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UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1941
The KANSAN Comments...
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY
A few weeks ago, 224 students in the College took the English proficiency examination. In it they were asked to define a couple of abstract terms, and to write a 500 word theme on "Advice to a Freshman" or some similar topic. The test, of course, was purposely designed to involve much more knowledge of English writing than it would seem. If the average holds true, about 22 per cent of those who took the examination will fail, and will therefore be required to take it over and over again until they do pass. Some students have been known to take the test as many as six times before passing it.
No doubt, many of these students, as well as others over the Hill, wonder just what the value of such an examination can be.
The idea of a proficiency examination for graduating students is not original with the University of Kansas. The Universities of Missouri, Colorado, Indiana, and several other schools in surrounding states also have it as a prerequisite for their graduating classes. The plan was adopted here in 1938, because of the many complaints about graduates not being able to express themselves in a manner befitting college men and women.
The purpose of the examination, then, is to cut down the number of graduates who lack these basic fundamentals of English writing. Whether or not it is actually accomplishing its purpose is yet difficult to say. Members of the faculty in the School of Law say that there appears to be an improvement in the writing of students who have entered that school since the adoption of the examination.
Another possible index is the fact that about one-third of those who fail the test do something about it. They enroll in the voluntary English laboratory class which is held in Fraser hall five days a week especially for these students. This number is perhaps increased still more by those who engage a private tutor to help them improve their writing, at least enough to pass the examination.-L.E.
DEFENSE HALTS HOUSING
This time the defense emergency hits housing. Last week the Supply Priorities and Allocations Board issued a decree forbidding any public or private construction using materials essential to the defense program or public health and safety. Such a ruling issued under the powers of the board will be able to block public works projects approved by Congress, with the Federal Housing Administration as an excellent example.
When the New Deal was installed in 1933, the housing advocates were installed along with it. But FHA, a protege of the New Deal, has been "over-powered" by a new policy of the administration in this emergency period. SPAB is delivering decrees that throw up a "stop light" to its actions.
Even during the lean year of 1938,400,000 new dwellings were erected for the Joneses and the Smiths. FHA in fact has been simply an insurance corporation. It approved the loans on the new houses and then guaranteed the lender against loss. With this guarantee, the administration reserved the right to set restrictions on housing plans, compelling all builders to obtain FHA approval. This amounts only to another service - advice to the buyer and builder and looking out for the interests of the inexperienced home-buyer. FHA made it possible to buy better homes for less money. It
reduced the cost of financing and its gradual repayment plan did away with many of the evils of second mortgages and short-term first mortgages which have to be continually renewed at high cost.
OFFICIAL BULLETIN UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Vol. 39 Wednesday, Oct.29,1941 No.33
Notices due at News Bureau, 8 Journalism, at 10 a.m. on day of publication during the week, and at 11 a.m. on Saturday for Sunday issue.
MEN'S STUDENT COUNCIL: Next regular meeting will be Monday, Nov. 3. Pine room, 8 p.m.-Fred Lawson, secretary.
QUACK CLUB: Quack Club will meet Wednesday evening at 8 o'clock p.m.
SYMPOSIUM: Symposium will hold a meeting on Friday evening at 7:30 in the Pine Room, Memorial Union. The question to be discussed is "Should Student Labor Organize?" All interested are invited to attend.—John Wagoner, chairman.
CATHOLIC STUDENTS: Father Weisenberg will be in room 415, Watson library from 1 to 5 Thursday afternoon.
ALEE. MEETING; The K.U. branch of the ALEE will hold its October meeting Thursday evening, Oct 30, at 7:30 in the Men's Lounge of the Union Building, Mr. George Fiske, Manager of the Kansas City Branch of the General Electric Company, will speak on "The Engineer and His Community." Refreshments will be served. All electricals are invited—Glenn O. Faden, branch chairman.
Prospective teachers may obtain junior memberships in the Kansas State Teachers Association at the office of the School of Education, 103 Fraser Hall—Signed, R. A. Schwegler, president K.U. Unit.
Faculty members who have not yet called for K.S.T.
A. membership cards may obtain them at 103 Fraser
Hall.—Signed, R. A. Schwegler.
PRACTICE TEACHING: Students desiring to do supervised teaching during the spring semester should make application at once in the office of the School of Education.—Signed, George B. Smith, Dean.
A. S.C.E.: A.S.C.E. will hold a regular meeting at 7:30 Thursday in Room 207, Marvin Hall.
ESTES REUNION: For all persons who have attended the Y Conference in Estes Park a reunion picnic is being held Nov. 1, 4:30-8:30. Price 25 cents. Meet at Henley House. Please make reservations before Friday, Oct. 31 with Marian Hepworth or leave your name at Henley House. Everyone is urged to attend!
DEADLINE FOR ESTES REUNION: Make reservations for Estes Reunion picnic before tomorrow with Marian Hepworth or call Henley House. Everyone who has ever attended the Y Conference is urged to come.
MEMBERSHIP ASSEMBLY: A membership Assembly of the Y will meet in the Kansan Room of the Union Bldg., Tuesday, Nov. 4 at 4:30. The Estes Park Conference will be the theme of the assembly. All Y members are urged to be present.
ESTES MEMBERSHIP ASSEMBLY: A membership assembly of the Y to discuss the Estes Conference will be held in the Kansas Room of the Union building, Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 4:30. Everyone is invited.
THE WOMEN'S AVIATION CLUB: The Women's Aviation Club will meet at 8 p.m. Thursday, in the women's lounge of the Union. The national president will be our guest.-Nancy Kerber.
EL ATENEO: El Ateneo will meet at 4:30 Thursday. Oct. 30 in room 113 F.S. We will have an open forum meeting on Costa Rica. Professor Osma will speak. All interested are invited.-Frank Pinet, president.
NOTICE TO PREMEDICAL STUDENTS: Due to the abnormal situation there are some students desiring to enter medical school next fall who did not take the Medical Aptitude Test at the regular time last spring. For these students, the Association of American Medical Colleges is arranging to give a special test at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, December 5, 1941, in Room 206 Marvin Hall. Those students who wish to enter medical school next fall should take the test at that time since the regular test to be given next spring will come too late. Will such students please register AT ONCE at the Medical School Office, Room 10 Frank Strong Hall. A fee of two dollars will be charged for this special test. For further information, inquire of Parke H. Woodard, Assoc. Professor of Physiology, Room 8B, Frank Strong Hall.
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Student Paper of THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS Lawrence, Kansas
Subscription rates, in advance, $3.00 per year, $1.75 per semester. Published at Lawrence, Kansas, daily during the school week and on Saturday. Entered as second class matter September 17, 1914. Office at Lawrence, Kansas, under the Act of March 3, 1879.
Rock Chalk Talk
Not every nightshirted lad in the parade Friday night was a troublesome freshman. One was the jaunty father of a freshman, who, because he never attended this University in his youth, wants to take in all Jayhawker traditions now.
By HEIDI VIETS
Friday afternoon six A.T.O.'s received a telegram from W. J. Packwood Kansas City, Mo., father of pledge Bill Packwood. The six had been Packwood's passengers when he drove to the Kansas-Nebraska game in Lincoln.
The telegram, a masterpiece of extravagance, read, "If you guys think you can run a bangup successful shirtail parade without me, you'd better consult Einstein or start eating Wheaties. How come I have to barge in? Where's that famous A.T.O. hospitality? Well, notwithstanding, et cetera, I am eating and sleeping at A.T.O. Friday night, and I am going to be the biggest, fattest, and oldest shirttail in the parade, so put it in your book, and one of you get ready to sleep on the floor. I am used to a bed. Will arrive 6 p.m. Friday. Have the fatted calf well done. Sic semper tyrannus. (Signed) W.J."
He came. He costumed in a nightshirt. He turned over his automobile to Vince Trump, other A.T.O.'s and their dates. He had the time of his life.
Following the parade in his own car, the boys picked up Packwood after the South Park bonfire. The long and boisterous walk in the parade had not dampened his enthusiasm for Hill traditions.
Packwood addressed the telegram to "Whataman Trubey, Tarzan Howard, Harmony Trump, Slicker Webb, Wildcat Packwood, and The Freshman." By the last label he meant Bob Fesee. The men are still laughing at the thought of the bewildered faces of K-men and KuKu's when they saw Packwood among the shirted youngsters.
named it as soon as they found it, think its contents too good to keep. "Dear Mom."
Letters home, as you all know, come in three main classes: (1) lengthy (2) brief, (3) for money. Of the second class was a message found yesterday scribbled on a card addressed to Lecompton. Discoverers of the card, we
"They didn't allow us to keep our coats on during R.O.T.C. drill tonight. We nearly froze stiff. I guess they are afraid we'll become soft."
"The World Is So Full Of A Number of Things!"
I had a swell supper tonight topped with homemade ice cream and strawberries. All the boys are jovial and likeable. The table manners there are zero minus. My opinion of that boy is definitely bad, but my opinions of the girl are most definitely good—Your loving son, Delbert." The identities of "that boy" and "the girl," along with the original spelling of "definitely," remain unexplained.
B. People who do the "Wrong-Way Corrigan" on Fraser steps.
Only fools or morons, the college senior knows, are happy. By the time he has achieved his seniority he is melancholy personified, and in his little black book he has alphabetized lists of things he loathes.
He has discovered in his infinite wisdom that there are so many things in this world about which he may be unhappy, that it is senseless for him to go up on the Hill this morning. He might better stay in bed and trace mental pictures on the ceiling.
If he started out his university career a blank wall on which many impressions were to be traced, he is now a well-filled blackboard filled with detestations; a battleground of major and minor loathings. He has discovered also that it is not fashionable for one in his station of life to be bucolic and benevolent about life; to ring the register of his contemporaries he has got to pour out his personality on the world in no uncertain terms.
D. Roommates who study with my radio on.
Below are some of the things he doesn't paticularly admire:
C. Profs who smile everytime they see you--that pedagogic sneer.
A. Campus dogs that won't stop to be petted.
E. People who look at you and then don't see you.
G. Freshmen in that house who insist that you should write their
F. Watches that you go by in class from a distance that say half-past when the whistle blows.
H. Profs that call 94 an A-
I. Probs that can call
I. Some guy who keeps his left elbow in the writing attachment of my desk.
themes for them.
J. People who act the part of Einstein and are consistently "flunkies."
K. People who insist that they can see no future in your major.
L. Other Romeos who know every good looking girl you ever met, and don't like one of the
N. Diplomas . . . something you work six or seven years to obtain, and then have to write a check in order to cinch the deal.
O. People who can pull strings, and don't!
P. People with loud trumpeting voices at 7 a.m.
M. People with cars who merely wave their "illy whites."
Q. Phi Beta Kappa keys.
R. Girls who say, "I like you very much, but there's a boy in the army . . ."
KFKU "Digs Up Past" In Dyche Asphalt Pit
"Digging up the Past" was the theme of the weekly "Science on Display" broadcast over KFKU yeshe asphalt pit in the basement of terday at 6:00 p.m.
The broadcast came direct from Dyche museum. Members of the general science class of C. B. Cunningham, Lawrence Memorial High School, were guests.
University of Michigan first dertook inspection of high schools in the state in 1870.