KU
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY kansan
A student newspaper serving KU
KU
LAWRENCE, KANSAS
78th Year, No.121
Monday, May 6, 1968
Activist leaders discourage sit-in
About 500 students and faculty gathered in front of Strong Hall this morning to hear a diversity of views on actions by the University Senate Council and All-Student Council Sunday.
Both groups passed resolutions setting up a committee to find a way to give students voting membership in the University Senate and its Council.
Hamilton Salsich, assistant instructor of English, publicly thanked William Balfour, dean of student affairs, and Ambrose Saricks, chairman of the executive committee of the University Senate, for their efforts to reform student representation.
But he said "we have failed to build a community of scholars and to create a decent educational atmosphere."
Some students expressed satisfaction with the University Senate plan, but others charged that "Voice," the student group advocating the changes, has "sold out to the establishment."
Student activist leaders early this morning agreed to discourage a sit-in at Strong Hall talked about for today and seemed somewhat happy with action taken by the University Senate.
Although they did not think their demands had been answered many student leaders thought new channels had been opened to allow students a voice in the affairs which affect them.
"I don't really expect a sit-in. This is not really any kind of a victory except that it's a jumping-off place," said Jack Harrington, Summit, N.J., graduate student and member of "Voice."
See Activists, page 8
AAUP may review Abrams' dismissal
By Don Westerhaus Kansan Staff Reporter
The dismissal of Norman Abrams, assistant professor of design, may be re-evaluated by the national chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) as a result of last Thursday's meeting of the KU chapter of the AAUP.
Any action taken by the national chapter probably will not have any effect on Abrams' staying at KU. But it will set guidelines for future cases of this nature.
The decision was made at the Thursday meeting, but was not released until Sunday.
A special meeting of the AAUP executive committee was called for May 8 to advise Abrams of the chapter's decision.
Howard Stettler, professor of business and chairman of the local chapter, said the members voted to recall copies of the investigation report of its committee on internal relations and to advise Abrams to take his case to the national organization.
The members also requested that a special committee of the chapter be appointed to prepare a set of criteria concerning procedures and standards to be proposed to University departments for use in considering the reap- pointment of non-tenured faculty members.
The committee report made five recommendations which might be incorporated into University policy concerning decisions not to reappoint non-tenured faculty members.
Photo by Bruce Patterson
be fully informed of the terms and conditions of his employment; that certain criteria and processes be observed in making the decision not to reappoint; that there be an appropriate review of the decision not to reap-
They were that the appointee
See Abrams, page 12
STUDENTS AND ADMINISTRATION MEET FACE TO FACE Student leaders of "Voice" and interested onlookers met with Chancellor W. Clarke Wescoe and other University officials Sunday night at the Wesley Foundation to discuss student participation in University administration decisions.
Special session called Sunday
ASC proposes rights guarantees
By Jerry Bean Kansan Staff Reporter
The All-Student Council, acting in a special session after a weekend of discussions and threatened demonstrations, Sunday night passed two resolutions and tabled a bill aimed at guaranteeing what the supporters called student rights.
The bill, tabled because of ASC procedural regulations, would provide the machinery to override the chancellor's veto of ASC legislation. The council could, under the bill, send a vetoeed bill to the student body for a referendum.
One of the resolutions would establish a student-faculty committee, composed of six members of the University Senate and six students appointed jointly by the student body president and vicepresident.
It was passed unanimously after a speech made by its main writer, student body vice-president Joe Goering, Moundridge junior.
Chancellor W. Clarke Wescoe is expected to sign this resolution immediately.
The other resolution was drafted to express student rights and passed by only a two-vote margin, largely because of disputed wording. Some members said they voted against the resolution because it was really unnecessary.
"There was no need to introduce such a resolution because students already have the rights to influence all decisions," Rusty Leffel, fraternity representative and Prairie Village sophomore, said.
Council members were chided later for passing these resolutions by a 12-to-10 vote. Tom Rader, Greensburg senior and former council member, said, "I am disappointed you barely passed a resolution reaffirming
the basic rights of your constituents.
"You debated over ridiculous words. There's your answer to why ASC is not held in high esteem. I challenge you to use your power, quit quibbling and do what you were elected to do," Rader said.
Others were happy with the overall performance of the council.
"I think it is significant that the council is prepared to take a constructive stand on this situation, a stand which is for the good of all the students," said Brian Barker, Virginia Water, England, graduate student and former vice-president of the student body.
Student body president Clif Conrad, Bismarck, S.D., junior, said he was pleased the council approved the resolutions and that he was planning to attend the University Senate to explain the Tuesday night meeting of the legislation passed by the ASC.
Conrad said he had hesitated until this time to take a stand on the issue because he wanted to represent the whole student body rather than just his personal views.
Conrad said he plans to "push the new student committee hard all summer, so we can bring some good proposals to the University Senate the first part of September."
WEATHER
The U.S. Weather Bureau predicts scattered showers and thunderstorms developing by this evening, becoming heavier tonight and ending Tuesday. Low tonight near 60, turning cooler Tuesday. Precipitation probabilities are 70 per cent tonight and Tuesday.
Students ask for 'more effective voice'
By Joanna Wiebe Kansan Staff Reporter
These individuals signed a petition sponsored and written by a group called "Voice," and sent it to Chancellor W. Clarke Wesco, asking for "an effective voice on all those matters affecting their lives."
More than 1,700 students at this University have united this past week in saying that they want to thrust their way into the seemingly inviolate decisions of the Administration.
This appears to be all they can agree on.
Some of the members of this year's crop of campus radicals would like an increased student voice so they can get rid of their pet peeves—women's closing hours, course requirements, or the presence of the military on campus.
Their levels of commitment range from merely being bothered about student representation, to militant desires to force the administration to concede to their demands.
While some students merely hover around the fringes of the action, others have pledged to go
to jail if necessary to "gain a student voice."
"The only power students can exercise is the power of disruption," Richard Mabbutt, assistant instructor of political science said last Thursday night.
His militant leadership is countered by the pacifism of such leaders as Jay Barrish, Kansas City, Mo., graduate student, who wouldn't advocate any kind of violence at all.
"If I see our people being vindicative against anyone, I'll defend those being hurt," he said last Wednesday.
The event which Corti believed will stave off a talked of sit-in is the decision of the faculty Sunday to set up a committee to work on
And then there's the conservative, middle-of-the-roader, Pat Corti, Kansas City, Mo., graduate student, who said Sunday night, "There are a number of us who could be termed militant but not irresponsibly militant. We believe that sit-ins and demonstrations are necessary only when everything else is exhausted, and in view of what happened tonight, we have not exhausted all the channels yet."
giving students a voting voice in the University Senate.
While the activists aren't completely satisfied that their demands have been answered, they seem to be happy with the progress of the University Senate. They seem to have mellowed greatly in a period of 72 hours.
Group consensus is difficult—at time, impossible—to reach. Although only about 40 to 80 of the 1,700 who signed the petition show up at planning meetings, these individuals can argue for hours at cross purposes.
See Voice, page 5