Banned by Russia. Poet to read here
By ALLAN NORTHCUTT
Iger Chinnov cannot publish his poetry in Russia. It lacks optimism.
Chinnov, a Russian emigrant and KU Slavic languages professor, will read his poetry for the SUA Poetry Hour at 8 p.m. next Thursday in the Union Forum room. He reads his poetry here, he says, because "it is more pessimistic than the poetry favored by the Russian government" and the Russians won't publish it.
IGOR CHINNOV
Political seminar opens Sat.
The Kansas Conference for "Opportunities Unlimited" will begin at 9 a.m. tomorrow in the front lobby of Murphy Hall.
"Opportunities Unlimited" is a part of a Republican national campaign which will be conducted in all 50 states. Kansas will be the twelfth state visited by the campaign.
"ONE OF THE MAIN purposes of the campaign is to interest young people, regardless of their ideology or previous commitment to a political party, in their own potential as future voters and as the next generation that will run this country," said Howard Phillips, staff member of the Republican National Committee and
Continued on page 8
"POETRY IN RUSSIA must be dynamically optimistic to mobilize the masses to socialistic achievement. Also, my poetry would be only partially understood by the average Russian since they're not used to modernistic elements.
"There's a definite interest by the Soviet government in publishing poetry understandable to the masses." Chinnov said.
Chinnov, who wrote his first poem at 17, left Russia with his parents during the Bolshevik Revolution because his father, a judge, was not kindly treated. He has never returned.
CHINNOV'S THIRD book, composed of poems written in Russian during his four-year stay at KU, will be published next month in Brussels. Belgium.
Although a small group has brought his poetry to Leningrad, neither of Chinnov's other two poetry books have been distributed in Russia.
His poetry has been published in anthologies, newspapers and magazines in Germnay, France, England and the U.S. About 120 critical reviews of his poetry have also appeared in scholarly journals in those countries.
CHINNOV'S POEIRY will be read in English and the original Russian at the Poetry Hour.
KU
Chinnov's poetry often deals with human tragedy, life, death and other eternal concepts. He says his poetic style may be found "somewhere between the traditionalistic and modernistic, although I've been classified as both."
N.Y. paper shuts down
NEW YORK —(UPI)— The World Journal Tribune permanently ceased publication today after less than nine months of operation.
The daily newspaper was formed in March, 1966 by merger of the New York World-Telegram, New York Journal-American and New York Herald Tribune. Publication of the new paper was held up four-and-a-half months by a newspaper strike.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY kansan Serving KU For 77 of its 101 Years
77th Year, No.129
LAWRENCE, KANSAS
Friday. May 5,1967
Oath defense fights court's jurisdiction
By PAUL HANEY
The Kansas assistant attorney general defending the state loyalty oath asked a three-judge U.S. District Court not to exercise jurisdiction over the case.
Richard Seaton said a Kansas court would make any reasonable changes to save the oath's validity.
BUT IRVING ACHTENBERG, a lawyer for the KU Medical Center professor challenging the oath, said the suit should be tried by a federal court because state officials have refused to consider the constitutionality of the oath. He said the Kansas attorney general should have voided the oath without a trial.
Private and public teachers, and all public employees are required to sign the oath:
The statements were made yesterday during oral arguments in the case heard in Kansas City, Kan. The federal court took the case under advisement, but none of the judges indicated when a decision might be reached.
Ehrenreich said requiring employees to sign
"I (name), swear or affirm that I do not advocate, nor am I a member of any political party or organization that advocates the overthrow of the government of the United States or of the state by force or violence; and that during such time as I am an officer or employee of the State of Kansas I will not advocate nor become a member of any political party or organization that advocates the overthrow of the government of the United States or of this state by force or violence."
Gerald A. Ehrenreich, associate professor at the KU Medical Center in Kansas City, filed the oath suit Sept. 26 against Chancellor W. Clarke Wescoe, the presidents of Kansas State and Wichita State Universities, Kansas Atty Gen. Robert Londerholm and the Kansas Board of Regents.
the oath violates rights granted by the First and Fourteenth Amendments and Article I of the U.S. Constitution.
Twelve other Kansas professors employed by the state, including three KU professors, sued with Ehrenreich.
THE GREATER KANSAS CITY and the Kansas affiliates of the American Civil Liberties Union are underwriting expenses of the suit. Four lawyers are donating their time to the plaintiffs.
All of the plaintiffs except Ehrenreich have signed the loyalty oath as a condition for employment. Ehrenreich is not on the state payroll.
Ehrenreich has said he is not a member of any organization advocating the overthrow of the government. He objects to the oath because "mere membership is grounds for not being employed."
ACHTENBERG CITED recent Supreme court decisions that require loyalty oaths be restricted to "membership accompanied by a specific intent to further the unlawful goals of the organization."
He said the Kansas oath "does not require a showing of knowledge or intent and the act imposes penalties for what could be innocent membership."
Seaton said if the Constitution does require limitations on oaths, it is "nevertheless entirely possible that the Kansas courts might give the Kansas statute a limiting construction."
ACHTENBERG SAID the plaintiffs also object to the oath because a prospective employee is faced with a dilemma if he suspects he belongs to an organization which is prohibited.
"If he refuses to sign an oath of allegiance, he is subject to dismissal from office and is guilty of a felony. If, however he reconciles his
Continued on page 8
Five changes announced
Commencement altered
At least five changes have been made in procedures for graduation day June 5.
Candy Gambrell, Kansas City
freshman and chairman of the All Student Council commencement committee, said that the marching path to Memorial Stadium will be
KU displays top modern art works
Munch of Norway exhibited at Spooner
By NED VALENTINE
Four years of "wheeling and dealing" have finally paid off for the art museum.
Four years ago Spooner art gallery began negotiations with the Norwegian embassy to bring a sampling of the paintings of Edvard Munch to KU. The paintings arrived Wednesday.
THE PAINTINGS will first be displayed at an informal opening today from 2:30 to 4:30 at the museum.
"We have selected this time so
Edward Munch, who is considered the greatest Norwegian painter ranking with famous names as Cezanne, van Gogh and Gauguin, was a pioneer of modern art. Most of his works now hang in the Munch Art Museum in Oslo. Norway.
that interested students may stop by on their way from class," said Eret Waller, curator of the museum and instructor of art history. "Refreshments will be served."
SOME OF THE PAINTINGS and wood cuts sent to KU are
among the country's most treasured art relics.
The paintings will remain on display until near commencement time, Waller said.
Munch first made a name as a painter creating a series of pictures conceived in a symbolist spirit and employing a concentrated form-language inspired by French art of the 1880's and '90's.
HIS CONTROVERSIAL ART caused a sensation in Berlin in the early '90's and made him famous. Here he studied literary
Munch later took up print making when in France and created about 200 etchings, 710 different prints and 380 lithographs.
and philosophical ideas which he gradually fused with personal ideas and experiences conveyed in a series of paintings called Life Frieze.
Life Frieze was a representation of the life of the human soul and the forces controlling its desiring—love and death. In Munch's simple and pictorial approach they acquired a symbolic and universal meaning.
changed due to construction of Spencer Library. Seniors will congregate on the lawn in front of Strong Hall, then walk down the stairs east of Strong to Memorial Drive and to the stadium.
It has not been decided if, as in past years, the seniors will walk through the base of the Campanile, she said.
DURING THE GRADUATION exercises, only graduates of the School of Medicine, the School of Law and recipients of Ph.D. degrees will go up on the platform. Other seniors and recipients of masters' degrees will be represented by two students from each of the various schools. The change according to vice chancellor Raymond Nichols, is designed to save time as classes get bigger year by year.
Nichols also said diplomas will be mailed this year instead of being distributed after the exercises. It is difficult to get all grades in and determine by graduation night who is qualified to receive a diploma, he said.
Nichols said there also was talk
Continued on page 4