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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Tuesday, October 1, 1968
Interview: majority views
Editor's note: The Student-Faculty Committee on University Governance recently released a report recommending basic changes in the KU governing bodies. Last Thursday the Kansan presented an interview with the two dissenting members of the committee.
Now some views and opinions on the majority report and its implementation tool, the Senate Code, will be voiced by two committee members, Clif Conrad, student body president, and Joe Goering, vice president of the student body, who signed the majority report.
Since the two members have different views on some of the points, their interviews are separate.
Clif Conrad, Student Body President
Kansan: How do you view the dissenting report's recommendation of 50 per cent student representation on the proposed University Senate?
Conrad: My feelings are that at this point in the game, when we look at student-faculty relations and see that students haven't had any voice at all in the University Senate, the Senate Council, the Senate Executive Council and its standing committees, we've been extremely backward in the area of student-faculty relations.
I think we don't need to get hung up on percentages at this point. Ideally our goal is to build the University into a viable community not comprised of separate estates.
It's very possible in the future that students will have a much greater voice and for those committed to figures, we'll have much closer to the 50 per cent.
Kansan: Since the students will be voting on the Senate Code, instead of the more publicized reports, will they know what the referendum is about before voting?
Conrad: I'm hoping the students will become familiar enough with the report and the code through the Kansan, other news media, and copies that can be obtained from the University relations office.
I think those students who are informed will vote.
Kansan: The argument has arisen that since Voice brought the issue of student representation up last spring, the report doesn't encompass the interest of the whole student body.
Conrad: One has heard for a long time that perhaps it's erroneous to say that the student who is studying in the dormitory is apathetic. But I would contend that what we're talking about this fall is highly relevant to that student, too, and that he needs to take an active part in these very pertinent decisions concerning his academic future.
Although I disagree at times with their tactics, there's something vital about a group that cares about their academic future.
The students in Voice were the ones who initially were concerned and got the more complacent student involved in student representation. I think the important thing is that they showed good judgment when they stopped where they did last spring and gave the Student Government a chance to work out this plan.
Kansan: Why weren't the areas of social responsibility covered by the committee?
Conrad: Social responsibility is probably the most crucial thing in the whole report.
But you have to research the issue. You have to know your points of agreement and disagreement.
I'm not sure that the supporters of the minority report have done this research, but I know that I haven't yet.
Kansan: Do you think this committee or another will work on social responsibility later on?
Conrad: I think a University Senate committee should be set up to study the University's responsibility to the community.
I do think, in the near future, after this plan is accepted (if it is), this area is of immediate concern.
Kansan: What do you think of the dean of Student Affairs presiding over the Student Senate?
Conrad: During the summer, I felt this was a good idea because first of all this was symmetrical with the Faculty Senate's dean of Faculties; and secondly, because I thought it would improve communications.
We had felt initially that there wasn't that much power in the chair of an organization. Yet after reflecting upon it, I've seen some chairmen exercise considerable power.
I think the committee made a wrong decision this summer and I hope to rectify it.
Kansan: How?
Conrad: If the Senate Council doesn't change it, then the All Student Council will have to change it by amendment.
Joe Goering Student Body Vice President
Goering: I have no concern about that. I fully agree that students aren't competent in some areas. But the other side of the coin is that students are more qualified in some University affairs through their perception of teaching qualities.
Kansan: Do you think students can competently participate in the University Senate?
Kansan: On which boards of the proposed Senate will they have the most noticeable effect on the University since it has been said that the University Senate as a whole isn't that powerful in University governance?
Goering: The real power in the University is in the departmental level and this wasn't the charge of the committee over the summer.
Student representation in the Senate can go one of two ways. The students can add a lot to the Senate and give it more significance in University governance or the Senate can continue the way it is and by doing that it will at least help to teach students to use their voice in the University and also help faculty to develop a more responsible attitude toward the student.
Kansan: If the University Senate doesn't have that much power, will students eventually be even angrier with the University governance?
Goering: I hope they'll take a positive attitude. We recommended in the majority report that students get involved in their departments where the power really lies.
Kansan: Is ASC likely to make any big changes in the Senate Code as it now stands?
Goering: I don't think so. I think the important things will be
Kansan: Is there any chance of at least part of the minority report being adopted by the ASC?
discussed. If any of the minority proposals are going to be accepted, they will be put into amendments in ASC meetings.
I kind of wish ASC could adopt some of the report, but it would cause that much more havoc when it got to the Faculty Senate.
Goering: No, just from the general atmosphere of the ASC meeting (last Tuesday) I don't think there is.
Kansan: What is your viewpoint of the dissenting report?
Goering: Well, I tried to incorporate most of the social action points, a few of the other proposals, plus some I added myself into the majority report, but the committee wouldn't accept it. They said we didn't have time to discuss it.
Kansan: Is that true?
Goering: These proposals are things that are more or less obvious on campus. I had been thinking about them for a long time and I supposed the rest of the committee had been too, so I didn't see why we had to spend that much time talking about it.
But the rest of the committee felt strongly the other way, that we didn't have time to talk about it, and that we shouldn't throw things in at the last.
Goering: I disagree with some of the points of the minority report, too.
Kansan: Then why did you sign the majority report?
I thought the majority report would be politically more constructive in the end.
Goering: The 50 per cent mostly, I guess. I think it's silly to set up two equal bodies when you're trying to create a community.
Kansan: With which part of the minority report didn't you agree?
By doing that you don't break down the barriers; you just build them up and set up two antagonistic groups.
I agree with the rest of the minority report and if it wasn't for that I would have been in trouble because I would have had to sign both of them.
Kansan: Do you think the Senate Code will pass the Faculty Senate?
Goering: I don't know; I just hope it will.
Kansan: Will the report be ready for the Board of Regents' approval by the end of October, as you had earlier scheduled it?
Goering: I'm sure every effort possible, including 20-hour meetings, will be made so that it can go into effect before Christmas.
The rock hound New forms
Statements to the effect that Jeff Beck's album is the best thing to happen to rock since it was invented should not be believed. TRUTH by Jeff Beck on Epic is very good, but not quite that good.
Bv WILL HARDESTY
Beck's guitar work is outstanding and is often as interesting as that of Cream's Eric Clapton, but the rest of the group particularly some of the vocal work seems to drag him down. The album further expands on the current trend of many rock groups towards blues-oriented rock. It also shows a heavy rock group can do other forms of music in their own style and do them well.
Beck used to be with the Yardbirds, and the first band on the album is the old Yardbirds' hit, "Shapes of Things." It is the only song on the album which is lacking.
"Let Me Love You"—the second cut—should lead off the album since it sets the tone of what's to come—heavy blues.
Three songs on the album show Beck and Co.'s versatility. "Ol' Man River"—not what one would usually expect to find on a rock album—is done well. "Greensleeves" comes on soft, quiet and beautiful. "Beck's Boilero" may be an archetypal example of Latin-rock.
Letters to the editor
The last two cuts on the second side are really outstanding. "Blues De Luxe" is the sound of blues played live, and is great. Particularly outstanding is the piano work. "I Ain't Superstitious" is, according to Beck, a "stolen riff from old 'Howlin' Wolf' tune," and is the best cut on the album. The group really gets into it, and Beck's guitar is superb. It rounds out the album in fine style.
To the Editor:
Of protestors and police
A Parable for Protestors
By Steve Keeler
Once upon a time a man named John owned a restaurant. One day John told a customer, "I don't like you. You'll have to leave."
"You have no right not to like me!" cried the customer.
"You can't make him leave," cried the other customers.
"Well, I don't like you, and I can make you leave," said John, and he did. . .
Later the man returned with his friends. John told them, "I don't like any of you, so you'll have to leave. I own this restaurant, and if you don't leave I'll break your heads."
"This restaurant is as much ours as it is yours," cried the man and his friends, but John had the deed in his pocket so he broke their heads anyway.
"Terrible, terrible," sighed the customers, and continued eating.
"No," replied the customer, "for I've gone into the restaurant business."
"Now I like you," said John,
"and you may stay."
Years later the customer returned again. "You'll have to leave," said John.
"Yes," said the man, "I'll stay, because I am going to buy your restaurant."
"But I won't sell," said John. So the man built a restaurant next door to John's, bankrupted him in six months, and bought John's restaurant for a son.
"That was a clever trick," said John, "but it took you a long time to get smart."
"I know that," replied the man, "but now you'll have to leave. I don't like you." And he broke John's head.
"I never did know your name," said John as he was leaving.
"John is my name," said the customer.
To the Editor:
Because the writers of this letter have at one time or another lived near major college campuses, such as Berkeley Columbia and others, we are writing to the University Daily Kansan asking for some information.
It seems to us that KU, which is rapidly becoming as well known as the schools mentioned above, has a rather unique problem, namely campus police. We would like to know why it is necessary for these gallant men to carry guns, and also why one of their number (who is lovingly known as Barney) has such a
tremendous obsession for issuing parking tickets.
We can not recall ever hearing of an occasion when one of these officers has found it necessary to use his gun. KU students do not seem to be the type that stage large scale panty raids or riots, and we honestly see absolutely no necessity for guns.
Concerning parking tickets; while it is true that parking violations must be curtailed, we do not see why one officer should have to issue as many as fifty tickets a night (the unofficial record is in the seventies, held by lovable Barney). We are now watching this noble guardian of the peace issuing tickets to cars parked over five minutes in front of McCollum Hall. We can only offer our respect and sincere admiration to the man who can pick up his date and be back to his car during the time allowed.
We feel that Barney's talents are being wasted here at KU, and are seriously considering recommending him to the Chicago Police Force, since we feel his talent (or lack of it) would be greatly appreciated there.
Yours respectfully in peace,
G. George Long
G. George Long Kansas City senior
Paul Schatz
New York City sophomore
Managing Editor Monte Mace
Business Manager Jack Haney