Page 2
University Daily Kansan Friday, March 9. 1962
The HRC Controversy
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS by Dick Bibler
A controversy has developed between the Human Rights Committee (HRC) of the All Student Council and members of the Civil Rights Council (CRC) over how an investigation of discriminatory Greek clauses can best be conducted. The HRC intends to send questionnaires to all Greek houses and to hold open meetings where students and faculty members can express their opinions on the subject. It has also mentioned a general investigation to learn what the clauses really say and what they mean.
THE CRC DREW up a resolution to present to the HRC saying that a general poll of student opinion should be taken, not just a poll of the Greek houses. There were also complaints raised at the HRC meeting by people attending that the poll was just a move to lose the discrimination issue in the mire of procedure.
All these charges and counter-charges tend to confuse the situation. Much of it is simply speculation about what can be or should be done.
Now it is possible that the HRC will not take any positive action or recommend any constructive program to the ASC. But this is a judgment that will have to wait until they have had a chance to take action. At present they have not had enough time to carry out any program.
IT IS NECESSARY to remember that the discrimination problem is an extremely difficult one, however, and a simple answer to it does not exist. But many people have given it serious thought and the HRC will undoubtedly be able to profit from their observations. This would include various members of the CRC.
The point that needs emphasis at present is that the HRC is beginning to grope toward a solution to the problem of discriminatory clauses in the constitutions of Greek houses. Their efforts may result in positive action or the whole thing may turn into a farce. This is something the next month or two will clarify.
—William H. Mullins
Comments on Discrimination Editor:
It is difficult to determine whether a few of the letters to the Kansas and a few of the comments reported on the subject of segregation and discrimination reflect a measure of intellectual dishonesty, confusion, or simply a rather narrow concept of what democracy really means.
Our history records that some Americans have interpreted democracy to mean the freedom to "do one's neighbor in" or to imply a favored position for some. And there are men on the national scene who reap headlines as protectors of Americanism, who complain loudly about restrictions of freedom of speech, etc., but who interpret democracy also to mean segregation and discrimination, under the guise of "states rights."
THOSE WHO sense the true meaning of the words: freedom, liberty, and justice know that freedom is not advanced by afront to human dignity and that justice and discrimination are incompatible. And so they know that it is a fact of these times that he who espouses the cause of segregation or discrimination rides a dead horse.
Unfortunately there are those who find it necessary in discussing these matters to inject references to coercion in personal or even intimate relationships. Now, really! Who ever heard of compulsory companionship?
I BELIEVE that many persons in this University, if not the great majority, have a clear and accurate view of the primary issue involved. It is two-fold and it bears restatement:
Robert N. Harvey
(1) Is segregation (or discrimination) morally wrong? (2) Is a policy or practice of discrimination prejudicial to the ideals of a democracy and a university?
Lawrence graduate student
* *
As a past participant and an interested observer in the model United Nations, I would like to comment on the recent attempt of the Soviet delegation to gain information on the third and fourth resolutions to be debated this year.
The Model UN Maneuvers Editor:
I think the attempt showed that the Soviet blooc is a well organized group and that they are attempting to put real spirit into the "international" happenings. Needless to say, the Russians have succeeded in the past where others have failed in regard to excitement and planning, and it appears that they will be victorious again this year.
THE UNITED STATES bloc should try to overcome their apparent disorganization and give a half-hearted attempt to stay abreast of the Soviet bloc. Unfortunately, it looks like the West has a lot of running to do just to
reach the point where the Soviets started.
Western delegations arise. You have nothing to lose but your apathy, complacency, laziness, and lack of original thought.
Gene Dittenber
Lawrence senior
* * *
A Note on Pringsheim
Editor:
One of my favorite antidotes to boredom these days is reading the letters to the Daily Kansan. Give me a few more exchanges in the debate on the U-2 affair, which was comic enough all by itself, and I will have mirth enough to cure me forever. I'm still not certain which aspect of the debate pleased me most; whether it was the sight of all those little hairs, split by a scapel of pretentiousness, wafting through the intellectual twilight, or the celebration, in a litany of academic objectivity marvelous to behold, of the anthumanistic dogma that in the public ignorance lies the public strength, or the enormously humorous notion that an individual moral judgment of a collectivized political act now has any meaning at all. I am saddened by the passing of the debate, but at the same time I am strangely and suddenly exhilarated.
Clifford S. Griffin assistant professor of history
Fraser Hall Considered Editor;
FRASER REPRESENTS an attitude of that time, not building for their particular period but building for two or more generations ahead, in a state that was expanding at a higher rate than today. When Fraser Hall was built it was estimated that it would provide for the needs of the University for fifty years. It didn't quite make that estimate, but it did satisfy the University need for thirty years. I am afraid that Kansans have lost some of their bold confidence and vision. I think we should keep Fraser Hall as a reminder that what once had
At the last ASC meeting the topic was raised that the spirit of Fraser Hall be retained. I feel that Fraser Hall represents the spirit of Kansas and the University. For a number of years it was "The University." It is a building boldly conceived and an outstanding example of early Kansas architecture. At the time Fraser Hall was built it was the largest college building in the United States. Much of the bold, confident, vision of the Kansans, who built Fraser hall in a partly settled state, is reflected in the architecture of Fraser. It is questionable if either the character and dignity or the architectural feeling of Fraser Hall has been equally reflected by any of the other buildings on the campus. Unless the present trend of KU architecture is radically changed the New Fraser will be a rather anemic mutation of the Old Fraser.
In the past ten years over twenty-five per cent of all historical buildings and outstanding examples of American architecture have been destroyed. Is there no place in the United States and Kansas for the architectural history and University tradition? It would seem that a college campus would be an excellent place to preserve examples in the history of architecture.
been considered by many Easterners to be a fools dream was solid planning that has been surpassed many fold.
IN THE ASC meeting last Tuesday the council was asked to send a petition to the officials asking to have some of the spirit of Fraser Hall retained in the proposed new structure and to have the new building named Fraser Hall. The statement was made, "If the students are interested in retaining the present design they can influence the design in this manner. I would like to see some resemblance to the present building in the new Fraser."
I can see three ways to maintain the tradition of Fraser Hall. (1) Keep the building fundamentally as it now stands. (2) Renovate the building by rebuilding the interior and maintaining the exterior with the final results somewhere between a fairly close reproduction of the interior such as was done with the White House and a completely replanned interior such as was done with Bailey Hall. (3) In the tradition that Fraser was built, construct a building of new design, using the latest in materials and technology and the best in architectural design. (Maybe an alumnus would like to donate the cost of the services of an internationally known architect.)
If Fraser must die, let her die as a dignified example of early Kansas architecture and not as a pathetic example of a 1965 building half copied from early Kansas architecture.
P. S. Fraser doesn't have the most common type of foundation but it does have a foundation. It sets on a nine foot thick natural stone shelf.
Sincerely,
Ethan E. Pursell
Paola junior
UNIVERSITY
Dailu Hansan
University of Kansas student newspaper
Founded in 1869, became biweekly 1304,
monthly 1260.
_Telephone_VIking 3-2700
Extension 711, news room
Extension 376, business office
Extension 376, business office
Association Associated College Press. Represented by National Advertising Service. 18 East St. St. New York 22, N.Y.
National Mail subscription rates: $3 a semester or $5 a year. Published in Lawrence. Kan., every afternoon during the University year except Saturdays for examination periods. Second class postage paid at Lawrence, Kansas.
"FETCH ANOTHER GUINEA PIG AGATHA—YOUR FATHER
JUST RECEIVED ANOTHER 'ANONYMOUS' CHRISTMAS CAKE."
Letters to the Editor
An Unusual Defense
Editor
Never did I think I would publicly defend the YAF, an organization with which I find myself in continual disagreement. Nevertheless, I believe in giving the Devil his due (so to speak), and it is this belief in fair play that makes me take exception to the remarks of Mr. Alec Maynard Hamilton (whose name, he tells us, was given him at birth).
MR. HAMILTON, when we criticize someone or some organization, it is always well to have some ideas of what we are talking about, and to limit ourselves to the facts. In your two letters to the Kansan, both of which were largely personal attacks on Mr. Marick Payton, you have clearly shown all that you are unfamiliar with these two quite basic principles. You have allowed yourself to wander freely in the realm of unsubstantiated conjecture (did you really think that Mr. Payton thought you are a Communist?), and you have been guilty of a glaring lack of information (briefly, there is no formal connection between Robert Welch of the John Birch Society and the YAF).
As a liberal, I oppose many of the ideas of the YAF, and I shall continue to do so. But you, Mr. Hamilton, are not helping the cause of liberalism, if anything you are damaging it by your activities, and I for one would like to see you stop.
FRANKLY. Mr. Hamilton, there is much about the YAF that I believe deserves criticism, but blind, empty headed name calling is not really worthwhile criticism, it is just blind, empty headed name calling, and serves no worthwhile purpose.
Michael W. Dunlop St. Louis, Mo., senior
***
Comments on Discrimination
Editor:
I would like to call this to the attention of Mr. Denis Kennedy and cohorts.
Please excuse the melodrama of this paragraph, which I have included only to keep the right-wingers from trying to recruit me. Many KU students agree with CRC that minority group discrimination is wrong. I have inspected my own attitudes and changed ones which are discriminatory in some very real ways. I shall not here you with the blowing of my horn.
THE PURPOSE OF this writing is to point out that, in my opinion, Mr. Kennedy and friends are meddling with and trying to abolish one of the privileges which seems to be guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, and seems to be basic to the very definition of the noun "organization." I am confident that the privilege to which Mr. Kennedy
and friends seem to object so violently is fundamental to the enjoyment of living in the United States (I am patriotic, but not at all in the sense of the American Legion). As I see it, Mr. Kennedy and friends are attempting to eliminate the right of an organization to specify precisely what persons may be members.
It is well-known that one important step in the evolution of civilization was the development of the concept of written laws. If I remember correctly, the English have the exceptional unwritten constitution which works. However (someone correct me here if necessary) the Irish have a written constitution which came about for several reasons—one of which was the objection to the arbitrariness of rule under the English "constitution." Apparently, the Irish have something to say for written regulations.
But I digress. I claim, for better or worse, that it is still the right of an organization to specify its membership on paper. I do not understand Mr. Kennedy's reasoning against the morality of this practice. Many people would like to have him explain his logic.
WITHOUT specifications on membership, organizations can become no more than petty cliques. I must confess here that there are people in many organizations who make their organizations appear like petty cliques under all circumstances. Such developments occur all too often in the "Greek" system. It also seems, at times, that CRC means "Club for Rebellious Children."
PERHAPS while Mr. Kennedy is explaining, he can justify the discrimination that the AWS shows against me by refusing membership to me. For me to become a member of AWS would violate the discriminatory clauses in its constitution.
Many men on this campus have found that the AWS makes regulations and therefore occasionally causes inconveniences and embarrassments of a much more important and general nature than social fraternity discrimination has ever caused. Yet the men at Kansas have not one vote on this expensive, powerful and highly discriminatory organization.
PLEASE NOTICE the following: Both in Mr. Kennedy's violent attacks on the "Greek" system and in my (I hope humorous) attack on the AWS there are precisely two elements to consider which lead to the discrimination. First, there is the weight of tradition, and second, there are slight differences in anatomy.
Ed Spencer
Lawrence graduate student,
Greek alum, and violent
middle-of-the-roader
---