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University Daily Kansan Thursday. April 25, 1963
Archaic Attitudes Face Civil Rights
(Last of a series)
By Jackie Helstrom
If Lawrence is ever going to ac-complish anything in the field of civil rights, it has got to overcome its border-state attitudes.
That is the opinion of James E. Titus, assistant professor of political science and chairman of the Lawrence Human Rights Commission. He feels the defeat of these attitudes should be the long range goal of the LHRC.
"I would like to see Lawrence, in the next ten years, become a model city in terms of inner group relations," Prof. Titus said. "But this can happen only after crusty, old attitudes have been disrupted."
THE LHIRC IS AN ADVISORY commission of the Lawrence City Commission that was created a year ago when student sit-ins made apparent the need for a group which could solve discriminatory problems without creating tension.
The creation of such a commission is three things. Prof. Titus said.
"It is an admission that a problem exists in the area of racial and minority group relations. It is an admission by the city commission that they would like to do something about the problem. It is the creation of a commission to exist as the moral conscience of the community."
Warm Burial for Patrolmen
LOS ANGELES — (UPI) — A burglar threw 50 suede jackets from the roof of a store yesterday to the pavement beside his truck.
Two patrolmen who had been investigating the truck climbed from beneath the pile of jackets, onto the roof and arrested Arcellas Leavurette, 20.
Leonard's Standard Service
9th and Indiana
Complete Brake Service Minor Tune-ups
Open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The objectives the LHRS is supposed to fulfill are to improve relations among local population groups, to improve the city's reputation for tolerance, to open the way for each individual to develop according to his abilities without limitation and to help Lawrence benefit from the fullest realization of its human resources.
The nine-member group had its first meeting Oct. 4, 1961. According to William A. Binns, the past chairman of the LHRC, the organization spent the first month trying to find out what it could do.
"GROUPS LIKE THIS HAVE A high mortality rate. Two-thirds of them don't exist at the end of the first year. One-third of those who stay in existence do so by doing nothing," Binns said.
Among those left which have stayed in existence and have made a contribution to the community, there seems to be a common procedure, he said.
They all started their fight against
discrimination by giving the community information about itself.
"Civil rights is an area where there is a need for careful information." Binns said. "The air is filled with half truths and rumors."
SURVEYS HAVE BEEN taken by the LHRC to determine the factual situation in the fields of employment, public education, and public accommodations. The facts discovered are now being related to the community.
For several months Binns and Prof. Titus have presented the information to civic groups, clubs, church groups, and "anyone else who will listen," Binns said.
Prof. Titus is now in the process of writing reports of all the information discovered.
In addition to its activities in informing the community, the LHRC also has had some experience acting as a mediation board in cases of discrimination.
"WHEN YOU ARE reasoning with people about discriminatory practices, strange things can happen. You can feel that you are getting nowhere with someone, and then you find later that their whole attitude has changed," the professor said.
Tonight!
THE LHRC HAS IN ITS first year accomplished what it set out to do in that time, but there are mixed feelings in Lawrence about whether the group has done enough or whether it has done too much.
Last July, one critic accused the commission of "stirring up trouble" with its employment survey.
CHEERLEADER PRACTICE 7:30 in Robinson ANNEX
EVERYONE WELCOME
"All we were doing was asking the policies of Lawrence businesses." Binns said, "The whole thing was confidential, we would never use the name of any individual. This was interpreted as doing too much."
Finals will be Friday, May 3 in Robinson Gym.
In the area of tavern discrimination in Lawrence, the LHRC has been working with University civil rights groups who brought the problem to light.
The LHRC is making a study of the relationship of high school dropouts and minority groups. The group is studying the situation in terms of employment opportunities in an effort to be able to encourage these youths to stay in school.
"People must keep in mind in evaluating the work of the LHRC," he said, "that the group has no budget and no staff, and all the members have jobs and work on this in their spare time."
"We have been willing to cooperate with student groups in this matter," Prof. Titus said. "But I think it is a peripheral issue. The major issues that we need to work on are education, housing, and employment."
WE'RE SORRY
for the inconvenience caused by the cancellation of "The Adventures of Robin Hood" last Friday night. Our distributor failed to ship us the film in time for the showing. All those who failed to claim a refund should do so in the SUA office. Again, due to difficulties beyond our control, we will be unable to present "Tammy and the Bachelor" this week. In its place, a three part Academy Award winning program has been substituted consisting of "Cascabanca." "Bear Country," and Chapter 13 of "Captain Video." Our policy will continue to be one of bringing to the campus the best in motion picture entertainment, both old and recent releases.
WATCH FOR BIG SCREEN CINEMASCOPE COMING TO THE FLICKS SOON!
Plus Chapter 13 of Captain Video
1. My theory on looking for a job is - Play it big! Shoot for the top! Go straight to the prez for your interview.
I don't know any presidents.
8. Beautiful! All you have to do is find a president who likes dogs. You'll have him eating out of your hand in no time.
2. Use your head, man. Have your dad set up appointments with some of the big shots he knows.
He's a veterinarian.
I don't know an Elkhound from an Elk.
8. A letter to the employment manager!
Ho ho ho! You've a lot to learn.
4. Frankly, I don't know what else to tell you. You've got a problem.
Then how come I landed a great job at Equitable an executive training spot that's interesting, pays a good salary and has a lot of promise for the future.
It's not as bad as it seems. My idea is to find out the name of the employment manager at the company I'm interested in. Write him a letter telling him my qualifications. Spell out my interests, marks. Simple as that.
6. Say, could you set something up for me at Equitable?
I'm not the president but I'll try.
The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States $ \textcircled{c} 1908 $
Home Office: 1285 Avenue of the Americas, New York 19, N.Y.
See your Placement Officer for further information or write to William E. Blevins, Employment Manager.