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University Daily Kansan Tuesday, Feb. 6, 1962
On Nuclear Testing
Resumption of atmospheric nuclear testing is a current topic of debate in Washington. President Kennedy has ordered preparations made to resume atmospheric testing, but has still not made the final decision to test.
It's a natural time for the opponents and proponents to start unfolding their arguments. However, the arguments for resumption of atmospheric testing appear much stronger than the arguments against.
The latter arguments usually revolve about three points: 1) resumption of atmospheric testing would be unduly provocative to world public opinion, 2) it will cause genetic damage to future generations, and 3) it is technically unnecessary.
THE FIRST TWO of these arguments—that atmospheric testing would bring down the wrath of world opinion and could cause genetic damage to future generations—are sound. However, the third argument—that atmospheric testing is technically unnecessary—is the exact converse of what is actually the case.
Resumption of atmospheric testing is technically necessary—so much in fact that it overpowers the arguments against it.
Atmospheric nuclear testing is absolutely vital to the future security of the nation. Russia is currently employing atmospheric testing. The gap between the United States' and Russias' knowledge of nuclear warfare may now be insignificant. But picture it 10 years from now if we fail to resume atmospheric testing and Russia continues to test.
SURELY NO ONE believes we have reached our maximum development in techniques of nuclear warfare, or assumes that Russia would not increase her capacities by continued atmospheric testing.
Some opponents argue that underground testing as the United States is now using precludes the need for atmospheric testing.
Yet underground testing leaves much to be desired. It doesn't allow experimentation and measuring of atmospheric radiation so that better defenses can be constructed against it or the development of more refined nuclear weapons.
It doesn't allow the testing of the developing anti-missile missile. Since it will often employ the exploding of a nuclear weapon in front of the on-coming missile, it is imperative that it be tested.
Atmospheric testing is necessary to allow the testing of U.S. nuclear missiles—their effectiveness against given targets and under varying conditions.
IN SHORT, if we assume that it is necessary for the retaliatory strength of the United States to equal the aggressive power of Russia, it is imperative to resume atmospheric nuclear testing.
If we assume that it is not necessary for our strength to equal that of Russia, we place much greater faith in Russia than is warranted.
—Karl Koch
Criticizes Park Plan
Editor:
I am surprised at your January 18th editorial and the fact that you cannot see the reasons against the creation of a Prairie National Park in Pottawatomie County. You have probably never been in the proposed area (especially in January) or had a lifetime home that somebody wanted to destroy.
A fence around a bunch of prairie hills does not restore it as before pioneer days. Before fences, prairie fires controlled the brush and weeds and the buffalo and antelope migrated from the snowy Kansas winters.
TRAVEL HIGHWAY 40 west from Topeka to Junction City or the Kansas Turnpike from Emporia to Wichita and you will see real Kansas pastures that are kept in natural condition by modern methods. They are stocked with fine cattle and are not over-grazed. Why would travelers or tourists leave these main roads to see a weedy prairie park stocked with shaggy buffalo and mangy coyotes instead of well cared for herds of Herefords, Shorthorns and Angus?
The Park Service has already shown that it cannot manage wild life in our present National Parks. Read Arthur H. Carhart's article "Shall we Hunt in National Parks?" in the December issue of Sports Affield.
SECRETARY Udall probably has seen the Kansas prairie only from
an airplane and doesn't even know the condition of the parks we already have. National parks of this kind are not popular with the tourist. Smaller state parks with easy access from the main highways may be the answer.
Most Americans do not "ache for the chance to tell the Federal Government to go to hell," but they would like to have their tax money spent wisely and without destroying someone's home. If the Federal Government builds the park as planned it will take a lot of tax land from Pottawatomic county and the State of Kansas.
Alfred Gray Class of 1915
UNIVERSITÄT Dailu Hansan
Telephone Viking 3-2700 Extension 711, news room Extension 376, business office
Founded 1889, became biweekly 1904, triweekly 1908, daily Jan. 16, 1912
Member Inland Daily Press Association, Associated Collegiate Press. Represented by National Advertising Service, 18 East 50 St., New York 22, N.Y. News service: United Press International. Mail subscription rates: $3 a semester or $5 a year. Published in Lawrence, Kan., every afternoon during the University year except Saturdays and Sundays, University holidays and examination periods. Second class postage paid at Lawrence, Kansas.
University of Kansas student newspaper
NEWS DEPARTMENT
Bon Gallagher ... Managing Editor
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
Editorial Editor
BUSINESS DEPARTMENT
Charles Martinache ... Business Manager
At the Movies
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By Bill Charles
"Shocker" with Kirk Douglas and Christine Kaufmann. Produced and directed by Gottfried Reinhardt. At the Varsity.
the Rough Edge...
Students have left their old home towns and returned to the campus and we think the folks back home were sorry to see them go, especially the liquor salesman.
The current attraction at the Varsity, "Shocker," is a good example of the increasing emphasis on sex in movies. Unfortunately, it isn't even good sex. When first released, "Shocker" was called "Town Without Pity" and aimed primarily at the art house audience.
If every politician who has told a lie in his campaigns were barred from office, the entire system of government offices in the United States would be vacant.
What is particularly enlightening about the various arguments for and against resuming nuclear testing are the dire predictions from each group that man is doomed unless its program is adopted.
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS by Dick Bibler
* *
**APPARENTLY** the film was a bust, so the title was changed along with the advertising copy and "Shocker" was sent off to excite the masses. The movie is of the "mugwump" variety, to borrow a term. It is too insipid for the connoisseur and, advertising notwithstanding, too tame for the vicarious thrill seeker.
"Shocker" is the story of a rape. Four GI's, while slightly drunk, assault and violate the 16-year-old daughter of a small town German banker. The men are apprehended and court-martialed. The girl's life is ruined. The original title suggests that the film establishes the town and not the soldiers as the villain, but this is misleading. As it turns out, everyone is bad — the soldiers, the girl, the townpeople, the press, and the defense attorney.
"SHOOKER" has been badly outshocked by such films as "The Virgin Spring" and "Two Women." As social commentary it is outclassed by many films too numerous to mention. Kirk Douglas portrays the defense attorney with skill and insight. Christine Kaufmann as the victim is interesting to watch, although all she is required to do is alternate a dumb stare with hysteria. But actors can seldom save a bad script. "Shocker" is a turkey.
SHE'D MAKE YA SWELL'BLIND DATE'. ASK WORTHAL I FIXED HIM LIP WITH HER EARLIER THIS EVENING."
The Poetry Corner
So Little Ones Sleep Through
Wonder what abode
The little friends have rented
In courtesy of treating
Visitor-Winter
To home-spun mores!
Upon among twigs,
Cubicles they built
Are there still;
Except that now,
All are in loose bits,
Much fallen for litter,
The rest shuffled **in toto**
By the posse arms of Winter,
—Ah, this unguestly guest!
Higgledy-piggledy paw-tracks
More inscribe
Fright flights for safety
Than lax light loafing
Over these book-leaves of snow.
Peradventure your
Heavy, stuffy, snowy feet
Trudge much home
To their buried homes,
Just knock no doors,
So the little ones too
Can sleep through
These rank whiffs
In vogue
At this page of year
Augustine G. Kyei Ghana senior
****
Snowflake Vengeance
Snowflakes a-falling.
They stagger a-front
Needle points of
Piercing chill-fronts
To join in fluffy spray
And white sheet spread.
They have come, buffeted,
By advance guards
Of whistling eddies,
From charted routes
So hard to keep.
Sensitive neighbors Unrelenting,
This misdeed they cache In long long memory;
Too, intruders Who the white stuff soil.
So flakes wreak vengeance
On that tread them,
By treating all and sundry
To the tips gait of men
A-drunk they walk.
Bi
Fc
Oi
Augustine G. Kyei Ghana senior
Th Comgate niorzens of volu tory
Tl mar com reno moo