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Summer Session Kansan
friday. Aug. 1, 1958
What Is Amateur?
The American education system has been under detailed scrutiny in recent months as a result of Russia advances in earth satellites and accomplishments in education in general.
While we're tearing apart the U.S. school system and searching out its defects, let's not forget that huge industry—intercollegiate athletics.
I like sports. Don't get me wrong. In fact, I'm probably among the most enthusiastic KU students when it comes to following the Jayhawker teams. I like both professional and amateur athletics. But here's the catch. There is a difference between professional and amateur athletics.
A professional athlete is doing a job, and making a living. It is usually a full-time occupation for him, and he gets paid for his ability to do his job well. He is sought after and bid for by teams which want his talents on their side in order that they may be a winner and make money. He is an investment for the management of the team, and he is coddled and protected as a valuable investment would be. The emphasis is on the financial end of the sport. Making money is necessary if a team is to survive.
That is what the world of professional athletics is like. But take a closer look and you will see that there is a surprising resemblance between this picture of the professionals and views toward our own "amateurs."
Perhaps we should ask ourselves just what good sports are. Every grade school boy has been told of the idealistic side of athletics—learning good sportsmanship, being a good loser and fighting hard until the final gun. And everyone knows the joy of winning.
But to the millions of Americans who make up the spectator corps sports mean something
else. Something to talk about and cheer about and make life interesting. The sports which an average unskilled person participates in are amateur and the ones which the millions pay money to see are professional. Winning—and making money—become of most importance in the latter, and the idealistic "sports for fun" become obscure.
The amateur sports program in the United States is getting too big. And as it grows it becomes less amateur. College football and basketball coaches fight tooth and nail for top prospects throughout the nation. The letter of intent, a convenient phrase for an amateur's contract, is becoming more widely used and may soon be in use in the Big Eight.
Football coaches often receive salaries higher than those of many academic professors. A university is more famous for its football team than its scholastic program.
Sports are fine. Professional tactics are fine—but not in a public educational institution. Let's call a spade a spade and a pro a pro. The prestige of the colleges and universities where athletics has become big business is being hurt.
Professional athletic teams are becoming more popular. Their play is of higher caliber and they are free to use professional methods out in the open. Perhaps professional teams will someday become dominant in this country and athletics in schools will be relegated to the proper position of intramural sports for all students.
If that day ever comes I will still remain an ardent sports fan, cheering for my favorite professional teams as I now do the University teams, but I will have a little more pride in the American system of higher education and the colleges and universities which keep their hands clean and stay truly amateur.
Jack Harrison
... Letters
Editor:
To secure the admiration and respect of the American people, a great university must maintain a certain measure of dignity.
It seems to me that the sprawling darkness of the television-filled main floor of the Kansas Union detracts violently from the dignity of the University.
The function of the Union is, of course, provision of manifold areas for relaxation and informal gathering. Certainly there should be a place in the Union for television; but a room away from the life center of the building would be much more appropriate.
Visitors to Lawrence, students waiting for friends, and others cannot help being depressed by
the lazy, lonely crowd around the television set.
Banishment of television to another room in the building would be a great improvement—it would not, of itself, bring supreme dignity to the University. The quality of the faculty and the student body are very important in this regard. Still one step may be taken.
Richard Harter Columbus, Ohio graduate student
Prisoners at California's San Quentin Prison have formed discussion groups to talk over world affairs.
Fuels make up 40 per cent of the weight of a fully loaded jet airliner.
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS By Dick Bibler
"YES I FIND IT EASIER TO GET DATES NOW THAT I HAVE A CAR."
Chuckles In The News
MOSCOW — The Moscow City Soviet yesterday banned cows and chickens from within the city limits for "sanitary reasons."
MADISON, Wis.—Gov. Vernon Thomson said yesterday Wisconsin did not send a representative to the Miss Universe contest "Because there are so many beautiful girls in the state, it would be too difficult to pick just one."
FRANKEN, Germany—The local fire brigade, resorting to desperate remedies for desperately needed funds, circularized the villagers, "If not enough money for the new hose can be collected we may find ourselves forced to stage a concert."
LONDON—The offices recently vacated by the Conservative party will be taken over by activated Sludge Ltd.
They got their money.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.—A former Texas Ranger and trick shot artist with a rodeo surprised a burglar in his record shop here yesterday.
NEW ORLEANS—Police charged Louis Icard. 32, with carrying a concealed weapon. He admitted he had been looking "for a heroin peddler to rob."
H. A. (Cheyenne Tex) Holley, who chased Pancho Villa four decades ago, fired three shots. All missed.
"I'm going to keep on holding up dope peddlers, 'cause they ain't doin' right," police quoted the accused as saying.
FORT SMITH, Ark. — Squirrels are usually crazy about nuts but Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Nutt of Fort Smith, don't quite agree.
Squirrels are tearing up the Nutts' roof.
SUMMER SESSION KANSAN
(Published Tuesdays and Fridays)
(Published Tuesdays and Fridays)
Ed. Phone 251 Bus. Phone 376
Editor ... Martha Crosier
Business Manager ... Bill Irvine
Staff ... Bob Hartley,
Harry Ritter, Fred Miller, Robert Lynn
Manager .. James E. Dykes
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
(Answer on Page 8)
ACROSS
1 Brazilian dance.
2 Between Kukla and Ollie.
3 Priggish.
4 Full of: Suffix.
5 River in France.
6 Center part.
7 Camper's equipment.
8 Algernian seaport.
9 Fancy goldfish.
10 Anthony Trollope's "Doctor
23 Japanese apricots.
24 Performer on a wind instrument.
25 Drive away.
26 Fragrant resins.
27 Danube tributary.
28 Lorna of fiction.
29 Come in.
30 Prize fight decisions.
31 Servicewomen.
32 Blood.
34 Wife of Abraham.
35 Steam turbine part.
36 Triumph.
37 Mousy character.
38 Delicate gradation.
39 Kind of news paper.
51 Wine.
52 Run with oil.
53 Stately Spanish dance.
57 Astound.
58 Get better.
60 Chinatown group.
61 Pierette to Pierrot.
62 Prevent legally.
63 Remnants.
64 Opposite of reveille.
65 Geological term.
DOWN
1 Suffix: Abbr.
2 __ prima (at once): Italian.
3 Soughing sound.
4 Break off, as a friendship: Slang 2 words.
5 Abashed.
6 Fencing swords.
7 Fishing outfits.
8 Fallout over Etna.
9 Sting.
10 Scampering off.
11 Washington's headquarters, 1777 and 1779-80.
12 Monitor lizards.
13 Relative of the civet.
18 Hide oneself: 2 words.
22 Actor Cronyn.
24 Swift.
25 Sign of ellipsis.
26 Actress Chase.
27 Hold up by weather.
28 Ambassador.
31 Equipped for seulling.
33 The Red navigator.
34 French man's name.
36 Lloyd's Register items.
38 State south of Arizona.
41 Image.
43 Police in 38 Down.
46 Famous Club of Addison and Steele.
48 Under most favorable circumstances: 2 words.
49 Flavor.
50 Dancer and choreographer Dolin.
51 Lays asphalt.
53 Dishever.
54 Concerning: 2 words.
55 Noncoms.
56 Departments: Abbr.
59 Ex-boxer.
Tiny But Important
WASHINGTON—The crisis in Lebanon puts the spotlight of world concern on a tiny country that is part Christian, part Moslem, that combines East and West, ancient and modern.
Nestled against the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea, Lebanon is 125 miles long and from 20 to 45 miles wide. On land Lebanon is almost completely surrounded by Syria, a partner with Egypt in the anti-Western United Arab Republic.
In normal times Lebanon is a highly prosperous nation with a shrewd business sense. Having few natural resources, it lives by trade.
Ties with the West are strong. It is said that few families in Lebanon are without at least one member in the United States or South America. The American University of Beirut, founded in 1866, has 3,000 students representing 44 countries and 30 religious groups.
In normal times Lebanon also serves as an incomparable playground for the eastern Mediterranean. Visitors approaching Beirut by sea might easily mistake its skyline for that of Miami Beach. In a few hours visitors may drive into the Lebanon Mountains for skiing.
Though only four-fifths the size of Connecticut, Lebanon has a blend of scenery and history that rivals that of many larger nations.
The fertile Al Biqa' Valley knew Stone Age culture antedating Phoenician civilization. The great Phoenician ports—Tyre, Sidon, and Byblos—still exist, under modern names. Sidon (Sayda) exports oil pumped from Saudi Arabia through a vital, 1,068-mile pipeline.
North of Beirut a narrow valley cuts through hills that parallel the shore, making a natural corridor for Lebanon's succession of conquerors. Rameses II marched by 13 centuries before the birth of Christ. Through the pass also came Babylonians, Assyrians, Greeks, Romans, Ottoman Turks, British and French soldiers.
Lebanon passed from Turkish to French mandatory rule after World War I, was proclaimed a republic by the Free French in the second World War, and achieved full independence on January 1, 1944.
Unwritten law provides for a Maronite Christian president. Sunni Moslem premier, and a legislature apportioned among various religious sects. (National Geographic Magazine)
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