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University Daily Kansan
Tuesday, Dec. 10, 1957
It's No Laughing Matter
9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1-phift. That humorous little line appeared as a headline on a large area newspaper. Other newspapers also had humorous comments.Many people smiled, some laughed almost hysterically.
It's wonderful that the American people can see the humorous side of almost anything. But it is going a bit too far when the failure of the United States to launch an earth satellite becomes the butt of a nation-wide joke. Laughing at the failure of something as important as the satellite shows ignorance of what consequences the failure could have.
The most apparent consequence of the failure to launch a satellite is the loss of world prestige. The United States lost some prestige when Russia launched Sputnik I and II. Now that our own efforts have failed, Russia, in the eyes of the world, has a big lead in the space race. This in turn can lead the world to believe that Russia has a lead in every other field.
When other countries come to the realization, real or imagined, that Russia is scientifically superior to the United States, they may reappraise their global affiliations. This would be true especially of the smaller countries who are still undecided about Communism. This could cause an exodus to the permanent "safety" of the Iron Curtain.
In this age of atomic warfare, the United States can ill-afford to lose any allies. One thing that keeps Russia from starting a war, is the realization that she wouldn't be fighting one country alone, but many, and some within easy striking distance of her.
Nothing about the failure of the Vanguard rocket to get above four feet off the ground is hilariously funny. But the publicity that the launching received was ridiculous. The scientists knew that the odds for failure on the first attempt were high, but that didn't stop the attempt from receiving more advance billing and on-the-spot coverage than the World Series. Someone remarked that it was the world's best publicized failure.
It's asinine to ballyhoo something that could be, and in this case was, a flop. Russia didn't make a three ring circus out of their launching. They waited till the satellites were in their orbits, then told the world. They may have failed many times before they were successful. But nobody knows for sure.
Few people laugh when they're hurt, but the American people are laughing at something which could hurt their country very much. The failure to achieve something so important and the resulting loss of prestige is no laughing matter.
—Del Haley
Dark Age For Intellects
The swift rise in living standards and consequently the rise in population through the past two hundred years was caused by the industrial and agricultural revolutions. Now that same technology has the duty to solve the Frankenstein it created.
Through increase in productivity of the land to feed the dissatisfied bellies, birth control to reduce the rate of population increase, and development of mass production to facilitate the availability of comforts, science has sought to lessen mankind's miserable state.
Now in this world that science is forced to mechanize and control to take care of the teeming peoples, society is becoming spoiled by too many things run off the assembly-lines and discrimination becomes difficult.
Technology needs trained workers. This, education has neatly done. Now the plea is for more technicians, more "idea men" who think up new designs in tooth-brush holders and bomb detonators. There are all kinds of science fairs and curricula to stir high school pupils' interests toward science careers.
But what has happened to the intellectual who would prefer to choose the classic studies for his life's devotion? The poor fellow finds
himself an unwanted oddity with an equally scorned book of verse under his arm.
Since Latin was pronounced dead and the school doors of general education were flung wide open to every kind of student and curriculum, the pattern has been, sneer at the "brain." He is forced to join or be shunned.
Despite the number of advocates of a liberal education, there is now a dangerous undertone for complete overhauling of education in favor of practical schools. Society, which likes its mechanical comforts over a good book, is whitttling away at the value of language, including its own, and literature.
Let it never be said that scientists themselves do not enjoy a classic. Einstein and Schweitzer enjoyed and participated in the arts, but they are famous geniuses. Unknown scientists like Mozart on a quiet evening too.
It is the undiscriminating, medioelement of society, created by too much of plenty, that has already, to some small degree, and will to a larger one, force the "laughable egg-heads" to retreat again to some "monastery" with the manuscripts of their mother-culture, where they will wait through another dark age.
Carolyn Davis
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS By Dick Bibler
"WHY. YES—I HAVE YOUR APPLICATION HERE SOMERACE."
Things are looking up in the queen department. If the crowning continues at the present rate, we are going to run up a pretty impressive total by the time the semester ends.
Daily Hansan
University of Kansas student newspaper
rounded up 1904,
trusted 1905, duly signed 8, 1912.
Member Inland Daily Press Association.
Associated Collegiate Press. Represented by National Advertising Service 420
Telephone Number: (866) 757-3900;
service: United Press. Mail subscription rates: $3 a semester or $4.50 a year. Published in Lawrence, Kan., every after
Saturdays and Sundays. University holidays, and examination periods. Entered as second-class matter Sept. 17, 1910, at
post office under act of March, 1879.
Extension 251, news room Extension 376, business office
Telephone VIking 3-2700
NEWS DEPARTMENT
Bob Lyle Managing Editor
Marilyn Mermis, Jim Banman, Richard Brown, Ray Wingerson, Assistant Managing Editors; Bob Hartley, City Editor;
Patricia Swanson, Lee Lord, Assistant City Editor; Nancy Harmon, Telegraph Editor; Nancy Harmon, Assistant Telegraph Editor; George Anthan, Malcolm Applegate, Sports Editor; Mary Beth Noyes, Society Editor; Martha Crosier, Assistant Society Editor.
Short Ones
BUSINESS DEPARTMENT
Harry Turner    Business Manager
Kerry Glover    Advertising Manager
Glover, National Advertising Manager;
George Pester, Classified Advertising Manager; Martha Billingsley, Assistant
Manager; Advertising Manager; Ted Winkler,
Schmidt, Promotion Manager; Steve
Schmidt, Promotion Manager
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
Larry Boston Editorial Editor
Jamie Stern Del Haley, Jim Sledd,
Associate Editors.
Some instructors are always complaining that their students don't have the right attitude. It could be that the student's attitude is a reflection of the instructor's own attitude.
Why is it that instructors of two hour courses seem to think that their courses are the only ones of importance and the other 14 or more hours that the student is taking are just supplementary.
Drive but don't drink.
Cruise but don't booze.
should be examined today. Call for appointment. Any lens or Prescription duplicated
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Find It In The Kansan Classifieds
Will Heaven Protect A Felon's Daughter? See "CROCK of GOLD" TUES.-SAT.
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