The KANSAN Comments...
PAGE SIX
KANSAN CRITICISMS
A few days ago the editor of the Kansan received an unsigned letter accusing the journalism department, as a group, of attempting to wave "the superior, accusing finger" at other departments in its articles of criticism of Hill plays, musical programs, and the like.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1941.
Whenever a dramatic or musical production is offered to the public with or without an admission charge, the persons presenting it will receive criticism. Whether or not the criticism is aired privately or publicly does not alter the case.
No one objects when students "take apart" a play or recital in a booth at the Union fountain or in any other Hill hangout, but when criticism by a student is printed in the Kansan, there is an immediate outcry of persecution.
PHYSICAL EXAMS FOR MARRIAGE
The notion that the Kansan's critics express the views of the entire staff is false. It is just as false as the notion that the ideas expressed by a single professor represent those of the whole faculty. The persons responsible for the critical articles in the Kansan are the persons whose names are signed to them.
The Kansan has never attempted to persecute groups or to stand as judge, pretending to give the ultimate decision, over all other groups on the Hill. Any person appearing before the public and asking the public's approval is open for criticism from the public and from the press.
Shall Kansans submit to physical examinations as a prerequisite for marrying? A bill advocating this procedure has been proposed to the present legislature.
In the 1937 session of the legislature a similar bill was killed in the House of Representatives. The State Board of Health, while advocating Wasserman tests for both parties to a marriage license, failed to push the bill because such a law might cause a decrease in the number of licenses issued in the state.
Kansas is slow in realizing the importance of such examinations. Twenty-five states have laws requiring physical examinations as a test of fitness for marriage. Wisconsin, which has such a law, makes marriages contracted outside the state void unless the parties observe the Wisconsin venereal disease requirement. Illinois discouraged out-of-state marriages by printing the names of the Chicago residents taking out licenses in Crown Point, Ind., Illinois' Gretna Green.
1. Education of the public in regard to syphilis, ways in which it is spread, probability of transmission to marital partner and offspring.
The purpose of such laws as stated by Dr. Henry P. Talbot, director of the Connecticut State Bureau of Venereal Diseases is:
4. Prevent birth of congenital syphilitic children.
5. Decrease number of persons having to enter mental defective or other institutions, because of the effect syphilis has on the central nervous system.
2. Means of postponing marriages between an infected person and another while in the communicable stage of disease.
6. Promote marital happiness.
3. Stimulus to infected persons considering marriage to recommence treatment that has been neglected.
Roughly speaking, there are one million marriages in the United States annually. Those two million persons are the parents of the next generation. Whether or not this next generation is to be born in full health and with the promise of mental stability depends to some extent upon the laws being enacted for control of venereal diseases. Pre-marital examinations are no more unjustifiable restrictions on personal liberty than is isolating a small-pox case. They are both measures which are necessary to the health and well-being of one person and of all those with whom that person might come in contact.
OFFICIAL BULLETIN UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Vol. 38 Thursday, Feb.20, 1941 No. 90
Notices due at Chancellor's office at 3 p.m. on day before publication during the week, and at 11 a.m. on Saturday for Sunday issue.
A. S.M.E.: A.S.M.E. Meeting this evening will be held at Marvin Hall at 7:30. Election of officers will be held.Darus M. Munsinger.
CERAMICS EXHIBITION: An exhibition of ceramics by Miss Gladys Bate, guest instructor of the Design department, made while she was studying in Sweden is being shown in the halls of the third floor of West Frank Strong hall—Marjorie Whitney.
FALL SEMESTER GRADES: Those who were unable to appear at the scheduled time for their fall semester grades, may call on Friday and Saturday.—George O. Foster, registrar.
NEW ADDRESSES FOR DIRECTORY SUPPLEMENT. Students who changed addresses between semesters and who have not reported new addresses to the Registrar's office should file those addresses at once, so that corrections may appear in the Directory Supplement.—George O. Foster, registrar.
NEWMAN CLUB: The regular monthly Corporate Communion will be at the 9:30 Mass Sunday. The business meeting and the discussion will be held after the breakfast in the Parish hall.—Joseph A. Zishka.
NOTICE TO ALL STUDENTS: Dr. E. T. Gibson will be available for personal conferences at Watkins Memorial Hospital on Tuesday afternoons from 2 to 5. Appointments should be made at the Watkins Memorial Hospital.—Ralph I. Canuteson.
PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINATION: A make-up psychological examination will be given at 9 o'clock Saturday morning, Feb. 22 in 112 Fraser.—A. H. Turney.
SIAMESE ART EXHIBITION: There will be an exhibition of SIAMESE art in room 320 West Frank Strong Hall from Feb. 10 through Feb. 23. This exhibition includes hand-woven textiles and craft work of Siam from a collection belonging to Mr. Wallace Lee, Federal geologist—Marjorie Whitney.
TOWN MEETING; K.U. Town Meeting will be held with "Town Hall of the Air" at 8:30 this evening, in the main lounge of the Union building. The topic, "Are We a United People?" will be discussed.
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Student Paper of THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS Lawrence, Kansas
Subscription rates, in advance, $3.00 per year, $1.75 per semester. Published at Lawrence, Kansas, daily during the school year except Monday and Saturday. Entered as second class matter September 17, 1910, at the post office at Lawrence, Kansas, under the act of March 3, 1879.
Editor-in-Chief ... Ken Jackson
Editorial Associates: Arthur O'Donnell, C. A. Gillmore, Mary F. McAnaw, and Eleanor Van Nice
Feature Editor ... Kary Bozarth
EDITORIAL STAFF
NEWS STAFF
Managing Editor...Bob Trump
Campus Editors...Orlando Epp and Milo Farnett
Sports Editor...Don Pierce
Society Editor...Kerli Visi
Sunday Editor...David Whitney
News Editor...Chuck Elliott
Copy Editors...Art O'Donnell and Margaret Hyde
BUSINESS STAFF
Business Manager Rex Cowan
Advertising Manager Frank Bamberartner
Accountant Audit Punt
You Said It
The editor of the Kansan welcomes letters of opinion from students and faculty members to be published in the letters column. If the writer wishes, his name will be withheld, but the Kansan must have the names of all writers of letters.—
To the Student Body:
Recently accusations have been flying rampant in the Kansan attempting to show that the Student Councils are laying down on the job, that they don't care, and that they are not attempting to solve any student problems. Just what "problems" we have failed to solve and just what they expect of the student councils, they refuse to disclose. Is the mere fact that we refuse to seek publicity on everything we do, sufficient grounds for concluding that we do nothing?
The present Housing Inspection system is working under the auspices of the councils. Under this set-up the roaming houses for all students are inspected and are required to meet certain standards before they are approved. This has done much to raise the standards and living conditions for the students. It provides for a judiciary board to settle all disputes arising between landladdies and students. Each year the councils give about $300 for the support of this cause.
The Councils exert control and regulation over student publications in the best interests of the student body. This function includes not only the selection of the editor and business manager of the Jayhawker, but supervisory control, distribution of profits and losses, and other powers necessarily pertaining thereto. Also the selection of the staffs, distribution of profits etc., of the K-Book and the Sour Owl are under Council laws. One of the more valuable functions along this line is the Council publication of the Student Directory. It is only through this system that the directories are distributed free to the student body, as most other schools where the Councils do not handle it, the directories cost at least fifty cents.
Last year, through an appropriation of the Councils, the Intramural Board was set up after a lapse of nearly ten years on the campus. The Board so set up under the laws of the Councils, has exclusive management and control over the entire intramural program. Financial aid and constant supervision of this program has had no little part in making it the success it is today.
Simply because the Councils are not continually bringing out something radically new and different does not mean that we either have inefficient Councils or an inadequate system. The true judgment of a student government lies in first determining what it can do and, second, how well does it operate within its scope.
Through the Student Court, all cases arising out of the infringement of the rules of conduct as defined by the Council, or any student wishing to complain concerning the administration of any of the rules of any student government activity in relation to himself, or any cases arising through breach of fair play among the students, or any breaches of library rules, these are all handled by this judiciary body. The mere fact that some of these cases do not receive publicity is of no significance that the Court is not one of the most powerful judicialies found on any campus.
The Forums board is a creation of and a worthwhile addition by student government. This committee brings speakers from all over the world to our campus in order that we as students can keep abreast of the times.
In answer to the first question as to just what may the Councils do—the purposes and powers are outlined in the preambles of the constitutions. They are to be the governing bodies for the students of the University. Granted that almost all college student council constitutions contain these words; however, the actual power of student government on Mt. Oread is the most active and powerful in the Big Six Schools, and it is safe to say one of the most influential in the nation. This was brought home to me at a recent Student Council Convention. Representatives there from most of the Middle Western Universities were definitely envious of us upon discovering the extent of our powers in respect to theirs. We soon realized that we at K.U., had the most potent student government of any schools represented there. By the way, three of these schools which admitted having weaker government than ours, had single council systems.
In the first place, the operation of class parties and variations is under the jurisdiction of the student governing bodies. Through the executive committee and the dance manager, both acting constantly under the supervision of the Councils, all dances are planned, dates set, contracts let, prices decided upon, and profits and losses distributed in accordance with the laws set up.
The selection, outfitting, and training of cheerleaders is another council function vital to University life. A new bill was passed last fall to provide for the selection of women cheerleaders, and to insure the selection of those with the most training for the job.
One of the most important functions to the University is the work carried on through the State Wide Activities Commission. The work of this commission is to build good relations between the University and the entire state through constructive advertising. Through the County Clubs, every leading county newspaper in the state carries weekly information on the university activities and student life. Every year about $275 is appropriated by the councils to carry on these activities. This organization has proved to be one of the most valuable institutions on the campus in carrying the University life to the far corners of the state.
How well does the present Council system operate within its scope is our next question, and I shall try to answer with listing simply by name some of the more important functions of your student government.
The Councils have complete charge of the rules and regulations in the operation of motor vehicles on the campus. The laws provide for setting up zones, issuance of licenses, speed regulations, payment of fines, etc., and a definite and workable enforcement of the laws through the Student Court. Last semester 125 violations were brought to justice.
These functions in addition to support of KU, traditions, work on the dormitory problem, support and work in Union Building projects. Reserve fund distributions, work on freshman orientation week, charity drives, Speakers Bureau, betterment of working student's relations, aid in Engineering Exposition, inspection of food handlers, attempts to get Kansan and Jayhawker on activity fee, homecoming events, Parent's Day banquet, magazines to KU, hospital, student curriculum problems, book store problems, and many others—these comprise the annual program of your student government.
The student councils are ever on the alert to provide for student needs. This is your government, and we feel that we deserve your support of what we are trying to do. Our motives are sincere and honest, and we believe our efforts constructive.—Sincerely, BILL FARMER.