Kansas University Weekly.
283
Prof. Wagner gave a review of the report of the Director of the United States Mints, with particular reference to the coinage of gold and silver, before the Chemical Seminary Monday. Dr. Bartow also gave an interesting account of a visit to the Cleveland, Ohio, varnish works.
A. P. Ruediger was in Kansas City and Leavenworth the last of the week.
Mr. Menke has finished his work and is now on a collecting expedition in Wyoming.
Weekly Board Meeting.
The editorial board for next year met in room eleven, Wednesday noon in pursuance to a call issued by the editor-in-chief. Miss Pauline Lewelling and Mr.Percy J. Parrott resigned from the board and Miss Josephine Shellabarger and Mr. Alfred Parrott were elected their successors.
The following positions were then filled, in some cases by election and in others by appointment: Associates to the Editor-in-Chief, Walter H. Sanford and W. W. Douglas; Literary Editor, Miss Ethel A. Hickey; Associates, Miss Josephine Shellabarger and Miss Eleanora Gephart; Local Editor, Carl L. Cooper; Associates, Archie Hogg, Alumni; Tom Charles, Law; John M. Lee, Engineering; R. G. McKinnie, Athletics; Alva Souder, Exchanges; Gertrude Chapman and Alfred Parrott, Arts; Managing Editor, C. E. Rose; Associate, P. S. Elliott; Art Editor, Prof. A. H. Clark. The new management intend to improve the paper in many ways and have several plans under consideration for that effect. It is hoped to make next year one of the most successful in the history of the paper.
Practical Sociology.
One of the busiest classes in the University at this time is the one studying Practical Sociology under Professor Blackmar. The class is occupied in preparing and reading reports upon the different subjects assigned to each member. The work comprehends every phase of social life and conditions.
The course in sociology extends through the entire year. The first term of the year is devoted to a study of the principles underlying the development and growth of societies. During this term Gidding's, Ward, Kidd and others of the most eminent writers on such subjects, are studied and discussed. The first part of the second term is given to a thorough study of Warner on American Charities. Mr. Warner is the most able and reliable authority in the United States on this subject. During the last part of the second term each student is expected to make a practical application of the principles learned during the preliminary work. To this end each one is given some phase of Social Pathology for original investigation. As illustrative of the breadth of the field covered, there have been among the reports already given: A Study of the Causes of Social Degeneration, by Messrs. Belcher and Ringle. In their preparation these gentlemen explored that notorious part of Kansas City known as "Hell's Half Acre." Mr. Rohrer has read a paper on Criminal Psychology, the result of original investigation among the prisoners confined at our state penitentiary. Mr. Harold Smith reported upon the social condition of Little Italy, the Italian portion of the population of Kansas City. His report was based upon facts learned from an investigating tour of that part of the city. The topic assigned Miss Shire, and reported upon, was Hospital and Scientific Nursing, while Miss Lewelling made a study of the management of Reform Schools, using the schools of Kansas and Iowa as models.
These are only a few examples of what is being done by the class. The papers and reports are all good and show much thought and original research. Each report is always followed by a thorough discussion, thus bringing out every phase of the question.
The work of the class this year has proved very satisfactory to Professor Blackmar. At the same time the students in that department find in this study a most interesting and valuable one. As a result the number of students taking up this line of work is constantly increasing. Indeed its practical value is being manifested every day as the social problems of our complex civilization continually increase.