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University Daily Kansan Wednesday. November 4, 1953
Michigan Needs Help
If Michigan State University, or any other state-supported school, should be forced to close because of inadequate financing, Americans finally can be certain that their nation is in serious trouble.
MSU president, John Hanna, recently told Gov. G. Mennen Williams that his school may have to close its doors on Jan. 1 unless the loss of state use taxes is replaced. Michigan's supreme court ruled that state use taxes are illegal as a revenue device. (The "use tax" is a means of taxing commerce purchased in another state.)
That one of the great states in our world-leading country should verge on bankruptcy is a sham in itself. But it is not impossible for learned legislators and economic advisers to rebuild Michigan's depressed treasury. However, the only methods to this end are long processes, involving a gradual financial buffer from increased taxes and a wise program of decreased spending. Much thought and time will have to compete with Michigan's anxious constituency before the state's problems are solved.
It is not uncommon for a huge business to get into trouble, as did Michigan. Likewise, it is possible for it to regain solvency through its own devices. The picture does not look entirely bleak until the observer regards the shadows of the educational crisis there.
Michigan's nine state-supported schools hold 26,000 students and employ 1,390 faculty members, not to mention clerical and labor workers. All of the schools are in trouble, along with MSU. Should the schools close and turn that
number of people free to seek jobs, a deeper thorn will enter Michigan's financial hide. The state cannot put out its fire by spilling kerosene on the embers.
The need for a greater number of educated Americans has been re-echoed for many years, even before Russia threatened the world with her first Sputnik. America has risen to fill this void, stressing educational reform in every way. Elementary and high school programs have been rebuilt. Colleges and universities throughout the country have expanded, erecting new buildings, enrolling more students, opening new majors, enlarging old graduate programs—inaugurating more changes in recent years than the educational world has known before. This has been a generation of progress—spurred by the recognized need for an unbounded educational system.
And now a state is thinking of closing its major schools. It would be hard to find a sharper weapon to puncture America's ego.
Should Michigan's schools close, more than that state's economy will be hurt. America's solvency will be questioned by its many fickle foreign friends. The country's standing will nosedive in the eyes of the smaller nations. And it is possible that they then will turn to Russia as the only example of strength.
We are members of a unique country composed of fifty individual businesses. Now is the opportunity for us to prove that there is some meaning in the word "united." It is up to the individual states, if not the federal government, to help save our country's face.
John Husar
Discrimination?
Editor:
Allen = LenT3
Man, like this campus is unemancipated!
on. Just one big happy family.
For several years the GSP freshmen and upperclassmen have cooperated on Homecoming decorations, although they have as little, if not less, common government.
Let's face it, Carruth-O'Leary is one hall. We live under the same roof, we eat together (which means we all dress for breakfast), we share our living rooms, television sets, study halls and switchboard. Our councils meet together when our common problems need discussion. Just one big happy family
We just received word that Carruth-O'Leary cannot enter the Homecoming decorations competition as one hall. Apparently they just don't know which category to judge us in. There are two alternatives to that one. Either form a new category for coeducational independents (you could even include, just to avoid a monopoly, Stouffer Place), or judge us in both categories.
Perhaps, for that matter, Homecoming decorations should be handled in teams, like Rock Chalk. Think of the time and energy that would save. Only half as many paper napkins blowing out to clutter up the campus, only half as many places to fight the traffic to get to, "pledge power" shifts cut in half (and far more pleasant).
This would really be a blessing for some people, too, who end up having to work on two sets of decorations anywav.
"One of the Girls"
(Name withheld by request)
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Pro Levine
Editor:
Since Mr. Levine will be reviewing the musical offerings at KU
during the year, and since his review of Julian Bream has recently evoked two indignant letters, it is clear that we are in for some fun times. Which is rather more good than bad, I should say.
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS By Dick Bibler
Mr. Levine's reviews are not always what I myself might write—which, in fact, is one of the reasons why I like them. I know, after all, what I think. They are engagingly written, knowledgeable, honest, and individual; and the reviewer is willing to be unpopular if the cards so fall. What a happy circumstance that is.
As for Julian Bream's performance, I can only say for myself that Mr. Levine was deftly on target—"sensitive but unconvincing" defines the occasion perfectly.
"I'M AFRAID TH' BAND IS IN TROUBLE,DEAN. SEEMS LIKE EACH GENERATION GROWS A LITTLE LARGER."
John A. Meixner Instructor of English
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As members of the ever-growing body of students, who are becoming infected with Orange Bowl fever, we would like to take it upon ourselves to thank the University Daily Kansan for the tremendous amount of coverage given to the pop rally and dance held last Thursday at Joseph R. Pearson Hall.
Likes Pep Rallies
It would seem that the only evidence that such an event took place was found in an advertisement on page three of last Friday's Kansan. The Kansan often takes pleasure in chiding the students for their lack of school spirit, but when a display of such spirit takes place, the only mention of it is through the courtesy of a local dairy firm.
The rally was well advertised, especially in the Daily Kansan, so the Kansan staff cannot plead ignorance to the existence of the rally, unless they admit they do not read their publication.
We only hope that the men's residence halls continue their efforts in boosting the student morale, with or without the publicity which would be so helpful. The Jayhawks need as much support as they can get, if they are to be victorious from now through Jan. 1. 1960.
-Lee Quisenberry
Junction City senior
-Bob Shelton
Grandview. Mo.. senior
By Janet Juneau
If you know that all you have to think about is yourself . . .
If you are always in conflict with people just to prove you're you...
If you think that you (as No. 1) are the most important person . . .
If you are unwilling to join activities because you feel you do not receive the deserved credit for them . . .
If you feel that social and moral standards are not really necessary because you do not have to answer to anyone
If you run down the Greek system as a way of rationalizing . . .
If you go Creeper by sight, the world is like a forest.
If you are almost disappointed when a Greek speaks to you on campus . . .
If you think that Greeks think any less of you because you are not "one of them" . . .
If you think that the actions of one are an indication of the actions of many . . .
If you answer "yes," you're an independent independent.
By Charles Nicol
THE DHARMA BUMS by Jack Kerouac, Signet Books. 50 cents.
Jack Kerouac is regarded as one of the major spokesmen of the Beat Generation. His earlier novel, "On the Road," attracted national attention. It described a series of incidents occurring during several trips across the United States and Mexico. The book was exciting, but excitement seemed to be its only merit.
"The Dharma Bums" represents quite a change in character. Kerouac fortunately has sacrificed some of his intensity for reflection, and the calmer mood of this book is enjoyable. The people involved are scholarly, nature loving poets rather than reckless, hopped-up oddballs.
The principal character, an author named Ray Smith, has embraced Buddhism. His friend Japhy Ryder is a Zen Buddhist who translates Chinese poetry. They have wild weekend parties in San Francisco and—in the best part of the book—they spend several days climbing a mountain.
During the winter, Ray goes home to North Carolina where he spends most of every day sitting and meditating. In the summer he again visits Japy in California. They have another series of parties, then spend a few days hiking. Japy leaves for Japan (he has won a scholarship) and Ray spends the summer as a forest ranger at a fire lookout station in Washington.
Kerouac still seems to be re-editing a diary although his style is improving. A love of nature pervades this book, and the scenes of mountain-climbing are well done. If the reader doesn't mind the meditations about Buddhism and the occasional lapses into "beatnik brogue," he will agree this small book is far better than the big ugly novels of the James Jones school of authors.
Worth Repeating
See what the law is. . . . When your case gets into court it will make little difference whether you are guilty or innocent, but it's better if you have a smart lawyer. And you cannot have a smart lawyer unless you have money. . . The laws are really organized for the protection of the men who rule the world. . . If the courts were organized to promote justice the people would elect somebody to defend all these criminals, somebody as smart as the prosecutor—and give him as many detectives and as many assistants to help, and pay as much money to defend you as to prosecute you.—Clarence Darrow, to the inmates of the Cook County (Ill.) jail, 1902.
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Sex is the opposite of the weather; everybody talks about the weather and nobody does anything about it.-Milton Mayer.
Daily Hansan
University of Kansas student newspaper
University of Kansas student newspaper Founded 1889, became biweekly 1904, triweekly 1908, daily Jan.16, 1912 Telephone VIking 3-2700
Telephone Viking 3-2700 Extension 711, news room Extension 376, business office
Member Inland Daily Press Association. Associated Collegiate Press. Represented by National Advertising Service, 420 Madison Ave., New York N.Y. News service: United Press International. Mail subscription rates: $3 a semester or $5 a year. Published in Lawrence, Kan., every afternoon during the University year except Saturdays and Sundays. University holidays, and examination periods. Entered as second-class matter Sept. 17, 1910 at Lawrence, Kan., post office under act of March 3, 1879.
NEWS DEPARTMENT
Jack Harrison Managing Editor Carol Allen, Dick Crocker, Jack Morton and Doug Yocom, Assistant Managing Editors; Rael Amos, City Editor; Jim Trotter, Sports Editor; Carolyn Frailey, Society Editor.
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
George DeBord and John Husar ... Co-Editorial Editors
Saundra Hayn, Associate Editorial Editor.
Bill Kane
BUSINESS DEPARTMENT
Bill Kane Business Manager
Ted Tidwell, Advertising Manager; Joanne Novak, Promotion Manager;
Ruth Rieder, National Advertising Manager; Tom Schmitz,
Circulation Manager; John Masse, Classified Advertising Manager.