Kansas State Historical Society Topeka, Ks.
Daily hansan
52nd Year, No.140
Friday, May 6, 195
THE BURNING BUSH—Elden C. Tefft, assistant professor of design, is shown putting the finishing touches on his design for the new University seal. The seal has changed from time to time, but Prof. Tefft has attempted to make the seal as authentic as possible.
LAWRENCE, KANSAS
Prof. Tefft Designs New University Seal
In the quanset hut behind Bailey hall, a new university seal is nearing completion. The work and a large part of the research have been done by Elden C. Tefft, assistant professor of design.
The seal was begun early in 1954 when the University of Kansas Medical center expressed a need for two aluminum seals for the cafeteria. Chancellor Franklin D. Murphy then asked Prof. Teft and Carlyle H. Smith, associate professor of design, to start the project.
JEET.
Prof. Tefft has done the design work and Prof. Smith will do the finishing in metal.
The research which has stretched over a period of a year and a half has taken more time than the actual work on the design.
tough controversy has arisen as who actually created the first university seal. A 1912 issue of the Graduate Magazine gives credit to the Rev, Chancellor R. W. Oliver.
The magazine said, "The chancellor was authorized to procure a suitable seal for the corporation of the state University and draw on the treasurer for the necessary expense."
pense. The Graduate Magazine said "Chancellor Oliver chose the seal, and he chuckled as he gave his
Water Plight Is Discussed
Dr. Harold E. Thomas, regional geologist of the United States Geological Survey in Salt Lake City, on "The Water Problems" in connection with the eighty-seventh annual meeting of the Kansas Academy of Science which began yesterday and ends tomorrow.
Dr. Thomas served as a hydrologist on the Kansas Water Resources Fact Finding and Research committee last fall and wrote much of the text of "Water in Kansas," the committee's report to the 1955 State Legislature.
explanation of its meaning: the device of Moses before the burning bush was a most appropriate one to Kansas because as the bush was on fire but not consumed so Kansas was ever scorched by heat and drought yet not destroyed."
In the research, much time was spent in pinpointing the area in which Moses kneeled at the burning bush. It was determined that the mountain, Mt. Sinai, supposed to be the same as the Biblical Mt. Horeh, was probably located in the south part of Sinai peninsula between the Suez and Aqua gulfs at the north end of the Red sea.
Junior Scientists Meet Today
Harold N. Moldenke, director of the Trailside museum in New Jersey, furnished information concerning the burning bush. He said the bush was probably an acacia bush laden with mistletoe which makes it look as if it were afflame.
Approximately 115 senior high and junior high school students from 14 Kansas schools today presented 89 exhibits and 80 scientific papers as part of the Junior Academy of Science, being held in conjunction with the 87th annual meeting of the Kansas Academy of Science.
The high schools that were represented were Lawrence, Leavenworth, Manhattan, Mound City, Neodesha, Pittsburg, Hays, Clay Center, Wyandotte and Sumner of Kansas City, Salina, Chanute, and Wichita West and Wichita East.
Some of the topics that were used included electric conductivity of liquids, plant diseases of southeastern Kansas, electronics and music, burning of carbon are in various gases, and thyroid experiments on guinea pigs.
All exhibits were displayed on the main floor of the Student Union, with the papers being judged and read in various buildings on the campus. The judging committees were composed of faculty members who are members of the KAS.
No Editor for Jayhawker Selected Yet
The Jayhawker advisory board did not select an editor and business manager for the 1955-56 Jayhawker at its meeting yesterday because a quorum of students and faculty members was not present. The board voted to meet next Thursday to make the selections.
Karl Klooz, chairman, said additional applications by students for either position would be welcome. The applicant need not have worked previously on the Jayhawker he emphasized.
The letter of application, accompanied by two letters of recommendation, should be filed with Mr. Klooz at the University business office by 5 p.m. Wednesday. References may be from University or hometown sources.
Sigma Alpha Iota, honorary professional music sorority for women, gave a breakfast honoring its graduating seniors recently. After a short service pledges of the sorority performed.
Music Group Fetes Seniors
Taft Reviews KU Science Progress
"There are still new worlds of science left to conquer, and I am certain that Kansas will continue to contribute to these conquests." Dr. Robert Taft, professor of chemistry, said last night in a lecture to members of the Kansas Academy of Science in Lindley auditorium.
Dr. Taft's topic, "One Hundred Years of Science in Kansas," was a review of science advances during the past century and of the men who have been largely responsible for its advancement.
Providing a background, Dr. Taft outlined the scientific situation in 1854, five years before Darwin's "Origin of the Species and Descent of Man," and a quarter-century before the discoveries of Pasteur.
"It was about this time that scientific-minded persons began to be geologically interested in Kansas, and nine years later, in 1864, the Kansas Geological survey was founded." Dr. Taft explained. "However, its tenure was rather short, ending operation after one year."
"Three years after the collapse of the Geological survey, the Kansas Natural History society was formed with a membership of 17 and in 1877 it became what is now the Kansas Academy of Science. It is comprised of all persons throughout the state who have any scientific interests.
It was during this time that two of Kansas' best-known scientists, Francis Huntington Snow and B. F. Mudge, came into prominence. Snow became the father of science at the University of Kansas and its chancellor in 1893. Mudge was well-known for his work concerning insects in a state which has been continually plagued by insects.
"Because of Prof. Snow and the successive generations of students following him, the University now has the largest collection of insects of any university or college in the country." Dr. Taft said.
Dr. Taft told how, in the 1880s, western Kansas became a valuable hunting ground not only for wildlife such as buffalo, but for priceless fossils imbedded in the Kansas limestone. Such specimens as a giant dragonfly with a record wingspan of 30 inches and a large bird with true teeth were among the fossils obtained.
By the 1890s Kansas had made remarkable strides in the classroom as well as in the field. The University granted its first graduate de
grees and also were accredited for doing the first work concerning liquid ammonia. In 1896 the State Geological survey was revived and published its first complete volume.
In 1902 Dr. E. C. McClung discovered sex chromosomes. In 1911 Dr. S.J. Crumbine of the KU Medical school contributed considerably in the struggle against typhoid and veneral disease, bringing about the abolition of the rolling towels and the common drinking cup.
"A great milestone was reached by Prof. George Coghill of the University in 1925 when he was one of the founders of the field of neurology. "After this came an era of what I call the age of easier money in which federal grants and funds for research dropped off to practically nothing, which is greatly contrasted to today's generous appropriations," Dr. Taft said.
He then pointed out that since the depression and pre-war years research funds have increased greatly as well as the number of publications state schools issue.
Work Advances On Girls' Hall
Work on the new Gertrude Sellards Pearson women's dormitory is approximately 35 per cent completed. Glen E. Henrichsen, superintendent for the Harmon Construction company said today.
The steel work is completed and most of the concrete floors have been poured. The contractor is concentrating on the brick work and masonry work at the present time.
Terms of the contract call for completion of the new dormitory, which will house 443 women, by early fall.
Dr. Ise to Speak To Faculty Forum
Dr. John Ise will speak to the Faculty forum of the YMCA on the "Changing Concepts of the University" at noon next Wednesday in the English room of the Student Union.
Reservations for the meeting must be made by 5 p.m. Tuesday by calling KU 523 or applying at the YMCA office.
Two Examples of Unpredictable Kansas
BEFORE AND AFTER—These pictures of the 1951 Kansas flood and the 1953 drouth are taken from the Water Resources Fact Finding and Research committee's report to the 1955 State Legislature. The
report. "Water in Kansas," was largely written by Dr. Harold E. Thomas, of the United States Geological Survey in Salt Lake City, Dr. Thomas is attending the 87th annual meeting of KAS this week.