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University Daily Kansan Tuesday, Feb. 13, 1962
Pros, Cons Given on Greek Selection Privileges
(Continued from page 1)
autonomy on questions of membership, but its national ideals are fixed in the direction of brotherhood.
The second school of thought, expressed by The National Committee On Fraternities in Education and by Alfred McClung Lee in his book "Fraternities Without Brotherhood," is that social organizations do fall under the jurisdiction of colleges and universities.
Mr. Lee says, "Because fraternities are integral parts of our colleges and universities, they do necessarily become college responsibilities and fall under college regulation. Through their undergraduate members, fraternities share in many campus privileges and responsibilities... Men's and women's fraternities are therefore not exempt from changing educational policies—among them the issue of freedom from prejudiced categorical discrimination."
HE EXPLAINS THAT HIS CONTENTION has won support from all judicial courts, up to and including the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court decision was handed down in 1954. Mr. Lee explains the case:
"The State University of New York had attempted to eliminate racial and religious discrimination from fraternity admissions practices on its twenty-seven
campuses. It had succeeded fairly well among the 'locals'—fraternities not affiliated with national societies—but it had met with stubborn resistance, evasion, and subterfuge among the chapters of nationals. The university gave the chapters until October 1958 to sever all connections with nationals—or cease to exist. The Supreme Court of the United States sanctioned this action."
In the light of this decision, then, how much power does the KU administration have in regard to setting membership selection procedures.
LAURENCE C. WOODRUFF, dean of students, said in a recent interview, "I suppose the University has complete control of its students in determining what their whole life is while they're here. But I hope we never get to the point where we control everything."
Although the University does have the authority to determine selection procedures, Dean Woodruff added, "Fraternities and sororities have provided housing for over 75 years. We have not found it necessary to dictate what limitations should be put on membership in the past, and we have no intention of doing so now.
"I'm for minority groups as much as anyone else. And we as individuals must do all we can for minority rights."
When asked if this stand would be inconsistent with the University's position on off-campus housing, he replied, "The policy is consistent. We haven't told landlords that they have to take anybody, and so we won't tell the students who they have to live with."
DEAN WOODRUFF WAS THEN asked if his above statement was consistent with the University's policy in the dormitories (dorms are integrated). He answered:
"Our policy in the dorms is not inconsistent. We are simply saying that some of the dorms are tax supported and should be open to all."
"The University of Kansas supports all organized groups on its campus in their efforts to make this a better place in which to live and to study. It has supported fraternities and sororities in the past, and will do so in the future, for their positive contributions to the problems of student housing and social adjustment."
Commenting on the position of the University, Chancellor W. Clarke Wescoe said:
"As a general principle, the University upholds the basic human right of individuals or groups to select those with whom they wish to be closely associated."
(Tomorrow's article will present the various plans used to eliminate racial and religious discrimination in social organizations, and the difficulties in reaching cooperation between the local chapters, the school administration, and the national organizations.)
Sorority Pledges Meet
Spring sorority pledges attended their first formal pledge meetings last night.
Although rush is finished, pledges still recall last Tuesday, Feb. 6, the last night of rush, the night they received their sorority bids.
Pledges described the dormitories before and after the issuing of formal bids as tense silence versus pandemonium. Patricia Postlethwaite, Kansas City, Mo., freshman, said that before the bids were issued "the dorm was like a tomb, but after the bids came people screamed and yelled and danced in the halls."
All women interviewed agreed with Gail Williams, Pratt freshman, when she described the dorms, before the issuing of bids, as halls of "nervous silence." But the interviewees possessed differing images
of the dormitories after the bids were issued.
Cheryl Cook, Evansville, Ind., freshman, described the dormitory after bids were issued "as a long procession of flowers sent by friends and relatives to congratulate the women on pledging.
Lois Miller, Alma freshman, remembers the dorm after the bids were issued as "one long telephone line of pledges waiting to call boyfriends and parents."
Leta Cathcart, Kansas City, Mo. freshman, remembers the dormitory immediately after bids were received as a "chaotic madhouse with girls screaming from one end of the hall to the other, 'What'd you pledge?' She also noted a line "five-to-eight persons deep waiting to use the telephone of Janet Noel, resident director of Corbin Hall.
Visiting Professor Speaks on Russia
Robert W. Campbell, associate professor of economics at Indiana University will give two speeches on the Russian economic situation at the Kansas Union tomorrow and Thursday.
At 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Prof. Campbell will talk on the "Soviet Oil Industry," in the Pine Room of the Kansas Union.
At 4 p.m., Thursday, he will speak on "New Soviet Economic Plans," in room 306 in the Kansas Union.
Chancellor W. Clarke Wescoe will address the Chancery Club at 7:30 tonight in the Forum Room of the Kansas Union.
Chancellor Wescoe to Speak
Ferguson Opinion—
Mr. Nichols said that the amount of the University's contribution to KU-Y was currently $5,500 plus Social Security and other benefits.
"We have been seeking to develop resources which would help us reduce the importance of the University subsidy in financing the KU-Y." Mr. Moore said. He said the termination of the University subsidy was "something we expected over the long run . . . but the timing was unexpected."
In his letter to the Chancellor, Mr. Ferguson said, "As worthy as the purposes of the organizations in question may be, and regardless of their non-sectarian character, the use of tax money for their
support compels the taxpayer of a different faith or of no faith at all to support a religious establishment with which he may not agree. We think that the use of tax money as a donation to these associations is clearly a violation of the above constitutional provisions."
THE CONSTITUTIONAL provisions to which Mr. Ferguson referred were the first amendment to the federal constitution and section 7 of the Kansas Bill of Rights.
William McCollum, Leavenworth senior, co-president of KU-Y, said, "I personally am disappointed on hearing that the state funds are no longer available, but I respect the attorney general's decision."
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