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University Daily Kansan Wednesday, April 3, 1963
A Fighting Chance
They want to abolish boxing. It is a cruel, nasty business not worthy of the name "sport."
They are right when they say it is cruel. It is worse than that; two defending world champions have lost their lives as a result of boxing, in the last two years. First, Benny Paret, and then last week, Davey Moore.
Both were uneducated, common men whose sole claim to even fleeting fame was their ability to do more damage to an opponent than they received.
BUT WHAT is odd about their deaths is that the righteous and the sincere men who want to abolish boxing should really care about what happened to them. By the present-day social yardstick, neither Paret nor Moore are deserving of tears.
So why do those who want to abolish boxing bother themselves with such inconsequential men? Had Paret and Moore had the good sense to stay out of that nasty, cruel sport, they could have died natural deaths. Or perhaps, because they had no marketable skills, they could have died in prison for stealing.
IT IS A cinch that if Paret and Moore had had the good sense not to try to earn acclaim and wealth at the only thing they could do well, no one would have mourned their deaths.
This reveals something about the people who want to abolish boxing. These people feel an obligation to protect future Moores and Parets from their own ignorance.
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS by Dick Bibler
But just how dumb do these saviors think Paret and Moore and their fellow boxers are? They knew better than anyone the risk of dying in the ring. These men know the pain of their profession.
PARET AND Moore would have been anything but surprised if told they could die in the ring. But they went ahead. The reason they went ahead is important. At least to the Parets and Moores of the world.
They went ahead because it was the one door open to them which could give to them and their families what every man wants and has a right to try for. Even at the risk of his life.
What really bothers the people who want to abolish boxing is that the sport apparently feeds
on some sick obsession of the people who pay their money to watch it. They view it as a cancer in the heart of society.
BUT WHAT about the cancer in society which condemns a black man to a life of being a secondrate citizen, a man who must renounce all hope of ever possessing the things which fill every white man's heart with hope?
Just where do these people recommend the Parets and Moores of today and tomorrow turn for an honest glimmer of hope? Ditch-digging, or maybe janitor work?
Let us hope not. For if the ever-lasting dream of America is smashed—that every man, regardless how poor his parents, can make it "big"—we smash to earth the heart and vitality of the American spirit.
JUST WHAT do these people think keeps those in the tenement slums and worse from rising to open rebellion? It certainly is not the "hope" of someday rising to the high, exalted post of janitor.
This hope and belief—backed by the living evidence of Jack Dempsey, Rocky Marciano and a multitude of others—that even the uneducated can make it, is what keeps them from the throats of the very people who want to abolish this vehicle of social escalation.
If these people think that anything but hope sustains those who are so dumb as to fight for a living, they are wrong.
HISTORIC documentation of people without hope revolting is resplendent. Karl Marx wrote a manifesto for a people sealed off from the top without hope.
Not that open revolt will follow the abolition of boxing; it won't. But before these people start saving the Parets and Moores from their own ignorance, let the saviors find a suitable substitute for the Parets and Moores.
They allow their rightfully pained consciences to burn one of the few remaining bridges from poverty to the "big time."
Indeed, it is a sad commentary that men have to turn to bashing each other's faces to earn their spot in the sun.
But even the lowliest man in America deserves that much of a chance.
— Terry Murphy
STUDY ASSIGNMENTS FOR FINALS
BOOK REVIEWS
MIGNON. by James M. Cain (Bantam, 60 cents).
Cain was a big name in the thirties and forties, and his novels became smashing movie thrillers. He lost his touch years ago, and so many others write in the hard-boiled school that he seems almost old-fashioned. "Mignon" is a sensational tale, raw and realistic, unadorned by writing of any beauty, fast-moving, a historical novel with touches of the fifties.
- * *
TEN NORTH FREDERICK, by John O'Hara (Bautam, 75 cents).
John O'Hara, like Marquand before him, has dealt with the theme of failure. The hero of "Ten North Frederick" is like the other O'Hara heroes, an essentially unlikable slob who has one big love affair, one unhappy marriage, and a life that really can't be set down as a success. The book appeared in paperback format several years ago. This is a reprint.
Candidate's Qualifications
Editor
Letters to the Editor
In listing his qualifications for Student Body Vice-President, John Underwood has attempted to place himself in a favorable light. This is perhaps a natural phenomenon of propaganda, but the extent to which he has tried this practice and the misrepresentation of the facts he lists is extremely gross.
In a recent VOX information sheet titled "Meet the VOX Candidates!" John lists eight qualifications. Of these eight, six are either completely inaccurate, or are partially so. These qualifications are listed as follows:
(1) HE IS presently MRA representative from Templin. In truth John was a representative to the MRA but he is not presently a representative to that organization.
(3) He is a member of the Social Committee for Templin. He is not on the Social Committee now, nor has any record been found of his participation on that Committee to any other extent than as a resident of the hall helping with decorations for dances.
(2) He is a member of the Templin Senate. Yet, upon a check of the minutes of the Templin Senate, no record was found of his participation as a Senator.
(5) John is a member of AURH and was a delegate to the Midwest Convention. That he was a delegate to the Midwest Convention is only partially true since he participated in name only and did not actually show up for the convention.
(4) HE IS Templin's representative to People-to-People. He is not Templin's representative to P-t-P nor does Templin have a personal representative to P-t-P.
(6) John is a member of ASC.
No problems here; this is a fact.
(7) John is now serving on the Committee on Committees and Legislation. OK.
(8) AS TO his participation as a delegate to the Big Eight Student Conference, we may view this inaccuracy from his own report to the Templin Senate: "A Big Eight Student Government Conference will be held at MU Dec. 14 and 15; the council voted to send Jerry Dickson, Dean Salter, Greg Turner, Kay Kash, and Scott Payne." John attended on his own expenses but was not voted to be a delegate to the Convention by the ASC.
As can be seen from the above listings, John Underwood has falsified his qualifications before the student body. As such, it becomes extremely difficult to justify these qualifications as they concern a candidate for Student Body Vice-President.
Walt Chappell Wichita senior
Campus Politics
--ing, which had been scheduled for over two months. 2) The other condition of the debate was that both John Underwood and Doug Hall (vice-presidential) attend, but it seems that Mr. Underwood just couldn't make it.
Friday's (3 29 63) UDK "Letters to the Editor" column contained a letter by K. K. Kuntzelman and Diana Morphew accusing University Party of using unfair tactics in regard to a debate that was to be held at Corbin last Tuesday. I, also attended the debate which did not take place, because of Vox Populi's unwillingness to extend fair courtesies to UP.
Editor:
Agreed, Charles Whitman did not attend, but for very good reasons:
1) Both candidates were to agree on said time and place; a) Vox set the debate for March 28th at 7:00 p.m. and then kindly INFORMED (not asked if the debate was at an agreeable time) Mr. Whitman when the debate was to be held; b) UP already had a 6:00 p.m. meeting at GSF and a 7:30 UP assembly meeting, which had been scheduled for over two months. 2) The other condition of the debate was that both John Underwood and Doug Hall (vice-presidential) attend, but it seems that Mr. Underwood just couldn't make it.
IN REFERENCE to the tape recorder, which was there not to record any particular Vox remarks, but by chance—since the person who brought it happened to be there and decided to record the debate (not just Vox) before going to record another meeting.
It seems, to me, that Vox should be flattered to have its remarks recorded for posterity, instead of fearing that they had "goofed" and not wanting anyone to know.
Marcia Spicer
Wichita freshman
***
Dear Firm-jawed and Jealous "Warmonger."
Peace Movement
In reference to your expert advice of March 29th for one Peter
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Allen, Mr. "respectful (but not very)" A-h, you should have attended the meeting so that you don't misquote or read between the lines.
First of all, a minor correction of the Kansan: the topic of the SPU discussion reported beneath the "open-mouthed vagabond" — and thank God that P. A. didn't try to talk with his mouth closed — was "How Can the Peace Movement Succeed." The following day the topic was "The Causes of the Cold War."
SECOND, P. A. stated explicitly that neither he nor the SPU is for unilateral disarmament (although certain members may advocate such a policy).
Finally, when P. A. read the purported paraphrase that although a majority of Americans don't participate in the peace movement, most of them support such movements, he said that this was not entirely accurate reporting. Obviously most Americans do not support the peace movement, and our "dear intre vagabond appeaser" is all too aware of this fact. He was campaign manager for an unsuccessful Peace candidate. Sidney Lens, so knows in more than his SPU field staff capacity that not even a plurality of Americans cast their lot on the side of the peace movement per se.
TRUE, VIRTUALLY all Americans (as well as all other homo sapiens) are for peace—and a comment to that effect was made by one of the SPU members at the discussion, but the sad fact is that too many of them are like you; they want peace (or "victory") at any price—including sacrifice of the human race. That kind of peace—a still lifeless world—as President Kennedy (and K. and Co.) realize, would only be "ashes in our
mouths." Think of your ashes, Mr. Ash, and you may not be so cynical about the peacemakers.
**
Wilfred Danielson Lindsborg senior
Apathy and Discourtesy To the KU Student Body
At the special convocation of Friday, March 29. 1963 (an hour when classes were dismissed for the occasion) you had a rare opportunity to bear a man, who as a United Nations representative, is deeply involved in the multitude of happenings in our world today. I have no idea of the specific number of students present, but it was appalling to me to see the great number of vacant seats in Hoch Auditorium. Your academic life here at KU should go far beyond the brief time you spend in the class room and should also concern the many additional functions of educational value which are made available to the student body.
ALSO WHEN the 10:20 whistle blew signifying the end of the class period which was not meeting, many students left the auditorium during the concluding remarks of the speaker. It was most disconcerting to me as a listener to hear the rustle of seats and the opening and closing of doors, while the Honorable F. H. Boland brought the address to a close; I wonder how he felt at such a discourteous display? We as students are faced with many challenges today, a great deal more than those which confront us in the class room. It is up to all of us as "educated adults" to meet and show interest in these challenges.
Jerry S. Weis
Lawrence graduate
student