Friday, February 18, 1955 University Daily Kansan
'Mouse Powered' Radio Well Liked by Students
Page 5
Students at KU have one of the more unique radio stations in the country at their service. The campus radio, station KDGU, is aptly described by Prof. Don Dixon as being a "mouse powered" radio because of its extremely low power.
You could probably drive your car up close to either Templin, Grace Pearson, Corbin, North College, Battenfeld, or Douthart halls, tune your car radio in on 630 kc and pick up the station. Students within the dorm can pick up the station on their portable radios. If, however, you left the immediate vicinity of the dorm you would be unable to receive the station.
The function of KDGU is to provide the students with good entertainment and with training in the actual work of running and operating a commercial broadcasting station. All the operation, programming, and performing on the station is done by the students.
KDGU uses the regular 110 volt system in each dorm as its antenna. Each dorm is covered except in the Ease where two dorms are covered by one transmitter.
The big difference between KU's station and the normal radio station is that there is a transmitter for each University dormitory served, while the usual radio station has one central transmitter with its signal sent out through a tower on an assigned frequency.
No licenses are required of either the station or the students by the
FCC and the frequency was picked by the station management. The FCC, however, assigned the call letters and all FCC rulings must be abided by as far as operation and procedure are concerned.
The station is operated on a strictly commercial basis with paid advertisements both by campus and national advertisers. Regular news programs are given covering both national and local news with the local angle played up to a greater extent. Audience participation is tried for on such programs as "Go or Goof." a disc jocvel program.
Polls taken in North College and Corbin show that about 50 per cent of the girls there could be classified as regular listeners to KDGU. Comment from these two halls and the other halls serviced show a favorable reaction to the programs offered.
The feeding system to the various dorms is done over regular telephone lines which were installed by the telephone company. The first of these systems was installed in September, 1953, in Corbin and North College halls. With the installation of this equipment KDGU officially went on the air.
The cost of the individual transmitters averages about $150 except in the case of the Corbin hall transmitter which cost approximately $1200. Expansion programs call for the installation of a transmitter and feeding system in each new dormitory as it is installed.
Geiger Counters in Demand
Scientists Say Kansas Shale Contains Uranium Nodules
By TED BLANKENSHIP
Uranium . . . a fertilizer? No, a farmer would need a pretty strong imagination to visualize his crops fertilized with uranium.
This fuel of the atomic age, with engineering problems worked out, can be processed as a by-product of phosphate fertilizer contained in black shales found over a wide area of eastern Kansas.
The uranium is found in the phosphate nodules which make up about 10 per cent of the black shale. Economic extraction of uranium during the manufacture of super phosphate from these nodules has been proven according to a recent release from the Atomic Energy commission. Kansas shales contain about 136 grams of uranium per ton of shale.
This uranium bearing shale—known as Heebner shale—can be found in Douglas county. It is a black shale occurring between the Plattsmouth and Leavenworth limestone members. A State Geological survey bulletin describes the nodules taken from a fresh outcrop of this shale as generally well formed and numerous.
Russell T. Runnels, head of the Geochemistry department of the State Geological survey, has been working with John A. Schleicher, chemist and spectographer, and Kenneth Rose, chairman of the mining and metallurgy department of the survey, in an attempt to evaluate the possibilities of producing fertilizer and the by-product uranium from Kansas shales.
Runnels said there is not much chance of finding uranium ore in Kansas. He pointed out that ore is not merely material that contains a trace of minable minerals, but is material that can be dug out and processed profitably. Runnels said, however, that this does not discount the possibility of producing uranium as a by-product of phosphate.
"I still feel in my mind that you must in your own ability to extrust the noddles," he said.
Pointing up the fact that uranium is of vital interest to Kansans today, prospectors have been combing the hills of eastern and southeastern Kansas and portions of Missouri in
hope that clicks of their geirer counters will mean wealth. The hunt is kept alive by government guarantees that it will buy uranium ore for years to come and pay generous amounts of money for discovery and the starting of new mines.
Uranium may never be found in Kansas in minable quantities, but the fact remains that phosphate fertilizer can be manufactured and uranium can be obtained as a byproduct of that manufacture.
Insurance Rates Lower on Autos
Students and faculty members who fall within certain age and family groups will save from 9 to 32 per cent on the cost of motor car liability insurance due to a recent lowering of insurance rates.
Rates on nonbusiness cars of married couples with children, if the husband is over 25 and the wife is under 25, will be reduced 23 per cent. If such cars are used in business, the rates will be cut 9 per cent.
Under the new plan, rates on nonbusiness cars with women operators under 25, but no men drivers under 25, will be reduced 23 per cent.
The reduction became effective Feb. 16 with member firms of the National Bureau of Casualty Underwriters and affects 39 states, including Kansas.
Joe G. Skillman, campus police foreman, said 606 students and 574 staff and faculty members have been given parking permits for the spring semester. Mr. Skillman estimated about 90 per cent of the staff and faculty members and about 40 per cent of the students own motor cars.
Rates on nonbusiness cars of married couples with children, if the husband is over 25 and the wife under 25, will be reduced 32 per cent; if used in business, 20 per cent.
Cars of married couples without children, if the husband is under 25, will be reduced 12 per cent. Rates on non-business cars, with no drivers under 25, customarily driven to work less than 10 miles each way and garaged in areas primarily small city or rural in nature, will be reduced 9 per cent.
Kansan photo by Harry Elliott VISITOR FROM GERMANY—Mrs. Hedwig Meermann, German civic leader, discussing her agenda with Prof. Ethan P. Allen, director of the government research bureau, and Prof. Clifford Ketzel, of the political science department. Mrs. Meermann is a participant in the Foreign Leader program of the International Education Exchange service of the State department.
New Exemptions Affect Students
New federal income tax exemptions are reported for scholarship students and parents who support full-time students.
Grants to students not working for degrees will be tax free up to $300 a month for a period equivalent to four years of college only.
If the scholarship or fellowship requires that the student teach or do research, that part which represents wage or salary is taxed. Income from such activities, where required of all candidates for a degree, is not taxable under the new law.
Under the new federal income tax law a student now pays no tax on the money received as a scholarship or a fellowship grant except where it is received from an educational institution of the state of Kansas, reports the Governmental Research center.
Fellowship to Meet Sunday
a delicate and beautiful print . . . fashioned into a stunning giant-bowed blouse . . . for flattery to your skirts and suits. Gay colors . . . In sizes 9 to 15.
4. 95
K.C. Architects Talk to Students
The United Student fellowship of Plymouth Congregational church will meet at 7 p.m. Sunday at 925 Vermont st. Following recreation led by Susan Hanson, college sophomore, the group will attend a service conducted by Dr. Ruth Isabel Seabury, Danforth lecturer, at 8 p.m. in the Student Union.
Angus McCallum and John Murphy, architects from the Kansas City chapter of the American Institute of Architects, were guest speakers at the student chapter meeting last night.
Use Kansan Classified Ads.
Mr. McCallum spoke on the topic, "How the Architect Sells His Services to the Client." He expressed the idea that the architect's purpose is to serve society. His primary composition is to offer his services and resources to individuals in a sincere desire to give his client a better environment and way of living.
"The Ethics of the Architectural Profession" was the topic of Mr. Murphy's speech.
MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25th
TOPEKA, KANSAS
ALL SEATS RESERVED
Prices $2.50, $2.00, $1.50 and $1.00
Mail Orders Accepted Auditorium Box Off.
Beautiful and Different for Initiation
You'll be proud to give this beautiful Floating Opal set for an initiation present.
Order now to have the present by initiation time.
Balfour's
411 W. 14th Ph.307
Dinners
For Every Taste
- Sea Foods
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Duck's Sea Food Tavern 824 Vt.