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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Monday, April 29, 1968
Draft laws hurt colleges and military
Selective Service Director Lewis B. Hershey said in secret Congressional testimony that up to 100,000 more men than originally scheduled may be drafted in the 12 months starting July 1, "if the war doesn't get over."
This new draft call will undoubtedly put an even greater squeeze on graduate school enrollments because of two decisions made early this year. One, by the National Security Council, ended draft deferments for graduate students with less than two years of study already completed; the other, by Lewis Hershey, ordering the drafting of oldest men first in the 19-25 age bracket.
First, graduate schools will be filled mainly with women, older men, and the physically infirm. Most schools will doubtedly lower their entrance requirements with much of the stiff student competition in the Mekong Delta.
These two decisions will have a profound impact on the whole American educational system for years to come as college students are forced to sacrifice their education to accommodate the increased call. The ramifications will be widespread.
Undergraduates will also suffer as classes have to be enlarged to accommodate the lack of teaching assistants who shoulder much of the teaching load in major universities, including KU.
Mrs. Elizabeth Vetter, executive secretary of the Scientific Manpower commission, a panel representing 11 leading professional societies, said that in the next eight years only half the graduate students who would ordinarily earn master's and Ph.D. degrees will do so. The effect of this on education is evident. Our technological superiority will be endangered, some research will come to a screeching halt, and teaching on an individual level will be a thing of the past.
KU is already feeling the pinch. Several departments report a dearth of teaching assistants, and Dr. L. C. Woodruff, chairman of the biology department, thinks the situation "could be calamitous."
What is ironical is that even the military will suffer. The Army will have to make soldiers out of men both older and more educated than the Army says is optimum. By drafting graduate students, the most vocal anti-war, anti-military spokesmen, the molding of a fighting force might have its problems.
A serious reconsideration of present draft policies is in order, and fast. Or, as a friend said, "The U.S. will have the best educated corpses in history."
Diane Wengler Editorial Editor
Letters to the editor:
Blood drive-a shame
To the Editor:
Donors fall short of the goal as KU's blood drive nears the end. Isn't that a shame? From KU's 15,000 students, only 85 turn up on the first day to give blood, that wonderful fluid of life. I want to know why.
Phone marathon begins—KU believes it can beat its traditional rival K-State. Why can't we beat them in a blood donation drive? The turn-out at K-State is always more than that at KU.
The phone marathon officially opened with Clif Conrad, student body president. Why didn't the blood drive begin with Clif Conrad?
The photographs of the inauguration of the phone marathon and of the Greek Week Banquet were on the front page of the UDK on different days. Why was not the photograph of Miss Brenda Brungardt, who was donating blood, on the front page? Blood donation is insignificant, I presume.
KU students worry about the useless loss of lives in Vietnam. But at the same time, I am positive students don't know that blood is always a great need in a war. What is hypocrisy?
Finally, what happened to the faculty and our entire staff? I am sure they all weigh more than 110 lbs. and are over 18 years of age.
Harjinder Singh Gill India graduate student
To the Editor:
In the UDK (April 24) I find that once again Hamilton Salsich and company are berating the University for policies that affect the lives of its student body. The issue in question seems to be that of personal freedom as it relates to military service and recruitment on campus. Along with this, the question of student influence on administration policy is at issue.
If one is to negotiate policy in the name of those whom that policy affects, one should first be certain that his own position is defensible.
Mr. Salsich and group cry out against those forces which tend to limit or destroy the freedom of our student body, but at the same time one suspects they are offering little more than another form of tyranny.
When one minority group attempts to substitute its policies for those of another group, does this constitute a gain in effective representation for the members of the majority? To my knowledge, Mr. Salsich and associates have never been officially delegated by KU students as their representatives in matters relating to University policy. Since what they propose is a change in this policy, it would seem only consistent with their own stated ideals that they first obtain the explicit support of the student body.
I challenge Mr. Salsich to obtain legitimate support from those he purports to represent, and, furthermore, I call upon Dean Heller to cease negotiations with this minority group until such support is manifest.
— Don Schmidt
Wooster, Ohio,
graduate student
Record review
'Cheer' rock too hard
By Will Hardesty
VINCEBUS ERUPTUM by the Blue Cheer on Philips ought to be able to scratch glass. The rock music on it is diamond hard.
The Cheer have to be the hardest rock group in the world today. The Cream sounds almost like Lawrence Welk beside the Cheer.
VINCEBUS ERUPTUM is the first album from this relatively new group. The Cheer only got together last summer—three guys who wanted to play hard, electronic, rock blues.
This album is hot for the beginner in rock music. The album might be best called "Music to Take a Trip by—With or Without Drugs." The Cheer has said they "want their music to be physical. There's been enough music appealing to the mind, so we'll appeal to the body."
To see them in person is to have a physical thing happen to you. Each guitarist uses two amplifying systems and four large speakers. They can churn milk in your stomach into butter with their sound. The music literally will not let you sit still. It physically vibrates and shakes your body enough you are compelled to dance. The Cheer's music seems to pick out each individual's body's natural rhythm and then play this rhythm until the person is dancing.
This same motivating sound comes through on the album. Just listening to it will send vibrations up and down your spine. But the only way to listen to this record is just as loud as your stereo will take it.
The album starts off with "Summertime Blues"—the old Chuck Berry tune which he wouldn't recognize now. It's the best tune on the first side. "Rock Me Baby" is more definitely more bluesy and musical. The side closes with "Doctor Please."
On the other side, "Out of Focus" starts off the side. "Parchment Farm" has some interesting harmonies and melodic lines. "Next Time Around" is the best song on the album. Paul Whaley, the drummer, gets to show off his many talents. He is the quickest drummer I have ever seen, and is the best musician in the group. This song might also be entitled "A Demonstration in the Many Uses, Aspects and Techniques of Feedback, or How to 'Play' Your Amps for Fun and Profit."
This album is almost too hard. Unfortunately, it shows the inexperience and flaws in the group. It seems to lack musical depth. So, all in all, rate the album only fairly good.
NEWS NOTES Elektra has made a film to go with the Doors' new single "The Unknown Soldier." In the film, Jim Morrison is "executed." It will be shown at concerts, clubs, underground theaters and on the college circuits.
Columbia says they will have a new album out soon by Big Brother and the Holding Company.
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