WOLL JAMS VOL 10 M30820
Election aftermath
Al Martin was sworn in as student body president Tuesday night, and the ASC chose its chairman, thus ending, at last, this year's political contests.
This year's campaign was interesting. It had clear issues dividing the candidates, and it also had enough mudslinging to classify it as one of the dirtiest campus campaigns ever.
IT IS APPARENT that despite an abundance of election regulations, and a bipartisan committee to enforce those regulations, student government has proved unable to control student elections, that one sphere of campus activity that is clearly all its own.
For example, until this year there was a limit of $300 on campaign expenses for political parties. But actual expenses by both parties ran into thousands of dollars for the spring elections alone. No action was ever taken to prevent these flagrant violations until this year when expense limits were increased to $1200.
Another rule that is given only lip service is that class office campaigns must be nonpartisan. Actually each party supports a slate, more or less openly.
IT IS SAID that the rough and tumble style of campus politics provides tomorrow's governors and precinct captains with practical experience in real life political work. If that is the case,
then tomorrow's Kansas is in for a very difficult time, for on these training grounds campus politicians are judged not on their ability to govern, but rather on their ability to win elections, usually by whatever means necessary.
In the process of winning elections, often for little purpose other than self-aggrandizement, campus politicians and the parties often forgot that the election is, itself, only a part of the process of democratic government.
Winning elections, and practicing political chicanery within the narrow limits of undisputed ASC jurisdiction are too often the only reasons that our politicians have for wasting their time representing nearly 15,000 students.
THERE ARE SELDOM issues, not because there is not room for different opinions, but because the only real campaign issue is which party is able to reach the most voters. What happens after the election usually is little considered by our future political leaders.
Before trying to expand its role within the university community, student government had best clean its own house, if it is able. And this cleaning must consist of more than new, and stiffer, regulations. There must also be a change in outlook before student politicians become genuine student leaders.
Justin Beck
The people say...
Model U.N. leader dislikes inaccuracy
To the Editor:
In my official capacity as President of the KU-Y's Model United Nations General Assembly this year, I had an opportunity to observe the conduct and the preparation of the many KU students who were involved in this year's Model U.N.
I must say that almost to a man, the delegates were extremely well prepared and conducted themselves admirably. It was a real pleasure to be associated with them and with the other steering committee personnel.
DURING THE course of the year I have come to a startling realization about our University Daily Kansan. For a school which is known for such outstanding journalists as William Allen White, I am deeply shocked at the quality of our official journalistic (and I use the term only in its broadest sense) organ. If the quality of reporting which was accorded the Model U.N. is any example of your techniques,
then I fear for my nation's newspapers. To the best of my knowledge, there has not been a single article about the Model U.N. which was entirely accurate. We considered it an extremely fine article which only attributed the remarks made by the U.S.S.R. to the delegation from the United Kingdom. The errors ranged from underestimating participation by about 15 per cent and off-campus delegations by 45 per cent, to much worse journalistic errors.
On several occasions I found myself quoted in your newspaper when I had not said anything even approaching the comments with which I was credited. I made no statements about the Cambodian border incident, for instance, but was quoted as having demanded a statement, thus triggering a walkout by Cambodia. It was Cambodia who tried to make the statement and they left when the assembly voted not to hear them. I would also caution you about generalizing. The delegate from the U.S.S.R. was not necessarily the most notorious as several other delegations were warned and action taken against them. After figures, quotes and statements were reported which could not and did not come from reality.
As a result of my experiences with your reporting, I doubt that I would ever again make any statement within the hearing of a Daily Kansan reporter. I feel that a newspaper should report controversy, but the reporting should not be controversial as to who said what.
I want to make it clear that I am no longer associated with the Model U.N., having quit so that I might spend more time studying, so that I speak only for myself—not as a steering committee member, I am, however, filled with righteous indignation at the flagrant and repeated misreporting which your "newspaper" exhibits. I can only hope that it gets better as it could not get much worse.
"Hear Any Late News About The Saigon Political Battle Front?"
Roger Williams
Bartlesville, Okla., sophomore ("Whew!" says the managing editor.)
Albanian error
To the Editor:
Point of clarification: The Albanian delegation did not walk out the Model U.N. "in error," as you siated Monday. Its temporary chairman, Larry Geiger, Shawnee Mission senior, was not absent in the morning session. On the contrary, he relinquished his position of authority in the morning session in order to sit as a delegate from Cuba. The Albanian delegation immediately replaced him. Under the direction of this replacement, and by consensus of the delegation, Albania walked out. Apparently Mr. Geiger was dissatisfied with the decision of his fellow delegates, as he returned in the afternoon—alone—and sat next to Cuba with the Albanian standard for the remainder of the afternoon. We, the rest of the Albanian delegation—wish to clarify our position, as the irresponsible action of one of our "members" apparently destroyed the effect of our walkout.
Gordon Mallett
Gordon Samet
T. A. Merritt
James E. Nickam
John W. Steahan
Hillfolk-
SLO's Youngblood more than protester
Shortly after classes began this semester, a group labeling themselves the Student Labor Organization (SLO), formed to protest the low wages the University was paying student workers. Founders of SLO were Carl Bangs, Mike Jennison and Joe Knight. They began collecting sympathizers at 25 cents a membership, until they were 200 strong.
Bangs and Jennison were and still are affiliated with the End the War in Viet Nam Committee and have participated in on and off campus protest demonstrations.
WHEN THE GROUP was formed, many administrators and students just yawned and said, "Oh they protest everything," and went back to their books. But some students, not associating with any protest movements, decided they wanted more than a membership card for their 25 cents and began working with Bangs.
One ambitious fellow, a sophomore from Prairie Village, took interest in the aims to raise student wages. His name was Mike Youngblood, vice-president of University Party and vice-president of Templin Hall.
Now here was a chap with a lot of drive, a lot of connections with students and administrators, and a clean reputation. Exactly what SLO needed.
AFTER ABOUT A month, newness of the group wore off, Kansan stories ceased giving free publicity and drudgery of tangible work began.
The founder of the labor union decided to hand the reigns over to Youngblood. They voted Youngblood in and on March 15, an article appeared in the Kansan announcing his presidency.
At one of the SLO executive meetings shortly after Youngblood's takeover, Bangs said (as he was filling out a peace corps application), "I'm sure glad I'm rid of the responsibility."
NOW THE LEADERSHIP stands with Youngblood, as president; Mike Jennison, Dick Ladesich and Carla Nelson, vice-presidents; and Bangs, secretary-treasurer.
Youngblood set right to work, organizing UP party to endorse a labor rights plank in their party platform. Vox Populi introduced it to the All Student Council. Youngblood wanted to take the requests of the students through the proper channels, instead of demanding cooperation from the administration without meeting them half way.
"That is why groups in the past have failed, they did not know the routes to take and not knowing the routes with this administration is fatal," he said.
SO FAR THE only tangible efforts that can be seen by the uninvolved observer is that there now exists an ASC-SLO committee, there are signed petitions (for all the good that will do), and every once in a while there are a handful of SLO printed leaflets floating around campus.
The involved SLOer knows that SLO is investigating working conditions and wage increases and a group of switchboard managers, which were organized Thursday, have asked SLO for guidance.
Youngblood said the switchboard managers, led by Terry Hackney, is "not a function of SLO. I'm working as a personal friend of Terry's."
THE SWITCHBOARD managers are asking for a wage increase immediately from all their employees. Youngblood said the group will submit a petition to J. J. Wilson, asking for the raise. The petition also will ask that wages be within 80 per cent of the federal minimum wage range, and that raises be given every semester on a seniority basis.
Youngblood has no fears that SLO interest will die over the summer, because he said most of the active members are returning to KU next fall. He plans to write a letter to the AFL-CIO for information on "the best course of action" to take to get wage increases.
"We are willing to work till all hell freezes over to get the raise,"Youngblood said.
Although Youngblood may be willing to work, he will find it a one-man show. There just is not enough interest in the organization to keep it alive.
Many people associate it with Bangs and another protest movement. Other students are just apathetic to their working conditions.
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