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UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Tuesday, December 12, 1967
He councils and preaches
Rev. Simmons crusades for birth control
By S. Allen Winchester
Kansan Staff Reporter
About three weeks ago, an advertising student walked down Jayhawk Boulevard with a placard showing a silhouette of a couple standing very close together. The placard read, "Are You Interested In Birth Control?"
The placard was paid for by
Rev. John Simmons through the Douglas County Family Planning Association.
Mr. Simmons is a campus minister for the Disciples of Christ and lecturer in human relations.
"Birth control and planned parenthood are significant parts of my ministry," he said. "I would like to see birth control information and facilities available on campus."
He was one of the organizers of the Douglas County Family Planning Association and is now on the board of directors.
Mr. Simmons is the type of person you feel you have known for years after meeting him for the first time. He is on a first name basis with everyone he meets. Because of this casualness talking to him is easy
REV. JOHN SIMMONS
The door to the Westminster office is always open when he does not have a visitor. Mr. Simmons usually sits down in an orange chair which he describes as his "counseling chair."
"The morning worship is entirely spontaneous, with no planned sermons," Mr. Simmons said. "We discuss whatever we want."
"My campus duties are largely undefined," he said. Purely church-oriented activities are a Sunday-morning worship service and a Sunday-evening United Christian Campus Fellowship (UCCF) meeting.
Office in Westminster
He has an office at Westminster Center, 1204 Oread, and another in Blake Hall.
After flying in from Paris at the end of a four-day visit there, Romney met U.S. Ambassador David Bruce, British Foreign Secretary George Brown and George Woodcock, general secretary of the giant Trades Union Congress.
As he become absorbed in the conversation, his 6'2" 34-year-old frame began sinking comfortably into the orange chair. He unconsciously moved his hands in circular motions to explain his ideas.
"Occasionally someone will sit in the chair and I feel the counseling is symbolically reversed," he said. His background is in psychology and human relations. He does some marriage and pre-marriage counseling.
An aide said Rommey exchanged views on foreign policy and future of trade unionism with Brown and Woodcock.
The meeting with Wilson, held at the Prime Minister's offices at the House of Commons, was the final formal engagement of Romney's first day in London.
When You're in Doubt—Try It Out, Kansan Classifieds.
P. M. Wilson, Gov. Romney hold talks
LONDON—(UPI) Gov. George Romney of Michigan and Prime Minister Harold Wilson talked for 45 minutes Monday on foreign and financial issues. Romney said the British leader had been "very generous" with his time.
"We exchanged views on Vietnam, monetary questions and on issues affecting the underdeveloped world," Romney said. "The talks were general and ranged pretty fairly over the world."
Students plan program "The evening UCCF program is
— PUBLIC MEETING —
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION Lawrence Chapter
planned by students," he said.
LEONARD TINKER of the American Friends Service Committee will discuss CIVIL LIBERTIES AND THE DRAFT
7:30 p.m. Parish House of the Episcopal Church Tuesday, December 12 1011 Vermont St.
Senior SWEATSHIRT Sale
$1.50 to dues-paying Seniors
$2.00 to all others
HATS
50c to dues-paying Seniors $1.00 to all others
On Sale at the Alumni Office 127 Strong Hall
It seemed strange, but in all my interviews with Mr. Simmons he did not mention God. His ministry is concerned with people and the "here and now" rather than theoretical belief. While many churches are visualizing life in the hereafter, Mr. Simmons deals with it everyday. He is a realist and above all a humanist.
"My identity comes out unconsciously as I talk to the people around me," he said.
"My values are what I want to make them. I'm happiest when I'm working," he said.
Sale Starts Wednesday, Dec. 13
Mr. Simmons is a lecturer and director of the Human Relations 151 Basic Sensitivity program. He teaches nine hours of classes each week.
One of his classes is so popular that the students decided to meet at 5 a.m. Monday, since Mr. Simmons will be out of town the rest of the week. He said all but one student attended the three hour meeting.
"I teach on the basis of group dynamics, where everyone can participate." he said.
Film maker
The rest of the week is spent in counseling, planned parenthood work and various meetings. Mr. Simmons is also working with the Radio, TV and Film department on a birth control film. He is representing the Planned Parenthood Association of Greater Kenney City, who has given a $10,000 grant for the film.
Last year, he sponsored a group called "Encounter," which met in Ellsworth Hall. Seven students met once a week to frankly discuss ideas and problems with each other.
Most of them probably did not know exactly why they were there; only Mr. Simmons seemed confident and reassured.
Ateneo will party
A Christmas fiesta for students, faculty members and their children will be sponsored by El Atenco, the KU Spanish club, at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 19 at the Wesley Foundation.
The fiesta will include Los Pasados, a singing portrayal of Joseph and Mary's search for lodging in Bethlehem, Christmas carols in Spanish and a pinata for faculty children, said Sherry McGowan, Dighton sophomore and president of El Ateneo.
Films to be shown
Two thirty minute films made in North Vietnam and Japan about the Vietnam war will be shown at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Kansas Union Forum Room.
Sponsor of the two films is the SUA Minority Opinions Forum.
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