Camper's Forum
Young marriages
Marriage is becoming more and more common among young people who are still in school. Most of these people are not ready for marriage.
Many say they are really in love, so why not go ahead and get married? Do they know this is actually love? How could they if they haven't ever been out on their own and met the hundreds of people they are certain to meet during their lifetime. Maybe they haven't found the right person yet, but just don't seem to realize it.
Some young marriages have worked out, but they are few alongside those that haven't been successful. Usually those that are a success are the ones when the couple was more mature than most of the people their age. These are the ones that have sometimes been forced to grow up quicker than others.
Also, after some have been married for a while they have begun to think of what they missed out on. This can cause resentment which means a strained relationship and many arguments in the home.
Unless they are supported by their parents, persons this young have a big financial problem. Where is the husband going to find an employer who would prefer someone untrained to a college graduate or a well-trained man in that field? If there was such a circumstance, it would be unusual.
From witnessing the outcome of some of these young marriages, it seems that it would be much wiser to have fun and get out on one's own for a while before marrying. Then one would be more likely to know if he or she has found the right person and is able to settle down to a more successful marriage.
—Beverly Hawkins
Have Gun Will Travel
The youth vote
The House of Representatives, the Senate, and the President of the United States have all passed a bill lowering the voting age to 18. All power be to it as it goes before the Supreme Court.
Now we, the 18-year-old voters must try even harder.
The youth of America have been crying to the nation's leaders to bring voting requirements to the level of such world leaders as Great Britain and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and replace the almost 200-year-old 21-year age requirement with a more contemporary rule.
We had many setbacks, but when victorious—"How sweet it. was." Many states rejected the attempts, but each acceptance was a major advancement. Now the Supreme Court may reject the law on grounds of constitutionality, but already we are too far down the road to fail and recommendations have already been made to begin the process of submitting the bill as constitutional amendment.
So why must we try even harder?
We are now in a position to decide the course of America. We hold some very important strings in "government of the people, and for the people."
In the past the youth of America have been neglected in the governing of the United States.
But now it's up to us to decide for ourselves and let our own elected officials know what we decide.
We must try harder.
—Phil Burgert
Pollution
It seems that everyone is out to stop industry from polluting. People feel the necessity of being a part of today's anti-pollution campaign. And yet, too many people turn their backs on what they thmselves can do about the problem.
Industry is being forced and is working hard to cut down on its waste products but to help solve the problem and to show that he is willing to put some of the blame on his own shoulders, that he is really interested, the average man must do something.
—Carol Dorge
It is a well-known fact that cars cause a good half of the nation's air pollution, but instead of blaming the manufacturers for producing such a monster, the man who cares about stopping pollution should make an obvious attempt to walk, use mass transit, form car pools, demand that the gasoline he buys is not full of highly poisonous lead and that the car does not need leaded gas.
Another way to show that he cares would be to go out of his way to get his way to get returnable bottles, products in easily disintegrating paper containers, and detergents and fertilizers low in phosphates which, when washed into waterways, cause wild growth of undesirable algae.
He should not wear an indestructible metal button to protest pollution.
More than anything else, he should try to produce less waste—cut down on power consumption (electric plants are another leader in air polluting), not leave water running (this only produces an excess which must be processed at the sewage plant), and throw away as few table scraps as possible hardened cooking grease can be left outside for the birds and old coffee grinds used in the garden.)
It is every man's duty to help solve the pollution problem and not to place the blame on others without also doing everything that he possibly can.
Camp regulations-
By TERRI MENDENHALL
Kanean Staff Writer
"We want the campers to feel they are living in an atmosphere of security. All the regulations are built on this idea," said Russell L. Wiley, camp director.
How have campers reacted to camp regulations?
"It's almost like a prison camp," commented one camper. "The rules try to scare you into submission."
"I think we should be under the same rules, as the college kids," said another.
A third said, "I don't agree with all of the rules, but you need them."
According to Leroy Esau, four campers have been expelled from the camp for disciplinary reasons. A recent survey taken from campers in the dorm area of the campus in the afternoon and evening indicates that 88 per cent of the campers have violated camp rules. Fifty boys and fifty girls were surveved.
In the camp regulations sheet issued to all campers, unapproved riding in automobiles and the dating of non-campers are classified as offenses punishable by expulsion from the camp.
Campers were told at their wing meetings that "date" had been defined as any situation in which the two persons concerned were "close enough to touch." Russel Brandon, supervisor, said that the release of this definition had probably been the result of a misinterpretation of a casual statement he had made at a counselor's meeting. He said he had not intended to discourage campers from visiting with university students and professors.
"The ruling about riding in cars is made in connection with the ruling about the dating of non-campers," said Wiley. "We have to enforce this because if we didn't it would put us out of business."
One camper commented, "This thing about dating non-campers—they're human too!"
Another said, "Some of the campers are worse than the non-campers."
Some of the campers suggested that if campers could send in a statement of parental permission with their applications before camp started they should be allowed to date non-campers.
Sixteen campers of the 100 surveyed (nine boys and seven girls) had dated, by their own definitions, non-camper. Eleven of
these campers were among the 24 who had ridden in cars without approval.
The possession of liquor by campers is another violation punishable by expulsion.
A camper said, "There's no reason that kids who are 18 shouldn't be allowed to drink."
Twenty-two boys and thirteen girls had had liquor during camp. Smoking was prohibited in the dormitories. Wiley said that this rule was not an attempt to guide students' morals, but that it had been made as a safety regulation in compliance with a state law. Most campers agreed that this rule was necessary. However, 17 boys and 11 girls had smoked in the dorms.
The area immediately north of the Kansas Union, popularly called hippie haven, was made off-limits to campers. Wiley said, "That is no place for nice young people to go," but declined to explain why.
"I think it is ridiculous for an adult to decide for thirteen hundred young people that a group of people and their culture is bad," a camper commented.
Forty-one campers (26 boys and 15 girls) had visited the area north of the Union.
Campers were told to wear their identification badges at all times. This rule was placed under the heading "medical care" in the regulations sheet. Most students decided it was unwise to wear their ID's while violating other camp regulations. Fifty-six per cent of those surveyed (34 boys and 22 girls) had removed their ID's for purposes of deception.
The most violated rule was the sign-out rule. All campers were asked to sign out of their dormitories whenever they left the campus, and after 5 p.m. when they left the dorms. Seventy-one per cent of campers surveyed (41 boys and 30 girls) had intentionally violated this rule.
The second most violated rule was the 10:30 p.m. lights-out rule. Sixty-three per cent of campers surveyed, seven more girls than boys, had violated this rule. Many non-violators said, "I need my sleep."
Activities after lights out included eating, showering, listening to radios and tapes, doing homework, cleaning bedrooms, making telephone calls, singing, cooking (in coffee pots and electric popcorn poppers), taking pictures, putting peanut butter on door knobs, barricading doors, painting windows, playing with Frisbees and superballs, weaving, designing jewelry, cleaning flutes, sewing, exercising and practicing judo.
Another often violated regulation was the ruling against candles and incense in the dormitories. Many campers were not aware of the rule, but Carl Johnson, assistant supervisor, said that no candles or incense were allowed in any of the dorms. However, 27 of the campers (13 boys and 14 girls) had burned candles of incense in their rooms.
One camper said, "I think most of the camp rules are necessary." she added that she had been willing to cooperate with them.
Another said, "I've never had so many rules put on me in my life!"
"The strictness of the rules just makes you want to break them more," said a third.
Wiley felt that the rules were accomplishing their purposes.
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