PAGE TWO
SUMMER SESSION KANSAN
TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 1937
Comment
Not for Grinds
(Editor's note: Continuing its policy of passing on to its readers advice upon the problems of acquiring an education in this crass world of ours, the Summer Session Kansan today presents a discussion of the art of bluffing, a mastery of which is esseential to success for the collegian and the layman alike. It is hoped that these frank articles will not give offense to the student, if such is to be found, who deems it "unscholarly" or "sinful" to seek credit by any method but that prescribed in the catalog and classroom: hard study. But to the hundreds of others who still believe that life is to be lived and enjoyed here and now—something the "grind" seldom concedes, and a thing which prolonged study virtually prevents—the series is hopefully dedicated).
Tis told that a rookie in the A.E.F., alone and with an empty pistol, once captured a score of armed enemy troopers by sheer force of bluff. The story is a case in point. Suppose you are the soldier, and your head is the empty pistol. Your instructors are the advancing enemy, and the A's you fear they won't grant you are the enemy's loaded weapons. You want those A's, just as the rookie wanted the weapons. You want them badly.
Never pass up an opportunity to submit an isolated item of information you may have, if you're quite certain you won't be asked to elaborate, but never volunteer comment unless you're aware of and prepared for possible consequences.
All right. You can get them. Here's how.
Now you know darned well that your head is rather painfully empty of what the instructor will demand this morning. But, like the empty pistol, it resembles a head loaded with knowledge, and will do very well in a pinch, especially if it's neatly combed, (or carefully scrubbed and powdered, as the case may be). Your job is to conceal its vacuity.
Sit on the front row, chuckle at the prof's witticisms whether they're funny or not, look sorely shocked when some student not "in the know" makes a badly untrue statement, quote references whenever possible, scratch your skull occasionally as if in deep thought, and pretend to take elaborate notes. In short, maintain the front of a chap who's sure of himself, and you're headed for that A.
These are the guaranteed goods, the genuine hot stuff, and they've never been known to fail. Try them yourself and see.
To put it in phraseology the English department should simply adore, that mean old weatherman has already done gone and did it. Many students last week wrote home for ear muffs and red flannel undies. The packages are beginning to arrive, smelly of moth balls. And now it threatens to get really hot. Heck!
The President's blunder was to disregard the reverence which most Americans—Democrats and Republicans alike—feel for the Supreme Court. Granted that "nine old men" whose average age exceeds the allotted three-score and ten, are perhaps a bit less "efficient" than men
Democratic Dilemma
Recent weeks have seen an abundance of "news" about a national electrification program, new methods for soaking the rich, and much other political piffle. Behind it all has been a purpose: covering up. Perhaps for the first time in his career, President Roosevelt, with his Court Plan, committed a really serious political faux pas. And great has been the stench arising therefrom.
25 years their juniors would be; and granted further that recent years had shown a definitely reactionary trend in decisions handed down; still it must be remembered that the Constitution is almost the American Bible, and that any attempt to seriously limit the freedom of its guardians—those same nine old men—will be greeted with hostility.
The President learned that.
His Plan—to add a new justice for every incumbent over 70 who refused to retire—was much more popular in April than it is in June. And recent events have increased the President's woes.
The Court's almost amazing support of the Wagner Labor Relations Act, the Washington Minimum Wage Law, and the Social Security Act, showed that the old men can be quite as liberal as the President himself. Perhaps they were onlykowtowing in obeisance to Rooseveltian rumblings, but they succeeded in upsetting the President's applecart completely.
And now comes the cap to the climax. Justice Van Devanter's retirement calls for an appointment soon, regardless of what becomes of the Plan. The ranking man on Capitol Hill for the post is Senator Robinson of Arkansas. But Robinson's appointment would be the most ridiculous gesture of the whole ridiculous affair. For Robinson himself is 64, only six years removed from the President's 70-year limit, and already four years past what is arbitrarily regarded as the maximum age limit for appointees. Yet he is so popular in Washington just now that recommendation of any other man would no doubt create an unprecedented Congressional bloc.
The President plugs stubbornly on toward his goal, not seeking so much publicity, but few persons expect him to reach that goal now. Ardent New Dealers lament the situation—Republican opposition rejoices. And to many millions of "average" American citizens, it is just another of those rather interesting pieces of news from Washington, to be digested in the morning along with something much more exciting and essential: coffee, bacon 'n eggs.
A western Kansas editor suggests that the man who stuffed the church collection plate with tax tokens was a chizeller. More likely he feared the Lord would be unable to use Kansas money now without the blamed things.
Campus Opinion
Articles in this column do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Summer Session Kansan. Articles over 200 words in length are subject to cutting by the editor. Contributions on any subject are invited.
Information regarding the library regulations and how to use it would certainly be welcomed by the newcomers. All can ask questions, and do, but the timid soul may pass the entire session before he knows where the card catalogue is located.
Would it not be a good plan for some time, say a forenoon or an afternoon during the first week of the session, to be devoted to the instruction of the summer students, especially the new ones, regarding certain University rules?
Editor Summer Session Kansan:
Even a student who has been here before and is not afraid to inquire may consume a great amount of time attempting to supply his library needs before he is successful.
Would not the few hours needed for this instruction be well spent? Those in charge would be relieved of endless explanations, and the new students would have the blessed assurance that they are doing the right thing. —R.M.J.
(An article giving details of the library and its services appears elsewhere in today's Kansas.-Ed.)
Two hundred and seventy thousand books and 1,700 regularly received periodicals, many of which are retained in bound form, stand ready in eight University libraries for the use of summer session students.
Library Has 270,000 Books Ready for Students to Use
In spite of the fact that lack of funds this summer has necessitated closing the main library on Saturday evenings, its services still are available 68 hours weekly. C. M. Baker, director of libraries, has announced the following schedule for Watson library: Week days, 7:20 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and 7 to 10 p.m.; Saturdays, 7:20 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays, closed.
Most of the 270,000 volumes are in Watson library, but several thousand more are segregated according to subject matter in seven other buildings: engineering, Marvin hall; physics, Blake; law, Green; pharmacy, Chemistry building; entomology, Snow; and music and mathematics, Administration building. Specialized periodicals also are available in these sub-libraries.
Students seeking material are aided by 20 full-time employees and 35 part-time student assistants. Books on general subjects may be checked out for two weeks at the main circulation desk in Watson library, second floor, while books used for assigned class reading are held on reserve in the basement, to be used only in the building, but may be checked out overnight if returned early the next morning. Similar regulations govern the sub-libraries.
Periodicals are available in the periodical and educational rooms on the first floor of Watson library. These are rarely checked out. Two mail sacks filled with periodicals arrive each day, and several employees devote their entire time to sorting them.
Bound volumes of the New York Times, with index, are kept in the library. The rag-pulp library edition covers more than 10 years of the immediate past, is being received now, and may be checked out for use in the building. The Times file is one of only two or three available in Kansas.
An interesting discovery for every new student is the browsing room on the second floor of Watson library. Furnished with easy chairs and containing many books of diversified interest, it is labeled, "Not for study."
SERVICE
Day or Night Willard Batteries Goodyear Tires Shell Products
Washing Lubricating Brakes Relined
Phone 1300 1000 Mass.
CARTER'S SUPER SERVICE
The Dewey classification system is used in the stacks, access to which is limited. Persons checking out books ascertain the title, author's name, and call numbers from the card catalog on the second floor, write these on a call slip which is provided, and present it to a desk assistant, who secures the book from the stacks.
Practically all titles are triple-referenced in the catalog, according to author, subject matter, and title, and the catalog contains 800,000 cards.
New books are being added at the rate of 10,000 yearly. Many of these are placed on the new book shelf in the main reading room, second floor, where they remain until still newer titles crowd them off.
The proof of our assertions about--can be verified if you will come in and look over the lovely shades.
Ladies Holeproof Hosiery
79c
2 for $1.50
85c
2 for $1.60
and up
"KEEP COOL"
Avoid getting "all het up" looking for a place to park by riding the bus.
SAFE, ECONOMICAL TRANSPORTATION
RAPID TRANSIT
Company
Phone 388
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