Page 4 University Daily Kansan Monday. Feb. 19, 1962
KU Socialist Student Sees Support for His Beliefs Here
By Dennis Bowers
(Editor's Note: The following is an interview with a KU student, a believer in socialism, who comments on recent charges. KU professors are teaching socialism in the use of them. The conversation was recorded on tape for use in this article.)
Socialism is taught at KU and there are many socialists at KU.
Only a widespread lack of information among the students and the people of the state keeps the socialist movement inactive both on the campus and nationally.
These are the views brought forth by one of the students at KU who does believe in socialism.
"You see," he said, "everyone is afraid of socialism up here. Let me give you an example of why. I was talking to one of the cooks down at one of the dorms who is past her middle 50s. She has been working at KU for a number of years and still makes just a dollar an hour.
FRANCIS JOHN LOVEKIN JR., Overland Park senior, a burly, ex-marine majoring in history sat down recently and expressed in a booming voice his convictions about socialism and its criticism on the campus and throughout the nation.
'I asked her why she did not become a socialist. A broad grin appeared on her face, she winked her eye, and said 'Johninsky.'
"Sure," Lovekin said, "I am an avid socialist and I'll admit it. And there are a lot of students up here who believe in socialism in some aspect or another. Many of the students see the advantages of socialism and the trend the world is taking towards it but do not call their beliefs socialistic.
"You see, everyone connects socialism with the type of communism in Peking or Moscow. And everyone is afraid of it.
"OF COURSE PROFESSORS ARE TEACHING socialism up here," Lovekin said in a final tone. "They have to. To teach anything about what is going on in the world today the professors have to teach socialism, because that is where the United States seems to be headed and that is where
communism is heading and it is the only hope for a peaceful coexistence.
"The professors under criticism right now for teaching socialism are only teaching world trends trends which people are afraid to realize.
"You see," he continued, "socialism doesn't stand a chance up here. Lot of people are uninformed except a very few who have really studied socialism as what it is.
"These people that are informed on the real meaning of socialism are powerless to express their views without being criticized and pointed to as a traitor of some kind or another.
"If only some facts were known by the people," Lovekin said. "People don't know the socialist party is one of the leading oppositions to the communists and, for that matter, any totalitarian government.
"THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE communist and the socialist theories is that the communists want government ownership of people in their entirety. We promote only government regulation of economics.
"I say these things with some hesitation and reservation," Lovekin said. "For one thing, I feel that in expressing my belief in socialism I cannot do it the justice that it needs. Another reason is that to be a declared socialist in this society is bordering on the edge of social disaster. However, I feel that some voice of protest should be made against the constant criticism directed towards socialism.
"There are two reasons for my protest," Lovekin said. "One is that in a democratic society all opinions should have the right to be expressed. My other reason, which is more important, is that socialism is not the Frankenstein of autocracy it is made out to be.
"Because socialism has a minority following does not necessarily make it wrong. The very founding of the country was done by a minority group who sought religious and political freedom.
(Continued on page 12)
Official Bulletin
Catholic Daily Mass: 7 a.m. & 12:05
a.m. St. Lawrence Chapel, 1910 Stratford路
Confessions: Weekdays, 7 a.m. (during Mass), and 11:45 to 12 noon. Saturdays, 4-5 & 7-8 p.m., St. Lawrence Chapel, 1910 Stratford Rd.
International Students: If you are interested in taking the People-to-People Industrial Tour to Kansas City to visit the Manor Bakery, sign up today or tomorrow in the People-to-People office in 301-628-5794, the Dean of Students, 228 Strong Hall.
KU Exchange Program: England-
France-Germany-Switzerland. 1962-63.
Application forms and information. 366
Deadline for applications, Feb.
20.
TEACHER INTERVIEWS:
Feb. 19 - R. E. Neals, Supt., Center School Dist. Kansas City, Mo.
Feb. 19 & 20 — Eugene Garner, Pers.
Dr. (Fi, Sec.) Denver, Colorado
Feb. 20 & Sch. Robert Fries, Prin. San
Juan Unified Sch. Dist., Carmichael,
Michigan.
Feb. 20 — Laurice F. Dodge, Asst.
huen. Uquengene Elem. Dist., Port.
Cuba.
Feb. 20 & 21, Donald Golden, Pers. Dir.
Hunter 20, Prefer
Master's candidates for Phoenix)
Feb. 21 — Donald Kumpy, Asst. to Supt. North Kansas City, Mo.
Feb 21 - Bernard Allen, Supt. (Elem.
only), Hill City, Kansas.
TODAY
Quill Club: Meeting to elect officers
to the master and to sign up
for sales this week.
TOMORROW
Episcopal Holy Communion & Break-
fast; 7 a.m., Canterbury House.
Alpha Phi Omega: National Service Fraternity, will hold an informative open meeting at 7:30 p.m. Pine Room, Kansas Union. The public is invited.
Math Club Meeting: 7:30 p.m. Meadow,
South of Central Research Division Continental
Oil Co. Ponca City, Okla., will
offer a talk on the research every-
very week. Welcome, Free. Refresh.
YAF Meeting; 7:30, Kansas Union.
Will make entries in national membership
binder.
Episcopal Evening Prayer: 9:30 p.m.
Danfort Chapel.
WEDNESDAY
AF
EL ATENEO se reune hy mierecolles dia de febrero a la 4 de la tarde en 11 Fraser. Presentamos a la Sra. de Escher en un programa sobre Latinoamericano y el mundo con los conocidos conjuntos musical latino "El Combo." Todos invitados. Refrescos.
Reardon's Novel on Sale; Reviewers Call It 'Whodunit'
Reardon's novel, which deals with big business and dirty politics, is, according to the "New York Times," "An absorbing yarn which has the pace of a fast-moving whodunit."
"The Big Smear," a novel by William R. Reardon, associate professor of speech and drama, is now on Lawrence bookracks in paperback edition.
A forenote in the book states: "The author wishes he could say that nothing described in the following pages could happen here; unfortunately, campaigns differing in specific detail but similar in substance have happened here."
ACCORDING TO THE "Pasadena Star News", "Reardon's novel contains some of the most frightening characters since Orwell's '1984' . . . a perfect demonstration of The Big Lie and its cold blooded timing. . .
PROF. REARDON, who is graduate student adviser, and in charge of committees on dramatic history
and literature and playwriting, taught at the State University of Iowa for 8 years, before coming to KU in the fall of 1961.
"The Big Smear" is Reardon's first novel. His other writings have been published in scholarly magazines, and he has had several television plays produced.
Page-Creightor
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