PAGE SIX
EDITORIAL
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1940
The Kansan Comments-- EDITORIALS ★ LETTERS ★ PATTER
Support Administration For Better Government
Kansan readers are aware that the smoking law has resulted in an unfortunate mess from the start. Recent events have made it more of a mess. Questions of "students' rights" and of "democratic methods" have been raised. In the student mind, these questions have been confused with a natural antagonism toward any law which restricts former privileges.
The history of the bill—a stormy one, especially of late— runs something like this.
The proposition of a complete ban in all buildings was brought before the Men's Student Council and the W.S.G.A. with the backing of Chancellor Malott. The idea at that time was supported and urged by the Daily Kansan. After many political doubts and fears, the student governing bodies passed a bill which was, in many respects, a compromise. That modified proposal also received the Daily Kansan's backing. The students began to get used to the various restrictions—grumbling, but in general, conforming.
Violations came, as everyone expected. Three students were reported and prosecuted before the student court, in accordance with the provisions of the bill. A sentence in the nature of a reprimand was given.
Meanwhile, a law student (who professed not to be opposed to the idea of restricting student smoking) decided to push the signing of a petition, which would bring the whole question up for a student vote. This was and is his admitted right under the constitution of the Associated Men of the University of Kansas.
Then something happened. We know that on Thursday he was sponsoring a petition. We know that he told the Kansan Friday that he was no longer pushing the petition. We know little else. There were a great many rumors, but only those two facts were known. The gossip about reasons why he stopped was merely hear-say.
If the law student stopped his campaign for signatures because of pressure—from whatever source—, a definite issue on "student rights" was drawn. That is obvious. In such a case, furthermore, the principle of the "rights of a student" merited a vigorous defense. For it is absurd to condone a situation in which the right of petition exists only so long as it is not exercised.
But no one has offered proof of any suppression whatsoever being involved. On the other hand, there is reason to believe either that the law student exaggerated his plight or that it was magnified by his fellow sympathizers.
The smoking question, moreover, is not a proper issue for the wide local, state and national publicity which would follow an extended controversy. Any real issue of student democracy, if one existed, would be clouded when connected with such a topic as a smoking law.
The Kansan deplores the whole incident—a symptom of distrust between the administration and the students. This distrust can be removed only when students stop spreading unfounded rumors about the administration and when the facts are made easily available, by that administration.
We now have a reasonable smoking law. A fair scale of penalties seems on the way. It will be better student government and a better University if students devote their efforts to cooperating in observing the present favorable restrictions.
* *
—Walter Millis in "Road to War"
One of the greatest of the qualities which have made the English a great people in their eminently sane, reasonable, fairminded inability to conceive that any viewpoint save their own can possibly have the slightest merit.
Blitzkrieg on Frats Between Author, Dean
—By Betty West, c'42.
A prominent author, who dislikes the fraternity system, and the dean of a university, who is all for it, have succeeded in stirring up once again that pertinent question of whether fraternities and sororities are a boon or a curse.
In the March 2 issue of the Saturday Evening Post, Margaret Weymouth Jackson, herself a member of P贝 Beta Phi sorority, and formerly secretary to a college dean, takes up the cudgels against sorority life.
On the other side of the fence is Frederick H-Turner, dean of men at the University of Illinois, who defends the fraternity system.
In his defense of the fraternity system Dean Turner says, "Fraternity or sorority life is not essential to the student, but if there is no fraternity or sorority life there will be a substitute for it in some form, either dormitories, organized houses, or group systems.
Mrs. Jackson presents her plea in a short story entitled "Gooon Castle", a typical case history of a girl who, failing to make a sorority, decides to try dormitory life. She finds in this sort of life many of the things she would have missed had she been affiliated with a sorority.
--graduated from high school, and is added to regularly by Independence Day orators, so that by the time students get to college, they expect some form of student government. It is only natural. Haven't they so often been told that they are to be the leaders of our country?
"Fraternities and sororites are well established and are trying to do their share, not to make the institutions accept them, but to make them more acceptable to the institutions."
★ ★ ★
YOU SAID IT
Opinions expressed in these letters do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors of the Kansan. The editorial page will, each Friday, be given over to comments by students and faculty members.
Blot on the 'Scutcheon?
Robert N. Palmer, graduate student last semester, has been acquitted of all charges of liquor possession, before Judge Hugh Means in district court. In the eyes of the law he is a free man, unfettered by any stigma attached to an offender against the written or traditional law.
To the Editor:
As a free man he should be permitted to re-enroll in the University. Since he returned from New Orleans after a between-semester vacation, he signified his intention and desire to continue his work in the University, but to date he has been barred from enrollment. Such a decision would appear to be biased arbitration on the part of the officials.
CLARECE ROBINSON
★ ★ ★
The most important thing to Palmer right now is his reacceptance by the public as a citizen, vested with all the rights thus pertaining to him. To bar him from the University would be to deny him the privileges of a free citizen, and to contribute to the permanent scorn with which he will be burdened wherever he goes. Such an act by the University or its officials would be a greater wrong against society than was the misdemeanor for which Palmer was exonerated.
Toss Them a Bone
To the Editor:
Strong belief throughout much of the campus is that University authorities intend to ignore a petition against the smoking bill, and will shortly announce an absolute ban on campus smoking.
The faculty must realize that such a move would render the death blow to student government, and thus would shatter the belief many students have in that form of expression.
For that belief first grew on the pap handed students by commencement speakers when they were
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Official Student Paper of
THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Lawrence, Kansas
Publisher ... Walt Meininger
EDITORIAL STAFF
Editor-in-Chief .. Richard Boyce
Associate Editor .. Loretta Digas
Assistant Editors .. Gerald Banker and Helen Markwell
Feature Editor .. Betty Coulson
NEWS STAFF
Managing Editor ... Jim Bell
Campus Editors ... Reggie Buxton and Roscoe Born
Society Editor ... Virginia Gray
Sports Editor ... Jay Simon
Sunday Editor ... Clavelle Holden
Monday Editors ... Marielle Randall and Helen Wright
Night Editor ... Rod Burton
Picture Editor ... Jay Voran
Rewrite Editor ... George Sitterly
Business Manager ... Edwin Browne
Advertising Manager ... Rex Cowan
Subscription rates, in advance, $3.00 per year, $1.75 per semester. Published at Lawrence, Kansas, daily during the school week; published as second issue matter September 17, 1910, at the post office at Lawrence, Kansas, under the Act of March 3, 1879.
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
OFFICIAL BULLETIN
Vol. 37 Wednesday, Feb. 28, 1940 No. 100
MATHEMATICS CLUB: The Mathematics Club meets tomorrow at 4:45 in room 203. Kenneth Barnett talks on "Series: Corralling the Infinite". Refreshments precede the meeting as usual.-Marlow Sholander, president.
MUSIC ROOM: The Music Room will be open tomorrow afternoon from 3:30 until 5:30, and tomorrow evening from 7:30 until 9:30.—Ernie Klema, chairman.
NOTICE TO ALL UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: Dr. E.
T. Gibson is at the Watkins Memorial Hospital each
tuesday afternoon for discussion with students on
problems of mental hygiene. Appointments may be
made through the Watkins Memorial Hospital—Dr. E.
I. Canuteson.
NOTICE TO STAFF MEMBERS: Staff members who wish to have any change of address or telephone listed in the directory supplement should report such changes to the Chancellor's office at once.—Raymond Nichols, executive secretary.
PI ALPHA: Pi Alpha will hold its regular meeting tonight at 8:30.
SASNAK CLUB: The regular monthly meeting will be held tomorrow night in the Pine room at 7:15. Mr. G. L. Gore of Kansas City, Missouri, will speak on "Safety in Physical Education"—Gene Phillips.
SHAWNEE COUNTY STUDENTS: An important meeting of the County club will be held tomorrow night at 7:30 in the Men's Lounge of the Union. Every Shawnee County student should be present.-Charles Wright, Jr., chairman.
QUILL CLUB: Quill Club will meet tomorrow at 7:30 at the home of Professor E. M. Hopkins—Evelyn Longbeam, Chancellor of Quill Club.
UNIVERSITY WOMEN: The Women's Self-Governing Association nominating committee will meet to interview candidates for nomination Wednesday and Thursday afternoons at 4:30 in the Pine Room of the Memorial Union Building—Velma Wilson, president.
But when they have been in college awhile, they realize that their student government is just a farce, necessary to true student life, and needed to prepare students for the farce of adult government.
Students don't care who rules the roost. They want only to feel that they have student government, albeit in name only. It gives them a feeling of satisfaction. It is worth something when one asks for a job. And it used to provide dance passes. Why deny students this right to be duped? Toss a starving dog a bone!
CYNIC.