East-West Differences Told By Prof. Chinnov, Russian Exile
Bv Phil Magers
When Igor Chinnov, then a small boy, and his family were exiled from Russia after the Bolshevist Revolution, he had no idea that one day he would be sitting in a swivel chair in a KU office.
Igor Chinnov has been an associate professor of Russian literature here since last year and has become familiar to students as a short, red-headed man with an outgoing personality.
Prof. Chinnov said he rejects the Communist regime because of its totalitarianism and its promise of a future happiness for all. "The Russian people are being sacrificed on an altar of promised happiness," he said.
THROUGH AN INTERPRETER,
Heinrich Stammler, professor of Slavic languages, he reminisced about his life and offered some of his thoughts on Russia and its people.
The most striking example of the Russian people's sacrifice, Prof Chinnov said, is the Soviet agricultural failure.
"IF THE PEASANTS were independent," he explained, "Russia would not be starving as it often does." On East-West relations, he commented, "Mutual appreciation is hampered because neither side knows the other well enough."
"The West knows very little about Russia," he said, "especially Russian history before the Revolution."
Westerners often base their idea of Russian life before the revolution on Russia as it is now. On the other hand, the Russian people know very little about the West and what they do know is distorted.
REJECTION OF Communist Russia should not blind anyone, however, to some things that do hold promise in the future.
"There is now a literary revolution going on in Russia," Prof. Chinnov said. "There are many literary works being written which are not controlled by the Communists."
A noted Russian poet and literary critic himself, Prof. Chinnov has been hailed by Russian critics as one of the outstanding poets, Prof. Stammler said. His major works are "Monologue" and "Lines." He has also written 20 articles of literary criticism.
The Russian poet said his "first impression was positive," although he had to discard many wrong ideas he had picked up in Europe.
PROF, CHINNOV was working in Munich, Germany, last year when KU discovered him. Since then, he has not had a chance to learn much English, but has developed some interesting views on America and its people.
"For instance," he said, "I was told that American cities were ugly, but I have found some of them quite to the contrary."
Pilot Killed, 2 Hurt In Wichita Crash
WICHITA — (UPI) — A B47 jet bomber crashed in flames shortly after takeoff during a snowstorm last night. The pilot was killed and two others injured.
Killed was Capt. P. L. Tudwill, 29,
of Detroit Lakes, Minn. The
injured were 1st Lt. F. J. Medrick,
26, the copilot, of Hastings, N.Y.
,and Capt. H. T. Jones, 34, Oakland,
Calif.
The bomber was assigned to the 307th Bomb Wing, Lincoln Air Force Base, Lincoln, Neb.
AN AIR FORCE spokesman said the plane crashed about 10:10 p.m. after taking off from McConnell on a routine training mission.
The Highwal Patrol said Medrick and Jones were able to parachute to safety They were reported in good condition at the hospital at McConnell Air Force Base here.
Witnesses said the Strategic Air Command bomber was on fire before it hit. It struck a power line and scattered wreckage over U.S. Highway 54. Parts of the plane were found nearly a mile from the crash site.
The aircraft had been diverted to McConnell Tuesday because of bad weather.
Tudwell is survived by his widow Shirley, and four children.
The two peoples are similar in that they are both sympathetic, helpful and neighborly. Russians and Americans are both frank, and without ulterior motives, Prof. Chinnov said.
THE AMERICAN and the Russian personalities are similar in some ways, he said, but different in others.
"THE BASIC difference between the two personalities," he said, "is that the Russian surrenders himself to ideas and ideologies easily, while the American is skeptical of these things.
Russians are enthusiastic about ideas and ideologies, Prof. Chinnov said, but not necessarily to Communism alone, but also God and maybe even anti-communism. "It is this enthusiasm that has helped the Russian people survive bad times," he said.
"The West is rich in scientific, intellectual and artistic achievements, but its people don't appreciate or have faith in these achievements," he said.
Prof. Chinnov said his family was in a town in central Russia when the revolution broke out. His father was persecuted because he was a judge and of middle class. The family was forced to flee to Latvia.
Bad times have often accompanied Igor Chinnov since his birth in Tukkum, Latvia. His father was a lawyer and judge and the family traveled over various parts of Russia in the poet's childhood.
It was there that Prof. Chinnov received his master of laws degree from the University of Riga. Prof. Chinnov was legal advisor to a Latvian farmer until after World War II. when he left Latvia for Paris.
Prof. Chinnov taught at Paris Junior College and lectured on Russian
culture and civilization under the sponsorship of the Russian Christian Students.
In 1953, Prof. Chinnov left Paris to go to Munich, where he was literary editor of "Liberty," a radio station sponsored by the American Committee for Liberation.
It was there that Prof. Chinnov was contacted by KU.
Official Bulletin
Interviews for teaching positions:
Wichita Public Schools, Wichita, K-10
15, 8:30 to 5:00 206 B. Student Union,
206 C. University
Jefferson County Public Schools, Lakewood, Colorado, for Sept. 1963. Mon. and Tuesday, Jan. 14 & 15. Teacher Appointment Bureau. 117 Bailey.
Evanston Township High School,
Evanston, Illinois, for Sept. 1963. Tuesday,
Jan. 15. 8:30 to 5:00, 365 A. Student
Union.
San Juan Unified School District, Carmichael, Calif., for sept. 1963, Tuesday, January 15, 8:30 to 5:00. Teacher Appointment Bureau, 117 Braille.
UK Exchange Scholarships 1963-64 to England, Scotland, France, Germany, and Switzerland, applications due Jan. 15. Information & application forms at 306
Ph.D. Reading Exams. January 19th, 1964; Reading Exams. January 19th, 1972 to Miss Craig; Fraser 120 by Jan. 17.
Interviews for teaching positions:
Parkville, Mo. Public Schools for Sept.
Burton, Teach Teacher Appointment
Burton, 17 Baldy
Episcopal Evening Prayer, 9:30 p.m.
Danforth Chapel.
Toppea Public Schools, Toppea, Kansas — for elementary teaching positions in fall 1963. 9:00 to 5:00, 305 A & B, Student Union.
Special Chemistry Colloquium. Dr. Clark E. Bricker, Wooster College, "Some Photochemical Techniques and Results." 233 Malott. 4:00 p.m.
International Club, after the foreign movie at Hoch. Jayhawk Room, Union. Social hour, dancing and refreshments. Inter-Varsity. Christian. Fellowship.
Friday, Jan. 11, 1963 University Daily Kansan I
Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship
7:30 p.m. 829 Mississippi Bible Study.
Latin American Club, 8:00 p.m., Pine Room, Kansas Union, Elections.
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