Cartoonist at work
KU sophomore David Sokoloff, who has been drawing cartoons since age 7, eventually hopes "Griff and the Unicorn" cartoon strip will be nationally syndicated.
Snakes, babies found in sewer
By JULIE THATCHER
Kansan Staff Writer
At the end of a narrow dirt road which appears to lead nowhere, there is an incongruously attractive agency of the city of Lawrence.
The red brick buildings and plush, grassy grounds rise slightly above the junkyard and river bottom outside the fenced boundaries. The boldness of the blue, yellow, orange and green plant machinery is surprising when the output of the plant is known. The well-kept appearance offers no clues but the faint smell of backed-up plumbing confirms that the area is indeed a sewage treatment plant.
Built in 1956, the plant serves Lawrence and KU and treats an average of five million gallons of sewage daily. Don Vaughn, plant manager for 13 years, says there is a significant increase in sewage flow when KU students return to Lawrence in the fall.
The Lawrence plant is a primary treatment plant which eliminates solid material but doesn't introduce chemicals. Vaughn says waste products are screened as they enter the plant for processing. Heavier substances are scraped and pumped out and eventually attacked by bacteria.
Vaughn says the initial processing eliminates bulky objects. In the last two months, he says, the bodies of two babies were discovered, bringing the total to four since the plant was built.
Recently, plant workers also
One day, five or ten years from now, daily newspapers may be carrying a comic strip about a griffin, a unicorn, a daisy and an ineffectual spider. The creator of this strip, which now appears three times a week in the Kansan, is a freshman in the School of Fine Arts.
Cartoonist's creations provide gentle humor
David Sokoloff from Wilmette, Ill., has been drawing cartoons since age 7.
"Ive always liked mythology, and I'm better with animal situations. That's how 'Griff and the Unicorn' began three years ago," he said.
Sokoloff, who hopes eventually to parlay his current strip into national syndication, has been influenced by several contemporary cartoon series. His gentle, uncluttered humor reminds the reader of "Peanuts." Sokoloff admits he has often corresponded with "Peanuts" creator Charles Schultz who has criticized his work.
"I draw mostly on Saturday while I'm listening to music or a ballgame. If I don't have something to distract my attention a little, I become too critical of my
Dec. 5
1969 KANSAN 13
work and never get anything finished," Sokoloff said.
"As it is, I collect ideas during the week and put them in my sketch book. Then I spend at least an hour on each strip. My characters have developed now to the point that all I have to do is put them in a given situation and they almost draw the strip themselves. I guess in subtle ways the series also reflects my personality, but I'm never trying to give a lot of hidden meaning; it's not political."
found a man's billfold which contained $80 and identification. Vaughn says when they called the owner he did not even realize he had lost the billfold. The owner had been working near an open sewer and apparently the billfold fell in.
Sokoloff tries to stay about two weeks ahead of schedule with completed strips. With ideas, he's about two months ahead. He takes changing seasons and scenery into consideration since all action takes place outdoors. And
he is planning to add a new character soon, thus expanding the action possibilities.
"With winter coming up, I'm going to use some snow scenes. I also have a problem with Daisy. I don't want her to wither for the season, so she's going to have an overcoat. I'm not sure about Webster, the spider," he said.
Other items found have included false teeth, squirrels, rats, snakes and goldfish. One snake arrived at the plant alive, Vaughn says.
He estimates plant employees receive two calls a year from people who have lost belongings.
KANSAN
Sokoloff, whose ambition to become a cartoonist is vigorously supported by his parents, plans to specialize in life drawing at KU.
Employees try to watch for the articles, but don't hunt for them.
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Diamond rings are the most valuable items which have never been recovered, he says.
After the sewage material has been treated by the plant, liquid is pumped back into the river and sludge, the heavier waste material, is dried in 30 by 80 foot bins and used for fertilizer.
Although the fertilizer is free to the public, few visitors travel to the plant. Vaughn says about 200 people visit during a year.
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Lack of interest, however, is not reflected in the plant operation. Last year, Vaughn says, the plant won the Class III Waste Treatment Plant Operation Award for "operational excellence" and continues to serve more than 50,000 area inhabitants on a 24-hour basis.
but the Paulists Stay On...
The Paulists arrived on the West Side of New York City in 1858. In 1895 they moved into San Francisco's Chinatown and into the fringes of Chicago's Loop in 1904.
If you have given some thought to becoming a Priest, write for an illustrated brochure and a copy of our recent Renewal Chapter Guidelines. Write to:
Room 200
415 West 59th Street
New York, N.Y. 10019
Vocation Director Paulist Fathers
The Paulist may be in the same old place but he constantly does new things. That's one of the characteristics of the Paulist order: using their own individual talents in new ways to meet the needs of a fast-changing world in the colleges . . . in communications . . . in the ghetto.
Times change. Neighborhoods change. Sometimes they go up. Sometimes they go down—but through it all the Paulist stays. As long as there are people to be served the Paulist will be there.