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University Daily Kansan
Monday, Nov. 2, 1964
Amendment's Fate Hinges on Stewart
By Judy Farrell
The fate of the anti-discriminatory amendment passed by the All Student Council Oct. 27, rests with Bob Stewart, Vancouver, B.C., senior and president of the student body.
The amendment sets a one-year deadline for removal of discriminatory clauses from the constitutions of all University organizations. If such a clause is not removed within a year under the amendment the University would withdraw recognition from the organization.
STEWART MUST TAKE the first step-either approval or veto of the bill—and he has four days left in which to take that step.
Under the ASC constitution the student body president has a tenday period following the passage of a bill to act upon it.
Stewart also said he was unsure how to interpret the ten-day period.
Stewart said Sunday night he had taken no action and intended to use the full ten-day period in making a decision.
IF THE TEN-DAYS began with the morning of the ASC meeting during which the bill was passed, the period ends Thursday. If the ten-day period began with the moment the bill was actually passed by the Council, the deadline for Stewart's decision could be extended to late Friday.
Stewart may take two courses of action before the period expires.
- He may express outright approval of the bill; or he may approve it by "pocket signature"—by having taken no action by the end of the ten days.
- He may express outright disapproval or "veto" the bill.
The ASC constitution does not provide for a "nocket veto", which
would enable the Student Body president to take no action and thereby indicate his disapproval.
ONCE STEWART HAS taken action, one of two additional steps awaits the bill.
If Stewart approves the bill, it goes to Chancellor W. Clarke Wescoe. The Chancellor can express outright approval or he may exercise the "pocket signature." If the Chancellor takes no action on the bill within two weeks, it is assumed that he approves the bill.
If Stewart vetoes the bill, it is returned to the All Student Council. The Council may override Stewart's veto by a two-thirds vote of members present at the meeting following the veto.
SHOULD THIS HAPPEN, Stewart would no longer be involved. The amendment would go directly to the Chancellor for his approval or veto.
If Chancellor Wescoe does not approve the bill, even though it may have been passed by the Council and Stewart, there is no recourse. No further action may be taken and the amendment would not be effective.
Stewart said Saturday he planned to consider the bill in its every aspect before reaching his decision.
"One aspect is whether or not we as students have the ability to dictate policy to the University," he said.
"Perhaps many ASC members were swayed that night by their own sentiments toward civil rights, and not by this particular bill," he said.
"EVEN THOUGH there's no question as to the moral truth and the moral right of this action, in my own mind there is a question as to whether this action by the Council will further that cause."
HOMECOMING
PATRONIZE KANSAN ADVERTISERS
Now accepting applications for positions open on
K. U. Student Communications Board (formerly Statewide Activities)
Positions available for interested students who would like to prepare personal columns for home-area newspapers about activities and honors of KU students from the respective areas.
Applications should include name, address, GPA, year in school, home county, activities, high school attended, and an optional paragraph explaining why you are interested in writing such a column.
All applications should not be more than one typewritten page, and submitted to:
Kansas University Student Communications Board Alumni Office, Room 127, Strong Hall
Due Wednesday, Nov. 4
Further information contact: Gary C. Walker, Chairman VI 3-5968