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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (July 17, 1962)
0 Page Two Summer Nebraskan Tuesday, July 17, 1962 A Look at Farty Politics on By STEPHEN LOUGH Editor's note: This story. by Stephen Lough, deals with party politics in the Big! Eight schools. ft is based on interviews with leaders of campus politi cal groups in the Big Eight, interviews with heads of vari ous college departments and a survey of over 300 college students. The story gives some indicators that may help answer questions that have been asked about the future voter on the Midwest ern college campus. Lough wrote the article In the University's depth report ing class. It is being rerun in the Nebraskan for the bene fit of those summer session students who have not had an opportunity to read it. National political leaders all claim him. Party spokes men woo him. It's the rage to write about him. Who? The fledgling voter on the nation's college campuses. In the Midwest much attention focuses on the Big 8 Colo rado, Oklahoma, Oklahomadents contacted seem to in- Editorial Comment Truman Library Fascinating, Truman Visit Disappointing The Harry S. Truman Library and its historical muse um were fascinating. Documents and letters in the hand writings of every United States president from George Washington to Dwight D. Fisenhower were both interesting and informative. An interested student could find answers to many questions by studying the numerous displays. And it's a good thing, for most of tion and answer session with former president Harry i. Truman could have been learned at Love Memorial Li brary. An aging Mr. Truman entered the stage of the auditori um of the Truman Library. He welcomed members of the University of Nebraska Political Science 20 class, and told them he was expecting very intelligent questions from such an intelligent group. Ignoring a list of prepared questions sent by the group .prior to their visit, the former chief executive asked for questions from the floor. He answered the questions smil ingly and usually with a brusque humor. But for most of the questions, his answers didn't offer much in the way of his own personal opinions he merely referred the students to the Constitution, to history books, or to his memoirs. For example, in answer to a question about his ieelings as to whether or not prayers should be said in our public schools, Truman answered, "Read the first amendment to the Constitution," with no further comment. When asked what presidents he would name as the most outstanding, Truman answered that there, are five or six "Read my memoirs." Mr. Truman was asked how he felt the farm surplus problem could be alleviated. His answer?"Read the Bran nan plan; I endorsed it." Truman stressed that the students would have to decide for themselves the answers to many questions. That's fine, but what was actually hoped for by the students, -after a busride of nearly seven hours, was Truman's own personal opinions in answer to the questions. To find out, one would need to spend hours in a library reading the documents to which he referred, and from them to infer what Truman's own answers to the questions would be. Mr. Truman was down-to-earth, smiling, and humorous. He sometimes answered questions with a humor that bor dered on the sarcastic. A lull in the interrogating by the students, who had expected their prepared question sheet to be answered, more than once brought a "don't be backward ask questions" comment from Truman. He strongly and appropriately encouraged -questions, but, on the other hand, stifled the questions of some with such comments as "If you'd read your history book, you wouldn't have to ask me that" and "Well, young man, you've already asked five or six questions, but go ahead anyway." ' When there were apparently no further questions, the former president closed the meeting with words that were not new to students that the future of the country is up to its young people. Ruthann Chubbuck ( Editor QUALITY GREETING CARDS for Every Occasion G0LDENR0D STATIONERY STORE 215 North 14th I , Price $150 SARTOR JEWELRY 1200 "O" I ill ' 11 State, Kansas, Kansas State, Nebraska, Missouri and Iowa State. What is the political profile of this future voter of mid-America? Interviews with his campus political group leaders, a sur vey of the membership of his organizations, and the opin ions of his instructors indi cate: 1. Conservative activity is on the rise with the organi zation of at least five con servative groups on Big 8 campuses within the past vear. 2. There is increased politi cal activity on the campuses, but not necessarily an in increase in numbers. As one professor put it, "more noise from the same people." 3. Students will accept a political label Republican, Democrat, Conservative, Lib eralbut most of them won't accept all of the philosophies for which that label is gen erally believed to stand. For example, 30 out of 35 mem bers of two conservative groups were for low tariffs. 4. A majority of tne stu what was learned from a ques-' herit their politics, despite the often-popular theory that Junior comes down to college and switches political parties. But, though they may inherit their party, most of them don't inherit straight tickets. 5. Grown-up politicos at the national level don't seem to know much about their bud ding counterparts at the cam pus level. Young Republicans on the campus are not even organized nationally, and Democrats at national head quarters confess; to lack of such specific information as names of campus Young Democrat presidents., These indications are the result of: Interviews of leaders (22 in all) of every Big 8 campus political group that could be discovered and contacted. Interviews with most of the heads of political science, history, and economics de partments on, all eight cam puses. Because of varying de partmental organization, the total was 21. In some in stances the department heads referred to other professors in their department whom they felt were more informed. A survey of more than 300 students, most of whom are enough interested in poli tics to belong to a campus political group. The leaders and professors were contacted in person or by telephone. The Survey was conducted by mail with student leaders passing out questionaires to their group members. These were the sources. Their opinions could not add up to answers in clear-cut blacks and whites. But their answers could provide indica tions indications that help answer questions being asked about the future voter on Mid western college campuses: Is there an increase in po litical activity among the stu dents? Apparently, yes. A majori ty of the professors and stu dent leaders indicated that they felt there was an in crease in political activity. Most thought the increase was slight at the present time, but would pick up as the elections move nearer. However, those at Kansas University Disagreed. Both student leaders and pro Summer An account of the uniform resistance doctrine to the Su preme Court's ruling on seg regated schools, .Virginia's Massive Resistance, by Ben jamin Muse, acknowledges that liberal forces do exist m Virginia and the South. The uniform resistance doctrine was masterminded by Sena tor Harry Byrd Sr.'s politi cal machine in Virginia, Other books for summer reading, by the staff of Love Library, include: The Science of Dreams, Edwin Diamond. A highly in teresting account of the sci entific efforts which have been made to determine "the stuff dreams are made of," from the ancient Egyptians to modern experimentation with electronic monitoring de vices. Psychology, philosophy and modern technical meth ods are combined to form a book which will interest any one who is at all curious about this much-disputed and little understood subject. The Ruling Servants; Bu reaucracy in Russian, France and Britain?, Erich Strauss. An attempt to give a bal anced view of the rise of bu reaucracy in the State and its effect on the distribution of power in political bodies. More than half of the book use our moola machine! Got torn odds and andt kicking around the house? Put 'am In our moola ma chine (want adt) and they'll turn Into good, old hard cash. Experience telh u that there hi a buyer for lmot everything. These buyer (hop the list of want ad day m and day out. Start combing the house today and then call the moola machine attendant. Tel. HE 2-7631 Ext. 3261 fessors feel there is a general nir nf anathv towards Doli- tics. Philip M. Rice, chair man of the department of political science and history, said, "Students at Kansas State are unpolitical-minded." What is the cause of this increased political activity? Those who feel there is an increase think that the stu dents have a greater aware ness of the issues than they have had in the past. They attributed this awareness to the gravity of the interna tional situation. Is this increase in num bers? Carl Schneider axting chairman of the department University of Nebraska an swered the quesition this way: In the Young Republican nrtranizations a greater num ber of students favored low tariffs over high ones. Sev-M-ini were satisfied with the present tariff or didn't give an flnsw6i Pmial numbers of -Young Ronnhlirans favored more federal aid to education as opposed federal aid. A few were pleased with the nrpspnt aid. A large share of the conservative groups had no objection to extended: so cial security provided it was done on a voluntary basis. In every case a majority of the members of the Young TiPTTinfTflt organization were consistent with the policies of the Kennedy administra tion. However, there were manv students among these organizations whose answers were inconsistent witn tne label they had given them selves. For example: A Missouri Youne Demo crat tagged himself a liberal Democrat but he wanted less federal aid to education, less power for the executive and less coverage under social security. Another liberal Democrat at Missouri wanted high tar iffs, less executive powers, and was against federal med ical care for the aged. A liberal Democrat at Ok lahoma State wanted less executive power, less social security coverage and was against medical care for the aged. A Young Democrat at Kan sas State tagged herself a conservative but voted Bookshelf comprises surveys of the po litical evolution of Russia, France and Great Britain. Third Programme (Radio program), Rival Theories of Cosmology. Three leading sci entists, Bondi, Lyttleton and Bonner, present arguments supporting the three general ly accepted but basically con flicting theories of the nature of the universe, and discuss various aspects of the theo ries. Basing the book on a 1959 BBC series, the authors have clarified and amplified their original talks, while re taining the same content Skyline, a Reporter's Remi niscence of the 1920's, Gene Fowler. Damon Runyon fig ures largely in this book on the great and near-great who lived and made history during the years Fowler dubbed "a carnival ... of mass make believe." The American Short Story in the Twenties, Austin Wright. The author examines the work of the five dominant short story writers of the twenties: Anderson, Fitzger short story writers of the the work of the five dominant aid, Hemingway, Faulkner and Katherine Aime Porter, contrasting and comparing it with the work of predecessors. Regular readers of Satur day Review are probably fa miliar with the writings of John Ciardi, the American poet and critic. His column, Manner of Speaking, deserves mention for the freedom with which Ciardi approaches his subject. Not confined to poet ry, he has recently discussed censorship of books and the execution of Eichmann. Ciar di has a unique ability to puncture fallacies and bend egos. I Wk mn SK,RTS n rr 11 1 frtiPw SWEATERS 5J '"mi With This Coupon II NO UIMT-EXPmS JULY 19 1 lillli ROYAL CLEANERS 432-1339 352 tl. 27th me jdi straight liberal ticket on questions about tariffs, fed eral aid to education, execu tive powers, social security, and federal medical care for the aged Many other students who tagged themselves as conser vatives voiced liberal opin ions on three or four of the issues. A Young Conservative at the University of Missouri snirl that the entire snrinl (security program should be abolished then added that Kennedy's federal medical care for the rged was i good idea. On a visit to the Univer sity of Nebraska, Senator Barry Goldwater was asked to comment on these statls tics. He said that these stu dents simply were not what fthev called themselves. He said he failed to understand how anybody could abolish social security and support federal medical care for the aged. The students contacted didn't seem to have a pat definition for Republican Democrat, conservative or liberal. A student at Iowa State and one at Kansas State defined the Republican nartv as liberal and the Democratic party as conserv ative. A student at the Univer sity of Nebraska called the Democrats conservatives ana the Republicans reactionary. Several students said both parties are liberal. Another defined both as reactionary. The president of one Young Renublican organization in the Big 8 said, "Our organ ization definitely follows the conservative trend. We are followers of the George Nor ris philosophy." The late Senator George Norris of Ne braska might not have agreed. He wrote an auto biography entitled "Fighting Liberal." Will students cross party lines when they vote? Seventv-seven percent of the students interviewed in all political groups combined said that they would spin their ballot in a general elec tion if they did not like their own candidate. Do students inherit their politics from their parents? In every political group, with the exception .of the Young Republicans at the University of Nebraska, a majority had the same politi cal philosophy as their par ents. Every proiessor ana student leader interviewed agreed that students inherit their politics. Where do the campus po- UNICORNS Planslncludc Record Hop The University of Nebras ka Independent Cornhuskers (UNICORNS) will hold a rec ord hop this Saturday from 8-11:30 p.m. in the Selleck Quadrangle TV room. Anyone is invited to attend, especial ly those interested in learning more about UNICORNS, ac cording to Byron Almquist, vice president. The co-educational organi zation was formed last fall for "the person who lives at home and often feels left out of University activities," Alm- ouist said. He explained that belonging to UNICORNS gives commut ers a chance to feel more identified with the University and to participate in intra- murals. Spring Day ana otn- er such functions which ar. usually entered by organize J groups, mainly ureeK nouses or independent living units. UNICORNS plans to have organized social functions and activities during the school year to help Lincoln students get acquainted with other stu dents on campus. Other plans of the organiza tion include holding activity orientations for new students to Inform them about Uni versity activity organizations, and to set up communica tions between UNICORNS and the independent living groups. g Htlcal groups fit In with the senior party? The Young Democrats on the campus claim to be a part of the national organiza tion. But a telephone call to the college director at Demo cratic National Headquarters in Washington, D.C. produced the name of the president of only one Young Democrat club in the Big 8. The re spective clubs on each campus carried on no correspondence with each other. .The presi dent of one club did not know the names of any of the presi dents of the other clubs. How ever, the Young Democrats do appear to be in the or ganization of the party within Gflch stdtc The Young Republicans on the campus don't even claim organization on a " national level. They extend only to the state level. As was the case with the Young Demo crats, the Young Republican leaders did not know each other and apparently carried on no correspondence. The only way campus lead ers of any political faith could be found was through the campus newspaper at each school. What do these students feel is the political philosophy of their parents? There were no surprises in the answer to that one. It made no difference what the professed political faith of the student. Of those who had a clear-cut opinion, they be lieved by a whopping, top heavy majority that politi cally Mom and Dad are "Conservative." "There is more discussion, but I don't think it involves more students." A majority of the others interviewed echoed Schnei der's sentiments with the ex ception of those at the Uni versity of Colorado. All of the individuals interviewed there feel that the Increase is in numbers as well as activity per capita. Membership figures ob tained from some of the 16 Young Democrat and Young Republican organizations sup port the view that there is no increase in numbers. Of the membership figures avail able, only the Young Repub licans at the University of Colorado show an increase. That organization had 169 members last year compared with 358 for this year. The Young Democrats at the Uni versity of Nebraska and Ok lahoma State have maintained a steady membership the last two years. Other figures are: 1M14I lMt-fl Karnes Younc Demo crat 202 330 Kansas State Younc Republicans . over 400 over 600 Missouri Youne Demo crats MO MO Colorado Youne Demo crat m IN Turkey's Aiaiurk University Holds First Commencement The first class of students were graduated this past week from Ataturk Univer sity, just seven years after the University of Nebraska agreed to assist the Turkish government in building a sis ter institution from the ground up. One hundred two students were in the first graduating class. The ceremonies at Er zurum were highlighted by the participation of Nebras kans. Ninety-five students re ceived degrees from the Fac ulty of Agriculture and seven from the Faculty of Letters and Science. Dr. Marvel L. Baker, dean of the University d Nebraska mission in Turkey, was the commencement speaker. Oth Originally 19.95 to 22.95., Most of these groups had records that go back only for a year which was a presiden tial election year. Therefore, observers point out that mem bership would naturally 'be greater last year than it is this year. Is there Increased conserva tive activity? Definitely, yes. Within the last year, at least five con servative groups have organ, ized on Big 8 campuses. Iowa State, Kansas and Kansas State have organized Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) chapters. Missouri now has a Young Conserva tive club. These clubs haa between 25 and 50 members. Bruce Vanderburg, one Cf six students organizing a YAF chapter at the University of Oklahoma, says he expects to get 1,000 members in his or ganization. Nearly all of the professors and student leaders inter viewed feel there is an in crease in conservatism. They feel that the presence of Sen ator Barry Goldwater, the recognized leader of the con servative movement, was largely responsible for the ac tivity and that opposition to policies of the Kennedy ad ministration also added coal to the fire. Is there liberal activity? Glenn B. Hawkins, chair man of the department of po litical science at Oklahoma State, said, "I think students are far more liberal than they were 10 or 20 years ago on almost every issue," Hawk ins can find support at every Big 8 university that there is more liberal activity but not in large proportions. Most professors and stu dents feel that there is an increase in activity on both the conservative and liberal sides, but the liberals are not as pronounced in their ac tions and are becoming ac tive only because they must combat the rising tide of con servatism. Two groups whose title in cludes the word socialist were reported. One was a Fabian Socialist group at the Univer sity of Missouri. The other was a Young People's Social ist League (YPSL) at the University of Colorado. Thom as Milstein, president of the YPSL at Colorado said that his chapter is the second larg est west of the Mississippi River. He estimated he had 50 to 80 members. Do the students follow the general stereotype of a liber al or a conservative philos ophy on issues? Apparently not. In every case a majority of the mem bers of four conservative or ganizations voted in favor of low tariffs. Low tariffs are generally recognized as a lib eral approach. er Nebraska participants were Dr. B. N. Grecnberg of York, a University of Nebras ka regent; Dean Elvln F. Frollk, Dr. Franklin El dridge, and Jason Webster, all of the University's Col lege of Agriculture; and Hal Allen of David City, associ ate chief advisor of the Ne braska Mission. The University of Nebraska helped found Ataturk Univer sity, located only a short dis tance from the Russian bor der in eastern Turkey. The original survey work was done in 1954 between the United States government and the Turkish government. Work then started at Ankara University and with plans for founding Ataturk University in 1955. 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