Campus Forum
Police Photographers
To the Editor:
As an observer, I might say that I am appalled by the spectacle of the Lawrence Police Department and perhaps other investigative agencies sneaking about and snapping photographs of members of the Kansas Peace Forum who have chosen to exercise their right to free protest and free assembly by sitting quietly in the grass in South Park.
HAD THE NEWS MEDIA taken pictures, it could well be argued that the event was of public interest. But it takes a greater stretch of the imagination to accept such events as having criminal implications. What is perhaps even more appalling, however, is the explanation of a campus Police Chief to the effect that his men occasionally photograph assemblies on campus until they have identified the group—in case trouble later develops.
Would it not be much simpler merely to forbid assemblies? Or to arrest all unidentified assemblies until their good intentions (determined by whom?) are verified. There used to be a time in this country when a citizen's good intentions were presumed until he infringed upon the law.
I assume that the persons whose opinions differ from those of the Johnson Administration are still citizens. And I assume that the country has not set aside its constitutional laws guaranteeing the civil and personal liberties of those who protest current policy. If this has happened or is threatening to happen, I can see no better reason for the police than to fear all assemblies of the people.
John D. Erickson
Associate professor of French
★ ★ ★ ★
Doublethink at KU
To the Editor:
After reading Dan Austin's editorial on the two faces of Janus it suddenly came to my mind that Dan left somthing out or more correctly sometimes out.
FIRST OF ALL and probably most important is the infringement on the rights of students to protest and stand up for their beliefs. In the same issue there were two articles of how both the Lawrence Police Dept. and the K.U. Campus Gestapo took pictures clandestinely of students participating in the peace vigils. While I do not go along with what they believe I do believe very strongly that they should be given their right to dissent and express their beliefs. It is precisely this right of dissent for which I will be fighting in two years and not the right to supress it.
Also to use Dan's term the administration's two faces of Janus are at work here in the clandestine activity of the campus cops in taking the pictures of the students in front of the library and then turning right around and saying that they were doing it just as a matter of routine. If this is just routine I expect that in the next ten to twenty years telescreens in our dormitory
rooms might also be a matter of routine.
THIS BRINGS UP the second point and that is just what business does the administration have keeping "top secret" files on each student's actions. Undoubtedly the pictures taken by our protectors of public freedom will be enclosed in these files, along with their highly qualified remarks regarding the loyalty of said students. It seems that any student who expresses his dissatisfaction with university policy is immediately labeled as a rebel rouser and malcontent.
It is interesting to see how the administration has developed the skill of DOUBLETHINK when they say that while they tell us that the dossiers are merely routine to help in giving references to future employers we are not allowed to see their full content while they remain perfectly open to the F.B.I. and other agencies. Granted they may help a future employer if you're a good little KU student and don't do anything that might expose or in the least way against university policy.
In closing I ask, are we to tolerate such acts?
William W. Weaver II St. Louis Junior
What is Playboy made of? Bunny tails and controversy
By SCOTT NUNLEY
The "Playboy" institution in this country seems at odd moments both childish and profound. On the one hand, the rush to market Bunny tails, key chains, and license plates points to the superficial mentality that so many professors and ministers accuse "Playboy Magazine" of displaying.
Yet the publication of popular fiction by writers such as Hemingway, Nabokov, Fleming and others; the airing of such national debates as the "God Is Dead" and sexual freedom issues; and the continuing publication of meaningful interviews with major figures of the day seem to argue for an underlying depth in the "Playbey" phenomenon.
"Playboy Interviews." the most recent publication of the Playboy Press, will certainly raise the estimation of such depth. Here are collected 16 interviews—tape-recorded for accuracy which originally appeared in recent issues of "Playboy Magazine."
The selection of these interviews seems to be equally balanced between "stars," authorities, and controversial figures. In a sample year of magazine publication, however, more attention is devoted to the public entertainer or the flaming radical than to the figure who is of international authority in his field.
Schlesinger expresses his view of "neo-isolationism" in the New Left: "My impression is that the left in the colleges doesn't have much political doctrine of any sort. It's an 'emotional' thing. There's a kind of understandable emotional feeling about Vietnam on the part of young men who would have to fight the war; They don't want to fight it. But this is hardly a considered philosophy of isolationism."
When dealing with recognized authorities, "Playboy" attempts to draw out for its readers the essence of their beliefs. Melvin Belli, Ayn Rand, Jean-Paul Sartre, Arthur Schlesinger, and Martin Luther King speak out clearly in "Playboy Interviews."
Expectedly, the controversial interviews generate the most interesting reading—Malcolm X. Timothy Leary, Robert Shelton, Madalyn Murray, and Ralph Ginzburg. Skirting the tasteless style of a Joe Pyne, the "Playboy" interviewers nevertheless face these "radicals" with two-fisted vigor.
Bunny tails and controversy, this is what "Playboy" is made of. A serious crusade or a profitable gimmick? At least the new volume of "Playboy Interviews" can stand on its own as good reading.
The Hill With It by john hill
"All right, all right," finally agreed the journalism teacher to his photography class, "we'll hold class outside today since the weather's so nice."
The class strolled outside into the brightness of a beautiful spring day, and sat down in the grass under a tree.
"REMEMBER HOW we discussed the significance of photography on the modern university last week?" the instructor asked the group.
The class nodded absently as they sprawled on the lawn, seven of them attentively watching two ants who were spying on each other, three being careful not to leave finger prints on the grass, and one student tape-recording the entire discussion.
"Fine," said the instructor, "and today's lecture will be along that same line for those of you who are considering a police career.
PUT YOUR CAMERAS down for a moment, and look in your textbooks at the picture of how a camera fits neatly between the gun and the handcuffs—"
Suddenly a man in a trenchcoat fell out of the tree and landed in the middle of the group.
He looked like a cross between J. Edgar Hoover and Allen Funt. Nervously, he got to his feet, put his dark glasses back on, pulled his collar up, and began picking up all the cameras he had dropped.
"SAY, WE'RE glad you dropped in—ha ha ha!" said the professor, and looked around him. Nobody else was ha ha ha-ing. "But what can we do for you?"
"Smile," said the man raising his camera and taking pictures of the group, "you're on candid campus."
"Who are you to be taking pictures of us?" asked the instructor.
"I'm a free-lance photographer taking these routine pictures, who occasionally moonlights as a policeman."
HE QUICKLY flashed something from his wallet.
"I'm Officer Percy Dovetonsils, badge number 0984." he said, marshalling his thoughts. "I was just sitting here in this routine tree taking routine pictures, so go ahead and continue your routine, suspicious, unregistered, organizational meeting."
"We were just having our photography class outside," said the instructor, patiently, "and it's not—"
"CLICK," interrupted the policeman's camera, as he took another picture.
"Look," said the instructor, impatiently, "I don't know who you are but I know one way to check on what's going on!" He raised his own camera and photographed the photographer who was photographing the photographers.
"So . . . you're taking pictures of intruders at your organizational meetings. This should be recorded," he said, and took another picture of the instructor.
"HEY! THAT GUY keeps taking pictures of the prof," yelled a student in the back, and the entire class stood up and began taking pictures of the instructor and the policeman.
"Aha!" said the policeman, who quickly turned his camera toward the class.
"Uh . . . excuse me," said a new voice.
The chatter of clicking cameras suddenly stopped, and everyone paused to look at a student standing near the group.
"Pardon me, but I'm with the Jayhawker staff," he said. "Mind if I take a picture?"
Training spot
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - (UP')
— Sixteen major league baseball teams take their spring training in the state of Florida.
2
Daily Kansas editorial page Thursday, May 11, 1867
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
kansan
Service Will for 77 of the 101 Years
Serving KU for 77 of its 101 Years
KANSAN TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Newsroom—UN 4-3646 — Business Office—UN 4-3198
The Daily Kansan, student newspaper at The University of Kansas, is represented by National Advertising Service, I. East 50 St., New York, NY 10022. Volunteers are required for the postage paid at Lawrence, Kan., every afternoon during the University year except Saturdays and Sundays. University holidays and examination periods, accommodations, goods, services and employment advertised in the University are offered to all students without regard to color, creed or national origin
The opinions expressed in the editorial column are those of the students whose names are signed to them. Guest editorial views are not necessarily the editor's. Any opinions expressed in the Daily Kanoan are not necessarily those of The University of Kansas Administration or the State Board of Regents
EXECUTIVE STAFF
Executive SHR
Managing Editor
Manager
Editorial Manager
Joan McCabe
Clifford
Dan Austin, Barb Phillips
NEWS AND BUSINESS STAFF
Managing Editors... Gary Murr ll. Steve Russ ll
Linda S fltel. Robert Streas
City Editor ... Will Hardesty  Advertising Manager  Ken Hickerson s
Wife Editor ... Betsy Wright  Navi Adv. Manager Howard Pankav z
Sports Editor ... Mike Walker  Promotion manager r
Editor ... Jack Lane  Manager r  Don Hunter
Photo Editor ... Earl Ha.ll  Classifi d manager
Asst. City Editor ... Carol DeBonis  Merchandising Manager Steve Dennis
Ex curve R reporters. Eric Morgannauer. Judy Faust. Jack Harrison. n
FACULTY ADVISERS: Business; Prof. Mel Adams; News; Malcolm Applegate;
Editorial; Prot. Calder Pickett