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University Daily Kansan Monday. Feb. 23. 1959
Students and Letters
A lot of impure things have been said about our University during the past week. The normal course of events is to forget the whole affair, as soon as we have ceased talking about it.
The remarks in question, made by Gov. George Docking, concerned the KU budget So far, only the administration and the Board of Regents have defended the University.
The governor claimed the University is deficient in three points. He charged that:
1. Students lack "ethics."
2. Present KU graduates are inferior to those of the past.
3. KU's faculty and administration are inefficient and need a "cleaning-up."
A few campus leaders have inaugurated a letter-writing campaign in which they are asking for the cooperation of every member of the student body. Students are being urged to write
letters to their representatives and senators in Topeka defending the University, and standing beside these who are favoring restoration of the governor's budget cuts.
Rep. Tom Van Sickle told the student body president that the legislators would appreciate letters from people supporting the University in order to help the legislators clear up the situation. Many legislators do not know how KU-supporters feel, as none have received letters from their constituents on this matter, he said.
If students have any interest in the University's welfare, they would be wise to write their legislators. Moreover, it is foolish for them to sit back and watch a man attack their integrity.
One of the students has made a choice remark which could well be used as a slogan:
"If it's worth attending,it's worth defending."
John Husar
Cars-a Necessary Evil
It seems to be the contention that if a student has a car he will spend his time riding around or going places that are unnecessary and this will only subtract from the amount of time he has to studying.
The perennial problem of whether students who have cars make lower grades has come up again.
Having a car need not be any harder on grades than owning a deck of cards—in fact more time is probably spent playing bridge or poker than in driving cars. If a student wants to find something to do besides study he certainly will. Having a car is a good excuse and a big temptation, granted, but there are scholastic attributes in having a car also.
The KU campus is spread over two miles when one considers the living areas. Since fraternities, sororites and dormitories are being built further and further away from the campus, there must
be some means of getting to and from classes and the library. If the students are anything, they are lazy. If they have to walk or even ride bicycles to the library some cold evening they will more than likely think to themselves "that outside reading isn't really that important."
Getting away from the scholastic side for a minute, let us look at the new rush system. If the women are pledged as freshmen but live in the freshman dormitories, it would be a long, dark walk or bike ride for them from one of the sororities in West Hills home at night.
Cars are a necessary evil on the campus. They don't have to be an evil, if students temper their use wisely.
Besides, if they did not have cars, on what would they blame their low grades?
—Martha Crosier
Putting the Accent on Religion
By Rev. Harold G. Barr Dean of the School of Religion
In a world that "is full of a number of things" should religion ever get peculiar accent? For better or for worse, the American calendar has become cluttered up with a variety of emphases; Brotherhood Week, Rural Life Week, Freedom and Democracy Week, Book Week, Better Pancake Week or what you will.
Here at the University we have
added a few of our own as engineers, lawyers, journalists, musicians and future teachers celebrate their particular days or weeks.
For a much longer time than the oldest minister on the campus remembers, each year has witnessed a Religious Emphasis Week. If this means that religion is just one of those items which we need to advertise along with our favorite tooth-paste, then perhaps it might better be dropped.
Dean Harold G. Barr
Long ago came the reminder,
"What does it profit a man, if he gain the whole world and lose his own life?" or "Seek first God's kingdom and God's righteousness, and these other things will be added to you." Religion deals with the total meaning and value of life.
Religion, at least any worth talking about, cannot be put on or off as a coat. Religion is a way of life. It is with you when you wake; it is still there when the day closes. It answers a need of a new-born babe, and blesses the departure of the old man in his dotage.
In a Religious Emphasis Week, religious leaders aim to hold before the University community this thought: "Living as you do surrounded by such wealth of opportunity, be sure you keep relative values straight."
But if we are saying that among all things interesting and vital religion claims primary place, some time must be found for its special emphasis.
But religion well may be lost in the multitudinous confusion. Hence, Religious Emphasis Week.
Dailu fhansan
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University of Kansas student newspaper
Founded 1889, became biweekly 1904,
triweekly 1908, daily Jan. 16, 1912.
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Represented by National Mail subscription rates: $3 a semester or $4.50 a year. Published in Lawrence, Kan., every afternoon during the University year except Saturdays and Sundays, University holidays, and examination periods. Entered as Attendance for Sept. 17, 1810, at Lawrence, Kan., post office under act of March 3, 1879.
NEWS DEPARTMENT
Douglas Parker Managing Editor
BUSINESS DEPARTMENT
Fitz Business Manager
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
Pat Scanlon and Martina Crosier, Co-
sident Robert Hawkley, Robert Hawkley,
Associate Editorial
By John Husar
Jose Greco and his "Spanish Ballet" visited Hoch Auditorium Friday night and brought excellent entertainment to nearly 3,000 spectators. The program was part of the KU Concert Course.
"Spanish Ballet" is an appropriate title for the show as the performers included many prime ballet steps in their interpretations of Spanish and Latin dances. The company's dances are elevated above the folk level upon which they are based. Yet, they do not reach classical ballet status, for the movements are original "greco-ism" and the flavor is distinctly Spanish. This type of ballet is art in its own form, different from any other art of physical expression.
But before one can go into ecstasies over this type of offering, he must first have some interest in Spanish culture and at least a bit of knowledge of the flamenco-type of dance. However, those who do not gain aesthetic satisfaction from "Spanish Ballet" can easily be pacified through witnessing fine talent perform near-impossible dancing "tricks" to the accompaniment of entertaining music.
The Greco troupe is loaded with high-caliber performers capable of appealing to people from all tastes of entertainment. Jose, himself, is a master of the dance. His difficult maneuvers are perfected to the extent where they appear fluid, simple and natural.
This was especially true when it was learned that Greco was nursing two broken ribs during the performance. The ribs were injured in a bus accident in the South a couple of weeks ago. His limited appearances—he took part in only one third of the show—placed a heavy burden upon the supporting cast which, happily, made up for the deficiency in a very pleasing manner.
Some of the other performers are highly capable. Lola de Ronda, Greco's duet partner, is versatile and enjoyable. Although her singing voice is a trifle reedy, her dancing was an excellent complement to her famous partner.
Jose Molina received the program's third billing. An extremely proficient dancer, he seemingly has been handed the program's more strenuous assignments, which he carries out with the utmost alacrity. Molina's quick, rapid steps, his complicated ballet movements bordering on the gymnastic, and the quality of his delivery, at times led us to wonder if he could be the show's real "star."
Gitanillio Heredia and Maribel De Cirez, known as the "Bronze Gypsies," pleased the audience with each appearance. Their most delightful duet was a type of skit in which a young boy tried to steal a kiss from a shy sweetheart. Singer Maria Merida joined the pair and provided the show's best vocal efforts. Miss Merida had a stronger, more fiery voice than the troupe's heralded flamenco singer, Manuela De Jerez, who occasionally sang on key.
Virtuoso Blasco gave a thrilling guitar solo, and musical director Roger Machado presented a very pleasant piano solo.
To fully appreciate Greco's art, one must understand and feel it. Those who are inhospitable to the flamenco may have sat through a long evening. But as to the question of sheer, unbridled talent, Jose Greco and his "Spanish Ballet" deserve high praise.
Editor:
Seemingly lacking any political issues with which to place himself in the public eye, Gov. George Docking has turned again to his old reliable theme, the "trouble spot" of the state, the University of Kansas. Apparently the governor has again used his personal views as a foundation for his criticism of his alma mater which he claims has "run wild for 20 years."
Since we take issue with many of the statements Gov. Docking made, we would like to express some of our thoughts as students of KU even though the governor claims we "should have been put in jail or in a psychopathic ward."
Gov. Docking is confused and incorrect in many of his statements concerning this institution. He again makes false accusations when he says "If proper management was in effect at KU that incident over at Leavenworth would never have happened."
If the governor was referring to the KU Young Republicans who demonstrated at a Democratic dinner in Leavenworth, is his definition of "proper management" the restriction of the political views of students? Surely the governor cannot expect the KU administration to force the students to accept the views of the Democratic party or be silent on political issues.
Throughout the entire interview (with Daily Kansan reporters Thursday) the governor dwelt on the ethics of KU students. We do not believe that it is ethical to discriminate against Fred Ellsworth, executive secretary of the KU Alumni Association, merely because his son Robert happens to be a member of the Republican party.
Gov. Docking advocates a cleanup of KU. A "cleanup" is one of those "safe" political words which is used when there is no concrete reason on which to base criticism of something. The "something" in this case happens to be the University of Kansas and the KU Young Republicans. Does the governor propose to hold back needed funds because of his desire for a change or because of his personal objection to political opposition from the student body?
—KU Young Republicans Club