Student dossiers denied by deans
By Monte Mace Kansan Staff Reporter
Persistent charges that the administration keeps dossiers on KU students are unrealistic as well as untrue, say three KU officials.
Some members of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and other persons believe the administration files letters-to-the-editor, information about student demonstrators and personal information.
Francis Heller, acting provost, says the charges have no base.
"We don't care to keep such information in the first place," he said. "Even if we did, we don't have the manpower for a clipping service."
Donald Alderson, dean of men, and Emily Taylor, dean of women, echoed Heller's denial.
But Howard Kahane, assistant professor of philosophy and a past adviser
to SDS, said he is "fairly sure" letters to-the-editor have been filed in student folders kept by the deans.
He said his belief was based on "indirect evidence" — conversations with students.
Officials said information kept in the folders includes applications for admission, scholarships and dormitory residence, registration cards, grade reports, entrance test results, and copies of letters concerning discipline.
Some folders contain "personal evaluation forms" filled out by residence hall counselors, which are no longer made. The counselor reports characterized a student by listing such observations as "he is conscientious toward his studies," "he does not over-react," or "she was annoyed by noise on the wing."
The information in the folders, the deans said, is kept as a record of accomplishment in the form of grades and activities listed by students, and for use in counseling a student on anything from study to emotional problems and for contacting a student or his family in an emergency.
Newspaper clippings evidently were filed in the past, but not on an organized basis.
"I won't say clippings were never kept," Heller said. "That's a long time and I don't know what the administration did in the 1930's."
Heller said the withdrawal about four years ago of a faculty rule requiring students to have good academic standing to participate in extracurricular activities is one reason clippings are not kept at present.
Dean Taylor said clippings formerly were compiled as a record of election to offices and clubs. Now the student lists such achievements himself, she said.
KU officials said the folders are confidential and only personnel in the deans' offices have access to the information. Employers and the student himself receive only an interpretation.
Men's folders are destroyed five years after the student graduates, Alderson said. Dean Taylor said women's folders are kept three years.
Permanent records of classes taken and grades received are kept in the Registrar's office, Heller said.
The administration has been charged with working hand-in-hand with the local FBI bureau in collecting information about students, but Heller said the government agency is "unhappy that KU doesn't help them" and added that the University provides only an "interpretation."
Student demonstrators charged last semester that police had photographed
See Dossiers, page 14
At 12:30 p.m. today, there were 408 hours left until Christmas Vacation.
78th Year, No. 51
kansan
WHAT'S INSIDE
A student newspaper serving KU LAWRENCE, KANSAS
The right to smoke cigarettes is examined. Editorial page.
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Kansan photographers look at the Jayhawks opening victory. Pages 8 and 9.
Counselors survey frosh
The high school officials will then be available in respective meeting rooms for scheduled conferences with freshmen from 9:25-11:45 a.m.
Freshmen who have confirmed a scheduled conference through the Registrar's office will be allowed class cuts during this two-hour period.
After lunch at the assigned colleges, directors and associate directors of each college will conduct an hour-long meeting at which they will outline the general plans, procedures, and goals of the College-within-a-College system.
Registration for the principals and counselors will be from 8:30-9 a.m. Wednesday in the Kansas Union Ballroom.
Following conferences with freshmen, principals and counselors will separate into groups of 65-70, along with 10 KU faculty members, and meet with directors of each of the five colleges-within-a-college for lunch.
Two of the nation's top ranked basketball teams collide Wednesday. Page 13.
Freshmen at KU will be able to cut classes for two hours Wednesday-if they attend conferences with their former high school principal or counselor.
Nearly 80 per cent of the freshman class at KU (approximately 2,500 will participate in the largest principal - counselor - freshman conference in the program's 19-year history at KU.
High school guidance counselors and principals from four states will have an opportunity to talk to their former students about their transition from high school to college.
About 329 principals and counselors representing 150 high schools in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Illinois are expected to attend the conference.
WEATHER CLOUDY
The principals and counselors will then return to the Kansas Union Ballroom for a final informal meeting conducted by the executive board of the Colleges-within-a-College.
Members of the board are Jerry Lewis, executive director of the
Monday, December 4, 1967
Colleges - within - a - College; George R. Waggoner, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; Emily Taylor, dean of women; Donald K. Alderson, dean of men; James K. Hitt, registrar; J. J. Wilson, director of housing; Thomas Gorton, dean of the School of Fine Arts; Karl Edwards, assistant dean of the School of Education, and Donald E. Metzler, associate dean of the School of Engineering and Architecture.
Peace Corpsmen begin recruiting
Today marks the beginning of Peace Corps week at KU. Peace Corps volunteers will be on campus all week to recruit people for Corps service.
Two information boots, in the Kansas Union and the basement of Strong Hall, will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. all week to provide information.
Peace Corps qualifying tests
FIRST SNOWFALL
Lawrence received its first measurable snowfall of the season Saturday morning. The large flakes, falling for several hours, accumulated to a two-inch depth but melted rapidly. Only small patches of white remained in shaded areas Monday. The Weather Bureau predicts variable cloudiness through Tuesday with a precipitation probability of 10 per cent. Low tonight is predicted in the low 30s.
will be given at various locations Tuesday through Saturday. Tuesday's tests will be given at 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. in the Sunflower Room of the Union.
This afternoon there will be a coffee hour-forum at 4:30 p.m. in the Meadowlark and Cottonwood Rooms of the Union where Jon Gant, deputy director of the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic, will discuss the emerging problems of education in a revolutionary atmosphere. Students and faculty are invited.
Later, at 7:30 p.m., in McCollum Hall, Gant will speak again. His topic will be "The role of the Peace Corps in Developing Nations." This program is specifically to interest students in the program.
Tuesday two films will be shown at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. in the Forum Room of the Union. The films will be "One Step at a Time," about the Peace Corps in Brazil, and "As Far Away as Fez," about the Corps in Morocco. They will be shown today through Friday.
Blanket's wire lights a DG fire
Members of Delta Gamma sorority thought they smelled burning popcorn late Saturday night, but they were wrong.
The "burning" smell which came from the third floor sleeping dorm was caused by a flaming mattress.
An electric blanket, left on since Thursday, short-circuited and set the mattress on fire.
Three men who were watching TV at the house ran upstairs, grabbed fire extinguishers and put out the blaze. They were Bruce Waller, Girard senior, Blake Biles, Hutchinson junior, and Gary Krause, Great Bend sophomore.