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University Daily Kansan Friday. Jan. 11, 1957
William H. Allaway
He Helps Student Understanding
At the end of this month William H. Allaway, general-secretary of the KU-Y will leave the University in order to complete requirements for a doctor of education degree at Denver University.
The students here will miss Mr. Allaway not only for the achievements that he has made in his work with the KU-Y but for his friendly interest that he has shown to students and faculty. He has always been interested in University problems and especially foreign students. His field of study is international relations and his work here should fit well into his future study.
As Kit Westgate and Micky Mills, co-presidents of the KU-Y have so well stated, that Bill Allaway has "embodied the purpose of the KU-Y and lives and teaches it well."
"Although he will leave and complete greater
challenges and successes, his influence will continue through those for whom he was a teacher and friend," they continue.
"Men must be born free; they cannot be born wise; and it is the duty of the university to make free men wise."
Bill has always been very helpful to The Daily Kansan in that he has been free with his news releases and has always given us first crack at the stories. He has taken the time with reporters to give them other leads for stories.
Mr. Allaway would probably go along with a person he admires, Adlai Stevenson, when he said:
The better culture understanding of his fellow man has surely been increased by the $2\frac{1}{2}$ years that Mr. Allaway has served as general-secretary of the KU-Y. He will be missed.
Letters ...
David Webb
Rhetorical Question
The overriding objective of the exchange program under which many foreign students come is the promotion of a healthy understanding between the American people on the one hand and the societies to which the foreign students are indigenous on the other.
The paramount prerequisite to this understanding, consequently, is the existence of an environment favorable to contact and communication. In this letter it is suggested that both participating parties in this process leave much to be desired.
Many foreign students will be aware, and even tired, of the automatic and somewhat naive question that is always asked them: "What were your first impressions of the United States?" To this question answers vary.
Another related question, however, which usually follows immediately, has the tendency of fishing "very much" for an answer. It must be obvious to all, that guests try to avoid being impolite, and to this end it is hardly tactful to answer: "I don't like the United States," when the question is "Do you like the United States."
What should concern us, however, is not the questions that are asked, nor the answers that are given. Equally, the matter of how these questions are asked, or the manner in which the questions are made is a preregative of the communications department, and competition does not appear invited. It is our concern to ask how far these methods are adequate in achieving the understanding that the exchange program seeks to realize.
A question like "do you like the United States?" is unquestionably undiplomatic. It is undiplomatic because it can invite one answer only and that answer is "yes." The question is unfortunate because it leaves the questioner where he started, with this further attribute, that he might have been flattered.
When a volley of such questions has been asked, and corresponding stereotyped answers given, it looks highly unbelievable that any understanding has been made. Indeed, it may be reasonable to submit, that misunderstanding might have arisen.
The truth is, however, that to understand at all we must make some effort, and quite invariably be prepared to make sacrifices. To this rule, the exchange program cannot be exempt. What is the effort made when a question is repeated simply because another person used the question on a previous occasion? What sacrifice is made when one answer rather than another is given purely on the basis of appearing conventional?
The sub-program contributing to this process of understanding, are the visits which foreign students now make to American homes. These home stays are commendable, and the part played by the foreign students office and the UNESCO extensions in sponsoring them is appreciated. Cut
out the sub-program from the experience of the foreign student, and his understanding of the American society is diminished by a substantial margin.
For a person who has ventured from France to the United States, it hardly is a problem to venture from Lawrence to San Francisco. Consequently, foreign students should travel very widely.
This is the second method of learning the United States, and also exposing themselves to that country in the hope of being understood. This method, however, has a strict financial limitation, and it is therefore employed rather sparingly.
The suggestion often made, sometimes from official circles, that the foreign student should try to understand the United States primarily from books is an erroneous one. Such a view fails to recognize that many published books on the United States are circulating in many parts of the world, and that the only understanding these areas of the world have is a confused misunderstanding.
There is no escaping the fact that the foreign student has to understand America, and America has to understand the foreign student, primarily through personal contact and communication.
The question which should therefore count most in this letter is how far is the environment favorable for personal contact and communication?
Shadrach N. Okova
Kakamego, Kenya
graduate student
John Jacob Astor got his start in Michigan when he organized the American Fur Co. in 1808 with headquarters at Mackinac Island.
Daily Hansan
University of Kansas student newspaper
truweekly 1908, daily, Jan 16, 1912,
truweekly 1908, daily, Jan 16, 1912.
Member Inland Daily Press Association.
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Just Browsing
Well, we see where our hero, Elvis Presley, has been classified 1-A by Uncle Sam, and we only hope it doesn't throw too many KU dollies into deep melancholy or mourning or anything like that.
However, we fear that some of the gals will fail to heed our advice
Walt
and become emotionally upset over this great tragedy. After all, next to Santa Claus, he's the most sacred thing that students have to look up to these days, now that Sir Anthony Eden has resigned
We heard one little dollie discussing the Great
Presley tragedy the other day,
and the only comment she'd let
us print was, " would like to see
him once more before he goes."
We'd just like to see him go.
---
We see where Life Magazine is on the campus for a story about Wilt, but our fondest hope is that they stop in at Marvin Hall for a detailed, technical explanation of the architecture of the campus.
While we're in the wishing department, we'd like to wish everyone who's taking the Western Civ test Saturday a very happy TGIF. Just remember, you've got to stay relaxed, but not so relaxed you can't hold the pencil.
***
And despite the close proximity to Western Civ and final week, The Daily Kansan is just filled with good news. For example:
1. Parking permits are now available—to all persons with no arms, no legs, and no car.
2. They're growing flowers now for the graduation ceremonies this spring, and geraniums at that. All we need now are a few seniors who plan to graduate.
And as a final note of good cheer, remember that only 4 of the 70-odd species of grasshoppers in North Dakota do any major damage to cultivated crops.
3. Gina Lollobrigida is appearing in the University Film Series (onight. Res ipsa loquitur.
4. The French Club is planning a Fete Des Rois, but we'll still stick with Gina Lollobrigida.
GOP Chairman Hall Resigns
—Dick Walt
WASHINGTON — (UP) — Republican National Chairman Leonard W. Hall announced today he is retiring as party chairman effective Feb. 1. He also announced that he plans to appoint a subcommittee at the GOP National Committee meeting Jan. 19 to confer with President Eisenhower.
Woman Ignores Party Line
DETRIOT — (UP) — Mrs. Mary K. Barry has been placed on probation—and on a new telephone party line. Police said she assaulted a woman, with whom she shared a party line, after the woman accidentally left the phone off the hook.
Shuffle dances were officially banned on the campus in 1920.
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