Monday, Dec. 16, 1963 University Daily Kansan
Page 9
State Schools Ratify Leader Conference
A conference of student leaders from the six state-supported schools in Kansas was formed on a permanent basis here Friday.
The Conference on Higher Education in Kansas will discuss and offer solutions to problems of mutual concern to them.
John Stuckey, Pittsburg senior and chairman of the All Student Council, organized the first one-day meeting. Stuckey said he conceived the idea last spring because he thought students should take an active interest in problems confronting their schools.
DELEGATES FROM the schools—KU, Kansas State University, Fort Hays State College, University of Wichita, Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia and Kansas State College of Pittsburg-approvad a resolution establishing the conference.
As its first items of business, the conference approved two resolutions. One urges Kansans to support the suggestion of Henry A. Bubb, chairman of the State Board of Regents, for a half-ceent increase in the sales tax. The other asks the state of Kansas to exert a greater effort to attract businesses which would offer varied opportunities to Kansas college graduates.
The conference will have no officers, and resolutions will be the only form of legislation. Delegates will act in their own behalf, and are not required to express the views of their capuses.
Delegates also heard a report from a special committee examining student government problems. It recommended increased control by student government of the finance, supervision and coordination of student activities.
THE COMMITTEE'S report was not adopted as a resolution.
"We aren't really a student government conference," Stuckey said. "Therefore, we didn't think it appropriate to approve something like this as a resolution. It's a good idea perhaps, but not the type of thing we are considering."
Highlights of the conference included discussions led by James Surface, vice chancellor, and Francis Heller, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Speaking on the economic outlook of Kansas, Surface deplored the loss of state college graduates.
"THE MOST important thing that could happen to the Kansas economy is to have the bright and able people say they want to stay here," he said.
Dean Heller, who discussed ways of attracting Kansas high school graduates to colleges in the state, said Kansas is behind other states in recruiting talented students.
He cited Michigan State University, which sent a barrage of personal letters to Kansas semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship program telling them of the school and emphasizing the fact that Michigan State last fall had more National merit scholars than any other university in the country.
There has been no significant increase of out of state students attending Kansas colleges in recent years, Dean Heller said.
"IN FACT, WE can anticipate a decrease in out of state enrollment in 1965 when Kansas City University shifts from its own fee scale to that of the University of Missouri, which is considerably lower," he said.
"Our best public relations program, the very best advertising Kansas educational institutions can have, is face-to-face contact with prospective students. Our best advertisers are the satisfied customers who tell prospective college students about the wonderful opportunities available in Kansas institutions of higher learning."
Thirty-nine students attended the conference, which will be held next year at Kansas State University.
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