New Left course flexible, informal
By KEN PETERSON
Kansan Staff Writer
Editor's note: This is the secona in u series of three articles examining the New Left course at KU.
Expression of personal opinion and free discussion epitomize the New Left course at KU.
Through informal discussion of current trends in politics, philosophy and life styles, students enrolled in the flexible New Left course can voice their own feelings without fear of ridicule.
"It's really a fun class. The deal is to be entirely honest," Carol Markham, Parsons sophomore, said. "We talk about personal things that mean a lot to us."
Students enrolled in the course expressed enthusiasm for the free discussion as a means of ridding
themselves of "personal hangups." Many said they took the course because they didn't understand the New Left and wished to gain more knowledge of it.
"Right now I don't have my own philosophy of life, and I think that by talking to these people in the New Left, I have gained much insight into the beliefs of people concerned with humanity," Mike Boyle, Wichita freshman, said.
Aldon Bell, assistant dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and faculty initiator of the New Left course, termed the discussions "encounter seminars." He said the purpose of the course was to "explore the fields of literature, philosophy, politics, and fiction that are on the current scene."
Asked whether the New Left was using this course to do their recruiting,
Boyle said, "There has been no attempt at brainwashing. Everything has been of benefit. We merely open up and communicate with others."
Francis Heller, dean of faculties, siad of the New Left course: "It is in the spirit of the University to have an open mind for new ideas. It is a place where ideas should be discussed rationally."
The New Left course is among the College's "48 series" (LAS 48). LAS 48 includes several courses, all related to "Topics and Problems" of a certain subject. William Balfour, dean of student affairs, stressed the flexibility of LAS 48.
In the College, most courses are required to be reviewed by the Educational Policies Committee and the College faculty before they are approved. LAS 48 does not have this requirement.
"This allows for more flexibility of the courses, including the New Left, which are cross-disciplined, in a sense." Balfour said.
Balfour explained that cross-discipline means every course in the 48 series covers a wide variety of subjects, including philosophy and politics.
"If someone wants to start a course on the New Right, they may do so," Balfour said.
"I feel students took the New Left course because they wanted to know more about it. There are some very good New Left instructors."
With the course's wide range of ideas and topics, Bell said, "KU is a little bit ahead of the other universities in having such courses."
Student support for the course apparently supports Bell.
Jazz groups up in the air
Don Scheid, assistant dean of the School of Fine Arts, was once asked "What is Jazz?" He replied, "If you have to ask, you'll never find out."
Several student jazz groups have asked the question, "May we use the practice rooms in Murphy Hall for our rehearsals?" Their reply was more explicit: No.
In a letter sent last fall to Rusty Leffel, an All-Student Council representative, Thomas Gorton, dean of the School of Fine Arts, listed the reasons for denial of the practice rooms to jazz bands:
"The facilities and equipment have been provided by state tax money for educational purposes, which are linked to the regular instructional program. The School of Fine Arts should not be expected to provide space for ad hoc student jazz groups any more than the Field House practice floor should be on call by fraternity basketball teams.
"There are many campus jazz bands. We cannot accommodate all of them and in fairness, we cannot allow one of them privileges which are denied to others.
"Most of the campus dance bands are in rehearsal in preparation for commercial jobs. We see little relationship here to educational objectives," the letter said.
In the interim period since the letter was written, the School's policy has not changed.
2 KANSAN Mar. 4
1969
An attempt to gain access to the practice rooms three years ago by petition came to naught.
Members of local campus jazz bands, who preferred to remain annoymous-many are fine arts
students—had several comments to make on the banning of jazz bands from Murphy.
Referring to Gorton's letter, one bandsman said, "It says nothing about jazz players. The best jazz players are also the best 'legitimate' bandsmen."
Another member of a band commented, "I think the School of Fine Arts should be more open-minded about this. If there is a serious rehearsal for a KU function, I can see a denial, but when there's nothing going on, it
would be in the best interest of the music department to use the facilities."
One band member stated, "There is no relationship between education and performance in Murphy. Performing there is taboo."
Don Scheid, assistant dean of the School, explained, "The practice rooms are controlled by the Board of Regents and music majors come first."
Afro-American Week picks up at UMKC
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The first annual Afro-American Week at the University of Missouri-Kansas City started slowly Sunday but picked up momentum last night with the appearance of folksinger Josh White Jr.
About 300 persons, the largest crowd so far, heard White sing a mixture of folk and pop songs.
Loyal Denton, steering committee chairman, said he hoped attendance would pick up even more with the appearance of former world heavyweight boxing champion, Muhammad
Ali, and a panel discussion tomorrow.
Ali, the former Cassius Clay, is scheduled to speak at 1 p.m. in Pierson Hall. At 9 a.m., also in Pierson, four black groups—the Black Panthers; Soul, Inc.; Volunteer Twenty and the Black Youth of America—will be represented on the panel discussion.
Rep. Adam Clayton Powell, (D.-N.Y.) will speak at 2 p.m Sunday in Pierson.
Tickets for the Ali and Powell speeches may be obtained from the UMKC Student Activities Office. All other events are free.
Kenneth Bloomquist, director of bands, said, "It is the plain lack of facilities for the amount of students that causes this problem."
Bloomquist offered a solution to the problem: "The best chance for small band practice would be in the Kansas Union, because the students are paying for it.
"I can certainly understand their (the bands) point, when there is room available for practice, but there is hardly any room," Bloomquist said. "They need a place to practice and to call their own, but I think this is up to the ASC or the Kansas Union to ask and arrange for this practice."
Band members suggested fee charges for use of the practice rooms or a reimbursement for "wear and tear" on equipment in the rooms as a solution to the problem.
Featuring Vocalist Buffy Barnes This Fri. and Sat.NightMarch 7 and 8
RED DOG INN
March 14 & 15—Mike Finnigan and
THE SERFS
Wed., March 19th—Moby Grape and his Group Therapy
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