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University Daily Kansan
Friday. Feb. 27. 1959
Jayhawk Rock
Speaking of class gifts (which we propose to do), who remembers the class of '50? It gave the University a heroic bronze Jayhawk as a memento.
This manifestation of school spirit came about in the early Chamberlain, or winning era. A good thing, and certainly just what the University needed.
But now somebody must find a proper place for the big bird. Ignoring the hoots and catcalls accompanying the last sentence, we ask where such a spot can be found. All the outstanding promontories overlooking the valleys are preempted by the memorabilia of earlier alumni, and the overstuffed owl may languish in some remote corner of the campus.
Strong Hall and the library should have the inside track. There is plenty of room, plenty of traffic, and a good chance to display the fearsome statuary.
The class of '56 wants the bird in front of a building, as opposed to inside—Jayhawks are seldom housebroken—and the question is which building. The law barn already has a statue. The Pioneer dominates Fraser; Flint and Bailey have no room; the hospital is too far from the center of the campus.
But no building on campus, not even Strong truly represents the entire University. To plant the Jayhawk before any building would demonstrate favoritism, however unintentional.
Therefore, we submit, another place should be found for this artifact. And as our faithful readers
Potter Lake.
will have already guessed, we have just the place picked out.
Right in the middle.
The class of '59, still undecided on a class gift,
can donate a base for the bird, made of suitable
material, to keep it above high water. Make a sort
of campus Bedlee's Island out of it and name it
Javawk Rock.
This would put the whole works in view from the campanile drive and from the amatory zones surrounding the lake. A discreet array of spotlights could bathe the display of an evening.
But this is not the final plan, by any means, and this is the point where the class of '60 should perk up its ears and put down that popcorn sack. This year's juniors can complete the project in grand style, within the tradition of KU class gifts.
They could provide money to build a dock, equip it with boats, and run a ferry service to the island. The fares would make the whole project self-sustaining, pay for the periodic damage to the Jayhawk, and perhaps provide a fund for colonizing the island.
We modestly predict the island Jayhawk would become a sanctified tradition within five years. The engineers could paint it, the Pep Club could decorate it before home games, it would be the Holy Grail of fraternity pledges. The more ardent suitors could swim out and carve initials on the base.
And even though no man is an island, we're talking about a Jayhawk. Mr. Donne never said a word about Jayhawks. —Al Jones
Is It Religious Confusion Week?
By the Rev, Roy S. Turner
Episcopal Church
A friend of mine has laugingly referred to Religious Emphasis Week as Religious Confusion Week. I think this title describes the state of mind of the majority of people on any given college or university campus in regard to religious or theological matters.
Perhaps we respond poorly to Religious Emphasis Week because it seems to be an inadequate measure to cope with the religious confusion in which it is couched. While Religious Emphasis Week cannot cope with this matter, its very observance does reflect the confusion of which I speak.
I think this confusion is primarily the result of the Judeo-Christian cultural blank in a mid-twentieth century secular culture. It is broader than that of a simple religious problem, and it is not confined to our educational institutions.
I can only make a few general statements and ask some questions in this short article. While I am aware of some of its shortcomings I think it will at least point toward what I see to be the real dilemma.
Since the 15th and 16th century
renaissance, western civilization has become increasingly less capable of responding meaningfully to its Judeo-Christian cultural root.
Our other cultural root, the Greco-Roman, has been the primary wellspring of our mode of thought and cultural interest. This has produced a secularism that pervades the lives of men and of institutions.
Because we have thought of the Judeo-Christian influence on our society in narrowly religious terms, and because we are committed to a separation of church and state, we find history departments that will have innumerable courses on Greece and Rome without giving serious consideration to the history of ancient Israel and to the Christian church.
We study such courses, if at all, in departments of religion. This isn't meant as a narrow criticism of of either history or religion departments. It is meant to make my point that we live in a lopsided civilization which is reflected in the very lopsided curricula of the average college and university.
I think there is a void and I think there is much religious confusion. I don't think just going to church on Sunday, and having departments of religion, religious emphasis weeks, or religious "sections" in magazines are the answer. However, all in their own degree are desirable.
The Dark Ages of the early medieval period was a time when the West lost its ability to respond meaningfully to the Greco-Roman root of its cultural heritage. The renaissance represented the recovery of this ability.
The latter part of the modern era has been a "dark age" in that it has been a time when we have been incapable of responding meaningfully to our Judeo-Christian cultural root.
There are signs, or at least questions, in the air that indicate another renaissance is brewing. I hope it will mean the recovery of meaningful response—this time to our Judeo-Christian cultural roots.
My plea is to the effect that this is broader than a simple religious matter and should be considered on that basis. While it isn't confined to colleges and universities, they are our concern for the moment.
The university is an institution that transmits culture, but it should be no mere reflector of the culture of which it is a part. If the recent movement toward recovery of which I speak is to blossom in our society, it will have to be in universities, not just churches, for it is a cultural problem and not just religious.
This will mean a balancing of curricula to reflect the Judeo-Christian cultural root. As this is done, our "religious" confusion is likely to lessen and religious confusion, ooops, religious emphasis week will be less necessary.
The Rev. Roy S. Turner
With all the hub-hub concerning restaurant segregation in America these days, we think it would be interesting to note the reaction if the Hawk's Nest refused service to certain bigoted merchants.
Short Ones
All evils are equal when they are extreme.—Pierre Cornelle
Say it with flowers . . . but accomplish it with money—Mad
The greatest minds are capable of the greatest vices as well as of the greatest virtues.—Descartes
It Looks This Way.
Perhaps during some part of Religious Emphasis Week it might have been a good idea to schedule speakers who could discuss religions of the Middle and Far East, such as Hinduism, Islamism, and Buddhism. How can you understand people if you don't understand their religious beliefs?
Fraternity men have been heard complaining lately that they are having a hard time acknowledging their brothers at functions. Freshman women and scority women stay as far away from each other as unfriendly cats and dogs. The men say it is pretty embarrassing to simply nod their heads at their brothers, who are dating the opposite camp, clear across a room.
Gov. Docking seems to be following a rare old Kansas tradition for governors. Neither party is willing to throw its support behind him. Needed: A political party for one Kansas governor.
Someone should take the time to explain to our friends in Western Kansas that when Gov. Docking says no money for KU, that includes K-State. The governor just forgot to mention K-State.
It seems hard to believe that some of our political science faculty members who are such ardent supporters of Gov. Docking can remain so as he lowers their standard of living while at the same time implying they could do a better job. That is real party loyalty.
The only group on the campus that hasn't joined the "Letters to Topeka" campaign seems to be the Young Democrats. However, it can't be said that they are supporters of Gov. Docking. After all, one of our editorial editors is a steadfast Democrat—most of the time.
The Art Museum had a really successful opening last Sunday for its new exhibit. Many, many faculty members and friends of the University showed up for the occasion along with TV cameramen, and a Daily Kansan photographer. Oh, yes, there were a few students too. Very few.
Editor:
It's a lazy sort of afternoon. A light breeze is pushing the upper branches of the tall trees outside my second story study just a bit. The radio is supplying an improved version of the music from "Carmen";—the genius of Billy Vaughn does something even to Carmen.
It's a setting in which my thoughts traverse a recollection of conversations I've participated in with friends and classmates here at KU.
You'll have trouble classifying this letter, should you attempt to classify it. We do not all in all countries have the same freedom and disposition to build monuments to the living, demonstrated here in the large and beautiful Watson Memorial Library and museums. Yet even the reserved will sometimes send flowers in expression of commendation of deed. If fall it must, let this letter fall in the latter category.
I find that American citizens—college age—are very much aware of world affairs. They are generally concerned with the problems confronting humanity at many locations, and specifically concerned with those problems as they relate to the United States. Enough American reporters and writers are currently expounding the Canadian position to allow me to temporarily step out from behind my guns at the Canadian border!
As a Canadian, I state that we have watched with a great deal of interest your election of officers to the executive branch of your government.
As we remember that the ingredients of the Cold War in 1952 were
rather of "inflammable" nature, we are pleased with the over-all course events have followed since that date: the Freedoms defined early in World War II have been maintained to the greatest degree humanly possible. The many "incidents" that have intruded on the world scene in the intervening period, have not, to date, culminated in explosion.
A fellow student, native of this country, recently asked this question of me: "Why, when the United States gives liberally in those areas where she sees the need, is her generosity coldly received?"
This letter as an abbreviated personal expression, representative though it may be, of a loud "thank you" from the individual countries directly involved, can in no way approach an equitable recompense for the stand your country takes on the side of the free world.
My answer to myself in reply to the question posed is this: "The United States may, and probably must, take its reward from the certain satisfaction of doing right for right's sake.
John Neustadter
Since Gov. Docking seems to be wondering about where the money goes that is allocated to the University, all I want to know is where the money came from that paid to have the honorable governor's autograph inscribed in luminous letters on the "sign of progress" highway signs.
Hepburn, Saskatchewan, Canada graduate student
Editor:
Myron Margolis Kansas City, Mo., senior
University of Kansas student newspaper
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