Monday, Oct. 24, 1960 University Daily Kansan Page 3
Central American Crisis Confused
By Fred Zimmerman
The American people are far from an understanding of the Latin American crisis, and newspapers in this country are adding to the confusion, according to Mario Perez, assistant instructor of Spanish
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"Americans do not realize that what we have in the United States will not work in Latin America for another 20 years," says Perez a Puerto Rican who has lived in this country five years.
"The U.S. newspapers seem to be interested only in smearing Castro instead of trying to help people understand the real situation of the Cubans."
IN LATIN AMERICA there is no tradition of representative democracy. The political heritage is authoritarian, and this can't be suddenly changed.
PEREZ ASSERTS that in spite of Castro's mistakes, he is much better for Cuba than was Fulgencia Batista, the dictator which Castro disposed of.
"During the six years Batista was in control, 20,000 Cubans were murdered. One morning more than 40 people were found hanging from light poles in a square. This country has never seen a tyrant such as Batista, and therefore Americans don't really understand the Cuban problem."
PEREZ STATES that what is good for this country may not be good for Cuba, or the rest of Latin America.
"Americans fail to realize that in 300 years of occupation by Spain, Latin Americans did not know what representative government was.
"When these countries finally obtained their independence, they were alone — no experience, no roots, yet faced with the problem of governing themselves."
"The constitutions were like a stew — and when the people started eating this stew it turned sour in their mouths.
THE CONSTITUTION each new government wrote was patterned after those of the United States and France, and "the result was a mixture that would not work.
"Actually, the constitutions have led to many of the revolutions. They are the most beautiful documents in the world, but they are useless. They were written for a situation that doesn't exist.
"There is about 50 percent illiteracy in Latin America, yet the constitutions provide for mass education. But where will the money come from, since the parliament can never agree; and where will educated people be found who can teach?" Mr. Perez asked.
As a partial solution, Mr. Perez suggests that the U.S. stop giving arms to these countries, and lend money for education and public works instead.
"The MAIN REASON we are in trouble now in Cuba is that we have stopped trying to learn what is really behind international developments," Perez says.
"Americans have lost interest in the 'why' of things, and too many of us are believing everything we are told."
Urban Growth Discussed
The effect of the growth of urban centers on economic, social and political institutions in the Midwest was discussed at a conference Friday and Saturday.
A faculty group representing several fields of academic study from 10 midwestern colleges and universities met to discuss the effects of urbanization and the problems that will evolve as a result.
ETHAN ALLEN, professor of political science and member of the Urbanization Conference said that the unique aspect of the seminar is that it was the first of its type to gather representatives from the fields of sociology, economy, geography, law, agricultural economy, architecture and political science around the single table to discuss this subject.
"What effect has the growth of Kansas City, Mo., on the problem of representation in the State Legislature," said Professor Allen.
ON FRIDAY evening Peter Rossi professor of sociology at the University of Chicago discussed the literature available and methods for studying power structures.
An example of an urbanization problem would be:
"THIS IS a working seminar and no conclusions will be reached for at least one year," Professor Allen said.
The Urbanization seminar discussed the statistical study of populations on Saturday.
The urbanization group is operating under the sponsorship of a grant by the Ford Foundation.
Dean Kenneth E. Anderson of the School of Education was in Washington, D.C. Wednesday for a meeting of the board of directors of the Council for Research in Education. Dean Anderson is chairman of the board of this organization which was formed last winter by cooperative action of several national organizations.
Dean K. Anderson Visits Washington
Ten men and two women indicated interest in the climb at a meeting of the Ski Club.
The KU Ski Club has scheduled a mountain-climbing expedition for Dec 31, so that the group may be the first to climb Mt. Hood in 1961.
David Cory, Wichita senior and president of the Ski Club discussed the itinerary of the forthcoming ski trip to Loveland Pass and Arapaho Basin ski areas near Idaho Springs, Colo.
KU Skiers Plan Climb in Colorado
Skis, poles and boots will be available for about $7 for the four days. Breakage insurance for the equipment is also included in this fee.
The cost of the four-day trip will be $55. This includes room, meals, transportation, ski tow tickets, and one professional lesson.
The Ski Club will sponsor three or four foreign students with ski instructor ratings to join the group and give instruction to those who have never been on skis.
Once again unofficial word is circulating that the University of Kansas may be called before the NCAA Committee on Infractions for possible recruiting violations.
KU Fears NCAA Action
United Press International reported today, however, no schools have been officially mentioned by the committee for action. For several years the University of Kansas has had to "sweat it out" in a similar situation.
The national committee, meeting today through Wednesday in San Francisco, is causing athletic officials here worry of a possible probation.
The rumor is out again.
At the meeting Carolyn Fox, Fulton, Mo., senior was elected secretary-treasurer of the Ski Club.
During the last committee meeting KU Athletic Director A. C. (Dutch) Lonborg called upon the NCAA to either rule against or to give KU a clean bill of health. The NCAA did neither.
In the past the national committee has refused to open its records to the public and this policy will cause officials here to remain in doubt until the close of Wednesday's session.
Whether KU's possible infracations concern football or basketball is not known.
The last institution to feel the wrath of the NCAA fathers was Indiana, which received four years probation in all sports last May on charges of six violations in recruiting football players.
Statewide Activities Meet Set
A meeting of the county chairman for Statewide Activities will have a meeting at 7 p.m. tomorrow in the Kansas Union. The room number will be posted. Chancellor W. Clarke Wescoe will be the speaker.
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