Thoughts on Kansan policy
As KU enters its second century and the University Daily Kansan its 77th year of publication, we take this opportunity to explain our editorial plans and policy for the coming semester.
We hope to continue this page as a forum of thought, a platform for opinion and a medium for political and social analysis. Realizing that we are but two individuals and perhaps limited in our vision, we invite opinions and comment from persons not formally associated with the editorial page in hopes of better presenting a truly representative picture of university thought.
ALTHOUGH WE shall not actively seek controversy, we will not shy away from it; each issue will be considered on its own merits. The final judgment, of course, lies with the individual readers.
Unfortunately, at some times in the past, certain personalities have come across unnecessarily strong—and have thus relegated the page to the position of a farcical experiment among journalism students. We hope this will not be the case this semester. We shall strive for personal anonymity in an attempt to emphasize issues not personalities, to the university community.
In addition to editorial comment, we intend to expand the composition of the page to include such items as reviews of cultural events by qualified reviewers, articles and comment by student leaders and various university personalities, and in-depth reporting and analyses of current world affairs as well as those on the university scene.
AS STUDENTS, WE ARE naturally concerned with student rights; it can be reasonably
deduced from the past that this issue will appear more than once during the semester. We feel it fair to say now that we consider the role of the university as something other than that of a nursemaid to students. We feel that KU is, after all, an institution for learning, and that student academic welfare should be of more concern to its administrators than student social well-being and students' personal lives.
The UDK has been criticized at times in the past for giving "unnecessary" attention to activities and views of campus minority groups and organizations. While this page will not be a mouthpiece for any particular group, we recognize that the size of an organization is not necessarily correlated to its importance to the university community. At times it is necessary to amplify the views of such groups because of their relevance to a particular university situation.
SOMETIMES THE SERIOUSNESS of affairs seems to be blown out of proportion. We hope, therefore, to occasionally lighten the tone of the page by injecting notes of humor through cartoon features and commentary.
When this semester ends, we will probably be left with things unaccomplished and questions unprobed. But we hope that during our weeks on this page, we will be able to face the major problems that confront the university, the students and the administration. We realize that it is much easier to comment than to act—that our ideas may at times lose touch with the realities of university administration. But we hope to offer responsible opinions on university affairs and that on this page the 101st year of the University of Kansas can be accurately portrayed.
The Editors
Support your local Jayhawks-it helps
We came, we saw the home opener, we said wow, another season at the bottom of everybody's list of football teams.
Coach Mitchell commented after the game that the team should be "on an even basis" with teams like Texas Tech by mid-season, and that he felt "ten thousand times better" about this year's game than last year's.
BUT BEFORE YOU say, "We've heard it ten thousand times before," look at the record and remember the game. And don't lose faith.
KU out-performed Texas Tech in every department Saturday except pass interceptions. Our rushing yardage was nearly double that of the Raiders, and we led in passing yards 152-150.
The Skahan-Kampschroeder combination clicked six times, and appeared as polished as any pass play can be. And sophomore halfback Don Shanklin, possibly KU's best hopeful in two years, gained 134 vards in 22 trips. We get a feeling he could be mistaken for another halfback of the same number.
BUT KU TEAMS are not known for getting breaks, and certainly they got none last Saturday. Furthermore, they are known for making mistakes, and that tradition was followed, too.
The team was in scoring position several times and failed to do so. They also committed defensive errors which cost them the score, the vital statistic.
Despite obvious inexperience and a comparatively young team,
and despite a tendency to be injury-prone, the loss of the season opener does not justify condemnation of team, coach or any other factor. KU's performance against Texas Tech showed, if you will pardon a well-worn expression, that it has all the potential for becoming a fine team.
So, past years' records notwithstanding, we strongly support the Jayhawks toward a much-improved season, and encourage everyone at KU to do the same. We must be doing something right.
Jack Harrington
New books
OFFICE POLITICS, by Wilfrid Sheed (Farrar, Straus & Giroux,
$4.95).
Ah ha, another "Executive Suite." That's what "Office Politics" appears to be. But it isn't. It's a witty novel with an entirely succinct title that describes the scrambling within the office of The Outsider, a New Republictype publication, when its editor-in-chief suffers a heart attack. Well, that sounds like "Executive Suite." But "Office Politics" is a sharply entertaining book in its own right, and it deals more with politics than with Cameron Hawley-type naked power.
No real heroes about, either, no William Holden to seize command and convince the board that he is the logical man to be the boss. When that sub-editor, whose identity shall not be divulged here, appears to be heading for the top editorship you are reasonably sure of one thing: he'll have trouble, and maybe he really isn't the man for the job.
Wilfrid Sheed writes, you gather, out of his own experience—an editor on Commonweal. He writes well, too, with humor always in the foreground. At first his style is difficult to become accustomed to; then it takes over and you're moving right along with it.-CMP
Opening convocation
Let me entertain you
(Perhaps the highlight of the chancellor's 30-minute budget report presented at Monday's convocation was the report's conclusion. The chancellor, as a "final fulfillment" burst into song. The piece, which Wescso himself wrote, can be sung to the tune of "On the Street Where You Live."
I have often talked from this stage before But the platform always stayed beneath my feet before. All at once am I Several stories high When I think of the years that we'll live.
Here is Lilac Lane in the heart of town
You can hear this Clarke in almost any part of town.
Here excitement pours
Out of all the doors.
Here, on this, on the "Hill" where we live.
And oh, the towering feeling
Just to know the goals that are near,
The overpowering feeling
That ev'ry minute new successes will appear.
People stop and stare;
They don't bother me.
For there's nowhere else on earth where I would rather be.
Let the time go by
I won't care if I
Can be here on the "Hill" where we live.
Properly aroused and finally fulfilled, students and faculty in attendance left the convocation for their 10:30 classes. A warm sun shined over Strong.
The people say . . .
One of the functions of any newspaper is to provide a place where the paper's readers may express their opinions on any subject.
The University Daily Kansan solicits letters on any issue, including its own policies, coverage and opinions. The paper also encourages letters which point out situations which need fuller public discussion.
LETTERS WILL NOT be cut without permission from the writer, but the Kansan reserves the right to edit letters for style, grammar and punctuation.
THE KANSAN POLICY on letters is as follows:
Letters must be typewritten, double-spaced and on one side of a page only. Letters should be kept as short as possible, to help insure publication soon after receipt.
We will try to print, as space allows, any letter we receive which is in good taste and shows due straint.
All letters must be signed. Names can be withheld if, in the editors' opinion, the writer has a valid reason for anonymity, but in any case, the name of the writer must be known to the editors.
However, this policy does not give license to attacks on personalities as distinguished from issues.
THE UDK is your newspaper. Use it. It is one of the best places you have to make your voice heard.
The Editors
Fill'er up?
We are pleased to note that Memorial Stadium can now accommodate 51,500 persons for football games. But we are distressed to note that 51,500 persons don't usually attend football games at KU.
We therefore offer our idea for filling the stadium and making use of the old as well as new seats. We suggest the administration immediately look into the possibility of a three-ring circus.
HI UNIVERSITY DAILY
KANSAN TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Newsroom—UN 4-3646 — Business Office—UN 4-3198
The Daily Kansan, student newspaper at The University of Kansas, is represented by National Advertising Service, 18 East 50 St., New York, N.Y. 10022. A postage paid at Lawrence, Kan., every afternoon during the University year except Saturdays and Sundays. University holidays and examination periods. Accommodations, goods, services and employment advertised in the University Daily Kansan are offered to all students without regard to color, creed or
The opinions expressed in the editorial column are those of the students whose names are signed to them. Guest editorial views are not necessarily the editor's. Any opinions expressed in the Daily Kansan are not necessarily those of The University of Kansas Administration or the State Board of Regents.
EXECUTIVE STAFF
Managing Editor Robert D. Stevens
Business Manager George Gaffney
Senior General Manager Jack Harrison, Eric Morsehuller
NEWS AND BUSINESS STAFF
NEWS AND BUSINESS STAFF Assistant Managing Editors Walt Javroe, Joan McCabe,
Walt Jayroe, Joan McCabe,
Barbara Phillips, Steve Russell
Barbara Phillips Steve Russell
City Editor Emery Goad Nat'l. Adv. Manager Gayle Scholer
Feature Editor Judy Faust Promotion Mgr. Robert B. Basow
Snouts Editor Ron Hansen Circulation Mgr. Howard Pankratz
Chemist Philips Glenn Classified Manager Joe Godfrey
Wine Editor Cheryl Hentts Merchandising Mgr. Steve Straight
Advertising Manager Tony Chon
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