Thursday, May 18, 1961 University Daily Kansan
Page 3
UDK Focus: The Disciplinary System
Student Awareness Needed
The University's disciplinary system, although efficient and well-organized, has been criticized heavily during the past few years by both students and faculty. The University deans who administer discipline have consistently denied charges that the system needs revision. They say that it is sound and sufficient; the critics say that it is muddled and at least needs better definition.
The University's disciplinary system, although and its results are a good sampling of the disciplinary system.
THE CRUX OF THE MATTER IS THAT both the deans and the student-critics are right. The system, as explained in articles appearing on these two pages, does function without error in procedure. Misunderstanding occurs because no one knows what the disciplinary system is, how it functions, what composes it and what offenses are considered worthy of disciplinary action. The answer to this misunderstanding is the publication of information about the system. This "UDK FOCUS" is a start, but that is all. A continual flow of results and other explanatory information concerning the system is needed to keep the student aware of its function and scope.
There are, of course, two sides to this proposal or else it would be in effect today. Laurence
The prime method of accomplishing this would be to publish results of the action of the University Disciplinary Committee. Only action and results, no names, need be published. This committee is the most powerful segment of the disciplinary system. It hears appeals from any other form of judicial or disciplinary group on campus. The disciplinary committee is composed of six students, two faculty members and three deans. All types of cases appear before the committee
C. Woodruff, dean of students, and Chancellor W. Clarke Wescoe have both said that they felt that publication of the disciplinary committee's action would have a positive effect on students, making them aware of disciplinary procedure. Members of the committee, including some faculty and students, thus far believe that publishing the results would be too detrimental to the system and student. These members say people might be able to figure out who the offender is, that the penalties meted out, because of the individual nature of each case, would be misleading, and that there is not that great a problem of student ignorance concerning the disciplinary system.
Publishing the results of the committee's action would enlighten the student body as to the type of case that is heard, the possible punishments, and would be a weekly chronicle to remind students that they are held responsible for their actions on campus. Open discussion is one of the greatest molders of public opinion and enforcers of society's moral code. It is used effectively throughout the nation today, and many universities use it to aid their disciplinary system.
BOTH SIDES OF THE ARGUMENT POSSESS strong points. One side says that the individual should be protected from any possible danger of exposure for his offenses. Publication could hurt the offender's reputation and perhaps his future. The other side says that withholding names would be sufficient protection to the individual and that awareness and fear of publicity are great weapons in the positive fight for discipline which far outweigh the expressed dangers. This belief that publication is the greater good is endorsed by the Daily Kansan.
- John Peterson
--forced to appoint a faculty-student committee to investigate possible courses of action.
Old Cases Daring, Hilarious
Ever go canoeing on the Kaw? Carry a concealed pistol across campus or smoke marijuana? These happenings and others have been before KU's disciplinary system during years past.
A number of cases, classics by standards today, can be found in the Daily Kansan files dating back to 1916. But 1919 was the year that questionable activities made the headlines.
THIS WAS THE era of freshman beanies, canoeing in the moonlight on the Kaw, rallies to call off school after every football win, and the first beginnings of student government.
In May, 1919, freshman Jose V. Cajucon pressed charges against two upperclassmen, Wallace Shaw and Otto Hopfer for "seizing him as he was leaving his garage and taking him in a motor car to Oak Hill Cemetery, where they clipped his hair and removed his trousers and told him to return to town."
Hopfer had reason for the prank.
Cajucom, according to the Kansas' account, had just returned from "canoeing in the moonlight with Hopfer's girl friend" and the freshman had not been wearing his freshman beanie often enough to satisfy the upperclassmen. These two offenses provoked the upperclassmen, clad in gray masks and gunnysacks, to waylay Cajucom.
THE CASE WASN'T clear cut as Cajoucom could identify Hop- fer only by his walk, and Shaw by his "high, feminine voice which he recognized as belonging to the Beta."
The case was tried in both district court and the University discipline committee. The court trial resulted in two hung juries, but the third time the two upperclassmen were acquitted.
But this wasn't the end of the subject. Chancellor Strong said that freshman hazing would have to be abolished, but his proposal met such resistance that he was
UNIT DEPTITY Daily Hansan
Files show that this did not end freshman hazing.
"Risking his life on a swaying pole five stories above the campus, C. A. Gilmore, college junior, climbed the 30-foot flag pole atop Fraser Hall at 11 o'clock last night to pull down a Nazi swastika raised there earlier in the evening by practical jokers."
Other matters to come before the disciplinary committee in those years before World War II included the smoking of marijuana on campus, fraternity parties and students walking the campus with concealed weapons.
University of Kansas student newspaper
IN 1941 another startling prank happened. But the prank was nothing compared to a student's anties to undo it
On May 23, the Kansan said:
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NEWS DEPARTMENT
John Peterson ... Managing Editor
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John Peterson
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
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THE FLAG WAS discovered in the spotlight atop the building about 9 p.m. When officers and students reached the base of the flagpole it was discovered that the rope the flag had been run up on had been cut off.
Business Manager
"At this time Gilmore volunteered to climb the pole and remove the flag, an act made doubly dangerous by the wind which caused the flagpole to whip back and forth. In order to obtain a better grasp Gilmore removed his trousers and his shoes and socks, then clad only in a shirt and shorts, he slowly worked his way up the flagpole.
"When he neared the top of the pole he managed to reach up and grasp the end of the rope. In sliding down Gilmore burned the inside of his legs and feet."
THE ARTICLE pointed out that the administration had a lead on who the person was and that the prankster would appear before the disciplinary committee.
At this point, the disciplinary committee took over and no further information was published.
Woodruff Explains Disciplinary Theory
The KU disciplinary system strives to develop a conscious responsibility in students toward the campus and the world in which they are destined to live.
Laurence C. Woodruff, dean of students, believes that students need to gain more respect for both their own and other person's rights and privileges.
"We are an educational institution with our major disciplinary efforts along the line of building character. We all make mistakes, and the University tries to correct situations leaving as few scars as possible," he said.
DEAN WOODRUFF SAID THAT THE DISCIPLINARY SYSTEM always attempts to help the individual, but that the conglomerate of people connected with the University must be considered, and not just the consequences to the individual directly involved.
"I feel that the government which governs best is that which governs least. I hate to see hard and fast rules and procedures established in situations where the human element is so prevalent."
"The disciplinary setup causes uncertainty among many people, but at the same time it causes much more thought by the people making the decisions. If the rules were spelled out, however, I believe there would be more of a tendency to standardize cases regardless of the different circumstances."
Dean Woodruff said that there is and has been some talk concerning the disciplinary system working on precedents. But he said that this was impossible since there never have been two identical cases.
"I sincerely feel that we don't have many cases where there is a feeling of injustice after the case. The most fair and equitable answer is looked for constantly.
"DESPITE THE STUDENT'S DESIRE TO HAVE ALL OF THE t's crossed and i's dotted, each knows what is right and what is wrong when he gets right down to it.
"I think students are aware or know subconsciously that if they have been prosecuted unjustly they can go complain to somebody and get some proper action. I have faith in the initiative of today's student."
Dean Woodruff was referring to the point that critics of KU's disciplinary system make in saying that many freshmen and sophomores may receive unjust punishment from an instructor for a classroom offense such as suspected cheating—and accept it.
He said a broad outlook must be maintained in regard to discipline.
"Discipline procedure always gets muddled in thinking of the student who is in trouble and in forgetting that we also have to constantly consider other students, faculty members and the University community.
"The image of the University as an educational institution must be upheld. The impression that the actions of students makes on the public, the taxpayers, the Board of Regents must be considered. Sometimes, in spite of all our efforts, the observers of the University still get an inaccurate image of University life."