12
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 1970
University Daily Kansan
An organizational meeting for the University of Kansas International Affairs Commission will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Governor's Room of the Kansas Union. Mike Blakey, Topeka senior and acting chairman, said the group was formed last spring as a co-ordinating committee for campus organizations dealing with international affairs.
International Committee to Meet
French Club to Organize
Le Cercle Francais will have an organizational meeting and election of officers at 4:30, Sept. 16, in the Council Room of the Kansas Union, according to Mattie Crumrine, professor of French. Miss Crumrine, who is adviser for the club, said that the meeting will provide an opportunity for people who are interested in French or who come from French-speaking countries to meet one another. She said that membership is not limited to persons enrolled in French, but is open to anyone interested in hearing, speaking or learning about French.
The School of Architecture and Urban Design is sponsoring a forum, consisting of four panel sessions, entitled, the "Community Development Collaborative." The first of these panel sessions, "Is Community Planning Community Planning?", will be at 8 p.m. Wed., Sept. 16, at Jolliffe Hall.
Novelist to Read Works
Architecture Forum Planned
Stanley Elkin, novelist-in-residence, will give a public reading at 4 p.m. today in the Big Eight Room at the Kansas Union. Elkin, a member of the English department at Washington University in St. Louis arrived on campus Sept. 7. He will return to St. Louis Sept. 18. Elkin's work includes; "Boswell" (1964), "A Bad Man" (1967) and "Criers and Kibitzers, Kibitzers and Criers" (1966), a collection of short stories.
P-to-P Meeting Planned
People to People, an organization which promotes familiarity between American and foreign students, has scheduled a membership meeting at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, in the International Room of the Kansas Union. People to People sponsors programs to facilitate interaction between foreign and American students. A tour of Kansas City nightclubs is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 26.
Cities Theme of Photo Exhibit
Use of photography in the study of urban problems and in city planning is the theme of an exhibit, "Photography and the City," that will be shown Sept. 12-Oct. 11 at the Architecture Exhibition Hall in Marvin Hall. The exhibit, a collection of 362 photographs, was created by two designers with the cooperation of the Smithsonian Institute. The photographs range from the first aerial view of a city to the latest photoanalysis of urban air pollution.
Bahai Presents Proclamation
Members of the KU Bahai Club presented a book and a proclamation to Donald E. Metzler, mayor of Lawrence, Tuesday. The proclamation is signed by Governor Robert Docking and Metzler. It proclaims Sunday, Sept. 20, as World Peace Day. The book is a collection of letters promoting world peace written in the 1800's by Baha'u'lillah to the rulers of the world.
Meditation Lecture Scheduled
A lecture on transcendental meditation as taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi will be at 8 p.m. tonight in the Forum Room of the Kansas Union. Casey Coleman will be the speaker.
Chalmers...
From Page 1
HE SAT BACK in his chair a moment, looking at the cold September rain pattering against the window. Then he said, almost as a pledge to himself, "I will take every precaution to see that all of our students are safe."
Chalmers compared America's present situation in regard to campus problems to a cartoon strip he used to read. One character in the series carried a steel umbrella, he said, because he had heard of a man in the middle ages who had been hit by a meteorite and killed. So, bent under the burden of the umbrella, the character vowed that such a thing would never happen to him, Chalmers said.
"Basically, I feel that a lot of the structure we use in learning is just that: structure. A lot of people think that as long as the structure is observed, learning will take place.
"I guess I don't believe that. I don't agree with the concept of students as 'passive learners' and faculty as 'active teachers.' I think optimum learning takes place when the students are actively learning and teachers also are learning."
"I have a feeling that our society is carrying a steel umbrella," Chalmers said. "We can become overly concerned with concern itself and not allow the energy and enthusiasm of education to continue."
CHALMERS said he would have to rely on idealism rather than pragmatism to project the future.
Chalmers said he thought that methods of assessing learning were an area that needed review. "The whole question of grades is vastly overdone by our society," he said.
STUDENTS AND society need to know what the student has learned, he said, and computing a grade point average to four places is not a significant measure of that.
"If our prime purpose is to provide learning, then the process of assessment should find what areas the student has not mastered so that more of that particular area can be covered. For the life of me I can't see how a final examination can do that," he said.
Chalmers said he would like to see the learning process move out of the classroom and into the society in the future. Impacted urban areas, law practices, businesses, all phases of living could be utilized as laboratory settings for students, he said.
KSU Meets
From Page 1
and yet desperation. "We are proud that you have chosen to honor our university with your visit . . . But I think all of us here would appreciate it if, even just for today, you would at least try to level with us."
An "Ad Hoc Committee to Greet the President" earlier this week distributed pamphlets urging students to "wear black on Black Wednesday," and published a blank ad in the Kansas State Collegian, the student newspaper, with the caption: "The following is a complete and detailed account of the results of Nixon's plan to end the war."
The gray, wet weather seemed to permeate the students' reaction to the President's visit. Initially students were flattered that Nixon had chosen Kansas State as the podium from which he would address college students across the nation. Closer scrutiny showed the political mood was, to say the least, calm, and in the extreme, a bit despondent.
But by and large, the atmosphere at Kansas State Tuesday night was apolitical.
"Kansas State is just like any other school—15 years ago," Ernest Murphy, editor of the Collegian, said.
On the other hand, proNixon sentiment was apparent. A petition with an estimated 500 signatures expressing gratitude to the President for coming to Manhattan was circulated a few days before the speech. It was also reported that some students were recruiting Nixon supporters to begin applause at appropriate times during the address.
Pat Bosco, student body president, said, "most people are just going to see a celebrity."
Talk last night indicated that demonstrations were expected but that violence was not. The
Secret Service said that was because of K-State's record as a peaceful campus and strict security precautions.
Security precautions the night before included plans to isolate demonstrators from the President by cordoning off two areas several hundred yards from Ahearn Field House, where the address was to be given. No placards or signs were to be allowed in the building.
Some students said they thought many radicals at K-State were unhappy with that peaceful status. They feared that, with increased numbers within the radicals' ranks, as well as expected reinforcements from outside, the radicals would try to politicize the situation.
One group of "Yippies" planned a march from the student union to the field house, where, after entering, they planned to turn their backs on Nixon and eat grapes and drink Kool-Aid in their own brand of protest.
Rumors seemed to be at a minimum, aside from reports from crank letters received by local newspapers. Few sensational stories were circulating.
A walk through "Aggieville," a student-oriented section of Manhattan near the campus, betrayed a disinterested, apathetic attitude. The reality of the visit was exciting in itself, but the political significance did not seem to be a matter of great concern.
In a local tavern, a bartender indicated that people here were not too excited about political activities, and he seemed irritated at having his attention diverted from "Mod Squad."
A clerk at a local "head shop" said he put up a sign about Nixon's visit to promote comment. In describing the responses, he said very succinctly, "no one even said anything."
ALL ABOUT DIAMONDS Our Helpful "Blue Book"
Buying a diamond for the first time? Or even thinking about it in the next few months? Now is the time to stop in and get your first comprehensive information about these beautifully mysterious gems. We will be happy to show you a selection of qualities from our fine stock and explain the subtle points that establish the per carat price of every diamond. Also, pick up your free copy of the American Gem Society's helpful 36 page booklet on "Diamonds" which gives accurate information on grading and pricing. No obligation, of course. Stop In soon!
Del Eisele, certified gemologist
817 Moss. VI 3-4266