KU professor condemns loyalty oath at council
Paul Wilson, professor of law, told the All Student Council (ASC) last night he thinks the Kansas loyalty oath is "probably unconstitutional."
Wilson spoke in relation to a resolution submitted by Jerry Bean (KUPA-large men's) which called for ASC and student body support of the abolition of any loyalty oath requirement for state employees.
"This statute was written in 1949," Wilson said, "in a time of great fear of communism, during such events as the first Berlin crisis. It was a result of a national feeling of hysteria and fear."
HE BEGAN by reading the statute concerning state employees and the oath, and then said that he felt that the oath does not accomplish the objectives of its authors.
He said anyone intent on the overthrow of the government would sign the oath without a second thought, merely to keep a clean record.
"In any loyalty oath," he added, "there is implied a suspicion that the taker of the oath might not be loyal."
Wilson pointed out that oaths are considered generally by government as an insurance of fidelity. He cited oaths which he has been required, including one for advancing rank in military service and one for entrance to the bar.
"Beyond impressing upon a person the responsibility of his office," he said, "the oath has no purpose.
"If I were to represent one party, I would rather represent Dr. Ehrenreich, because there are more arguments against the oath than for it. I think this statute is probably unconstitutional and I suspect the court will determine it so."
Wilson said that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that mere membership in an organization is not sufficient justification for penalty. It must be a "knowing" membership, in which the member is fully aware of the subversive objectives of that organization.
He cited a recent case involving an Arizona loyalty oath similar in substance to the Kansas oath. He said that the Arizona statute prohibited knowing membership in such organizations and was still judged unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
ASC defeats election bill
The All Student Council (ASC) last night defeated an amendment to the ASC Elections Bill which would have revised campus living group voting districts and eliminated school representatives from the Council.
The amendment, proposed by Kay Orth, El Dorado senior (KUPA — sorority) and Dick Darville, Shawnee Mission senior (KUPA- large men's), was debated on the floor for one hour and 45 minutes before coming to a final vote.
CHIEF OBJECTIONS to passage of the amendment were those of Tom Rader, Greensburg junior (VOX—fraternity) and Jon Waller, Lawrence third-year law student (UP—unmarried-unorganized).
Waller said he felt that school representatives should not be eliminated from the Council. He said that this representation is important, especially in close-
knit groups such as some of the smaller schools.
Radar's objection was that, conceivably, under the proposed amendment, one district could have as many representatives on the ASC as several other districts combined, depending on voter turnout.
THE AMENDMENT provided for each large residence hall to be a district in itself. The other districts would then be: all fraternities, all sororites, scholarship halls, married students and unmarried unorganized students (off-campus).
Each district would be guaranteed one representative for each 1,000 students residing in the district (or fraction of 1,000 thereof) and one additional representative for each 250 votes cast in an election.
The final vote was 15-15. As the amendment required a two-thirds majority for passage, it failed.
77th Year, No.18
Serving KU for 77 of its 101 Years
LAWRENCE, KANSAS
WEATHER SHOWERS
See Weather—page 9
KUPA to meet tonight
The Kansas University Progressive Alliance will hold its first meeting tonight at 7 p.m. in Farlor A in the Kansas Union.
Student tickets available
Student season football tickets purchased last spring, but not yet picked up may be obtained all day Friday at the ticket windows in Allen Field House.
THE FIRST item on the agenda will be the introduction of all the members of the All Student Council (ASC) who have affiliated with KUPA.
Also on the agenda are:
- The signing of petitions to make KUPA an actual political party in compliance with the regulations of the Constitution of the ASC.
- A report on last night's ASC meeting by Dick Darville (KUPA-Large Men's), Shawnee Mission senior.
- The passing out of forms to those interested in offering work to the new Alliance.
- The explanation of the structure and function of the Alliance and the fielding of questions.
- A brief forecast of the future.
Roger Oelschlager, Clay Center senior and chairman of the Student Athletic Seating Board, said that about 100 student tickets remained to be claimed.
—UDK Photo by Dick Doores
CARNIVAL BOOTH READIED
Final preparations for the Chi Omega booth at Saturday's SUA Carnival are being made. From left are Laura Ruble, Jodi Leonard, Laurie Wedell and Diana Thompson.
Wednesday, October 12, 1966
School of religion construction set
Rev. Schmidt said demolition of the present structure at 1300 Oread will start by the end of this month. The new unit, an ultra-modern two story structure, is to be built on the site of the old one.
Construction on the new $450,000 Myers Hall of the School of Religion is set to begin in early November, The Rev. Reinhold Schmidt, dean of the school, said yesterday.
Architectural drawings indicate a T-shaped building with space for 20 classrooms and at least five offices. A new library wing will house 12,000 volumes.
"Four years ago the School of Religion had about 300 students enrolled." Rev. Schmidt said. "Now more than 800 undergraduate students are enrolled."
REV. SCHMIDT SAID tentative plans call for completion of the project in time for the fall semester of 1967.
HE SAID if this pace continues, more than 1,200 will be attending the school by 1970.
"Myers Hall is old, dilapidated and totally
inadequate," Rev. Schmidt said. "In fact, if we had to remain here much longer, we could not operate a school of religion."
Myers was one of the first buildings on the KU campus. It was built in 1886. No major improvements have been made since a wing was constructed in 1913.
"ANYONE COMING TO the school can readily see the problem." Rev. Schmidt said. "The compactness of the classrooms creates extremely crowded conditions and is the chief problem."
He said that sometimes there have been as many as 85 or 90 students in a class designed to accommodate about 40.
No classes have been held in Myers Hall this fall. Day sessions are being held in the Wesley Foundation Center, while night classes are meeting in Blake Hall.
THE SCHOOL now offers about 25 credit hours. Seven full-time and six part-time professors are teaching. No curriculum changes were made this year, Rev. Schmidt said.
Sorry brother?
Two carloads of fraternity brothers enroute to Potter Lake last night were involved in a collision. Some suffered minor injuries.
Dennis L. Comstock, Leawood junior, and a passenger in his car, Rodney Coday, Shawnee Mission freshman, received minor injuries when the car collided with one driven by Quin C. Hostetler, Herrin, Ill., junior.
Damages amounted to $250 to the Comstock car and $200 to the Hostetler vehicle.
Traffic and Security officers at the scene reported that the incident, on the access drive at Allen Field House, was caused when the students' attention was diverted.
Police said the students of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, were planning to throw a pledge in Potter Lake.
Seniors say And we shall inherit rain
Two seniors were walking toward their 8:30's, carrying umbrellas and casting wary eyes at the gray sky.
One remarked to the other:
"Wouldn't you just know it— rain on the day we're going to inherit the earth."