Friday, March 22, 1963 University Daily Kansan
Page 3
KU Architecture
Editor:
I noticed in the March 14 Kansan that the Blake Hall clock will be placed on sale by the company wrecking the building. Why haven't KU officials taken some steps to preserve at least this one item from Blake? Constantly we—the students, and the alumni, are hit with statements by the administration and Kansan on the need for new buildings, the necessity for efficient structures on campus. But there seems nowhere to be any regard for the architectural beauty of the campus, or the importance of an attractive campus with distinctive buildings to a good university life.
For over two years now, the Kansas has constantly dished forth items on Blake's age, its dirtiness, its ugliness. But never—by Kansan writers or by the administration—have the words "distinctive," or "different" been mentioned. Most recently the best example of this has come from the University campaign for the destruction of Fraser, a very distinctive building, and certainly one of KU's most singular identifying landmarks. We need efficiency, Keith Lawton and Chancellor Wescoe say, without mentioning that students and faculty alike surely work and play better in an attractive atmosphere which recognizes an historical heritage.
KU DOES have a history, and in this interesting history Blake is involved to a considerable extent. But where is the sense of historical continuity in KU's administration? Surely anyone who has any knowledge of KU's past—and there must be a few people like this still around—will greatly value Fraser, and the Blake Hall clock. In the big rush to build a university "image, might we not be forgetting other important elements in a successful university life?
It would be ridiculous to say that any new architecture built in the last few years on the KU campus is anything but stark, naked ugliness. Snow Hall addition is a horrible atrocity of the cracker box variety. The new addition on Dyche hardly matches the present building, or in any way adds to the beauty of the East side of campus. Perhaps old Blake Hall was not beautiful, but it was distinctive, and different, and could appeal to the imagination of any KU student who knew its history—but KU officials played this factor down in their propaganda on the hall, and have acted similarly with Fraser.
What will go up now, in Blake's place? Another ugly, unimaginative hunk of steel and glass? The whole matter is uncomfortable. Why are KU students or alumni never shown the drawing of a new building until it is half-way built? Why is not student help and criticism actively solicited for these matters? Witness the incredible blank six-story solid stone wall on the north side of the new Dyche addition, facing the even more incredibly ugly Union building — might not this wall have been used for creative student artwork? Has the administration any aesthetic responsibility at all to its students and alumni, or are we all just machines and numbers, being jammed into new steel and glass boxes as economically as possible?
SURELY, KU buildings are designed by the state architect. But this is no excuse for not raising complaints, or suggestions. Perhaps changes are possible, were anyone to speak up. But no word is ever heard from KU's architecture department or its student devotees, for example. The chancellor appears to be highly pleased with things, from his speeches on KU's "growth" and "progress". But growth and progress are not solely economic questions, however, contrary to the official literature. Where is the concern of conscience for matters of this kind that should be found, speaking forth loudly and bravely, on a university campus?
Certainly Blake Hall's clock should be saved—and should have been saved by University officials. They, however, seem blind to such small issues, when a "bigger" issue is at stake—building a new, ugly crackerbox into which they can cram as many people as possible, as cheaply as possible.
Name withheld by request
STUDENTS
Grease Jobs . . $1.00
Brake Adj. . . . 98c
Automotive Service
Motor Tune-Ups, Wheel
Balancing
7 a.m.-11 p.m.
PAGE CREIGHTON
FINA SERVICE
1819 W. 23rd
AT
HAPPY HAL'S STEAK HOUSE
11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
SUNDAYS and HOLIDAYS 11 a.m.to 8 p.m.
CLOSED TUESDAYS
All steaks broiled over real charcoal
... Letters ...
Also Serving Sea Foods and Lenten Specials
East 23rd Street
Capital Punishment
Editor:
VI 3-9753
Much has appeared in the Kansas recently on the subject of capital punishment as a deterrent to murder. The fact of the matter is, gentlemen, that it is not. For example, in 1960 (the most recent figures available) the number of murders in the United States per 100,000 inhabitants was 5.1. However, in the states which have no death penalty (Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Rhode Island and Wisconsin) the rate was 2.8 per 100,000. During the same year, in the three states with the highest number of executions (Texas, Arkansas and California, all with eight or more) the murder rate was 7.0 per 100,-000, or 6.1 per 100,000 above the national average.
moded concept of an eye for an eye. (The above figures are from "The Statistical Abstract of the United States 1962" published by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.)
VIEWED SOMEWHAT differently, Illinois, with a population density and state of industrialization comparable to Michigan, had a
murder rate of 5.1 per 100,000,
while Michigan had a rate of 4.3.
Connecticut, whose conditions are
about the same as Rhode Island,
had a rate of 1.7 with the death
penalty, while Rhode Island-with-
out it had only 1.0. The figures are
similar elsewhere in the nation.
In 1930 there were 10,483 murders in the United States, and 1,660 executions; while in 1960 there were 4,321 murders and only 57 executions, again showing that capital punishment does not deter murder.
SINCE CAPITAL punishment does nothing toward preventing murder, what purpose does it serve? Only revenge, which is, to say the least, one of the baser emotions. There is, to be blunt, no rational purpose to be served in executing criminals. Revenge does nothing to help the dead, and only debases the living; the only argument that can support it must be an emotional one based on the out-
Michael W. Dunlop
St. Louis, Mo.
graduate student
"Table service only"
6:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. weekdays
8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Sun.
732 N. 2nd (Highway 40-59 —
4 blocks N. of Kaw bridge)
STRICK'S DRIVE IN
Skip the sulphur and molasses get a CHEVROLET SUPER SPORT
Chevrolet Super Sports* have a charm that soothes your springtime yen for romantic adventure as fast as you can slip into a bucket seat. (Especially the Impala's, with its adjustable new Comfortilt steering
wheel*). Front bucket seats are a great start, but Super Sports also feature plush all-vinyl interiors, special interior-exterior trim in tasteful touches, and a veritable feast of goodies we call performance options*. Chevrolet and Chevy II Super Sports invite adventure in convertible or coupe form. That same Super
Sport zing applies to the Corvair Monza Spyder, very breezy with its air-cooled 150-horsepower rear-mounted engine, and 4-speed shift*. Ditto for the new Corvette Sting Ray, a magnificent thoroughbred among
pure-blood sports cars with not a singlesacrifice in comfort. Both Spyder and Sting Ray come in coupe or convertible styles. All Chevrolet Super Sports are like spring days—you've got to get out in them to savor them. So catch yourself a passing zephyr and waft on down to your Chevrolet showroom.
*Optional at extra cost.
Models shown clockwise: Cornette Sting Ray Convertible, Conair Monza Spyder Convertible, Chevrolet Impala Super Sport Convertible, Chevy II Nova 400 Super Sport Convertible. Center: Soap Box Derry Derby, built by All-American boys.
NOW SEE WHAT'S NEW AT YOUR CHEVROLET DEALER'S