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University Daily Kansan Friday, Dec. 19, 1958
Christmas' Real Meaning
Let's take Christ out of Christmas!
After all, the religious significance of the holiday is gone.
"So what?" someone asked in the Daily Kansan. "Somebody has to make a buck."—Even if it is off God's own birthday.
In view of the contemporary conception of this day, it would be more appropriate to call it Giftmas. And the next thing we know, people will be clamoring for the date to be changed to late spring, May, for instance, so the weather will be more favorable for the hurried, harried shopper.
No one can justly blame the merchants, though, for the commercialized view of Christmas. As one Lawrence merchant said, "What can one do when people come in on Halloween night and ask to look at Christmas cards.
What is to blame? Our distorted sense of values? Is it the American conscience that can see no farther than its own mercenary nose or somebody else's pocketbook?
If this is the end to which America's capitalistic society has come, Americans better take quick stock of themselves and their standards of values, or suffer the defeat and decline of other great empires—the empires which lost sight of the real worth of life.
Maybe modern youth would rather have a new rifle or portable radio than the moldy orange Bob Cratchit put in the children's stockings. But just as much love went into giving that moldy orange as in any walking, talking doll or do-it-yourself war kit that youngsters ask Santa for now. And isn't that the real spirit of Christmas—the love of giving.
The spirit began on a starlight night in Bethlehem when God gave mankind the greatest gift of all.
We hear talk that this spirit of Christmas is dead.
We don't believe it. It may get lost in the hustle of irritated shoppers, but it is not dead.
It shines in the reflection of colored light in the snow. It sings out in the hearts of carolers. It speaks in the passing "Merry Christmas!" of strangers and friends. It shouts over the city from the church bells. It comes dressed in the red suit of jolly St. Nicholas, the patron saint of Christmas.
But most important, it is relived each year in the Nativity scene and the Christmas story.
Let's put Christ back into our Christmas. After all, He is the real meaning of the day.
—Pat Swanson
Guide Lines for Western Civ
Twas the week before the Western Civ Examination
And all through the dorm...
Students were cramming their wee little brains.
Some students, already burdened with term papers and past-due assignments to catch up over the Christmas vacation, have something else to look forward to.
Jan. 10 is the Western Civilization examination.
For seniors hoping to graduate at semester's end and who have evaded the examination every year so far, this will be a last resort.
For freshmen, there is 'no sweat.' They have seven more semesters left to take it over. And counting the test given each July, that means they have ten more tries.
Really, though, it isn't so bad. We passed it once.
Our advice, as veterans of these Western Civ wars:
1. Do not begin to study until Jan. 4. Why mess up a Christmas vacation?
2. If you are a fast reader, do not even begin reading until Jan. 9 This examination lasts just four hours. Why read more than you will have time to write.
3. Memorize only the important facts:
The castle of Baron Thunder-ten-tronckh was in Westphalia. The Ministry of Truth contained 3,000 rooms above ground level.
4. Learn all you can about nature. Study the trees and the grass and all about the birds. Nature was the main theme of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. You will be sure to have this question on your test.
5. Spend most of your time reading Candide and 1984.Do not bother to ponder with theories Enjoy the plots.
6. Do not read the Communist Manifesto or anything on the subject of Communism, Socialism, Fascism. You may become a broad-minded individual.
7. Practice messy handwriting and if possible, learn shorthand. Impress your examination-grader with your talent. He will reward you with an appropriate grade.
8. Stay up all night before the test. Have a post-Christmas party. Do anything, have a ball.
9. Better yet, don't study. Attend only the two review sessions Jan. 8. 9. You'll finish the examination early, making it easier for the instructor to grade.
10. Best of all, don't take the examination. Become a professional student. —Carol Allen
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS BY BIBLER
"FETCH ANOTHER GLINEA FIG AGATHA—YOUR FATHER
JUST RECEIVED ANOTHER ANIMOUS CHRISTMAS CASE!"
Founded 1889, became biweekly 1904,
trieweekly 1908, daily Jan. 16, 1912.
Telephone Vlking 3-2700 Extension 711, news room Extension 376, business office
University of Kansas student newspaper
Dailu hansan
Member Inland Daily Press Association. Associated Collegiate Press. Represented by National Advertising Service, 420 Madison Ave., New York, N.Y. Contact: Robert Harnack, international. Mault 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. Enquiries: 817-629-8477, 1910, at Lawrence, Kan. post office under act of March 3, 1879.
Matecim Applelegate  Managing Editor
Leroy Lark, Pat Lord, Martha
Grosso, Pat Parker, Assistant
Assistant Editors
City Editor; Jeanne Arnold, Society
Editor; Sandra Hayn, Assistant
Society Editor; Bob Macy, Telegraph
Editor; Mike Browning, graph Editor; Jim Cable, Sports Editor;
Don Culp, Assistant Sports Editor.
NEWS DEPARTMENT
BUSINESS DEPARTMENT
Bill Irvine Business Manager William Feitz, Advertising Manager; Robert Lilien Classified Advertising Manager; Willie Weir Advertising Manager; Clydene Boots, Promotion Manager; Maurice Nicklin, National Advertising Manager.
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
Al Jones Editorial Editor John Husar, Associate Editorial Editr
It Looks This Way...
By Donna Nelson
Scrooge is no longer a character out of Dickens, but the professor who has scheduled an hour exam for Saturday morning.
Pinnings and engagements are being announced right and left. Or right and wrong, whichever you prefer.
"Oh, they're all just so cute," said the girl as she gazed fondly at the Kingston Trio Album covers. "Now let's see. Which one is Tom Dooley?"
remember to drive carefully on your way home for the holidays. The life you save may be buying you a Christmas gift.
No, the Christmas carols this week were not accompanied by castanets. That was chattering teeth you heard.
The dejected sophomore told her parents she was going to become infamous instead of famous because it was a lot easier and twice as much fun.
The fact that there is no Santa Claus causes a great deal of disappointment, both to the children and their parents. The children find it hard to accept when they first find out, and the parents find it hard to take, when the January bills start rolling in.
Remember, only 31 days until final week. Oh well, on second though, forget it and have a ...
MERRY commercialized CHRISTMAS!
Editor:
Bikes
...The other day some coeds (from the West Campus Road area) thought about riding bicycles to class instead of hiking. They intend to wait, however, in order to test the feelings of their cooedrs, namely to find out if it is socially acceptable to ride bicycles, before they start riding. Afterwards they intend to have a "bike emphasis week."
I think the All Student Council should make outlines for every behavior in terms of social acceptance: For instance what hat and tie should be worn, how everybody should dress for different occasions, what cigarettes should be smoked, and whom dated.
I am going to throw my sandals in the garbage can right away because they are certainly not socially acceptable. I am the only one on the campus who wears sandals. (I have waited until now, though, because I expected somebody to organize a "sandal emphasis week.")
For the first time in human history every one of us is allowed to make an amount of choices. We exert an individual freedom none of our forefathers ever enjoyed.
I have also already bought a stock of bobby socks. I will give a pair to every girl I might date, as I would not dare date a girl who does not wear the socially accepted white bobby socks.
Let us preserve this freedom; let us enjoy this freedom. And in doing so we will develop the foundations of personal freedoms. Harald Meyer
Barbara Meyer Switzerland graduate student
★ ★ ★
And More Bikes
Editor:
What is the matter with KU's women?
A few weeks ago they had the nerve to criticize the average KU male, but today they can not even muster the courage to ride a bicycle across the campus without asking the opinions of the other women on said campus.
If it is faster and easier than walking, who cares whether bicycle riding is socially acceptable or not?
If the rumor were spread tonight that shoes were no longer suitable apparel, we would undoubtedly see several thousand freezing, barefoot lassies toddling at class at 7:45 tomorrow morning.
Emery Weber McCune senior
☆ ☆ ☆
Lost and Found
Editor:
To the poor reporter investigating the lost and found department in the Kansas Union I say "join the club."
We are the Downtowners, and this is our motto: "Never try to buy anything at the Union concession stand when you can possibly get it anywhere else because you probably will not get it at the Union even if they have it and you want it because it takes them so long to wait on you, you could have gone down town in the first place."
I. too, have attempted to conduct business at the Union information stand and I have had just as much success dealing with a cigar store Indian.
Believe me, you do not have to be a reporter to get ignored—just a customer...One day I stood at the counter for four full minutes before anyone came.
It was not that they were rushed or short of help...I remember that they were discussing Barbara's superiority complex. Frankly I did not give a hoot about anybody's complex. I just wanted the keys to the craft room.
... May I also mention the times I have had change returned to me while the lady in charge continued her conversation with her friend without even stopping to count my change.
(Name withheld by request)
(More letters on Page 5.)