpha Chi pledge. Last week she received a postcard addressed to "Miss Phelps," on which was printed the message, "Communication follows within 48 hours. (signed) The Terror."
Mrs. Patricia Cook, the instructor, liked the crack, but commented that, in the opinion of senors and senoritas, "diablos" would have been better than "infernos."
Forty-eight hours later she got a telegram which read, "Have patience Stop Soon now. The Terror."
Bill Lane of Rock Chalk Co-op journeyed to Kansas City, Mo., last weekend to visit an uncle he had not seen since 1929. Since his relatives were not expecting him, he turned his arrival into a surprise attack.
When his uncle came to the door Sunday morning, Lane said, "This may be highly irregular, but would you be interested in a subscription to Time, Life, Liberty, or the Woman's Home Companion?"
Nothing has happened since. At the Alpha Chi house suspense runs high.
"No," the man said forcibly, and continued with condemnation of Sunday salesmen. Lane walked right into the house, began calling other members of the family by name and giving out with sales talk.
When everybody was thoroughly bewildered, he revealed his identity. His amazed relatives gaped and probably said, "My, how you've grown."
Marion Smith, junior engineer who manages the Rock Chalk Cafe, is proud of the strength and capacity of his Model A convertible. Last Thursday night it hauled 14 Ku Ku's up Twelfth street hill, with hardly more than six coughs and seven groans. The cars, says Smith, still runs fine. Friends are doubtful.
Average Man Reveals He Can't Be Interviewed
An interview with the average man, or twenty minutes with the Autocrat of the Bridge Table:
Q. How does it feel to be the average man?
P. How many hours a day do you spend at your daily labor, that is, going to school?
A. Do you want a straight answer or some nice embarrassing lies? Let us merely say that in my day I have studied.
A. It just feels average. How else could it feel? (Sneer).
Q. There's a two hour Midweek tomorrow night, isn't there? How do you feel about such social functions?
A. What do you want me to answer? (Dark look).
Q. What do you plan to do after you are graduated from this University?
A. Join the Army and see Europe.
Q. What trait do you admire most in your fellow men?
A. That trait of being human. After all, I am studying Anthropology, and when I see the slight difference between humans and apes, I admire our ability to be human. (Self-amused chuckle).
Q. What would you seek to buy first if you had a million dollars?
A. A Grade A deferment from the Army. (Looking over left shoulder for government agents).
Q. As the average man, describe your ideal woman.
A. A combination of Veronica
Q. What is your favorite book?
A. The Bible, because it's all new to me. I'm taking a course in religion.
Lake and Rita Hayworth.
Interviewee breaks in: I'm a busy man. My time is -worth money. Hurry!
A. Red, because that is the color of a woman's lipe. (Poetic devil, isn't he?)
Q. What is your favorite color?
A. What sort of hobby do you want? I could work up lots of hobbies. Thinking and meditating is my favorite hobby.
Q. What is your hobby?
Q. How much money do you think it takes for the average man to live on?
Q. Where do you ordinarily do your thinking and meditating?
A. All the time and anywhere.
A. Do you want me to be idealistic or practical? Money is of no real importance for happiness. The essence of happiness lies within a person, and he must nurture it and bring it forth by ideal living irregardless of his financial status.
Now do you want me to be practical? Hell, yes, the more money you have, the happier you are.
Q. We really ought to have another question.
A. Think up one with a punch to it, and then we can tear this thing up, and I can go to the library
Average man leaves in the direction of the Union fountain.