Illinois Prof's Right To Speak Upheld
By Pat Sheley
A University of Illinois professor who was fired for "advocating free love" got a partial vote of confidence last night from the Illinois University Student Senate, United Press International reported.
Two KU faculty members today agreed in substance with the Illinois students. They felt that the expression of an opinion is not a basis to fire him. Another faculty
E. Gordon Ericksen
“Pot-shots can boomerang …”
member said that he thought that the University's action was justified.
Leo F. Koch, an assistant professor of biology at the University of Illinois, was fired Thursday after he had sent a letter to the university's paper declaring his views on sex practice. The UPI said that his letter approved of "mutually satisfactory" sex relations for "mature students."
Prof. Koch said he thought that his firing was an assault on the freedom of speech.
Lawrence Bee, professor of home economics and sociology and E. Gordon Ericksen, associate professor of sociology, agreed that Prof. Koch's firing
may not have been totally justified. But they thought that he should be reprimanded for his actions.
The faculty members interviewed were asked if they thought that the professor should have been fired. They were also asked their opinions on Prof. Koch's point on pre-marital relations.
Prof. Ericksen said:
"I am sorry that the professor from Illinois found it advisable to spout off as he did. While I do not think his opinion is justifiable grounds for dismissal, I do think he should be reprimanded for being so sociologically naive.
"Some teachers enjoy shocking their students, shooting at sacred cows for the purpose of arousing wholesome discussion. I do it. But the risk is that some of these pot-shots can boomerang," he said.
"Remember Judge Lindsay's rough treatment at the hands of the public because he advocated trial marriage?
ets Lay.
is around without "Differences are in
bers compounding
the unpleasantness through severe short-sightedness," said Prof. Erickse"
"As for the second question, I am finishing a book on the V Indies. a place where sex experimentation is called 'natural a in the very nature of things.'
John Patton
“ . . . possibilities of danger . . . ”
"The immediately available sex gratifications seem not to have contributed one iota to any surge to the altar. In fact, the males avoid both marriage and wives like the plague. The result is a nation with 80 per cent of the population illegitimate, families with irresponsible parents, communities with considerable infanticide," he said.
"Rest assured most everybody is well informed on the mysteries of sex, but this has not contributed to the solving of deeper mysteries about marriage.
the two sexes are already so great, the chasm can only be widened by adding more pre-marital sex experimentation.
"And in the United States, the contrasts, socially, between
"In view of the transitory character of the times, I recognize that the only way to keep the marriage institution intact is to change it — a serious paradox. But promiscuity is only aggravating the distrust between the sexes," concluded Prof. Ericksen.
Prof. Bee said that he was opposed to the firing but that he did not want to comment on Prof. Koch's views on pre-marital relations. He said:
"Conscientious differences of opinion constitute the life's blood of any university. These conflicting opinions on vital issues, if held with a conscientious intellectual integrity, should be respected."
(Continued on page 8)
57th Year, No. 123
Daily Hansan
LAWRENCE, KANSAS
Tuesday, April 12, 1960
KU to the Rescue—
ASC Dumps Debaters
The University stepped in to provide funds to send a debate team to the national tournament yesterday after the All Student Council had refused to provide the funds.
Kim Giffin, associate professor of speech and coach of the debate team, said that "the ASC misled us. It would appear that they were not interested if we went to the national tournament or not."
THE ASC HAS provided the funds for KU to send a debate team to the finals at West Point for 12 of the past 13 years. Prof. Giffin said that the ASC should have at least given the debaters some notice so other efforts could be made to obtain the money.
Later in the afternoon, Raymond Nichols, executive secretary of the University, said, "The University will take care of the situation. We are going to see that the students and the coach represent KU at the national tournament.
"I have no comment on the ASC's action," he said.
The ASC called a special meeting at noon yesterday to vote on whether to send the debate team to the tournament. By unanimous ballot 14 of the ASC's 26 members voted to set a new precedent and not send the team.
President of Cuba Says Ike Meddling
RUDY VONDRACEK. Timken
junior and chairman of the student
This was the second larceny report in two weeks. Last week six cars were broken into and radios, flashlights, and $200 worth of clothing was taken.
HAVANA—(UPI) —President Osvaldo Dorticos accused President Eisenhower today of meddling in the international politics of Cuba.
Dorticos made the statement in replying to Eisenhower's recent letter to Patricio Fernandez, President of the Student's Federation of Chile and Eduardo Zuniga, the secretary.
The thefts took place in the West Hills area of campus and apparently were the work of the same person or persons, police said.
Dortico's accusations came as a series of stiffly-worded U.S. notes to Cuba heightened tension between the two countries and threatened to revive Cuban antagonism against the big United States naval base at Guantanamo.
THE CUBAN President said the "White House press office, the Secretary of State, Members of Congress, the United States Armed Forces and even the judiciary have been uniting their hostility against the measures of social justice and political and economic transformation which the revolutionary government had adopted."
HE SAID Eisenhower's letter made repeated references to the principle of non-intervention but at the same time damages that principle by judging in direct arbitrary and unfriendly remarks against the government the Cuban people have given themselves.
Dorticos complained of "international strategies against Cuba which are attempting to isolate us internationally and coordinate efforts against the Cuban revolution."
Mrs. Lavene P. Mitchell, Templin Hall director, reported the loss of four speakers from four lounges, five ashtrays valued at $2 each, and three classical records valued at $5 each.
Campus police have started an investigation of numerous thefts reported at Templin Hall during the past month.
Police Investigate Thefts on Campus
Dorticos said there was nothing wrong in the letter the students sent Eisenhower since they were only sounding out the American position. But the reply apparently angered him thoroughly.
He said during the Batista regime the United States never engaged in such statements.
Ike Draws Demo. Gripes
CHARLESTON, W. Va. — (UPI)— Democratic presidential hopefuls Sen. Hubert Humphrey (D-Minn) and Sen. John F. Kennedy (D-Mass) temporarily wound up their campaigns for the West Virginia May 10 "popularity poll" primary yesterday by attacking the Eisenhower administration.
Humphrey, in an off-the-cuff address at Bluefield, called for "an aggressive administration that will deal with such problems as unemployment." The Minnesota Senator expressed concern over the unemployment situation in the mountain state throughout his three days of campaigning.
Kennedy criticized President Eisenhower for vetoing a coal research and development bill in an address at Becklev.
"Now is the time for action on such bills . . . that is why I am campaigning for the presidency." Kennedy said. "The presidency holds the future of this country and this state in war and peace.
"More was accomplished in the first 100 days of the Roosevelt administration than in seven full years under the Eisenhower-Nixon administration," he said.
Weather
Rain, pushed along by brisk southerly winds and accompanied by cooler temperatures, are expected on Mt. Oread late today and tonight, according to the United States Weather Bureau. Highs today near 75; lows tongit will range in the 50's. Wednesday will be partly cloudy and cooler with diminishing morning showers.
council, said the finance and auditing committee reported to the council that there were two main reasons why the ASC should not finance the trip.
"The finance committee felt that public relations and education are two fields for which expenditures should come from the University administration. Also, the ASC is not constitutionally able to provide money to groups which are receiving funds from other sources as does the debate team." Vondracek said.
Prof. Giffin said that the debate team sent in a request last October for the ASC to keep the team in mind. He said an estimate of the cost was included and the bill was tabled until it was certain KU would qualify for the national tournament.
"THE DEBATE team is given certain funds from the University to operate on at the first of the season. These funds are for scheduled tournaments, not unscheduled opportunities as the national tournament." Prof. Giffin said.
Prof. Giffin said he wished the ASC had made some expression of interest even if they are not in a position to provide the funds.
There was confusion in the ASC office before the debate matter was brought to a vote. First, the letter from Prof. Giffen was lost when unknown persons ransacked the office the weekend before the last regularly scheduled meeting.
THE BILL was brought up anyway but tabled and sent to the finance and auditing committee according to normal procedure. It was not realized then that the next regular ASC meeting was scheduled too late to take effective action on the debate team travel plans for the April 20-23 tournament.
KU will be represented at the tournament by Alan Kimball, Derby, and Edward Collister, Lawrence, both juniors.
Ike Plans to Visit Far East in June
AUGUSTA, Ga. —(UPI)— President Eisenhower today added substantially to his world tour itinerary next June to devote more time to the Far East following a nine-day visit to Russia.
The vacation White House, where the President is spending a golfing holiday, announced that the chief executive would be in Japan over a five-day period with time out for a one-day side trip to South Korea and conferences with President Syngman Rhee.
The White House has been under mounting diplomatic pressure to enlarge the June trip ever since the President announced his intention to go to Russia in June to return the 1959 visit to this country of Soviet Premier Nikita S. Khrushchev.
Under the expanded itinerary, President Eisenhower plans to fly from Washington in time to reach Moscow on June 10. He will tour the Soviet Union for nine days, leaving from a yet-to-be-announced Siberian city on June 19 for a jet flight to Tokyo.
In connection with the Japanese-American Centennial, the President will remain in Japan until June 23.
Speed Checks Underway Tomorrow
"Campus police will start conducting traffic speed checks tomorrow in an effort to curb the rash of recent speed violations." Joe Skillman, chief of campus police, said today.
The chacks will be in effect the rest of the semester.
The checkpoints will be at various places on campus such as Naismith Drive, Jayhawk Boulevard and West Campus Road.
The speed limit is 20 miles per hour everywhere on campus except the 30 miles per hour limit on the four-lane section of Naismith Drive.
CHIEF SKILLMAN said the checks were planned to slow traffic down to the limit.
Fines for speeding are $5 flat, plus $1 per mile for the first 14 miles over the limit and $2 per mile for every mile 15 miles over the limit.
"THE SPEED checks will be conducted day and night," Chief Skillman said. "Although pedestrian traffic is reduced after dark the hazard increases because of visibility limitations.
"Our campus is essentially a pedestrian campus and always must be maintained as such."