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University Daily Kansan, October 2, 1980
Page 11
lessful araq's nasek area
Club. local Democrats at odds
By BILL VOGRIN Staff Reporter
The KU Young Democrats club is in trouble despite the strong Democratic base in Douglas County, and the fact that, there are three Democratic incumbents in state House and Senate races.
The membership has dwindled to a small-core-group of about a dozen, which is barely enough to fill the club offices of president, vice president and other ambassadors. But the current club members are die-hard Democrats and vow to rebuild.
The group members cite several reasons for the poor showing of the Democrats and the increased membership of their political rivals, the College Republicans. Several obstacles block the growth of the club, and acclimate the Democrats to the biggest obstacle is their ally, the Douglas County Democrats.
"There is a tension between the groups," said Joe Weissbeck, president of the KU Young Democrats. "They took over the program when it started falling apart in 1975, and now they have a tendency to try and run the group."
THE KU GROUP is trying to sever major ties with its Douglas County counterparts. The KU club members have criticized the county for complying with the campus club and sometimes ignoring them in party functions.
"My goal is to re-identify ourselves and make the KU Young Democrats an independent organization." Weissbeck said. "We need more involvement on campus, we have some strong candidates that people can get behind and work for. We can usually get voters, we just can't get workers."
Part of the problem is the difficulty getting Democrats to unite behind the party slate of candidates. The members only want to work in that direction.
"Yes, it's hard to get the party united behind Carter and some of the other candidates. But that by 1884 the party will have found a cause, but to rebuild it is going to be
hard. We've got some money; we just have to get people nee.
POOR MANAGEMENT by the club has contributed to lack of interest on campus. Weissbeck said. In the past one has kept in touch with either the officers or the club members, and there have been no social activities.
"The College Republicans are stronger on campus and in the state than the Democrats," he said. "The Republicans have social events, picnics and other things; people get bored with just political events."
David Berkowitz, chairman of the Douglas County Democratic Party, thinks the Young Democrats need more than social events if they are going to improve their club, and he was surprized by criticism levied at the county group.
"I really don't understand it, they hardly existed last year and we gave them money from the central committee just to keep them going." Berkowitz said last week. "There was really poor organization last year and that seems to have carried over to this year.
"I don't really think the Young Democrats have set up anything of any significance; maybe they need to become more aggressive," he said.
Last year's president of the KU club, Paul Rowe, sees extensive problems with the club, rooted in what he called the county's exploitation of the club.
"For a long time we have not had promotional ability, and then someone like John Simpson will show on campus and the club doesn't know about it until the next day when we read about it in the paper." Rowe said.
ROWE SAID THAT the Democrats did not have the grassroots organization on campus, as the John Anderson supporters did, and that the Democrats were caught in a "Catch 22."
"The Republicans are active in fraternities," Rowe said. "They have regular meetings and have an active membership. We need more organization and better communication with the state organization.
"The KU club is being ignored on the county and state level, and we must do
something to gain recognition," he said.
BY UMS
Rowe said the club had worked in leaflet drops and in voter registration drives, going door-to-door for the candidates and yet received nothing for their work.
Money, beer or food would all be welcome rewards for a day canvassing the city, but the county gives volunteers nothing in return.
"They could spend $30 for a keg and the response would be greatly increased," Rowe said. "I don't think that is an unreasonable request."
Rowe said recent attempts by the KU group to lure a member of the campaign staff for Jimmy Carter's referral effort step toward liberation from the county.
ALLAN CIGLER, faculty advisor for the KU Young Democrats and professor of political science, said the students affecting the group had a long history.
"I don't think they have ever been a strong organization," Cigler said last week. "They have not had a strong base help from the party they need to grow.
"I think they should keep it as a lose-knit group, and not be for anyone in particular," he said. "Let the individuals decide who they want to help out."
The key to the success of the College Republicans is not easy to articulate, according to Bren Abbott, chairman of the Republican Party, and they boast of 250 members.
"We have a hard core of about 20 people, and usually have 50-60 attending each meeting." Abbott said. "We have more organization, I think, than the Democrats, but I don't know if we are really any stronger."
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ABBOTT SAID THE Republicans regularly visit organized living groups, usually at dinner, to talk about their group and generate interest. The College Republicans have also had party leaders visit campus with regularity, something Abbott said helped maintain interest.
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SVA FILMS
Thursday, Oct. 2
The Battle of Algiers
The justifications given by the chancellor search committee for prohibiting open forums with finalists were challenged last night by the executive committee of the KU chapter of the American Association of University Professors.
Gilio Pontecorvo's chronicle of the Allegian light for freedom is so realistic that it really is an ingenious fiction film with a strong basis in reality that won many awards, including its cinematic brilliance. "One of the important films of our times is *The Matter of Life*, more interesting than the truth" — more interesting than the truth — 1884 BBW. French subtitles, 7:30.
AAPU requested earlier this week that meetings with the finalists for the position of chancellor be held as forums open to the entire Univers-
In a letter to Evelyn Swartz, AAUP president, Jacob Kleinberg, search committee chairman, said the committee could not open the meetings because of the need to keep nominations confidential and because of a Board of Regents rule against open meetings.
SHE SAID THE nominees would be highly qualified people who need not worry about publicity if they were applying for the position.
A Clockwork Orange
Hair
Friday. Oct. 3
The Age of Aquarius arrives. Director Miles Forman (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) has made an energetic, blunt Love Rock Musical" of the 60's. Twyla Tharp's choreography well does a cast including John Savage, Treat Williams, and Beverly D'Angelo. Plus: "121115 hours" Color: 3:30, 7:00, 9:30
Anthony Burger's novel about a society where teenage-gangs are brilliant is a masterpiece. The movie better than a sterile world? The most controversial film of the 70's poses that difficult question. With Malcolm X as the antagonist (137 min.) Color: 12:00 Midnight.
"The people in that group and of that caliber would not lose face and regard it as an insult if their names were known." she said.
(1971)
(1979)
The committee's second justification for refusal is based on a Regens' policy that John Conard, the director, said, is not a written policy.
Profs question closed forum justifications
Conard said that the Regents appointed a search committee and gave the committee the power to its search in any manner it wished.
Saturday, Oct. 4
Hair
3:30, 7:00, 9:30.
A Clockwork Orange
12:00 Midnight.
Monday, Oct. 6
Forty Second Street
(1932)
He said that traditionally all searches were confidential, but there was no reason why the committee could not open its meetings if it wished.
The original backstage music-star—brush wrist leg on opening night, so proctor would be a keeler out there—and she wows 'em. The inventor of *a* thousand club pieces; Burke Batyker (musical sequences) and Lloyd Bacon (dialogy), with Dick Powell, Rachel Hale and *Manny* (a "Merie Melodie" and 30's album) BMT-7.30; Burke Batyker films. (*BMT*) bw.7: 30.
Unless otherwise noted, all films will be shown in the Union. Weekday film are $10.00, Friday, Saturday, Period and Sunday films are $1.50. Kindling films are $2.00. Special events include the Union, 4th level, Information 864-3477, No smoking or refreshments at
On the Record
Charges of aggravated assault on a police officer are expected to be filed this morning against a KU student suspected to be the driver of a car involved in a hit-and-run accident which hospitalized an off-duty Lawrence officer. Miss Michele Monroe County district attorney, said yesterday.
The accident occurred Monday night near the 1700 block of Iowa Street.
Woeds suffered a compound fracture of his left leg and a minor concussion in his right arm.
The injured officer, Severeno Woods, 25, was reported in satisfactory condition last night in Lawrence Memorial Hospital.
According to KU police, who assisted Lawrence police at the accident, Woods and his brother were driving northbound on Iowa Street when two men in a car drove up next to them and began calling them 'abusive' names.
Police said Woods then stopped the car. Woods' brother told police that as Woods approached the car and showed him, the car continued forward and hit him.
Lawrence police said the driver of the car eluded police for a while, but turned
himself in later at the Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center.
TWO CONSTRUCTION FIRMS reported losses yesterday totaling $3,482 from burglaries Sunday afternoon and sometime Monday night or Tuesday morning. Lawrence police said.
The two burglaries are not thought to be related. police said.
Police said the equipment was stolen from a locked storage shed that might have been opened with a key.
According to police, the first burglary occurred Sunday at Rylie Equipment and Contracting Company, 1210 E. 23rd St. $1,152 worth of equipment was
The second burglar, which occurred between 8 p.m. Monday and 7:50 a.m. Tuesday, involved the theft of $2,330 in equipment taken from a storage shed at the facility.
The equipment, mostly construction tools, is owned by a Dallas construction firm, police said. Police said bait were used to cut a paddle on the dock.
Police reported they had no suspects in either burglary.
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