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University Daily, Kansan
Friday, May 7,1965
Mary Poppins
I often wonder if college students don't try to be super-sophisticated.
The other night I saw a movie which would be given a poor rating if judged only on the basis of its "sophistication-appeal;" but in terms of a thoroughly delightful movie, "Mary Poppins" rates superior.
ALL WEEK I HEARD GIRLS in my living group looking around for people to go to that movie with because their boy-friends thought it was "kids-stuff,""kiddie-flick," or "too immature." To those who feel this way about such a movie, I can only say that they are overlooking a delightful experience and depriving themselves of excellent entertainment.
For those who absolutely cannot appreciate the story, which is indeed a fantasy, the technical achievements of the film are worth seeing. The mixture of real life and animation is perfectly executed.
"Mary Poppins" is for the unsophisticated and
for the sophisticated who appreciate the fun things of life.
I watched the boys who went to "Mary Poppins," and was amazed at the reactions they displayed. Standing in line for my ticket—incidentally the line was almost a block long—I heard the long-suffering dates tell their girl-friends that they fully intended to be bored, "Why did you ever drag me to this," and "I hope it doesn't run the full three hours."
Once the picture began I noted the expressions of these complainants. They smiled, laughed, and looked sad as the tale of the magical governess unfolded.
A scene particularly appreciated by the male members of the audience was the real-life and animated execution of the song, "Supercal. . ."
The acting, music, animation, and color makes "Mary Poppins" one of the most thoroughly enjoyable motion pictures of the year.
— Bobbie Bartelt
The People Say...
Dear Sir:
I HAVE HEARD AND READ much comment on the new Fraser Hall, all derogatory, some decidedly militant. It is obvious that no changes are being made in the plans for the new building.
In view of this, may I suggest that peptic ulcers might be avoided by a change in perspective on the part of its detractors. Instead of bitter indignation and loathing for the building, one could regard it with an attitude of amusement. Of course the building is an outrage, but it is just as outrageously funny. A person's mood could be changed from despair to cheerful optimism by just looking at the building and contemplating the folly of its designers. Commanding, as it does, a prime location on the campus, the absurd building should improve rather than destroy student morale.
Sincerely,
Frank Hess.
Frank Hess,
Steubenville, Ohio,
graduate student
Dear Sirs.
MY FAMILY IS VERY strongly Republican and supported Goldwater in the last election. Yet any inclination to express my political views through campus organizations has been severely smothered if not squelched by the report of the "KU Collegiate Young Republicans" meeting of April 27.
According to this report, the Young Republicans invited a fellow Republican, Lieutenant Governor John Crutcher (of Kansas) to speak on Viet Nam. Crutcher, who had just returned from Southeast Asia, informed his audience that they were being fed "half-truths" by the American government concerning this issue. Then, at the conclusion of the meeting, the Young Republicans chose to act on these very half-truths by drawing up and passing a resolution which ignores the facts Crutcher revealed.
What are these facts? Crutcher stated that the idea of America fighting for freedom for South Viet Nam is "not only utter nonsense but a myth." The Young Republicans' resolution reads: "... the government of the United States has pledged the full support of the United States to defend South Viet Nam from Communist aggression." Crutcher: "... when I was there I found that we (emphasis added) are the people who are supplying arms to these rebels." YR resolution: "... this conflict is part of the global Communist strategy." Crutcher: "The one and only thing to do is to get out of South Viet Nam." Resolution: ... a withdrawal from South Viet Nam would allow the people of the country to be enslaved by Communist forces."
That the YR's are acting in a naive manner is probably irrelevant. Three more important aspects of the situation present themselves:
(1) . What is the purpose of inviting an enlightened speaker to a meeting if not to inform the members so they may draw up realistic resolutions?
(2) . If the YR's don't trust the
insight and judgment of a fellow Kansas Republican who has visited the battleground in Vict Nam, whom do they trust?
(3) . What do two-thirds (23 out of 34 who voted) of the YRs use for brains? Part of the function of the brain is to translate thoughts into action. Crutcher's words apparently by-passed the brains of those 23 members, since there is such an obvious discrepancy between thoughts and resulting actions.
My only hope is that Lieutenant Governor Crutcher left the meeting before the resolution was passed. I'd hate him to leave KU thinking our Republicans so narrow-minded as to disregard his facts in preparing their resolutions.
Jim McDaddy
Prairie Village freshman
Jim McAuley.
"Socialist Softy!"
Dailij' Hänsan
EDITORIAL DÉPARTMENT
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NEWS DEPARTMENT
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
Leta Roth and Gary Noland ... Co-Editorial Editors
Don Black ... Managing Editor
Bobbie Bartelt, Clare Casey, Marshall Caskey, Fred Frailey, Assistant Managing Editors; Judy Farrell, City Editor; Karen Lambert, Feature-Society Editor; Glen Phillips, Sports Editor; Janet Chartier, Telegraph Editor; Harry Krause, Picture Editor.
BUSINESS DEPARTMENT
Tom Fisner Business Manager
Nancy Holland, Advertising Manager; Ed Vaughn, National Advertising Manager; Dale Reinecker, Classified Advertising Manager; Russ Calkins, Merchandising Manager; Bob Monk, Promotion Manager; Gary Grazda, Circulation Manager.
In School to Learn, Or To Make Trouble?
The sit-inners who made so bold as to move into the office of Chancellor Wescoat at the University of Kansas recently gave the sorriest excuse of all for their effrontery. They complained that there is racial discrimination in University housing.
There is not. The claim is hogwash.
Without the slightest suggestion of discrimination, students of all races are privileged to live in the ultra-modern university dormitories which provide for them living conditions as fine as students can find in the midwest, with study facilities the equal of any to be found. Fact of the matter, many of the sit-inners are actually living in those dormitories, along with thousands of students who have all they can do to pay attention to their studies without wasting time in an effort to stir up trouble.
The complaints, mostly by inference, included resentment against fraternities and sororities. And again the complaint can only be labeled as tripe, or worse.
First off, there ARE Negro fraternities and sororities. I cannot say whether other races—Orientals, Indians, Spanish-operate their own fraternities or sororities but there certainly is no restriction against it. And the pertinent point is that residence in a fraternity or sorority is by invitation only, since they are private. Many thousands of students prefer not to live in fraternities or sororities but it must be remembered that they are not dormitories any more than a person's own home.
The question may well be asked of those sit-inners: Why are you attending the University of Kansas? Are you attending in order to obtain a superior education or are you enrolled to stir up trouble? Not one among the crowd can even suggest that there is the slightest discrimination in the matter of providing opportunity for study, for gaining that superior education. A student intent upon obtaining a superior education has no time to be joining marches or sit-ins.
If the sit-inners are not at the University to obtain an education, then the University will be much better off without them. Better they should attend a school more fitted to their obvious needs: Reform school.
(Reprint from The St. John News, March 18. Clelland Cole, editor-publisher)
BOOK REVIEWS
MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT, by Charles Dickens (Dell, 95 cents).
The genius of Charles Dickens is being recognized these days by at least one segment of our population—the paperback publishers. Soon every novel he wrote will be available in an inexpensive edition. Now we have "Martin Chuzzlewit," which has relevance for the student of English literature, the student of American society, or the general reader.
Dickens' trip to America, which also yielded "American Notes," gave both characters and inspiration to "Martin Chuzzlewit." It is a book that contains some great comic characters—old Chuzzlewit, the young Martin, the Chuzzlewit family and the Spottletoes, Cherry Pecksniff, Sairey Gamp and Mr. Pecksniff, the pious type who gave a fine word to the language.
For some readers Parkinson will be a pleasant optimist; he sees Russia as more likely to be aligned with East than West. But he also notes that the pendulum is swinging to the east, and that eastern civilizations may obtain an at least temporary ascendancy.
He suggests that the present decline began in mid-19th century after the initiative had been gained in the 16th century. He is not optimistic about the United Nations as being able to forestall the currents of history.
"Parkinson's Law" has become familiar to many readers, and its creator provides in this history a story of the rise and fall of civilizations from ancient times to the present and how power has shifted back and forth from East to West.
*****
EAST AND WEST, by C. Northcote Parkinson (Mentor, 75 cents).
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Mainly this new paperback is for the student of English history, though such a student would find analyses here of American questions as well. The editor of the collection believes that the significance of Bagehot lay in his uniting of political and social questions.
The essays include writings on parliamentary reform, the American Constitution and its meaning in the Civil War, Louis Napoleon, and biographical sketches of Bolingbroke, Pitt, Adam Smith, Sir Robert Peel, Palmerston, Cobden, Bright, Prince Albert, Gladstone and Disraeli.
BAGEHOTS HISTORICAL ESSAYS, edited by Norman St. JohnStevas (Anchor, $1.95).
THE HUMAN BRAIN, by Isaac Asimov (Signet Science Library, 75 cents)An effort to describe the mysteries and workings of the mind of man. The book appeared in hardcover a year ago, and there are line drawings to accompany the text. Asimov shows how many body operations are controlled by the brain through instructions to hormones, glands and nerves. He describes the central nervous system and treats the sensory organs. He also considers the potential of the brain and deals with the ability of man to reason.
THE DANCE OF SHIVA AND OTHER TALES FROM INDIA, by Oroon Ghosh (Signet, 75 cents)—A new translation by a writer who is on the High Commission of India in London. Ghosh has done the translation out of his belief that many Indian stories had become part of the heritage of the West, and passed into the folk literature of Europe. There are stories of love, adventure, religion, philosophy, animals, and accounts of the Buddha.