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University Daily Kansan
Friday, Feb. 19, 1965
13. 2015.07.29
Majorities-Bad?
Many students have lately been gnashing their teeth and playing the violin for minority groups. Some of them are quite just causes which deserve the consideration and dedication that is afforded them. But the mention of the word "minority" should not immediately bring a tear to the eye. Like many good causes, this seems to have gotten out of hand.
It seems to have become almost a social stigma to belong to a majority group. One has begun to feel guilty that they aren't being persecuted. In part, majorities have become synonymous with evil and minorities synonymous with righteous causes.
Communist Russia has more inhabitants than does the United States. This does not make communism any more right than it makes democracy evil. Being a United States citizen certainly does not presuppose persecution. Most people in the United States are Christians. And yet they are in the minority with regard to world-wide religions. Does this make them persecuted?
Being a college student is certainly no grounds for thinking that we are any more righteous than a high school graduate. And yet the college student population is a definite minority in the United States.
On the other hand, some people think of the minority groups as automatically being rabble-rousing and hate mongering (an "in" word). This is no more right than the previous premise. And yet most college students belong to a number of minority groups. All women are in a minority group. That does not make them hate mongers.
KU students without cars are in a minority. It sounds a bit ridiculous to assume that walking students are hate-mongering with regard to the students who have cars.
Perhaps some of these examples seem a bit far-fetched. But the thinking and emotional connotations that surround the words minority and majority have gone beyond the point of being far-fetched. They are dangerous.
— Leta Roth
1964 Economy Has Good Year
Automobile strikes and a new government's policies in Great Britain caused the only major dips in a financial graph that showed expansion of business activity throughout most of 1964.
The rise, which began March 31,remained steady throughout an-election campaign that produced changes in other facets of American activity.
Some of the upsurge could be attributed to the tax cut, passed by Congress early in the year, which will go into effect in 1965. But most analysts pointed to consumer spending as the chief factor for the feeling of prosperity.
AFTER THE THIRD quarter of the year, spending by people was $404.5 billion, compared with $377.4 in 1963. The country's gross national product was $627.5 billion, compared with $587.2 in a year earlier.
Financial forecasters foresee no letup in expansion through at least the early months of 1965. Government estimates have put the new year's GNP at $655 to $660 billion.
In England, Prime Minister Harold Wilson's Labor government decided to bolster the country's sinking pound by raising interest rates.
This action—coupled with increases in bank interest rates and announcement of a 15 per cent surcharge on imports caused a decline in the U.S. stock market. It also prompted the Federal Reserve Board to raise the rate banks pay on loans to the Federal Reserve from 3.5 per cent to 4 per cent.
WALTER REUTHER'S United Auto Workers went on strike at 85 General Motors auto plants Sept. 25 for what were called "noneconomic questions." The dispute over principles put 260,000 employees out of work and slowed down production of new GM cars.
Rail strike threats three times could have tied up one of the nation's vital means of transportation. But court orders and successful negotiations averted two of the threatened strikes, with another awaiting a solution as the year ended.
There was continued talk of a
coinage shortage in 1964, with varied pronouncements that silver would have to be replaced by some type of metal alloy.
The year closed with publications telling taxpayers how to make the best of their plight and to look forward to 1965, when they could take advantage of the tax cut. U.S. News & World Report, for example, told consumers to "put off income into 1965 and speed up deductible spending."
WHILE A FEELING of prosperity touched individual and corporate pocketbooks, poverty continued to prevail in many parts of the United States.
In the year's last month, the first shots in the war on poverty
were fired, as Newsweek magazine put it. Congress legalized the program last summer and the Poverty Corps started its work in December.
Authorizations have been made in 32 states for 120 projects totaling $35 million thus far.
Newsweek said "the job will not only take unprecedented teamwork in a field where the experts have never pulled together before, but a great deal of social inventiveness as well."
And R. Sargent Shriver, director of the domestic Peace Corps, said:
"It's a mistake to think you'll end poverty simply by spending more and more."
Roy Miller
Sir:
The People Say...
The fact that an unconvincingly "satirical" young woman recently dared to make herself and her coffee-drinking friends appear on a plane equal to that represented by persons seriously involved in crucial issues is a mockery by association of real dissent.
The trivial cheapness of her activity, and the hypocritical, self- effacing denigration of it shown by her (and by those like her who presumably would prefer it to visible involvement in more important issues) reflects embarrassingly on the student body of Kansas University. Accordingly, the front page
But in all fairness, Miss Hellerstein, bravo. You have given a journalism student something safe to do. And the next time you choose to become active in something, let it be equally mature as the coffee price movement. May I suggest student government? Two-loads-for-a-dime at the local laundromat?
treatment of fatuity certainly does no honor to the Daily Kansan, itself often rumbling irrelevant and parochial.
Sincerely,
Arthur M. Harkins
Lawrence graduate student
Sincerely.
Dailiji Hänsan
111 Flint Hall
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NEWS 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.
Managing Editor
BUSINESS DEPARTMENT
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"Who Do You Think You Are——Me?"
The People Say...
Editor:
MY THANKS AND CONGRATulations to the School of Journalism. Periodically I find myself believing that newspapers factually report all events which are of interest to the intelligent individual, and that editorials are freely expressed opinions and interpretations of current events. Hence, periodically I must have my eyes opened by such events as the recent castigation of Rick.
Roger T. Baker
Roger T. Baker Longbeach, Calif., senior
To the Editor:
The Civil Rights Council wishes to announce its full support of the principles advocated in the controversial editorial of January 21, 1965, "A Responsible Kansan — Your Right," by Rick Mabbutt. Like Mr. Mabbutt, the CRC objects to irresponsible suppression of news on controversial subjects and unnecessary restraint of critical editorial comment.
This action is taken with the full realization that the CRC is henceforth liable to constructive criticism before the public.
Executive Committee of CRC
Veil Stone
Shawnee Mission freshman Carol Bong
Carol Borg
Manhattan senior
Pam Smith
Kansas City sophomore
Dear Sir:
This afternoon, after at least twenty-four hours preparation, a Red Cross team of 2 full time staff and 13 volunteers, including an M.D. prepared to meet blood donors from the Stouffer Apartments. Between 1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., when the project was abandoned due to lack of support, one solitary young man braved the bracing sunshine to appear at Allen Field House.
I find it difficult to believe that all the occupants of Stouffer Place were ill or at class this afternoon; they received two notifications of the "event," which was also advertised in the University Daily Kansas newspaper and on the radio. Unfortunately, an approach to the students wives' organization to assist in the drive was rejected.
The blood bank is very much inneed of blood; the fact that probably the second largest group of people using donated blood in Lawrence are women with complications of childbirth would seem sufficient stimulus to young married people to give blood, but apparently it is not. An added advantage is that the donors received blood (which outside the Red Cross organization may cost anywhere between $25.00 and $75.00 a pint) free of charge for themselves and their relatives if needed.
The Greek organizations and the
residence halls responded admirably to the call for blood donors. It is a great pity that the young married people on campus cannot find the time to follow their excellent example.
Yours,
John L. Barton, M.D.
Dear Sir:
The editorial of Beth Resler of OU appearing in the Kansan February 17 and concerning the Senior Class at KU has reaffirmed my faith in widespread journalistic inaccuracies. I find that the journalists at KU are not alone in adhering to the adage, "Never let the facts stand in the way of a good story." Miss Resler was confused on certain facts which I would like to correct.
1. The president of the university did not give the seniors the name "cranberry idiots," as alleged by Miss Resler. It was, in fact, the president of the senior class who coined the phrase at the Senior Coffee. October 14, 1964.
2. Miss Resler states that, "Out of their class dues of $10 a piece (sic) come their sweatshirts, a reception at the president's home where the sweatshirts are handed out, their caps and gowns and diplomas." To succeed in understanding this "grammatical masterpiece" is an achievement in itself. In addition, the facts are incorrect. The chancellor's (president's) home would have to be the ballroom of the Kansas Union in order for the above statement to be correct. Also, the function where sweatshirts were passed out was a class coffee and not a president's reception.
3. THE SENIORS do not "sit together at every football game forming a 'cranberry idiot' section" as alleged by Miss Resler. Seniors cannot sit together in groups because each student has an assigned seat in various sections throughout the stadium.
4. "Reportedly, several students were put on probation after the senior party," Miss Resler stated. Factually, however, no one was put on probation.
The irony of this whole affair is that the Senior Class Officers of the University of Oklahoma came to KU the weekend of Senior Dav to observe our activities and to obtain ideas. Their response was shown in the following reply which I received later from their class secretary. Jane Hicks:
"The Senior Class at KU was a definite inspiration to us! Your officers have given us some wonderful ideas, and maybe due to your help we'll be able to put some unity into the OU Senior Class."
SEE, MISS RESLER, someday you too. may become a "cranberry idiot."
Tonto Mays
Senior Class President
Lvons senior