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University Daily Kansan Wednesday, Oct. 8, 1958
Slummy Sunnyside Mess
Stories from the Sunnyside area top the list of eligible complaints, if there ever was one. Sunnyside students appear to be very unhappy over their University-owned living conditions.
The problem is not so much with the married students themselves. Adult humans can exist in the most squalid settlements. Students are usually willing to make sacrifices with the knowledge that they will eventually leave the campus slum for decent quarters upon graduation and a steady job.
The situation takes on a dirty aspect when seen from the children's perspective. Sunnyside families are said to average about three children per set of parents.
The kids, if they are on a Horatio Alger route, are starting off on the right feet. They are presented with a magnificent opportunity to play with useless fire extinguishers, wade in ankle-deep mud when it rains, associate with mice and rats, and fall down steep, sliver-lined stairwaves.
We must envy the children to some degree. Where but at KU's Sunnyside could their experience embrace both an intellectual atmosphere and the low extremes of some of Chicago's south side flats or New York's base hovels? Think of the stories they can tell visiting cousins about the big rat hunt under the house last week.
Think of their young lives being snuffed out if
that match box called Sunnyside ever catches fire.
Of course the parents can do nothing but pay the exorbitant rent the University charges. They also can warn their children about warding off mishap from the time they jump out of bed in the morning until they finish praying that the house won't fall down upon them, and crawl back in the sack at night. It seems strange that the $30 charged above Kansas State's levy is not used to improve the place in general, or at least to fix the fire extinguishers.
J. J. Wilson, Director of Dormitories, said recently that KU is trying to keep its married student housing rates in competition with Lawrence private housing. Maybe KU should attempt to compete with Lawrence housing in quality before haggling about the price, although the city does not really provide much quality anyway.
For a University of KU's standing, the Sunny-side mess is a disgrace. The slum would be acceptable if the University could not afford better. But this institution is rich in heritage and cash deposits.
If tight officials cannot find any motive to lower rent prices or to quickly repair the Sunnyside dwellings, then they should remember KU's heritage. Sunnyside reflects no pride for the University. J.H.
Flu Shots Halt Epidemics
Influenza caused 697 KU students to miss about 3.500 days of class during last year's epidemic. An equal number of cases went undiagnosed by the Watkins Hospital staff.
The same kind of epidemic can hit again this year unless all students take advantage of the free flu shots offered by the hospital.
Not only did the students affected miss an average of a week of class each, but they were usually so weak they had little or no energy for an additional two weeks as a result of the illness.
"Flu is an inconsiderate illness. It may very likely hit on the week-end of a big party or over Thanksgiving vacation, as well as in the middle of a school week." Dr. R. I. Canuteson, hospital director said.
Some flu has been detected in the United States this year, but not to last year's proportions. However, if an outbreak should occur in any area, it will spread rapidly because of modern traveling habits. The possibility of exposure to viruses rises when persons from all over the country are drawn together, as at KU.
Hospital figures reveal that nearly 90 per cent of the new students were given flu shots when their tuberculin tests were read during the fall physical examinations. If the other students would receive their shots, an epidemic would find it impossible to get a foothold.
We wonder if the modern dance bunch is making plans for the enrollment boom they'll have when the hula hoopers reach college age.
Who is responsible for getting the flu shots?
You, the student. No one can make you take the short walk to the hospital to spend the few minutes which may save you a week of class work, besides a fairly sick constitution. After nearly a month of class, the value of being physically able to keep going is apparent.
If the reasons for "an ounce of prevention" aren't obvious, ask some of the hundreds who suffered from flu last year. Doubtless, each will tell you that a bout with the horrible germ, flu, is not worth the time saved by not getting a shot.
Many people were ill last year. Shots could have prevented that. Many did. Don't take a chance on your health. Get your flu shots now.
Mary Alden
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS
Short Ones
The atomic submarine has been underwater for two months now. Any day, the Navy may actually perform the old gag and order it back to let the crew re-enlist.
The ultimate has finally been achieved. Some city slickers in New York have developed instant marijuana.
University of Kansas student newspaper
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NEWS DEPARTMENT
Malevolim Angeles, Managing
Maleelm Applegate   Managing Editor
DEPARTMENT
BUSINESS DEPARTMENT
Bill Irvine Business Manager
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
Al Jones  Editorial Editor
It Looks This Way . . .
By John Husar
What we need is a good college prank!
We are not proposing the ordinary type of prank: the vindictive, cynical, tear-out-their-guts type. We are not saying the football coach should be hanged in effigy. Not yet, anyway. It simply would be apropos for a humorous event to be staged plainly for the sake of a good joke.
When student imagination is limited to redressing Jimmy Green and shampooing the Chi Omega fountain, a tune-up of the campus funnybone is in order.
The last really interesting event KU students staged was the legendary Gangdom Murder pulled in front of the Varsity Theatre around 1950.
In this foray into history, a group of students zipped by in a big black car, and "machine-gunned" a young man as he left the movie, late on a Saturday night. Lying on the sidewalk, the prankster squeezed catsup from a plastic bag onto his clothes and the cement, while his girl screamed her frightened head off, unaware of the joke.
Thirty seconds later, another black sedan appeared, six burly, masked men threw the "body" into the trunk and drove off, with the "murdered" man's arm hanging limply from the unfastened trunk. The unfortunate girl was left in a swoon and a pool of cat-sup. while hundreds of witnesses dumbfoundedly ogled the proceedings.
That was a prank. A good, clean, college prank.
Apparently times and moods have changed on campuses. Ideas are needed. Something must be done to make the population realize that youth is still present on Mt. Oread. People are never too old to laugh at somebody's red face. The trouble is, countenances have been so pallid recently, other faces do nothing but reflect their poker-like qualities. People need to smile! It is good for digestion. Besides, this campus could use a good shaping up humor-wise.
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