they are n.—D.H.
Wednesday, May 24, 1961 University Daily Kansan
Page 5
Student Apathy Is a Result Of Grade Pressures, Fear
(Editor's Note—This is the last of a series of articles on awareness among college students in general—of the social and political issues of the day.)
By Fred Zimmerman
Persons interviewed recently about apathy among KU students made the following key assertions:
- Students here do not realize the influence they potentially can have in such matters as civil rights.
- Parents, in trying to give their children all possible advantages, have deprived students of their courage to act.
Stephen S. Baratz, chairman of the Civil Rights Council, said:
"I really believe these students don't realize the power they have to change things that are wrong. There are a lot of situations crying to be corrected, but it appears that no one wants to get into a controversy."
- The constant drive for grades leaves students little time or inclination to get involved in controversial issues.
- TWO ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS in campus affairs, Ed and James McMullan', Long Beach, New York, seniors, believe that although parents have done their best to provide students with an easy life, "these parents have taken away our courage. our desire to adapt to controversial causes.
- Interest among students in social and political affairs may gradually be increasing here.
"At the root of the apathy is fear. Students are afraid to put their future jobs in jeopardy. They are afraid they may be labeled communists, or that they may disappoint their families," the brothers said.
"We've established little doll houses for ourselves, and we're afraid to look out at the adult world."
HOWARD BECKER, a professional sociologist doing a study of the KU undergraduate for a Kansas City research firm, agrees with several other persons who say the constant struggle for good grades may curb student interest in current issues.
"Grades unquestionably are a big factor in apathy among university students." Becker said.
It is the opinion of two KU sociologists, E. Jackson Baur, professor of sociology and anthropology, and John H. Giele, instructor of sociology, that students are becoming more interested in what is happening around them.
SPEAKING AT a recent Current Events Forum, Prof. Baur said that although "Kansas is still not very wide awake," he is encouraged by student interest in the last few years in the Model United Nations, the Civil Rights Council, and campus government."
Mr. Giele, also speaking of a change of student attitudes he feels is taking place, said:
"The pseudo-mothers in fraternity and sorority houses are an indication of childishness. This is a sort of mom-ism which students should be concerned about getting rid of."
HE ADDED, however, that there is still a lot of growing up to do.
"The student body is less provincial than it was four years ago when I came to KU."
He said that further examples of this childishness are closing hours and attendance requirements in classes.
As a solution to the problem of student apathy here, the McMullans said there is a need for more open discussions, such as the Current Events Forum.
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"Encouraging the expression of all views — this is the only way we're going to have a free America," they said.
Jim McMullan added:
"We're growing. The new generation is slowly getting away from the attitudes of the old generation. But you just can't change suddenly."
Burgstahler Gets Chemistry Grant
A two-year grant of $10,800 has been made by the American Chemical Society's Petroleum Research Fund to Dr. Albert W. Burgstahler, assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Kansas.
The grant is a renewal of a previous two-year grant and is given for the support of research on stereospecific angular alkylation directed by Dr. Burgstahler.
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