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University Daily Kansan Tuesday, March 9, 1965
Chancellor's Statement
STATEMENT ON THE SIT-IN DEMONSTRATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
March 8, 1965
A group of students is being permitted to remain in the hall outside my office so long as they do so in an orderly fashion, without blocking use of the hall, without interfering with classes, and without impeding the normal operations of the University.
THIS GROUP OF STUDENTS HAS DEManded that I issue an executive order abolishing covert racially discriminatory practices in fraternities and sororities. As a matter of fact, there is no fraternity or sorority now on this campus which has a racially discriminatory clause in effect in its constitution, and there is no legal reason why a student of any race or religion should not participate in rush or be eligible for acceptance into membership. I have reiterated, in addition, that I will continue to give my full support, and that of the University to any fraternity or sorority to pledge or initiate anyone its active members may wish.
An executive order could not do more, and it could harden attitudes and actually impede progress. Orderly evolutionary processes have achieved much on this campus in the past few years. Further progress is possible and will be forthcoming, but only in an atmosphere of reasonable discussion.
THE STUDENTS WHO CAME TO ME THIS morning presented me with seven propositions termed by them "demands." In response to those, I have repeated my intention, if it is properly drawn, of signing an All Student Council Bill
relating to human rights, which it is my understanding has recently passed the Council. I have further pointed out that the University's housing list will be continued on a non-discriminatory basis; in that regard there have been but two complaints made in the past $ 3 \frac{1}{2} $ years, the period since I originally established the off-campus housing committee. Further, I have offered to review with any group the operating procedures of our practice teaching program and our Teacher Placement Bureau. I reported to the students that the Kansan Board and the All Student Council are reviewing the advertising policies of the University Daily Kansan, and properly so, since it is the student newspaper.
IN SHORT, WE APPEAR TO HAVE BUT one area of difference—my publication of an executive order and the establishment of a disclaimer affidavit. A disclaimer affidavit is contrary to the principles of the University and an executive order would be unwise.
Finally, there is already an off-campus housing committee; already there is a human relations committee of the All Student Council. Representatives of these committees, with the addition of faculty representatives from the University Senate, will constitute a new committee which I will appoint to consider carefully complaints about discrimination of any kind brought to its attention by any individual or any group, will make a thorough investigation, and will make its recommendations for University action.
March 8.1965
March 8,1965
W. Clarke Wescoe
Chancellor
★★
1962 Statement
THE POLICY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS ON DISCRIMINATORY CLAUSES IN FRATERNITY AND SORORITY CONSTITUTIONS
The University of Kansas supports all organized groups on its campus in their efforts to make this a better place in which to live and study. It has supported fraternities and sororities in the past, and will do so in the future, for their positive contributions to the areas of student housing and social adjustment.
AS A GENERAL PRINCIPLE, the University upholds the basic human right of individuals or groups to select those with whom they wish to be closely associated. The University believes, however, that discriminatory clauses which remove from consideration for membership persons solely on the basis of their race are not consistent with
the principles of our nation, and it is the hope and expectation of the University that these clauses will be removed where they still exist.
SUCH ACTION WILL BE OF VALUE ONLY as it comes freely and voluntarily, because the members of these organizations have come to recognize for themselves how prejudice hurts not only those it is practiced against but those who practice it. For this reason the University of Kansas will issue no decrees and will set no deadlines. The progress in this matter shown by fraternities and sororities in the past gives the University confidence that they can work out for themselves solutions which will satisfy not only themselves but the society in which they live.
Julv 1.1962
July 1, 1962
W. Clarke Wescoe
Chancellor
The People Say
Dear Sir:
HOORAY FOR LINDA ELLISE! Her editorial, "Discrimination," in the March 4 "Daily Kansan" represents an island of sound reasoning in a sea of immature and self-righteous zeal. Miss Ellis obviously
possesses what so many on the hill lack—common sense!
Observation has led me to believe that some students come to KU searching for some battle flag to wave. They feel it is noble and pious to march, crusade, picket,
Daili'i Hänsan
111 Flint Hali
111 Flint Hall
UNiversity 4-3646, newsroom
UNiversity 4-3198, business office
Linden 1889, became biweekly 1904, triweekly 1908. daily Jan. 16, 1912.
Member Inland Daily Press Association, Associated Collegiate Press.
Represented by National Advertising Service, 18 East 50 St., New York
22, N.Y. News service: United Press International. Mail subscription rates:
$3 a semester or $5 a year. Published in Lawrence, Kan., every afternoon during the University year except Saturdays and Sundays, University holidays, and examination periods. Second class postage paid at Lawrence, Kansas.
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
University of Kansas student newspaper
Leta Roth and Gary Noland ... Co-Editorial Editors
NEWS DEPARTMENT
protest, and preach about bombs,
wars, discrimination, and even coffee
prices. Besides, there is the
fringe benefit of getting one's name
in the paper and attracting attention.
A crusader can't lose—if he
succeeds, he is oh, so noble; if he
faixes, he is a martyr. Either way it
is a lot easier than abiding by the law
and leading a purposeful,
though less exciting, life.
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 Fisher 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.
Perhaps someday the real intellectuals will manage to mold KU into a true harbor of knowledge and enlightenment. Meanwhile, the "gallant" councils, unions, and committees will continue to make it a post-adolescent playground.
Roger W. Myers Garnett freshman
Editor's note: The editorial page today contains a statement by Chancellor W. Clarke Weseco in regard to the sit-in demonstration by the Civil Rights Council, which began yesterday in front of the Chancellor's office.
Below the Chancellor's statement is a 1962 statement by the Chancellor which discriminatory clauses in fraternies and sororites. As of last week when Sigma Nu fraternity received a waiver now no fraternities or sororites with such clauses. But the statement may be of general interest because it expresses the administration's attitude in dealing with the problem in fraternities and sororites.
Also on this page is a statement submitted by the CRC and the list of demands which they presented to the Chancellor yesterday.
CRC Demands
Monday, March 8. from 10:30 a.m. until noon, the CRC and interested students met with Chancellor W. Clarke Wescoe to present him with a list of demands. During the course of that meeting, he admitted that racial discrimination probably exists in the Greek system at KU. He cited his previous statements which maintain that he opposes racial discrimination in campus life, and that he will personally support any fraternity or sorority which wishes to pledge a member or members of minority groups. CRC, however, notes that the Chancellor's statements have had no effect on covert racial discrimination, in the KU Greek system.
FURTHER, THE CHANCELLOR REVEALED no plan to deal with local chapters which continue covert discriminatory practices, regardless of the policies of the national alumni. He refused to issue an executive order which would compel all off-campus housing (fraternities and sororites included) to sign notarized statements disclaiming discriminatory practices; thereby necessitating a student sit-in protest to be maintained indefinitely. CRC feels that this is necessary because the effects of the Chancellor's inaction are that fraternities and sororites remain segregated, that the administration continues to afford them sanction, use of campus facilities, and financial aid (University hires student help for pre-rush activities, grants use of state-supported dean's offices for rush, etc.), and that the administration continues to recognize as approved housing, units which discriminate.
Finally, the chancellor attempted to deal with demands four, five, and six without offering any plans which would definitely bring an end to the discriminatory practices listed in protests three, four, and five.
Statement by Civil Rights Council
- The fact that covert discriminatory policies continue within the KU fraternity and sorority system-aided by University administrative sanction, state and federal aid, and the use of campus facilities.
THE CIVIL RIGHTS COUNCIL & INTERESTED STUDENTS PROTEST:
- The fact that the University Daily Kansan accepts advertisements from organizations and landlords who practice racial discrimination.
- The fact that the University administration denies status to private off-campus housing which practices racial discrimination but does not apply this same regulation to fraternities and sororities.
WE DEMAND:
- The fact that the School of Education permits student teachers to be assigned to student teaching positions on the basis of race. And the fact that the Teacher Appointment Bureau allows its services to be utilized by Boards of Education and/or schools who have racially discriminatory hiring policies.
- That an executive order be issued immediately by the Chancellor that fraternities and sororities should immediately abolish racially discriminatory practices. And further, that the University require fraternities and sororites to sign notarized statements that they do not practice racial discrimination.
- The fact that All Student Council Bill number 7 has been delayed needlessly by the Chancellor.
- The fact that the University Housing Office does not through investigation take any steps to end racial discrimination in off-campus housing.
- That a board composed of students, faculty, and administrators be established to deal with any complaints against organizations, landlords, etc., that have stated that they do not discriminate on the basis of race, but in fact, still do.
- That the administration sever all ties with, and no longer accord either recognition or approved housing status to any organization which fails to immediately sign the statement, or which is found by the board to discriminate on the basis of race.
- That the University Housing Office investigate the rental policies of those seeking to register on the approved housing list, and screen out those who do discriminate on the basis of race.
- That the School of Education make public a policy that prohibits the assignment of any student teachers to schools or school districts which do in fact have racially discriminatory assignment policies. And further, that the School of Education prohibit its Teacher Appointment Bureau from letting any Board of Education or school which has racially discriminatory hiring practices from utilizing its services.
- That the University Daily Kansan no longer accept advertisements from landlords and/or organizations that practice racial discrimination.
- That All Student Council Bill number 7 or comparable legislation be passed by the ASC and immediately signed by the Chancellor.
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BOOK REVIEWS
OF GOOD AND EVIL, by Ernest K. Gann (Crest, 75 cents).
Ernest K. Gann has changed his setting. It used to be the sky, or the sea, in such popular thrillers as "Twilight for the Gods," "Island in the Sky" and "The High and the Mighty." All good books, unless you're looking for literary quality that will keep a work in the public consciousness for several centuries.
"Of Good and Evil," an ostentatious-sounding affair, is exciting, dramatic, and limited. It's a story of life in the city, of the police department in San Francisco. Gann gives a minute-by-minute description of police operations. Really what it is is several stories thrown together into a novel. It should be good leisure-time reading for the undemanding.
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