Student government has parallel
(EDITOR'S NOTE—As might be expected, KU's student government has its parallels in this country's national government.
(One of the most basic similarities is that the average constituent on both levels knows little, if anything at all, about the governmental system organized around him.
(The following is intended as a primer, for those interested, on student government at KU.)
The Associated Students of the University of Kansas is organized into a three-branched governmental network.
THE EXECUTIVE branch is headed this year by Al Martin, Shawnee Mission junior and student body president, and Janet Anderson, Shawnee Mission junior and vice-president. Working with them are the executive committees, appointed by Martin and Anderson with the advice and consent of the All Student Council (ASC).
The ASC represents the legislative branch of the student government. It is composed now of 42 members, representing the different schools and living groups of the University.
The judicial powers of student government are vested in the Student Court. Justices of the court are law students appointed by the student body president and approved by the ASC and the dean of the Law School. The court is empowered to handle many types of controversies, ranging from traffic ticket appeals to interliving group disputes.
AT THE TOP of the student government ladder is the chancellor. He has the absolute right of veto over any governmental action.
Within this basic framework, student government functions at KU. The judicial branch generally works apart from the other two branches, but there is usually close contact between the executive and legislative branches.
Much of the executive-legislative interdependence stems from the political party system at KU, through which both student body officers and ASC representatives are elected.
THERE ARE TWO political parties — University Party (UP) and Vox Populi. Each nominates a slate of candidates in the spring and fall elections. As a result of last spring's election, the 42 seats on the ASC are split equally between the two parties.
In the fall ASC elections, candidates are nominated from the various living groups; the number of representatives a living district receives is proportional to the number of votes actually cast, but each district is guaranteed at least one representative.
In the spring elections, candidates are nominated by the school they represent. Each school has one ASC seat, except the College, which gets two representatives. Student body officers are also elected in the spring elections.
THE COMPETITION between the two parties is keen during elections, and each is serious in its quest for ASC seats. Election time at KU is usually very colorful and exciting, but very tense; it often is amusing.
After the spring elections, the ASC chooses its own officers. Presently, Jim Prager, Annandale, Va., senior, is chairman; Tom Rader, Greensburg junior, is vicechairman; Rosie Burns, Caldwell junior, is secretary, and Bob McAdoo, Larned senior, is treasurer.
The ASC, a unicameral assembly, has jurisdiction over the promotion, regulation and coordination of extracurricular student activities.
THE GREATEST portion of its time, however, is spent as a
sounding board for student opinion and in this role it serves as an important communications link between the students and the administration.
Bills and resolutions passed by the ASC and approved by the student body president go directly to the chancellor for his approval. In this manner, the chancellor theoretically is kept informed of the concerns and opinions of the student body.
Some persons have argued,
however, that the ASC is not a representative channel for student communication because it is not truly representative. Slightly more than one-third of the student body turns out for the average ASC or student body election. Attendance by observers at council meetings is light. Critics point to these facts and say the ASC fails to reach the average student.
TO SOME EXTENT,such criticism is valid. The blame,however, rests with the student body in
general rather than the ASC in particular.
The ASC has provided channels for student participation in government—participation that extends beyond the ballot box. This is manifested mainly in the committee system.
Daily Kansan
Thursday, September 15, 1966
11
Theatre rally set Sunday
Activities of the University Theatre including a theater rally Sunday evening at the Kansas Union were recently announced.
The rally will be held from 7- 10 p.m. to discuss professional groups touring the campus, new curriculum and production programs.
On Monday evening there will be a meeting at the University theatre for auditions of fall productions.
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Has the Volkswagen fad died out?
Yes.
But it was an unnerving experience while it lasted.
Because after we introduced our completely sensible car, people ran out and got it for completely frivolous reasons.
The first people bought VWs just so they could be the first people to have one.
And a lady in Illinois had one because it looked cute beside her "real" car.
However, the faddists soon found out that the bug wasn't an expensive ($1692) toy, but a cheap ($1692) car.
As a fad, the car was a flop:
(When you drive the latest fad to a party,and find 2 more fads there ahead of you,it catches you off your avant-garde.)
But as a car, the VW was impressive:
If you had to go someplace, it took you. Even when some cars wouldn't. And when you got there, you could park it. In places where other cars couldn't.
Once people took the bug's good points for granted, it became the best-selling car model in history.
And that's when the VW fad ended.
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