Wednesday, September 25, 1968
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
5
Describes stormy session
KU prof
BY DICK HVALE
Kansan Staff Writer
While many of his counterparts watched the Chicago convention last month on television, a KU professor viewed the proceedings first-hand.
He served as a delegate.
Dr. John Wright, in the Department of Human Development and Family Life, was vicechairman of the Concerned Democrats in Minnesota, which endorsed Sen. Eugene McCarthy even before he announced his candidacy.
Although Wright attended two meetings at the Stockyard Inn in Chicago at which formation of a new political party was discussed, he declined to reveal details.
He moved to Kansas this month.
As for the November elections, Wright said he would not campaign for but might vote for Vice President Hubert Humphrey.
Wright believes that the media accurately reported the events that occurred in Chicago during the week of the convention.
Demo Convention violence
saw
"My impression is that the way you saw it on TV was the way it was," he said. Wright said there were only a few incidents of rock and bottle throwing. Some of the expressions the protestors were shouting did include obscene language, he added.
"If the protestors' strategy was to be both provocative and non-violent, they succeeded," the professor said. "I thought the protestors were extremely well disciplined." he said. Wright stayed at Grant Park with the protestors for three nights.
While at Grant Park, Wright said he observed the efficiency and organization of the group. Certain persons, he explained, were responsible for meeting a speaker at the outer edge of the group and for escorting him through the crowd to the platform. The protestors, who were sitting around the platform in concentric circles, would move to form aisles for anyone walking through the crowd, he said.
Wright credited Mark Dellinger, coordinator of National Mobilization, for controlling the
group at Grant Park. When Dellinger asked the protestors on the periphery of the group to sit down so the leaders could watch the police, Wright said they promptly obeyed.
After Humphrey received enough votes for the nomination, Wright hurried to Grant Park by bus to dissuade he said.
Wright denied the frequentlymade charge that most of the instigators of the protest were Communist-inspired. "They tolerated but did not listen to the revolutionaries," he said.
Wright, who has spent three summers training Minneapolis police in human rights, understands the difficulty of a policeman's job. "They too are a minority group. Just as black people can be made the scapegoat for the hostility of a frustrated white majority, so policemen as a distinct and visible minority can be the scapegoat for protestors.
"Policemen are symbolic of the power of the establishment and will be the natural first target of those who resent and
resist that power. If the police respond to provocation by illegal and unwarranted use of force, they are then fulfilling their previously unearned role as the villain, as they did in Chicago.
"It simply means that they have to be better than ever." Police forces in the United States are improving, he added.
Wright said the Chicago Police Force could have handled the situation more effectively by recognizing the essential nonviolent intentions of the vast majority of protestors and permitting the protest in Lincoln Park as well as the march to the Amphitheater.
Officials at the Democratic Convention, according to Wright, did not equitably enforce some of the rules. One rule stated that delegates could not hold demonstrations on the convention floor.
By remote application of this rule, officials did not let some delegates pass out copies of the New York Times which described the confrontation between protestors and the Chicago police, or copies of a leaflet which explained the minority plank on Vietnam.
Yet signs saying "Humphrey" and "We Love Mayor Daley" passed by the officials and were handed out to the delegates, Wright said. Wright unsuccessfully tried to inform the other delegates of this kind of enforcement of the rules.
When he called John Bailey, the national chairman, to ask if this issue could be brought before the convention, Bailey, according to Wright, said, "We are too busy for that kind of thing now." and hung up.
"It was virtually impossible to get guest seats in the gallery," Wright said. Nevertheless, he saw 300-400 empty seats in the gallery on the first three nights of the convention. People waving "We Love Mayor Daley" signs filled these seats on the final night of the convention. Wright believes that Daley must have reserved these seats for his supporters that night.
Spanish Institute
Bullfights, cat-calls bring reactions from students
BY GRACIE NELSON Kansan Staff Writer
Bullfights, Spanish men and attitudes about the U.S. triggered diverse reactions from the 24 students of the Spanish Summer Language Institute.
During their two-month stay from June to August, the students travelled three weeks throughout Spain and studied five weeks in Barcelona.
One said of the bullfight, "It was horrible. Three matadors were bad and one ball had a twisted horn. It was horrid." An
Now, more than a month and thousands of miles later,their individual recollections vary.
Committees set for Homecoming
Committee chairmen are Nicholas L. Gerren, Wilberforce, Ohio, senior, general chairman; Dixie Underwood, Lawrence junior, arrangements; Janet L. Bare, Wichita junior, decorations; James C. Klaver, Kingman junior, master of ceremonies; William Ebert III, Topeka sophomore, assistant master of ceremonies; Mike Kirk, Kansas City, senior, SUA representative; Kent Hornberger, St. Louis graduate student, public relations; and Barbara Blee, Bonner Springs junior, queens.
University faculty and staff assisting these students are Dick Wintermote, executive director of the Alumni Association, general chairman; Vince Bilotto, also of the Alumni Association, arrangements; Donald K. Alderson, dean of men, decorations; Jay B. Strayer, dean of men's office, decorations; Prof. Kenneth Bloomquist, director of bands, ceremonies.
otherwise enthusiastic student said. "I just refused to go."
Eight students and ten faculty members have been named to head the 1968-69 Homecoming Committee. Activities already scheduled for the annual event November 1-2, are the Kansas-Colorado football game, the Andy Williams Concert sponsored by SUA and the musical "Kismet" in the University Theatre.
Mrs. Katherine Giele, SUA representative; James E. Gunn, director of University Relations, public relations; Mrs. Mary Nash, University Relations office, public relations; Dr. Emily Taylor, dean of women, queens committee; Cheryl Doris, dean of women's office, queens committee.
Darryl Klippsten, Prairie Village junior, said, "It all depends on your point of view. I was excited, but it still strikes me as a barbaric practice. Many Spaniards think of it like that, too."
One girl was more emphatic. "I liked it," Barbaraalee Horesi, Ellsworth senior, said. "I consider it more an art than a sport."
Impressions of the Spanish people also varied. Andy McDonald, Garnett sophomore, said, "They were nice people to meet, but hard to get to know."
This wasn't the problem of two students who became close friends with several Spaniards living at the group's Barcelona dormitory.
"Two of us talked to these three girls about three hours every day," he said. "At first, they thought of Americans in terms of stereotypes, but these gradually faded away."
The notorious Spanish male puzzled Brenda Metzler, Delmar, N.Y., sophomore. She said, "I was surprised by all the compliments you get in the streets, especially in southern Spain, where they are more forward. They'd call out 'guapa'—(pretty) and either hiss or blow a kiss. I didn't know exactly how to react."
Although there was a general impression of friendliness, several students commented on the unfavorable attitude many Spaniards have toward capitalism and the American role in Vietnam. Yet, one said, "They're making too much money off American tourists to really dislike us."1
52% of the Nation is under 25 and they've got power. That's how Max Frost at 24, became President of the United States.
This is perhaps the most unusual motion picture you will ever see!
WEAVER'S RECORD DEPT. Glenn Yarborough "Each of Us Alone"
stereo LP—reg. $4.79 $2.99
Moved Over!
The hanging was the best show in town. But they made two mistakes. They hung the wrong man and they didn't finish the job.
Box Office Open 6:30 — Show Starts At Dusk!