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University Daily Kansan Wednesday. Sept. 22,1965
Communication:
A Two-wav Street
When almost 14,000 students are clamoring to be recognized as individuals in a university community, it is unavoidable that each voice only becomes lost in an unintelligible roar.
Administrators note this fact by saying, "The channels of communication are open, but the students aren't using them."
Students recognize it with anguished statements like "They don't care about me, I'm just a number," or "Why can't the administration see our side of the issues? To hell with the status quo. Give us action, not bromides about using channels of communication."
IN HIS CONVOCATION address Monday, Chancellor Wescoe said, "There is no lack of opportunity to be heard; there can be only lack of information or disinterest in the avenues of communications that are available."
Student action on the campus in the past year indicates that the inference of student disinterest is a generalization, not necessarily correct. But the administration's assumption that students are not aware of all channels of communication is an honest one.
Let it be stressed once more that there are effective means of communication. Chancellor Wescoe noted most of them in his convocation address; student government; the faculty senate; advisory boards within the schools and the College; the University Human Relations Committee and joint faculty-student committees.
Although the point should be a foregone conclusion, it is also necessary to stress that student initiative is necessary to achieve rapport. The administration has made the opportunities, but the student body has no right to expect or demand that the administration stretch out its hand and lead the students into discussion. To do so would be an injustice to the students—it would destroy
their freedom to choose their own methods of protest and action, a right which the administration respects.
THERE IS ANOTHER point to be considered in opening channels of communication—mutual respect and understanding. Chancellor Wescoe expressed the point in his State of the University address in June.
"In a university such as ours we deal from day to day with the impatience of the young, and we must meet it with equal patience. The expectation of the young is that things will happen while they're young," he said.
"They are impatient to be sure, but one cannot fail to be impressed with their basic sincerity, good will, good manners, good conscience. We must, I believe, continue to measure our patience against their haste, our understanding against what may appear to be rebellion at a suddenly less permissive world."
THE WORD "AGAINST" in the Chancellor's phrases will probably strike many, particularly those who are intensely concerned with change, as implying that the administration and the student body are at cross purposes and never the twain shall meet.
It means rather that students' sense of urgency, impatience and occasionally immaturity must be tempered with the experience and patience that most faculty and administration members possess.
This is not an advocacy for cessation of student effort to implement change, nor encouragement of the administration to think that, because of their experience, they have all the answers.
Both sides can learn from each other. Both can begin by clearly defining issues and working for mutual understanding and responsibility.
— Karen Lambert
Johnny Jayhawk Croaks
Rah, rah, rah, and etc.!
One of the very few things that is unpopular to attack while at a university is its football team. Especially during that season when there's frost on the pumpkin and corn in the crib.
What is a university football team? It's a great corporation conceived with the sole purpose of winning football games and bringing glory to those ivy covered halls whence cometh its financing.
It recruits the best talent it can get. It combs the nation for players. It attracts the best public relations people it can buy to give it a good "image" with the press. It encourages "school spirit." It sells tickets. If it is successful in its venture, it draws more national attention to the school that gave it breath than a legion of Rhoades Scholars and Phi Beta Kappas could ever bring.
YET SOME DERANGED persons (heretics, most likely) are disturbed by the power wielded by these pigskin purveyors. "Should this football corporation even be a part of the university?" they ask. Universities are supposedly "learning institutions."
When a football coach is fired because he doesn't produce a pleasing record, this is not exactly an academic situation. It smacks of a business venture not unlike the manufacture of guided missiles. If your company produces the eighth best missile, you are out of a job.
However, if the university were to have the eighth-best Department of Basket Weaving in the Big Eight, most likely the department head would not be hung in effigy and asked to leave.
Perhaps I'm mistaken, but isn't football an extracurricular team activity like the debate team, fencing team, or college bowl team? As of this moment, this writer is not familiar with any participants in those activities who get full-tuition scholarships, allowances on books, free rooms in residence halls, and tutors to help them with their academic problems.
THE CONFUSION should be resolved. Football and the other major sports should be either professional or not. The average KU male
is not forced to participate in football. Why should the average football player be forced to go to class? In many cases, he is simply up here to play "ball" and could care less about English Literature I. The KU squad could be made into a farm team for the Kansas City Chiefs. At least, this system might be more honest than the present one.
Some sports-fan will be filled with a desire to punch a hole in my generality about football players and their academic desire. "Take Joe Gorillawitz," they might say. "He has a 2.8 average in nuclear physics."
Others will be quick to point out the great humanitarian service done by the athletic department by giving scholarships to boys who couldn't go to school otherwise. Should some of these "unfortunates" be in school at all?
Fine—Joe could make it without a football scholarship, but don't try to say that Killer Brogan, who got 15 hours of "F" even with the combined effort of four tutors, belongs in a "learning institution."
While these boys are going to school the athletic department is also "humanitarianly" using their
services on the gridiron. More than the taxpayers suffer from some of these misfits. Students in some residence halls suffer for nine months when the "student athletes" revert back to non-student behavior.
Why couldn't KU stop the importing of "talent" and compose its team of students who are enrolled in school, not football?
The reason this has never been done is that we would probably lose all our games. The other Big Eight schools would be happy to clobber a "collegiate" team with their semi-pro teams.
Still, conferences such as the Ivy League who have tried this new system of "student" athletes have prospered. However, no one thinks of football when they hear the name Harvard or Princeton. Unfortunately, not enough people think of an academic institution when they hear the name KU.
But 40,000 people on a Saturday afternoon who see the gentle breezes swaying the pom-pons and chant reverently, "Rock Chalk — Jayhawk—KUoo" with tears forming in their eyes can't be wrong—KU über Alles!
— Terry Joslin
BOOK REVIEWS
THE ETERNAL MESSAGE OF MUHAMMAD, by 'Abd-al-Rahman 'Azzam (Mentor, 75 cents)—An examination by a renowned Arab scholar of the origin, development and philosophy of Islam. The author is special ambassador to the United Nations from Saudi Arabia, and he draws on his experience to survey economic and social aspects of the Muslim religion.
WHAT TIME COLLECTS, by James T. Farrell (Dell, 75 cents).
Each new novel by James T. Farrell is, sadly, not occasion for cheering but occasion for gloom. He ran out back in the thirties, and "What Time Collects," like "The Silence of History," proves it.
This is part two of a new Farrell trilogy, but it seems to bear little relation to the other book. It is dated in style and approach (like Sinclair Lewis, Farrell never seems to have grown as a writer).
The theme is middle class marriage in an Illinois city from around 1900 to the twenties. It is sex which is stressed; one gathers that, as in some other contemporary novels, sex is all there is in this book.
"But They All End Up The Same Way He Got The Job"
Casual Entertainment
Classes have finally started. Students are slowly becoming aware of the academic load ahead of them for another semester. Soon, if it hasn't already, the question of entertainment will arise.
Like students everywhere, we are confronted with boredom, restlessness. A break from facts and theories, from responsibilities and living group noises is necessary to clear away the static and the taste of too much coffee and too many cigarettes.
Disregarding the movies, bars, bowling alleys and pool places in Lawrence, disregarding the parties planned for you by your friends and living groups or the trips to Kansas City and Topeka, what is there do to here for the quick study break, for a quiet inexpensive evening of relaxation.
Also in the Union in the sub subbasement there are facilities for pool and billiards, bowling and table tennis. Bowling leagues are being organized this week at a cost of $1.20 a person and anyone can bowl for 35 cents a line.
THERE IS ALWAYS THE browsing room in the Kansas Union, open every evening until 11. If you enjoy listening to music while you study or a quiet place to read for your own entertainment, the facilities are there.
In the billiard room, a table can be rented for 70 cents an hour. Table tennis costs 35 cents an hour. Women students often do not take advantage of these facilities and should be reminded they are also welcome.
STUDENT UNION ACTIVITIES sponsors two film series during the week for students and faculty. On Friday and Saturday evenings at 7 and 9:30 is the popular film series for 35 cents. Classical films are shown Wednesday evenings for 60 cents. The University of Kansas film series features foreign films. These will appear at Hoch on Friday evenings for free.
For the more romantically inclined how about a walk down to Potter Lake before it is too late to see the ducks? For that matter, how about a walk anywhere?
How many students take the time to really look at the art displays often made available in the Kansas Union lobby or in Strong Hall? There is also a distinguished art museum in Spooner Hall.
Dyche's natural history museum is always good for a pleasant stroll, and, believe it or not, it can be quite informative.
I KNOW THESE suggestions will inevitably raise many laughs from those students who are convinced that entertainment comes only from loud noises, huge crowds and a complete separation from thought. Any place provides these superficial tension releasers that are only good for the moment. But for the professional relaxer, the real searcher for inner calm and a livable outlook on life in our hectic little community, there's nothing better than a fresh experience in life on a quieter level.
Janet Hamilton
DailijlHänsan
111 Flint Hall
UNiversity 4-3646, newsroom
UNiversity 4-3198, business office
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Janet Hamilton, Karen Lambert ... editorial editors