Page 4 University Delaware Kenyon Tuesday, Jan. 19, 1960
"Nothing on the UPI"
"Your temperature's 102?"
"How's this lead? 'KU Scientist'..."
Daily hansan A Night at the Kansan
SCENE: Managing Editor's desk, University Daily Kansan TIME: The present. 10 p.m.
MANAGING EDITOR: The way the stuff's coming in today you'd think this was Spectrum. We haven't got enough here to fill a Kleenex. We gotta get some news. Any reporters around?
CITY EDITOR: They're all on probation.
MG. ED.: Well, we gotta do something. It's almost midnight and all we're sure of for the first page is the weather forecast.
C. ED: Weather—say, that gives me an idea. Let's call up Professor Smith and get him to comment on the forecast.
C. ED.: He's that new meteorologist on the science faculty.
MG. ED.: Professor Smith? Who's he?
MG. ED.: Well, that's not such a bad idea. We gotta do something.
C. ED.: I'll call him—(Seizes phone and dials Professor Smith's number.) Hello, is Professor Smith there? This is the Daily Kansan. He's what? He's sick? Oh, that's too bad. Can he speak on the phone? I'd appreciate it if you could—it's a matter of some importance. (Aside to Mg. Ed.) His wife says he's in bed with a fever. She's—Hello Professor Smith? Sorry to hear you're laid up. We were wondering if you would care to comment on the official weather forecast we've just received. What's that sir? The forecast? Oh, it says "Continued cloudy with little change in temperature." Your temperature is 102, sir? Gosh that's tough. Well, would you care to? You wouldn't? You don't care what the forecast says? May we quote you to that effect? May we—Yessir—Thank you, sir—very sorry sir, I—(To Mg. Ed.) He hung up.
MG. ED.: What'd he say?
C. ED.: He said he didn't care what the forecast said and declined to comment.
MG. ED.: But that is a comment.
C. ED.: What is?
MG. ED.: When he said he didn't care what the forecast said.
C. ED.: Oh, but all he meant was the forecast didn't matter to him because he was laid up and—
MG. ED.: Never mind what he meant—it's what he said that counts, and we've got our comment. (Takes pad and pencil, scribbles.) Here, how's this: "KU Scientist Discounts Weather
Service. Says Its Predictions of Little Consequence."
C. ED.: But he didn't say that He only said he didn't care what—
MG. ED.: Listen, if you or I said what he said it wouldn't matter. But when a meteorologist says he doesn't care what other people's meteorology says, that's different. If you don't believe me ask the Weather Bureau.
C. ED.: All right, I will. (He dials.) Hello, is this the Weather Bureau? This is the University Daily Kansan. We thought you might be interested in the comment we've just received from Professor Smith on your latest forecast. Yes, that's right, the Kansas meteorologist. He said he didn't care what it said. Yes, that's a direct quote.
He what? He—just let me get this—(Writes furiously.) You think he's entitled to his own opinion? May we quote you to that effect?
Thank you very much. (Hangs up.)
MG. ED.: Now we're getting somewhere. (He takes copy and scribbles.) Listen to this:
"KU Scientist Blasts Weather Service. Local Eureau in Swift Rejoinder. Professor Smith, Kansas meteorologist today belittled the value of weather forecasts. In an exclusive interview obtained in his home, he declared he did not care what they said. A Weather Bureau spokesman was quick to reply with the statement 'that Professor Smith was entitled to his own opinions.'"
Now let's get Smith again and see what he says to that.
MG. ED.: What time is it?
C. ED.: About one-thirty.
MG. ED.: O.K., let's knock off. Mrs. Smith was really burnt up the last time we got her out of bed and anyway we've got plenty—
C. ED.: —about the weather—My God! (He goes to the window.) The stars are out and the temperature's dropped 20 degrees.
MG. ED.: So what?
C. ED.: The original forecast said continued cloudy and little change in temperature. Shall I correct it?
MG. ED.: Correct it? And ruin my editorial??! Good God, No! That's the Weather Bureau's story and they're stuck with it. We don't make news. We only print it.
C. ED.: Oh.
The above playlet was adapted from chapter six of the book, "In the University Tradition" by A. Whitney Griswold, president of Yale University. The material is used with the permission of the publisher, the Yale University Press.
Allusions to Yale University and the Yale Review have been changed to KU and the University Daily Kansan.
Layout by Dick Crocker. Photography by Jack Harrison
The Editor
The rewards of honest effort