Inside Today's Daily Kansan
Allan Handley, Prairie Village freshman, moans over Saturday class.
Enrollment Pictures-
- See pages 8 and 3.
- * *
- 2 Students Killed, page 11.
- Fine Arts Honor Roll. page 5.
Semester Split News-
40 ROTC Men Commissioned, page 11.
- Latin Educators Here, page 13.
- Streamlined Language?
page 6.
- Exchange Awards Available, page 12.
- * *
- Union Addition Construction, page 4.
By Robert Harwi
The chairman of the Kansas State Board of Review last week refused to explain why the Swedish film "Smiles of a Summer Night" was banned from campus showing. But The Daily Kansan has learned from other sources that the film had been termed "suggestive, obscene and immoral."
Tiers of new desks await distribution to rooms in Joseph Pearson dormitory.
A December mimeographed report sent by the Board to all Kansas theater managers said the film was disapproved because of "suggestive and obscene conversation and actions and is immoral in it's entiry (sic)."
Student Hotel Opens Doors
Mrs. Hazel Runyan, chairman of the Board of Review, refused to comment over the phone on the official ruling.
Board Calls Banned Film Obscene
- Story and photos, page 16.
"I don't care to discuss it with you," Mrs. Runyan told The Daily Kansan from her office in Kansas City.
Mrs. Runyan would only say the Board's decision was based on the statutes of Kansas.She said the business of the Board could not be discussed over the phone, or by mail, but that she would grant a personal interview at any time to answer questions.
Mrs. Runyan also said John Anderson, attorney general of Kansas, would be a source of answers to questions on the business of the Board.
This latest development over the controversial film leaves its status exactly where it was some two weeks ago when it was first learned that it had been banned.
Mrs. Runyan said at that time the Board would review the film again with the aid of clergymen and educators, to see if the ban would stick. However, she said officials at the University had not brought the film
back to the Board for a second showing and consideration.
Anderson suggested the Board should alter its regulations because the "U. S. Supreme Court has limited such boards to powers to regulate obscene matters only."
Thomas Buckman, lecturer in Swedish, seeking to bring the movie here under other auspices, said a representative of the Rank organization, owners of the film, had informed him
TOPEKA — (UPI) — Atty Gen. John Anderson today advised the State Board of Review to revise its regulations dealing with obscenity in films.
Bulletin
Mr. Buckman also received word from the American- Swedish News Exchange that the film had censorship trouble in other locations.
But it was the opinion of a representative of the Exchange, he said, that the picture was no different from some other controversial films that have been approved for Kansas.
"Its amorous incidents are spicy, in a thoroughly tasteful and elegant way, and its philosophical conclusions are made attractive with the most redolent of intellectual herbs. What is more, its involved situations are invariably comic and deft."
"Who would have thought that august Sweden would be sending us a film comedy as witty and cheerfully candid about the complexities of love as any recent French essay on l'amour? Yet that is what 'Smiles of a Summer Night' is.
The New York Times writes of this same film;
that they knew it was banned and "could do nothing about it."
(Read tomorrow's editorial page for the first in a series of articles on censorship in Kansas.)
Weather
Cloudy over state tomorrow with possible light snow southwest, spreading to south central. Warming trend anticipated next four or five days, beginning in the northern and western sections.
Negroes Gain Peaceful Entry To Va. Schools
NORFOLK, Va. — (UPI) — Virginia admitted 21 Negroes to white public schools today in a reluctant out peaceful change from a policy of massive resistance to integration
Seventeen Negroes were admitted o schools in Norfolk and four at Arlington in the Washington suburbs.
There was not the slightest incident, despite a few pre-opening rumors that there would be picketing and strife.
Until today, affected schools in Norfolk had been closed since last summer in the severe application of Virginia law that required the losing of any school that was integrated.
The estimated damage to both cars totaled about $25.
Other schools that were closed under the same law are in Charottesville—permitted to open segregated today under an eleventh-hour court reprieve that postponed integration until next September—and at Front Royal in Warren County. The affected school there lid not open today.
The first car, owned by John M. Goode, Kansas City, Kan., graduate student, was parked at 1616 Louisiana. The second car, owner unknown, was parked 50 feet down the hill from Goode's.
Virginia bowed to integration only after federal courts had knocked down every state barrier and after he legislature had passed fresh laws o cushion the impact of the historic transition.
Lawrence police, busy checking on a rash of accidents during the snow-filled weekend, could only shake their heads when an unoccupied parked car crashed into another parked car Sunday afternoon.
Goode's vehicle slipped on the ice and slid down the hill into the rear of the other parked car.
Under a new state law the state vill provide up to $250 annually in tuition grants for any white pupils who do not want to attend an inter- rated school.
Driverless Cars Collide Sunday
Daily hansan
56th Year, No.78
LAWRENCE, KANSAS
7,625 Slip to Classes
Monday, Feb. 2, 1959
Temperatures hovering near the zero-degree mark and ankle-deep snow gave 7,625 students a chilly reception as they came to the Lawrence campus today for the first classes of the spring semester.
Another 678 University students were enrolled in classes at the Medical Center in Kansas City. Total enrollment was 8,330 students—20 less than last spring's total.
James K. Hitt, registrar and director of admissions predicted late enrollments would bring the total closer to last year's.
Mr. Hitt noted that the spring semester "boosts" given in former years by returning veterans seems
Women Dislike Flattery
WASHINGTON—(UPI)—American women, contrary to prevailed male opinion around drug stores, are more insulted than flattered to overhear nice things said about them by strange men.
Also—another rude shock to the fellows—when a guy takes a girl home after an evening out on the town he's the one who's supposed to say thanks. And after that, it's good night.
This must be right. It comes straight from a government-financed booklet covering boy-girl lore, manners in public, and such other mirid matters as how much to tip the cab driver.
The advice on tipping may come as a shock, especially to cab drivers. The book says tip 10 to 25 cents for most trips and nothing at all if the ride is a short one. In the latter case nothing is said about leaping out of the cab for a fast getaway, an oversight that no doubt will be remedied in the next edition.
to have ended. The new student total on the Lawrence campus is 262, 60 less than last year and 152 fewer than in 1957.
Mr. Hitt said this indicated a return to the traditionally smaller spring semester enrollment. Fall semester enrollments should normally range from three to 10 per cent higher.
No unusual enrollment difficulties were encountered in the two and one-half day period. The system of assigning Saturday classes and sections in the "pen" continued without a hitch.
The number of women students as compared to men took a step upward. Men now outnumber women in a ratio of 2.35 to 1—the smallest difference in post World War II years. The ratio last fall was closer to 2.50 to 1.
Students, many of whom were displeased last semester with forced Saturday classes, seemed to be resigned to them this semester.
"I planned on it this time." one said. "It doesn't hurt as much that way."
NEW SEMESTER BEGINS—Stomping at the gate early this morning were these shivering students, eager to hurry across Sunflower Road toward the first classes of the new semester.