1946
University DAILY KANSAN
Thursday, October 10, 1946
44th Year No. 13
Lawrence, Kansas
STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
By Bibler
Little Man On Campus
"Remember how we used to say jungle training was impractical?"
Convicted Nazis Denied Clemency
Berlin (UP)—The Allied Control council today refused the appeals for clemency made by the 16 convicted Nazi war criminals.
In a blanket rejection of the appeals, the council denied those on behalf of 11 nazi leaders sentenced to death and refused to reduce the prison terms of five others.
Condition Is 'Good'
The condition of Pat B. Gray, fine arts sophomore, who underwent an appendectomy at Watkins hospital Tuesday is "good," hospital officials report.
Queen Nominations Due
Deadline for nominations of candidates for Homecoming queen is 5 p.m. today. Applications are to be addressed to the queen committee and turned in to James K. Hitt, registrar.
K.U. Wants To Drop Sunflower Barracks
The University wants to get rid of the Sunflower barracks "as soon as possible—maybe by the end of next semester," the Daily Kansan learned today.
Richard Treeee, assistant director of the K.U. housing bureau, pointed out that "the difficulties of trying to run two campuses—one here and another out at Sunflower—are just too great.
Apartments for married couples at Sunflower definitely will stay under University control, Mr. Treceau said. There are more than 700 vacancies in the barracks now, though, and their elimination would simplify many of the administration's housing problems.
"There's no definite closing date for the barracks yet," he explained. "We'll keep them open until we have accommodated all the single men in Lawrence."
Crowded Sleeping Rooms Threaten Student Health; Improvements Planned
Greeks 'Boycott' Meeting; Election Still Is Oct.22
The All Student Council didn't meet last night, but the "wheels" in campus political parties had a hot meeting in the Union.
The special meeting was called by Elaine Thalman, A.S.C. secretary, in response to a petition signed by five council members who wanted the council to reconsider the Oct. 22 date for freshman election.
However, roll call showed four members less than a quorum.
Twelve council members—all indepcet—were there.
Thirteen council members—all Greek—weren't there. The absentees included Pres. Howard Engleman, Pachacamac.
Keith Wilson, Pachacamac, was present but left just before roll call. Among the non-council members present were Donald Ong, J. R. Danneberg, Donald Pomeroy and Earl Stanton, all members of Pachacamac's executive council.
After roll call Clifford Reynolds, P.S.G.L., started the unofficial discussion by asking Ong whether it would be possible for Pachacama members to find out about meetings in the future.
Ong said no one was notified about the special meeting. (Wednesday's Daily Kansan carried nearly two columns on the front page about the event.)
George Caldwell, P.S.G.L., commented, "It's strange the main party members should hear of meetings while Council members don't.
the "unusually early date for the election," he said, "is unfair to independents who haven't the closely-knit organization of the Greeks."
Ong replied, "We have troubles, in Pachacamac, too. Do you want us to take on your troubles? The Oct. 22 date was set to get freshman representatives on the council as soon as possible."
Prof. E. E. Stene, faculty adviser, pointed out that even if a quorum had been present, reconsideration could come only at the request of a member who voted for the bill.
He also pointed out that he had observed parties who attempted to
(continued to page eight)
K.U.'s Governing Body At Its First Meeting
Elaine Thalman, John Irwin, Emily Stacey, Pres. Howard Engleman, Billie Jean Burtscher, Lorraine Carpenter, Paul Briley, Mary Jane Zollinger, Everett Bell, and Charles Hall. (Daily Kansan Staff Photo by Robert Line)
Too Little Space Around Beds, Dr. Mott Charges; Administration Prepares Changes
In their first meeting of the semester, some of the members of the All-Student Council, governing body for K.U. students, gather around the long meeting table in the Union's Pine room. Shown here, left to right, are William Spicer, Wilmer Landon, Owen Peck,
Besides crowded classrooms, crowded library rooms, and crowded bookstores, K.U. students also are living in one other crowded condition which may prove to be the most serious and potentially the most dangerous of them all.
It is the crowded condition of the beds in sleeping rooms of our students living in jammed-up organized houses (some of them University- operated) near the campus.
Inadequate "breathing space" around these beds may cause serious health trouble soon, a recent survey has shown.
The Daily Kansan presents here a statement of the problem, plus a report on the steps the University will take to combat the danger. The material here was written by Charles Roos, assistant managing editor of the Daily Kansan, who interviewed the health officer quoted and who met with the University committee considering the problem.
30 Feet A Person Will Be Recommended
Pushing beds at least two feet apart and sleeping head-to-foot in student dormitories will be the University's recommendation to help correct a "dangerous" condition of overcrowding, an administration committee decided this week.
committee met to consider "practical" methods of correcting the housing situation which Dr. J. M. Mott, Lawrence-Douglas, county health director, has said is "inviting infections of the upper respiratory system."
The administration's statement of policy, in the form of a recommendation to organized and private soon, it will advise that the minimum amount of floor space for each bed will be approximately 30 square feet.
Present were Miss Margaret Habin, dean of women; Henry Werner, dean of student affairs; Dr. R. I. Camuteson, K. U. health service director; Mr. Paul Haney, chairman of the K. U. health committee; E. P. Sellner, sanitary engineer; Raymond Nichols, executive secretary; Irvin Youngberg, housing director; Leonard Axe, director of University services; and Dr. Mott.
"The University recommendations will set an interim, emergency standard, a minimum which gradually will be raised at least to the army minimum of 60 square feet and 720 cubic feet of air space for each sleeping person," Mr. Haney explained.
This figure represents the space taken up by a bed six feet long, three feet wide, and two feet from other beds on each side. The same figure will be used for both single and double deck bunks. Head-to-fetex sleeping—alternating the head and foot of successive beds—is recommended as part of the plan.
Dr. Mott's suggestion of a minimum of 50 square feet and 500 cubic feet was considered impractical.
"Students whose only means of going to college is by living in low-cost independent, co-operative houses would have to drop out if the capacities of these houses were reduced." Mr. Youngberg explained.
Mr. Werner added that the expense of students living in University co-operative houses, such as Battenfeld hall, also would be affected.
Dr. Canuteson suggested the 30-square foot plan as a practical method of approaching the problem
"If we set a higher figure," he said, "many houses will not be able to meet it because of physical limitations. Then they will disregard the entire recommendation. If we set a reasonable figure, which can be met by most houses, I believe the result will be better."
(continued to page eight)
Dr. Canuteson also recommended moving some beds from dormitories
Inspection Reveals Low Standards
University organized houses, Greek and independent, didn't fare very well in the sanitary inspection made this summer under the supervision of Dr. J. M. Mott, Lawrence-Douglas county health director.
There were many discrepancies—overcrowded bath facilities, poor garbage disposal, and dirty kitchens—but the most "vital" problem, the doctor said, is in the crowded sleeping rooms planned this summer and fall and probably at least as crowded now as was expected in July or August.
Fraternities and sororites were Alpha Tau Omega, Beta Theta Pi, Delta Chi, Delta Tau Delta, Delta Upsilon, Gamma Phi Bieta, Kappa Sigma, Nu Sigma Nu, Phi Beta Pi, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Gamma Delta, and Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Their reported total capacity was 540.
Of the organized houses inspected, independent halls—including those controlled by the University—had the better record, with five out of 15 up to the army standard. Only one of 12 sororities and fraternites was adequate. Here is the record:
For his standard, Dr. Mott used the army minimum of 60 square feet of floor space and 720 cubic feet of for each sleeping person.
Of these 28 houses, a total of six met or surpassed the minimum army standards of 60 square feet for each person. Eighteen ranged from 20 to 50 square feet. The four remaining houses, three of the Greek organizations, provided 8, 13, 14, and 18 square feet respectively, with corresponding low figures for cubic air space.
Independent houses inspected were Hillcrest, Wright Place, Henley house, Harman Co-op, Campus house, Watkins hall, Miller hall, Jollife hall, Foster hall, Battenfeld hall, Corbin hall, Spooner-Thayer dormitory, Jayhawk Co-op, Templin hall, and Carruth hall. Their total anticipated capacities—the number they expected to house this fall—totaled 655 persons.
This total capacity-for all the houses-of 1,195 was that anticipated in July or August for the fall semester.
sentence.
Our survey was taken this summer before the crowding begin." Dr. Mott said. "All of these boarding houses and halls were planned for single beds. Now most of them have double decked beds, and we're expecting triple deckers before long.
"The survey shows an alarming condition of overcrowding," he added. "We are inviting diseases of the upper respiratory system—sniffles, colds, tonsilitis, and so forth," he said. "There is a serious public health hazard existing right here at this moment."
WEATHER
Kansas-Showers and much cooler today with strong northerly winds.