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University Daily Kansan
Monday. Nov. 4, 1957
Conformity-A Law?
When the recent cold wave settled on the campus for a 2-day run, the thermometer dipped to 20 degrees. By all standards, this is the time to break out parkas, topcoats, and heavier wearing apparel.
But in true "I better wait to see if most of the students on campus are wearing theirs" style, KU students went shivering to class clad in light coats and jackets. Of course, it would be a social boo-boo to wear something 7,999 other students are not wearing.
Whenever some new style hits the campus, every student rushes right down to the stores and stocks up on everything he knows everybody else will be wearing. For example, suede jackets, parkas, Ivy league caps, and olive drab slacks.
Of course, this makes him one of the gang.
That's just what he is, one of the mass with about
as much difference between him and the next guy as two freshly laid eggs.
Probably the biggest governing force on this campus is the unwritten law of conformity. The real individuals, who dare to wear headgear and galoshes when it is raining or a shirt without a button down collar, are getting scarcer all the time.
The KU law of conformity is a tough one. It just is not broken. Just take a look around your classes sometime. Have you seen a woman in colored anklets? How about a guy in wash pants that don't have the buckle in the back?
Let's cut out this stereotyping of personalities. We're here to be trained to think for ourselves. Why not get away from the stale attitudes and ideas of the masses and get a fresh approach by getting 8,000 individuals at KU. Let's be ourselves for a change.
"It is doubtful that any of the voices here at the University could sing such a difficult role for three consecutive performances," said Lewin Goff, director of the University Theatre. "If a professional singer is not cast in the part, the production would probably be given only two nights, instead of three, as was originally planned."
The Theatre feels that this would afford great opportunity to the students cast in the production to learn from working with a "star."
The University Theatre is thinking of hiring a professional singer to play the lead soprano part in the production. "The Saint of Bleecker Street," by Gian-Carlo Menotti,
There are several questions which come to mind at this point. Which student would be willing to give hours of study time rehearsing for a role which she will never play? It seems a pity that if a professional singer is hired for the part,
How much will it cost to hire a good professional singer to give the three performances?
Is Professional Talent Desirable?
Dick Brown
Is it not one of the purposes of the University Theatre to give students experience and the opportunity to play some of the leading roles in operatic and musical productions? Why not give students some of the good roles for a change?
If the University Theatre doesn't feel that KU students are sufficiently equipped for these lead roles, perhaps a careful selection of productions which can be cast with students would be wise for the future.
There are advantages in hiring professionals to come here to give that certain polish to a production, but there are also disadvantages. This is a practice which should not be overdone.
The University of Notre Dame The tomb to Tamerlane is now in was founded in 1843. Tashkent, in Soviet Central Asia.
Evelyn Hall
Editors:
It didn't occur to the the members of the Convocations Committee that there were many students who might not know who John F. Kennedy is. However in a joint meeting with the members of Mortar Board, they suggested that the committee make greater effort to familiarize the students about Kennedy's background and character, thus attracting those students who otherwise might find the Hawk's Nest more "educational" than an All University Convocation.
... Letters To The Editor
important Foreign Relations Committee. Being a novice, however, did not prevent his taking the Senate floor during the last session and rocking our relations with France by suggesting that they should do more to satisfy Algerian nationalist desires for independence.
Kennedy will be remembered by many as coming close to the nomination for the vice-Presidency on the Democratic ticket of 1956. He lost by eight votes. Already there is talk of his selection as the Democratic presidential nominee in 1960.
Jack Kennedy is a member of the Senate and is junior member of the
He is the author of a recent best seller: "Profiles in Courage"—
"HAVE YOU TURNED IN MID-TERM GRADES ALREADY THIS SEMESTER?"
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS By Dick Bibler
six portraits of men from American history that have displayed great political courage in time of crisis.
The fact that he is young (39) and is considered extremely attractive to the voters of the fair sex will not hinder his career in this day when television is so important in political campaigns.
He has his share of critics too. They play upon his physical attractiveness and his role as author in their slogan "Kennedy needs less profile and more courage."
Whether you are Republican, Democrat, Prohibitionist, or Socialist, Kennedy's appearance on the campus offers an unusual opportunity to see him and perhaps judge what kind of a person he is and what kind of a President he might make. Certainly it is an opportunity for the KU student body to see and hear a man who is playing and no doubt will play an increasing role in American politics and history.
Is the Mortar Board right? Are the Jayhawkers unaware of and thus not interested in the men who run their government? I hope not. A good test is the degree to which students are turned away from Hoch Auditorium Thursday morning.
Assistant Professor of Political Science
Member of the Committee on Convocations and Speakers
Clifford P. Ketzel
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