Real community spirit
The Lawrence City Commission is really operating in high gear this year. Earlier, a commissioner said he felt the intersection of 15th and Iowa Streets was not a matter of city concern because only KU students were involved in accidents there. His fellow commissioners did not voice similar sentiments—but also did not take action concerning the intersection.
IN KEEPING with this same high level of community spirit, last week the commission passed an "anti-smut" ordinance. The ordinance was passed despite sound arguments by responsible citizens against such censorship. However, from all accounts of the public hearing on the ordinance, the local "God, motherhood and apple pie" set dominated the meeting. Such self-ordained censors periodically emerge from the woodwork in every community — brandishing the same, tired slogans and ignorant arguments. It is unfortunate that a vociferous minority can influence the city commission to restrict the freedom of the whole community.
Theoretically, Watson Library and the Union Bookstore fall within the jurisdiction of the ordinance. Practically, Ernest Pulliam, Lawrence mayor and KU housing manager, says the ordinance was directed against magazine sales in the downtown area. Still, it is a little disconcerting to realize that the local Victorians, by sworn complaint, could influence or control the literary life of an academic community.
THE COMMISSION'S vote was close (3-2).
and an incensed citizenry and academic community could contest the ordinance on legal grounds.
While the city does have the right to establish censorship laws for minors, these laws must comply with the March 21, 1966, Supreme Court ruling defining what may be classified as "obscene." The ordinance does not define what it means by "obscene and lewd" publications.
THE ORDINANCE also prohibits "displaying within sight of" any person less than 18 years of age these "obscene" materials. In other words, a shrewd Victorian judge could prohibit stores from selling "obscene" literature to those over 18 simply because such literature, when on display racks, would be within sight of those under 18.
My tentative belief is that this ordinance is not only vague, prudish and completely within the Victorian Kansas tradition, but that it also is unconstitutional.
CERTAINLY interested persons should try to have the ruling rescinded. If prosecution of any complaints is attempted, we hope the American Civil Liberties Union and others will file as amici curiae.
It's too bad that Lawrence insists, with monthly recurrence, upon proving to the University and the state that it really is a 19th century village.
—Jacke Thayer
Where were Woodruff, Alderson?
Few comments can be made on the passing week, beyond "it was great; it was wonderful; it was what a university should be." Unfortunately, it happens only once every hundred years.
AS I PASSED by several bulletin boards this morning, I was reminded of one event last week which was marred by the continuing poor attitude of two administrative offices toward students.
At the symposium on student rights in the changing university, Provost Surface and Dr. Emily Tayler, dean of women, appeared to give their personal views of problems facing administrators.
PROVOST SURFACE will appear today at the KU-Y Current Events Forum on student wages. Both he and Dean Taylor have shown receptive, cooperative attitudes toward discussion, change and improvement of various rules. They are to be commended for their enlightened views of the university community.
Deans Alderson and Woodruff have shown no such attitudes. Neither they nor representatives of their offices have appeared at any student forums or shown willingness to work for constructive change. And it's not because they haven't been asked.
Both men play vital roles in
university disciplinary procedures. No one knows more about the disciplinary committee than its chairman, Laurence Woolrdruff.
No doubt the schedules of both are quite busy. However, I find it difficult to believe that their schedules are heavier than those of Provost Surface and Dean Taylor. Their responsibilities as administrators extend to keeping free lines of communication with students. It's time both deans accept responsibility already taken by the provost and dean of women.
This ordinance could affect you!
An Ordinance Prohibiting the Disseminating of Indecent Material to Minors and Providing Penalties for the Violation Thereof.
Be It Ordained by the Governing Body of the City of Lawrence, Kansas;
Section II. For purposes of this Ordinance, "knowingly" means having knowledge of the character and content of the material or failure to exercise reasonable inspection which would disclose the character and content of the same.
Section I. Disseminating indecent material to minors is knowingly selling, lending, giving away, showing, advertising for sale, displaying within sight of or distributing commercially to any person less than 18 years of age, or possessing with intent to give, lend, show, sell, distribute commercially, or otherwise offer for sale or commercial distribution to any person less than 18 years of age any pornographic motion picture, still picture or photograph or any book, 'pocket book,' pamphlet or magazine the cover or content of which exploits, is devoted to, or is principally made up of descriptions of illicit sex or sexual immorality or which is obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, indecent or disgusting, or which consists of pictures of nude or partially denuded figures, posed or presented in such a manner as to provoke or arouse lust or passion or to exploit sex, lust, or perversion, or any other article or instrument of indecent or immoral use.
Section III. A person who disseminates indecent material, as defined in Section I hereof, or possesses such material with intent to disseminate the same, is presumed to do so with knowledge of its content and character.
—Jacke Thayer
Section IV. Disseminating indecent material is a misdemeanor, and any person convicted thereof shall be punished by a fine of not to exceed $100 or imprisoned in the city jail for not more than 90 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
Section V. This Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and publication as provided by law.
ADOPTED by the Governing Body of the City of Lawrence, Kansas, this 12th day of April. 1966.
→ Ernest E. Pulliam, Mayor
Byways of springtime
Every spring the Leader receives requests asking us to write an editorial exhorting people to stay off the grass.
Every spring personnel of the grounds department receive calls from people asking if they can do something about keeping people off the grass.
Every spring the grounds department re-works the cow-paths that have been carved into the campus lawn.
Every spring the Leader writes an editorial exhorting people to stay off the grass.
Every spring people continue to walk on the grass.
—Fort Hays State College Leader
Daily Kansan
Tuesday, April 19. 1966
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS
"YOUKE TO DRIVE TH' CHAPERON'S CAR, PROFESSOR SNAPE-WELL ALL MEET AT L'OVERS POINT 58 MILES SOUTH ON ROCKY ROAD."
opinion, fact and fancy
Money to spare?
By Bill Robinson
It's Spring. It's also just past income tax time. Very few people have any money to spare, if they ever did, and they surely don't have any money to just give away! So what? So there's a fund-raising campaign drive being conducted on campus this week, and students are expected to contribute.
WHAT MADNESS is this, expecting students to donate the money they either don't have or can't spare? It's charitable madness, that's what it is. It is the kind of madness that can benefit countless thousands of students in this and foreign countries.
We're being asked to contribute to World University Service through our own KU Campus Chest, an executive committee of the All Student Council. What is World University Service? It's a hundred different things; it's a new dormitory in India; it's a new curriculum in Africa; it's a new campus building in the Philippines; it's an education for thousands who might never read or write without World University Service.
WHAT DO WE, at the University of Kansas where nearly everything is all snug and comfortable, owe the students of the world? Perhaps we owe them more than we think. Those of us seeking legitimate educations, regardless of the field, will very soon be confronted by those "other" people from foreign lands, for it can no longer be believed that an American education is for American interests or American business. We live in a world, a
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world which many of us will attempt to change in some way or another; a world which many of us will change sometime during our lifetimes. What better way to change the world than* to help provide for its education?
Each of us, except for those majoring in isolationism, will, at one time or another, find it necessary to work within an international influence within ten years after graduation. Consequently, if for no other reason than our own protection, we owe some degree of educational assistance to students of the world. We have a chance to protect ourselves right now—by giving to the Campus Chest Drive now being conducted. If you don't like the idea of donating money just for your own protection, there's always the semi-archaeic argument that perhaps it's the humane thing to do. Either way, each of us should be able to part with fifty cents or a dollar. Shouldn't we?
AT THE same time that we're being asked to contribute to the World University Service, we're also being asked to contribute to our own University. The latter contribution is far less painful, however, in that it is not a monetary one. We can contribute to the University of Kansas in virtually everything we say or do. The fact that we have a proud and respected University should be reason enough for us to pay lip-service to its tradition of excellence and progressiveness.
Being proud of a school has somehow become a cowardly thing to do these past few years. It's no longer "camp" to be spirited and proud; instead, it's far more acceptable to be negative and disrespectful. As a full-fledged coward this writer cannot meet the demands of the new "ingroup."
Instead, may I suggest that I am very definitely proud of the University of Kansas, and equally proud that I am a part of it. Further, and still as a full-fledged coward, may I suggest that there must be others who are as weak-willed as I am, and who probably feel the same admiration for this campus and its personnel. In fact, every once in a while one of my fellow cowards slips and mentions what a great place this really is.