Nuclear Research Center safety-conscious
Caution
By MELISSA STINSON
Staff Writer
Radicactive Material
The probability of an atomic accident at the Nuclear Research Center, located on 15th Street near Jayhawkey Towers Apartments, is remote, according to a professor, professor of chemical and petroleum engineering.
The center houses a nuclear reactor that is safe that tuns of it are given frequently, Meles said.
He said visitors, who have included antinuclear groups, could see a demonstration how the reactor works.
"We have people that come in and go around." Mesier said. "We show them something that's radioactive, and we show them the reactor operating. We have it's rather an educational tour."
THE REACTOR, encased in a blue concrete structure that stands 20 feet tall, is operated only 10 times per day.
"that average, only four hours a week, just for experiments and demonstrations for visitors," he
The $147,000 reactor is considered small, about half the size of a commercial nuclear reactor. Monte Carlo simulations suggest that it is very efficient.
Uranium is one of the few elements that will cause fusion. The uranium fuel is in the reactor core and it undergoes fission.
the source of radiation. It uses about five pounds of enriched uranium-235 fuel.
The core, where fission occurs, is under 20 feet of water, about 6,500 gallons, and is surrounded by rocks. It can be observed from a distance.
A climb to the top of the reactor on a metal staircase enables one to look down into the reactor. Inside the heavy concrete shield is a deep, circular pool of water. It moderates the energy produced by the reaction and acts as a shield to keep radiation inside the reactor.
Mesler said that if anything wrong with the reactor, it would automatically shut itself off.
"TO START the reactor up, you have to take the control rods out," he said. "The control rods are held by electromagnets and the current for these electromagnets goes through some special instruments
"Those instruments monitor everything about the reactor and if everything isn't just right, they turn off the electromagnets and the control rods fall back down."
ensure the safety of the reactor, weiser said
"Practicality steps were taken to minimize their occurrence," he said. "We've had 17 years of safe operation, so that kind of indicates we do have things under control."
possible problems or accidents are analyzed during the planning of the building.
Hobert Wooldy, operator of the reactor for 16 years, did not think that running the reactor was difficult.
IT'S SOMEWHAT like driving a car." Woody said.
"You do have to know what you're doing."
Mesler said no attempt was made to capture and use the energy generated by the reactor, although it could have been used for heating energy at a heat of 250 kilowatts an hour. The reactor is used only for experiments.
Woody said that to become a licensed operator, he was required to take oral and written tests, which are designed to test your knowledge.
The center is used by several departments on campus for various forms of research.
"The DEPARTMENT of radiation biophysics trains people in the safe handling of radiation," Mesler said. "They have a few lab experiments in which they use things that we make radioactive in the reactor."
He said another customer was a professor from the Natural History Reservation.
"He brings us small amounts of tantalum wire, which we make radioactive for him, and he uses those to follow snakes and other small varnishes that he's studying at the time." he said.
"At that time, the cost got rather high and so we thought that we could provide our resources to better use them."
The department of chemical and petroleum engineering once offered a masters program in nuclear engineering. It was discontinued 10 years ago.
SAFETY MEASURES include the use of radiation monitors, which trigger an alarm system if radiation exposure is high.
A vacuum pump samples the air and filters it for radioactivity;
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
"In any actual case you always know what's causing it because the easiest way for it to go off is for somebody to go walking around with a large source of radiation," Meles said.
Partly cloudy High mid-90s
Mesler said that if the alarm went off, the center's personnel would try to find the problem, although it was not a typical case.
Lawrence, Kansas
The University of Kansas
Tuesday July 25,1978
HELP program could become top aid source
By NANCY FLEEKER Staff Writer
The University of Kansas' newest financial aid program, the Higher Education Loan Program, may have the largest distribution of funds. KU's student aid programs from 1978-79 school to the university from the office of financial aid said yesterday.
The spokesman, Jeff Weinberg, associate director of the office, said KU had distributed $1,175,240 to KU students since the program started in October.
KU DISTRIBUTED $1,600,255 to students through the BEOG program during the 1977-78 school year and this summer, Weinberg said.
"The Baise Educational Opportunity Grant delivers the largest number of dollars to students, but this program could easily be expanded." "That would mean spreading $2 million."
he said 2.014 KU students received BEOG funds during that time. He said the number of students who received HELP loans during that time probably was higher
wemberg said this revenue, which was double last year's revenue of $6 million, was an indication that the program would continue to operate.
"No student was turned down this year because of insufficient funds," he said.
He said the HELP program was available to more students than the BEOG program.
A $12 million revenue bond issue for
the 1978-79 school year was approved
in writing.
"The HELP program is open to all students, no matter what their family financial circumstances may be," Weinberg said.
The BEOG grants are awarded according to a student's financial status.
He said that the numbers of students served by each program last year were close but he expected more students to receive loans through HELP this year.
LOANS ARE available to students through the HELP program when they are unable to get loans through a financial institution in their hometown.
The HELP program replaced the Federally Insured Loan program because of the increasing reluctance of local institutions to make loans to students.
Virgil Rogers, an employee of the Plasti-Care Caro in McLouth, used an old hook and ladder fire truck to install four new lights in the Naismith Hall parking lot.
Staff Photo by SUZANNE BURDICK
Liaht work
Firefighters' agreement 3 votes short of approval
By DAVID LINK Staff Writer
At least half of the labor troubles confronting the city of Lawrence this year appear to have been resolved last night after the city reached a one-year working agreement with the city.
Firefighters' union president Don Knight said that the 18-4 vote in favor of approval was three votes yis of a majority of the union's 40 members but that he was certain a poll of those not present at last night's meeting would approve the union's formal approval of the agreement.
"ITS NOT quite over yet because not enough people came to vote, but I can certain that when the rest of the membership is polled, we'll have an agreement." Knight
During the course of their meeting, the firefighters heard from the president of the Fraternal Order of Police, Gary Sappson. Sappson said he appeared at the invitation of the firefighters to explain the policemen's position on relations with the city.
As a result of the meeting, Knight said, the firefighters' union would make an effort to assist the policemen and the city in their efforts to reach an agreement.
Sampson said his group would lobby against the approval of an Aug. 1 referendum question on the city hall bond issue. Sampson did not say whether the firefighters would be joining with the policemen in that effort.
"THAT'S STRICTLY up to them," Sampson said. "There's just getting to be a real communications problem that maybe the firefighters can help us out with.
"The city has said that we can work without an agreement, that they don't need our permission," she added.
The policemen rejected a two-year wage and benefit package outlined by the City Council.
The policemen initiated what they call a selective work slowdown July 13 to protest the arrests.
Maj. Darrel Stephens, assistant police chief, said yesterday that three policemen were sent警告 warning them that their job performance was substandard.
"WE ADVISED the three individuals that their productivity and performance is a key factor."
it doesn't improve they may be subject to further disciplinary action. "Sensitive"
Stephens said that the letters did not constitute reprimands but that they would go into the individuals' personnel file. He said further disciplinary action could consist of letters of reprimand or suspensions.
Sampson called the letters ridiculous.
"We've been saying all along that we're doing our jobs, we're just not writing tickets," Sampson said. "I only hope that they'll send them they send a letter to. I love to test them."
'THE ONLY way they can say I'm not performing well on my phone' I was on the phone, but I couldn't. I ticked 1 and received 4 responses.
Stephens said the three policemen who received warnings were identified by comparing their record for the 40-hour work week just prior to the records for arrest in previous years.
"I couldn't say what percentage of the officers are involved in the slowdown, but out of the 17 or 18 who worked 40 hours last week only three were identified as having lower than normal performance," Stephens said.
SAMPON declined to comment on the possibility of a police walkout, saying only that any further disciplinary action would be countered through established grievance procedures or "whatever other action is necessary."
Because the city has agreed to a one-year agreement with the firefighters, Sampson said, policemen will not ratify a two-year agreement with the city.
The commission's two-year package for the policemen calls for a 4 percent wage increase Jan. 1, a 5 percent reclassification Jan. 2 and a 6 percent increase on Jan. 1, 1980.
SAMPSON SAID he told city officials Friday that the policemen would accept only a one-year agreement. The minimum wage settlement that he said the union would accept was either a 6 percent wage increase on Jan. 1 with the 5 percent reclassification increase in July or the 5 percent reclassification increase on Jan. 1
coupled with a 4 percent across-the-board increase.
Last week, in a 3-2 vote that Commissioner Jack Rose characterized as "really 2½ to 2⅔", the City Commission reluctantly voted to accept a firefighter agreement with the same provisions as the first year of the commission's two-year package.
THE FINAL draft of that proposal, which was all but approved by the firefighters last night, provides a 6 percent across-the-board wage increase, effective Jan. 1.
The other items in the 1979 firefighters' working agreement are an expanded program to provide incentives for the acquisition of additional skills; the lumbering of uniforms over the next three years; the payment of firefighters to attend any training courses that the fire chief deems beneficial, the circumstances under which a firefighter may be eligible for additional benefits for injured persons or those who pay $1 monthly toward dependent health insurance coverage; a promotions review board; a minimum overtime standard for individuals who are called back to work; an outline for next year's negotiating process; a training course; and a monthly payment of $1 longevity pay; the continuation of the fire hydrant inspection program; and a physical fitness program.
AFTER THE commission voted to accept a one-year agreement, firefighters had expressed concern over a clause in the draft that said next year's negotiations would be subject to the provisions of the city's ordinance to be passed before April 15.
Knight said a letter received by the firefighters yesterday from City Manager Buford Watson detailing what he would recommend to the commission be included in the ordinance allayed the firefighters' concerns.
"That turned the trick," Knight said. "Watson said that he will recommend that mediation be included in the ordinance and that it will be presented on the drafting of the labor ordinance."
Eager candidates lining up for primary races
TOPEKA (UP1)-About the only thing Kansans know for sure about the 1978 elections is that they will end up with a new U.S. senator and a new 5th District
THIRTEEN candidates—nine of them Republicans—have jumped into the race for the seat of retiring Sen. James Pearson, R-Kan, a veteran of more than 18 years. Five Republican and six Democrat are trying to replace Joe Skabiz, R-Kan, who also retiring.
Two old-timers also will be back—1st District Rep. Keith Sebelius and 3rd District Rep. Larry Winn Jr., both R-Kan., are unopposed.
In the 2nd District, two Republicans are vying for the seat held by Rep. Martha Keys, D-Kan., who is unopposed in the primary. It appears that Sen. Ron Hein, R-Topea, and Jim Jefferson, an Atchison businessman, are even matched.
Things get a little hazy after that.
In the governor's race, three Republicans and three Democrats are vying for their parties' nominations. However, Gov. Robert W. Trump won by winning a second four-year term are high.
une tirst of the late summer and fall primary elections in the country.
THE VOTERS begin to sort out the glut of candidates Aug. 1 in the Kansas primary,
Among those who are spending large amounts of money are Republican businessman Sam Hardage of Wichita, who is running for the U.S. congressman, banker and farmer, Wayne Angell, an Ontario Republican who has spent $198,813; former U.S. Rep. Bill Roy, a Topkeeper nemocek and Mr. Donald Trump; Landon Kassabue, a Wichita Republican who has spent $118,477.
The Senate race is sparking the most interest. Candidates have spent more than $1 million thus far, much more than past Kansas primaries.
ROY, AN obstetrician who also has a law degree, is considered the favorite in the four-way Democratic primary. He also is the vice presidential candidate for the November general election.
RoyVACTed his seat in 1974 for a close but unsuccessful race to out Sen. Dobie, B罗 D.,
who appears to be a political moderate, is
vying for second or third place.
Experts who are carefully watching seem to give the more conservative Angell and Hardage a better chance for nomination than other hopeful candidates. Kassabeum,
Krausebaum, the daughter of former Gov. Alfred M. Landon, the 1936 Republican presidential nominee, has used the Landon name and infrequent appearances in her ads by gaining the old-father in hopes that he will gain the crucial edge in the fragmented primary.
SEVERAL VARIABLES remain in the contest, including candidacies by two state legislators. Senate Majority Leader Norman Gaar, R-Westwood, and Senate Minority leader Jill Stein, a female candidate. Deryl Schuster, a former Pearson aide, Small Business Administration official and Overland Park banker, also is making a strong showing.
The 5th Congressional District race in southeast Kansas is almost as crowded and competitive as it is in northwest Missouri.
Pittsburg businessman Don Johnston, former Kansas House Speaker Duane S. "Pete" McGill of Winfeld and former State Rep. Robert Whitkaker of Augusta are running for governor and appear to be the top contenders in the Republican race. Johnson, who has heavily
organized his more populous corner of the district, appears to have a slight edge.
THE DEMOCRATIC race is about as close in the 5th District, although the spending has been considerably less than that put out by the top Republican candidates. State Sen. Don Allegrucio, who also comes from Pittsburgh, has been the top Democratic spender and is expected to be the trourierman of his party.
In the gubernatorial campaign, Benn.itt is expected to be an easy winner over the Rev. Harold Knight of Chanute and state printer Bob Sanders of Salina.
Of the Democrats, Kansas House Speaker John Carlin, D-Smolian, hopes his title as first Democratic speaker in more than 60 years will help him to give will give him a chance at the governorship.
Carlin, with an energetic staff and the support of many of the state's top Democrats, is expected to lead D-Hutchinson, and Topeka lawyer Harry Wiles. However, a primary fight is still expected because of Chaney's support from several groups of organized labor and Wilson's support from stand-bys of former Gov. Robert Docking.
Texas garbage strike ends after dismissals
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (AP) — The latest in a series of sanitation strikes to hit major U.S. cities ended abruptly here yesterday—broken by a city manager who fired almost half the city's 313 garbage workers.
"I mean business; I will not be intimidated," Tom Huebner, manager since January 1977 of the country's 10th largest city, said.
Huebner dismissed 106 garbage workers hours after they walked off the job Saturday in a wage dispute. About 35 garbage workers showed up for work yesterday but refused to make their rounds, saying they feared for their safety. Huebner fired them, too.
AN ADDITIONAL 20 garbage workers face unemployment. "These capricious job actions have gone too far, and any patience with this kind of action only encourages more of it," Huebner, who has the support of eight of the 11 members of a budget-conscious City Council, said.
members of a bulge-conscious city council. "I hope the fire men go out and find themselves employment soon, but they are through as city employees. Let there be no mistake about that. I can't think of a reason that would justify rehiring them."
The garbage collectors, members of the San Antonio Refuse Collectors Association, had said they had support from airport maintenance men, some street department workers and other employees. Amit 15 dog catchers and three landfill workers failed to report for work yesterday, providing the only evidence of support from other city workers.
work yesterday, providing the only evidence of support. The police were able to protect 158 garbage workers who ignored about 30 pickets and made partial collections. The city began testing 52 persons to take over for the striking workers today.
HELENBER ADJ said it would take two or four weeks to get things back to normal. He mentioned some problems in exchange collecting." he said.
"We do anticipate some problems in garbage collection. In Philadelphia, garbage workers and streetcleaners were among 19,600 nonuniformed employees who returned to work yesterday after voting Friday to end an eight-day strike during which dirt accumulated on the streets.