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University Daily Kansan
Monday, Nov. 17, 1958
An Accusation
The arraignment of three students in the Lawrence police court Thursday morning was ostensibly the first step toward a trial.
But it is superfluous for the Lawrence court to handle the case at all, when the KU administration has already taken care of it so neatly.
The students have been tried, found guilty, sentenced, and punished, all before actual legal machinery could even make a move. The administration was good enough to perform all four duties.
Here is a quote by the dean of students concerning the case:
"These students have been guilty of implication in one of the most widespread instances of vandalism against the state, city, county and private property we have experienced."
That could not be clearer. The dean has decided the students are guilty, and the University has therefore punished them. Yet the city of Lawrence has yet to open its trial against them. Notice that the dean does not say the three actually committed the vandalism. He says they are implicated. Should the students be found not guilty, the word "implication" will be the loophole justifying the University's precipitate action.
But guilt and innocence are of no consequence to the administration. The dean told the students the suspension would stand even if they were found not guilty by the court.
A temporary suspension pending disposition of the case might be justifiable. But an indefinite suspension—which could be permanent—on the University's own initiative, which disregards legal guilt or innocence, is neither fair, just, nor equitable.
We realize the administration's right to suspend, expel, or otherwise discipline students. But we also believe that right must be exercised responsibly. In this case, we believe it was not so used.
The administration's first act, to suspend temporarily, was made in two hours, with nothing to go on but the arresting officers' report. The students were not called in until the punishment had been declared. The administration was apparently more concerned with getting the story into print than with informing the students concerned, and the three only learned of their suspension when they read it in the Lawrence paper.
The administration has botched the case from first to last. The students were convicted without a hearing, were not informed of the action against them until it was public notice, and will remain suspended regardless of their legal guilt or innocence.
The University has thus placed itself above the law. It says that guilt and innocence are of no concern to it. It says that implication is illegal and enough for punishment, that suspicion equal to conviction. If this is not injustice, there is no such thing.
If the suspension seems a trivial incident, a quote from the dean's statement may bring it closer to home:
"We can assume, therefore, that ANY CONNECTION on the part of our students WITH THIS OR SIMILAR GROUPS which involve themselves in vandalism, will call for summary dismissal." The capitals are ours.
We repeat: The administration has said specifically that it will dismiss, not only vandals, but any person who has any connection with such a group. If this practice is carried out, no student is entirely safe. For if one member of a fraternity paints Jimmy Green, his brothers surely cannot deny a connection with him.
We do not support TNE and we do not condone vandalism. And we repeat, the University has the right to suspend students.
But there is one cornerstone of Anglo-American law which has been ignored here: The presumption that a man is innocent until proven guilty.
The administration has associated itself with the evils of the kangaroo court and of lynch law, and has sunk to the capricious dispensation of personal justice. No good or lasting thing can stand on that foundation. —Al Jones
That Committee Again
Some time ago The Daily Kansan took the view that an All Student Council committee on race relations would serve no useful purpose. We still hold that opinion.
But our position is now awkward. The Group for the Improvement of Human Relations, which has progressed against discrimination in the Lawrence area, has approved the committee, and will send a letter to the ASC endorsing Council assistance in GIHR work.
Frankly, we are confused. The GIHR was
cool toward the committee before, fearing it would be political and would hinder the GHHR in its work. Apparently those fears have been dispelled.
If the ASC committee is non-political and quiet, it may do some useful work in ending discrimination in Lawrence. But the history of ASC committees is not encouraging. They usually function with a great deal of noise or not at all. If this committee does that, it will do a disservice to itself and to the University. —A. J.
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS
By Dick Bibler
"EDDIE! EDDIE BOY!-YA JUS' SET A RECORD! WHERE ARE YA EDDIE²
Dailu Hansan
UNIVERSITY
Founded 1889, became biweekly 1904,
tristweek 1908, daily Jan. 16, 1912.
University of Kansas student newspaper
Telephone VIkling 3-2700 Extension 711, news room Extension 376, business office
Member Inland Daily Press Association,
Associated College Repress. Represented by National Advertising Service,
420 Madison Ave., New York, N.Y.
Represented by International Mail subscription rates: $3
international. Mail subscription rate: $4
international. a semester or $4.50 year. Published
in Lawrence, Kan., every afternoon during the University year except
Saturdays and Sundays. University period
exceeds academic calendar periods as second-class matter September
17, 1910, at Lawrence, Kan. post office under act of March 3, 1879.
NEWS DEPARTMENT
Malcolm Applegate ... Managing Editor
Lcroy Lory Pat, Lord Swanson, Martha Crosier, Doug Parker, Assistant Manager Swanson, Jeremy Clyde, City Editor; Jeanne Arnold, Society Editor; Saundra Hayn, Assistant Society Editor; Bob Maeley, Telegraph Editor; Erik Brennan, Society Editor; Jim Cable, Sports Editor; Don Culp, Athletic Sports Editor.
BUSINESS DEPARTMENT
Bill Irvine ... Business Manager
William Feltz, Advertising Manager;
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Manager; William Kane. Circulation
Manager; Cleva Clark. Navigation
Manager; Maurice Nicklin. National
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EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
Al Jones Editorial Editor John Husar, Associate Editorial Editor
By Kay Reiter
TRUMPETS IN THE DAWN, Charles N. Hecklemann. Doubleday and Co. $3.95.
After reading this book, I have compiled a short quiz which, if you can pass it, should qualify you as a novelist in the same category with Hecklemann—Lower Division of Daffly Doodlers. DIRECTIONS: Read the sentence and fill in the missing words, or answer as indicated.
1. Which one is the hero? a. Sam Elston b. Fred Baker c. Zane Travis.
2. What does the good man do when the bad man, who cannot swim, falls overboard?
3. (True or false) The hero makes no sound when he is beaten with a belt and buckle.
4. where does the lady come from, Baltimore or Dodge City?
5. What happens when the hero fights ten Indians?
ANSWERS: 1. c 2. saves him, of course 3. True 4. Baltimore, naturally 5. He kills them all, what else? 6. repair (can you think of a better cliche?)
6. (Complete) "It had been a bright and dazzling dream, full of hope and promise for the future. But now the dream lay broken, shattered beyond ..."
A high score indicates that, at least, you have as much imagination as Mr. Hecklemann. Decide for yourselves whether that is much!
Perhaps "Trumpets in the Dawn" would be more acceptable if Mr. Hecklemann had intended it to be melodrama but, unwittingly, he masquerades it as an historical novel. True, the last section is concerned with the Battle of the Little Big Horn, but such historical elements as are included are put into statistical paragraphs that only a history major could appreciate. The ordinary reader would merely skip them and go on to the next scene, wherein the hero valiantly attempts to elude the advances of his lady friend—a scene which occurs with regularity in approximately every other chapter.
Although Hecklemann has written other novels and many short stories, "Trumpets in the Dawn" doesn't indicate any maturity in writing. The characters are stereotyped and most of the conversation is artificial and obviously contrived.
A priceless example occurs in the final scene between the hero and villain, who have been as bitter enemies as could possibly exist. The two confront each other as the villain is dying. "Gunnison's (the villain) mouth twisted again. The words, drawn from some area deep within him, were spoken in a whisper, but they carried the virulent poison of his hatred. 'You...can...drop...dead.'"—Somehow those words just don't carry the "virulent hatred" Mr. Hecklemann intended.
I have never read any of Mr. Hecklemann's short stories. But after reading "Trumpets in the Dawn," I recommend that you try them.
Patronize Your Kansan Advertisers
SUA Bridge Tournament
Wednesday, Nov.19
7:00 p.m.
Jayhawker Room
Kansas Union
Piping Hot Pizza In Mere Minutes
Call VI 3-9111
CAMPUS HIDEAWAY
Carry Out 106 N. Park