Readers comment on Inn, fraternities
To the Editor:
The Kansan's March 19 interview with Harvey Feldman of Inn Operations, Inc., contains several inaccuracies and inconsistencies which we feel should be corrected as follows:
1-At no time did we misquote Feldman—that's why we felt secure enough to surround his statements with quotation marks. There are seven witnesses who heard him say everything attributed to him in our statement, including the remark that the Kansas Commission on Civil Rights was "a kangaroo court." The only editorializing in our release occurred when we said we "cannot be dissuaded from eliminating racism at the Lawrence Holiday Inn." And that, as Mr. Feldman and Mr. Anderson shall see, is an indisputable fact.
2- Feldman deliberately, and UDK accidentally, took Rehk's (Rev. Thomas Rehorn) statement out of context. His meaning was that in matters of discrimination, the community at large is often more likely to believe a white businessman than a black maid. It has been our experience, however, that in these matters the black woman is usually more reliable than her white antagonist. After all, she is the one who is being discriminated against. Consequently, our tendency is to believe the black woman rather than the white man. It is also important to remember that the Kansas Commission on Civil Rights found ample evidence to substantiate that belief in this case.
3-Feldman's statement that Holiday Inn "absolutely" would have offered Mrs. Hamilton her job back is misleading. He was referring to the job of maid, to which he claims Mrs. Hamilton was demoted, not the supervisory position of Housekeeper, to which the commission recommended she be reinstated. Also, it has been Mrs. Hamilton's contention that she was not in fact demoted at all, but fired by Anderson.
4-Whether she was "demoted" or "fired" may be a moot point—since if discrimination was involved, the intent and effect of Anderson's action is the same. It is interesting to note that on the day the incident occurred, Anderson was unable or unwilling to supply written reasons for his action. When at a later date he did supply the commission with his reasons, they appeared so counterfeit that the commission, and the four observers at Tuesday's meeting, found them unacceptable. Among them was
Mar. 21
1969 KANSAN 5
the "fact" that Mrs. Hamilton kept inadequate linen room records, in spite of the fact that Inn Operations Inc. issued a policy statement in September that linen room records would no longer be needed as of November 1.
THIS WEEKEND
Julie Christie
"DARLING"
Dyche Auditorium
50c
5-Mr. Feldman should be reminded that discrimination or racism need not depend on how many black people are employed in a given place; but that how they are treated by their white supervisors is always of paramount importance. There was sufficient testimony at the hearing to reveal a marked difference in treatment given the black and white maids by Anderson, one of whose favorite expressions was reported to be a reference to "Aunt Jemima." At the hearing, Anderson said the expression "doesn't mean anything," although that was hardly the consensus of the other people present.
system do? Nothing! That's right! Nothing! White Greeks, don't be in such a hurry to pledge blacks. They're in no hurry to pledge. Blacks will be here at KU for a long time. You're not ready for blacks and blacks aren't ready for you. It will be a very long time, if ever, before a black man will consider pledging a white fraternity.
Psychedelic Dance Floor
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If You Are, Or If You Desire To Live Alone—Now Is The Time To Make The Move To
MEADOWBROOK
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Darryl Bright President, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity
6—Finally, we did not describe our group as "peaceful," however peaceful it
A dance floor, fabricated of stain-finish nickel stainless steel, reflects psychedelic lighting for dancing at The Bird's Nest in Twickenham, England. The floor will last for decades, is easy on the feet, easy to clean and is readily transportable.
may in fact be. We said it was "powerful." And if Mr. Feldman by some chance did not leave the meeting with that impression, he'd better get it now.
Rev. Thomas Rehorn, Jr.,
Courtney Jones
Hoy Steele
Bill Simons
To the Editor:
I would like to respond to an editorial concerning blacks pledging white fraternities or sororities (March 20 Kansan). Why should blacks pledge a white fraternity or a sorority? There is nothing in the white Greek system that is relevant to the black movement, such as black pride or a consciousness of an African heritage. White fraternities and sororites can offer neither to blacks.
The white Greek system may have a lot to offer a white-black man (a brain-washed nigger). A white-black man is a man who has black skin and the mind of a white man; he has adopted the
white ideology of the world, and he, unfortunately, denies his blackness. Is this the type of blacks the white Greeks are searching for?
What blacks, in their right minds, would want to have a white racist for a fraternity brother? Would not this be contradictory to all connotative and denotative ideals of what a fraternity or sorority should be?
If a black man wanted to integrate a fraternity, he has to drop his blackness and start changing to a sickening "greyness"—eventually turning "white" (This is true in all cases of blacks integrating into a white institution). White Greeks face it, you aren't going to turn black. It would be impossible for a black to pledge a white fraternity and remain black.
What can the white Greek