University Daily Kansan
Lawrence, Kansas
STUDENT NEWS PAPER
OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Germany Awaits Approval Of New Constitution
United Press World News
United Press World News A constitution for Western Germany that has been eight months in the writing was handed to the American, British and French military governors for approval today—four days before the lifting of the Berlin blockade and two weeks before the big four conference on Germany.
The 145-article document, patterned after that of the short-lived Weimar Republic, calls for establishment of a two-chamber legislature. In 19 sections it guarantees the basic freedoms and liberties attainable only in democracies. It goes to the 11 West German states for ratification and allied authorities for approval.
Adoption of the constitution by the Bonn assembly last night by a vote of 53 to 12 was considered a major political victory for the Western allies. In the face of Communist cries for a unified Germany, three-fourths of the country was united.
Shanghai-Garrison headquarters requisitioned private trucks and jeeps for military purposes after losing Kashing, vital defense anchor point 50 miles southwest of Shanghai. Other Communist forces were hammering at Kushan, 30 miles northwest.
Lisbon-The U. S. Navy's patrol bomber Truculent Turtle arrived in Portugal non-stop on a flight commemorating the Atlantic crossing 30 years ago of a navy seaplane.
London—Russia tightened its air blockade against American and British government radio programs to the Soviet. Only 12 per cent of the Voice of America and BBC casts got through to the Russian people Sunday.
Berlin—Britain's foreign secretary Ernest Bevin said he hoped the big four foreign ministers would bring a centuries-long peace to Germany. Bevin promised West German leaders that the West would insist on a sound, democratic unfettered Germany when it meets Russia at the big four session in Paris.
ASME Host At Meeting
The local chapter of the American Society of Mechanical engineers was host at a regional meeting of the society. May 5,6 and 7.
Cash awards amounting to $110 were presented to the five best speeches by Carl J. Eckhardt, vice-president of region eight. The rest of the contestants each received pocket slide rules.
The speech contest ended in a tie for first place between J. C. Williams, Oklahoma A. and M. and Keith Kittle, University of Nebraska, Ralph H. Creighton, engineering senior, won the second place award. Third place went to Si Chin Lou, University of Arkansas and fourth place to W. B. Murray of Oklahoma
Training Aids Talk Is Tonight
The Phillips Petroleum company plant and the Sheffield Steel power plant were visited on a field trip to Kansas City.
Capt. Frank Teixeira of the organized reserve office in Kansas City, Kan., will demonstrate the use of training aids at 7:30 p.m. tonight in Green hall theater. All faculty members are invited to attend.
HS Newspaper Winners Named
The William Allen White School of Journalism and Public Information today named winners from 45 Kansas high schools in the annual K.U. High School Newspaper contest.
Faculty members of the School of Journalism judged 438 entries in 11 different divisions. A list of the winners in the various livisions is printed on page two of today's University Daily Kansam.
Oil Man Gives Latest Methods
The oil industry is working to get more production through technical improvements, Dr. Morris Muskat said May 6.
Mr. Muskat, chief of the physics division of the Gulf Research and Development company in Pittsburgh, Pa., spoke to representatives of the oil industry and students in a series of talks at the University.
Some of the technical means now in use to increase production are gas injection, gas drive performance, partial water drives, condensate reservoirs, and water flooding, he said.
The series of lectures was sponsored by the University petroleum engineering department, the Kansas State board of health, the Kansas section of the American Institute of Mining Engineers and the University Extension.
Ninety-nine representatives of the oil industry from Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas, and 32 registered student enrollees from the University attended the lectures.
This series of talks was given by Dr. Muskat at the University of Texas in February. Popular demand from educators and petroleum scientists brought the series to the University.
Kansas—Partly cloudy, warmer West and central today. Tomorrow fair, a little warmer. High today in the 70s.
WEATHER
"Well, it's a rat race from here on out."
Final Examinations Exposed As Medieval Torture Device
These words, uttered by a history professor Wednesday, ring true with their meaning for the next four weeks. Three weeks from today the final examinations start, and members of the faculty are putting final touches to their tortures known as final examinations.
By JOHN S. HILL
The usual English department ex-
The usual English department examination is a 100 page, single spaced, typewritten questionnaire, written in Greek. The student who fails to do this "comparatively easy" test in the 110 minutes allowed usually gets a second try the following semester. Or he can use the guillotine, and end it all the first time.
In previous years these alternatives have been dark secrets, but this year the news got out.
Electrical engineering professors are not as condescending as the English teachers. The "double E" students are strapped in an electric chair and asked questions, some of which would make the noted physicists tear their hair.
Journalism teachers have a simple device. They just toss the erring one into the press and then tack him on the wall, printed with news stories, as a warning to others.
If the student fails to answer the complex problem in five seconds—right or wrong—the switch is thrown. If he answers wrongly, he is electrocuted anyway.
Professors in the romance language department employ ancient weapons found in French and Spanish torture dungeons. The student who doesn't know his stuff can look forward to a pleasant hour on the rack.
How can one tell? Well, why else would the women*call off all their social doings for the rest of the semester? Why would men quit dating, as is planned? When anything this drastic is done, something terrible must be known.
But the finals still aren't tough enough. They are too easy for the students. They...
Please, professor! Not the lash!
Not again. . . I've said they are too easy. . . leggo!
Editor's note: Hill was caught writing this expose of what final examinations really are. When last seen, two professors were dragging him toward the presses. We hope you appreciate the sacrifice he has made for his fellow man.
Board Elects Yearbook Heads
Marian V. Rippeteau. College junior, and John F. Eulich, sophomore, have been elected editor and business manager respectively of the Javahwer magazine for 1949-50.
The positions were filled by an election held by the Jayhawker board May 6.
Members of the board are: Miss Margaret Habein, dean of women; L. C. Woodruff, dean of men; Burton W. Marvin, dean of the William Allen White School of Journalism and Public Information; Raymond Nichols, executive secretary of the University; M. D. Clubb, chairman of the department of English; and Thomas Yoe, director of public relations of the University.
William Howie, instructor of English, substituted at the meeting for Professor Clubb. All former editors and business managers of the magazine are ex officio members of the board as long as they are at the University. The publications committee of the All Student Council may attend the board meeting also.
Faculty Members Bid For Research Projects
T. DeWitt Carr, dean of the School of Engineering and Architecture; Ammon Andes, associate professor of aeronautical engineering; and S. A. Miller, associate professor of chemical engineering; returned recently from a business trip to Wright-Patterson army air field. Davton, Ohio.
They were there at the invitation of air force authorities to place bids on three research projects. These projects are secret in nature, but in general relate to aircraft power plants.
Safety Editorials In UDK Win $100
The first prize of $100 in a nationwide college newspaper contest to promote safe driving has been awarded to Maurice C. Lungren, editor-in-chief of the University Daily Kansan the last half of the Fall semester this year. This was announced today by James S. Kemper, chairman of the Lumbermen's Mutual Casualty company, which sponsored the competition.
One of Lungengrn's prize winning editorials is reprinted in the adjoining column. It appeared in the Kansan, Dec. 21, 1948:
Lungren's editorials urging care in driving during the Christmas holidays won him the top award. They ran in the University Daily Kansan on Dec. 18, 17 and 21. Lungren was graduated from the Willis School of Journalism and Public Information in February and now is news editor of the Harlan (Iowa) Tribune, an outstanding weekly.
"Congratulations to you for the excellent way in which you handled the job of selling safety to your readers and for your splendid cooperation in this campaign to reduce the holiday accident toll. . . As sponsors of this contest, we are grateful for the fine support received from college publications throughout the nation."
In a letter to Lungren, Mr. Kemper said:
274 Killed In Kansas
What's that again? How many killed? Yes, you heard right. On the highways of Kansas in 1948, through Dec. 16, 274 persons had been killed in automobile accidents.
This is a frightful toll. A frightful toll in grief and sorrow and broken families; a frightful toll in destroyed property.
This is our last opportunity, before the holiday season, to review some of the facts regarding safety and believe there is merit in their repetition.
In the first place, don't get an exaggerated idea of your driving ability as insurance statistics show that persons of college age, 18-24, are involved in so many wrecks that higher rates can be assessed in 40 states. Just use a little judgment and don't take unnecessary chances.
American people have been commended for their sportsmanship, except when they drive a car. Isn't it time, in view of all the accidents, to do something about it? It takes such a little time to be considerate.
A point we have not given much attention is the mistakes of the pedestrian. National Safety council figures show that nearly three out of four pedestrians killed in 1947 were crossing the street improperly. That is, they were crossing in the middle of the block, or against a red light. December seems to be an open season as 58 per cent more pedestrians were killed in December, 1947, than in any of the previous months.
We think that a good time to start on your New Year's resolutions would be just before you start home for Christmas. At least you could resolve to drive safely, use your best judgment, be considerate of the other fellow, and concentrate on what you are doing all the time. At 60 miles an hour, things happen quickly. Just keep thinking 60 miles an hour, when you travel that fast.
And, from this department, we wish you a merry, and SAFE, Christmas;
a happy, and SAFE, New Year! —M.C.L.
Union Activities Choose 12 New Chairmen
Twelve students have been chosen to head the committees of Union activities. These chairmen will automatically become members of the Union activities executive board which directs the activities of the organization.
The chairmen and the new executive officers will be installed at an executive board dinner tomorrow in the Union. The executive officers are: Craig Hampton, president; Margaret Granger, executive vice-president; objections to vice - president; vice - president; Paul Coker, social vice-president; Marjorie Crane, secretary; and Jack Howard, treasurer.
Those selected were: Sue Sperry, announcements; James Porter, art; Sally Garland, coffee and forums; Charles L. Johnson, decorations; Win Koerper, entertainment; Myron Husband, K-Union; Sterling Waggener, public liaison; Patricia Ames, secretarial; Marilyn Brown, social; James Mann, special projects; and John Wiedeman, sports and organizations.
Personnel cuts will not affect the hospital or medical programs, Carl R. Gray, Jr., veterans administrator, said.
Plans for the coming year will be outlined by Craig Hampton at the dinner, and Evans J. Francis, retiring president will greet the new officers.
Derby emphasized that the Veterans bureau at the University of Kansas would not be affected by the personnel reduction.
Lawrence VA Will Close
The closure is to go into effect June 30, Derby said. Dismissal notices will be in the hands of all employees by May 9, which will permit the customary 30-day notice prior to separation.
Official confirmation of the Washington, D. C., dispatch closing the Lawrence Veterans Administration office has been received, Sherwin L. Derby, contact representative at Lawrence, announced today.
The local office is one of 14 V. A. offices employing 8000 persons that are being closed to bring employed personnel within limits set in President Truman's budget.
He added that every effort will be made to assure that essential services to veterans will be maintained at the highest possible level.
Other offices de-activated by the Washington release in Kansas are those at Salina and Dodge City.
Alumnus Gives Guinea Pigs
Dr. James B. Rogers, professor of anatomy at the University of Louisville, has presented 150 guinea pigs to the department of anatomy. He was graduated from the University with an A.B. in '16 and received his A.M. in '17.
This gift makes a total of 350 animals given by Dr. Rogers. They will be used for experiments to determine the effect of starvation and lack of certain vitamins on the adrenal glands, Dr. Paul G. Roofe, professor of anatomy said.
Dr. F, W. McCoy, instructor of anatomy and physics will conduct the project. He is at present with the University Health service, but will be a full time staff member of the anatomy department next fall, Dr. Roofe said.