Fridav. November 20.1959 University Daily Kansan
Page 13
Western Civ Courses Grow
By 1965 the Western Civilization program will increase its enrollment by 400 students.
James E. Seaver, associate professor of history and director of the program, said this prediction is based upon the assumption that 10.5 per cent of all KU students will continue to be enrolled in the program.
This percentage of students has been a part of the program for the past four years. There are 1,239 taking Western Civilization now.
Professor Seaver said:
"With increases in the program's size, changes will have to be made in the discussion room facilities, the number of discussion groups and the number of instructors. But change is nothing new to the program."
Changes Were Made
Gradual changes have occurred since the Western Civilization program was established in 1945, with major changes being made in 1955.
Walter Sandelius, professor of political science, helped to pattern the program in 1945 after the Western Civilization setup he had observed at Oxford University, England.
Students read assigned essays from a collection of books on reserve at Watson Library. They were expected to arrange individual discussions with their proctor each week. Members of the Western Civilization Board, which managed the program, selected the proctors from applications made to them.
Students failed most of the time to discuss the readings with proctors. Many times the students had difficulty getting the readings because others were using them in the library.
Professor Seaver said:
"There were no mid-term or six-week's examinations, so students went into the final examination"
cold, with no real idea of what sort of question would be asked."
Meeting Times Set
Since 1955 students in the program have been assigned to meet in definite discussion groups at set times. The Western Civilization Board revised the program's reading requirements to include essays about science, economy and philosophy, in addition to political science.
Professor Seaver said:
"Members of the board also decided that the program's readings were of sufficient difficulty that most students should have completed their freshman year before taking Western Civilization.
"Few freshmen are allowed in the Western Civilization course now who are not in the gifted students program."
Students enrolled in Western Civilization now own all the required readings in the collected readings published by the program's board and in paperback volumes.
Examinations Given
Six-weeks examination questions give the students an idea of the general type of questions that will be included on the four-hour examination at the end of the second semester of discussion groups.
Professor Seaver explained that instructors who lead the discussion groups submit possible examination questions to a committee of five selected by him. He said:
"After this committee edits the suggested questions it gives the students a list of the questions it has decided are thorough enough to be on the six-week's examination.
"The students are promised that the questions on their examination will be picked from those on the list.
"Some students don't realize how lucky they are."
"I like red flags."
This pet is a secret because our national house rules state:
I suffer from a disease common among journalism students—not insanity, but divided loyalty.
"There shall be no pets in the house or the yard."
By Jane Boyd
Tailless Tabby Is Sorority Members' Secret
Journalism students often face the dilemma of fulfilling their responsibility for reporting the news or being loyal to an outside group.
When I brought the cat from home last month. I rationalized because the cat, "Sam," is a rare and unusual cat. Sam is a manx or tailless cat.
My dilemma involves a sorority secret. The sorority is Sigma Kappa. Our secret—we have a cat.
Sam is not a show cat for the manx division. Not only does he not have short, thick fur, but also, he
The manx cat is typified by longer bind legs than the front legs, short, thick fur and the absence of a tail.
This type of cat originated in the Isle of Man and has spread, like the Siamese cats, through importation.
In the six years I have raised manx cats, there have never been more than two tailless kittens to any litter. It is possible for a manx mother to have a litter with no tailless kittens.
The manx cats cannot be referred to as a breed because the characteristics of the manx occur through mutation. If manx cats with all the specified characteristics are bred together, the litter would be born dead or it would be extremely weak.
lacks the discipline necessary in cat shows.
As a 10-week-old kitten, Sam shows signs similar to those in the development of human juvenile delinquents.
Sam takes every leaf or old corsage he finds to his bedroom in the basement.
He is a show-off. Everyone knows that cats cannot climb steel pillars, but Sam has attempted to do so.
Sam is a petty thief. He has been known to carry small articles of clothing from girls' rooms.
The activities listed above continue for periods of approximately three hours.
Sam has an obsession for plants which could be compared to the teenagers' obsession for cars and popular music.
As if the full moon had just descended and the vampire had been transformed into a beautiful woman Sam will go to sleep.
Confronting such art problems is Richard S. Trump, assistant director of the Museum of Art and instructor of art history. He is beginning his first year at KU as an art instructor and curator of the Museum of Art.
Sam had to be moved from my room to the basement because of our conflicting sleeping hours. To Sam, turning out the lights is like Reveille.
A kitten racing over an orlon comforter at midnight can sound like an amplification of the sound made by fingernails scraping across a plate.
These are the only tools of an amateur picture-hanger. But to the new curator of the Museum of Art, a picture display entails many hours of thought, study and detailed consideration.
"The hanging of a painting is more difficult than most people think," he said. "We must consider the lighting effects, background and surrounding art work when displaying a painting to draw the proper effects and atmosphere of the paintings."
A hammer, a nail, a bare wall and a picture.
Museum Curator Believes Picture Hanging an Art
The problems this one tailless, gray-striped kitten has posed have been balanced by the enjoyment the girls have had in watching him.
"He must be experienced in lighting, props, drapery, and picture frames as well as being familiar with the paintings to be on display," he said.
The new curator said that the KU Museum of Art is doing an excellent service for the people of the midwest. He said that although Lawrence is at some distance from New York, the art center of the nation, the accomplishments here have made KU one of the outstanding art centers of the midwest.
For simplicity, however, he was dubbed "Sam." This name, you will notice, can be changed to Samantha, if the situation arises.
"The job as curator of an art museum entails many different problems. A curator's main job is to arrange for and conduct art exhibitions," he said.
By John Macdonald
No suggestions have been offered on the determination of sex. Sam's mother was named Teddy. The name was later changed to Theadora.
Mr. Trump received his M.A. in 1954 from Iowa State University. He taught art history at the College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio, before going to Ohio State University to work toward a Ph.D.
He has had several of his paintings on display at many exhibits but his primary interest is in the history and theory of art. For his doctoral dissertation Mr. Trump is working to bring to public notice the paintings of a hitherto unrecognized German-American painter.
By the date of publication this secret may have been disclosed to the alumnae. The girls are keeping the secret, but Sam insists on meowing from hiding places whenever there is an alumnae near.
The girls suggested such names as "Stilt," because of the hind legs. Another suggestion was "Sigmund Kapper."
Several weeks ago, he meowed through a pledge meeting. The alumnae pledge adviser sat quietly with no comment. It was obvious that the pledge trainer was shouting for a purpose.
JUMP, SAM!—Sam, the tailless Manx kitten who lives at the Sigma Kappa house, reaches for a branch held by Jane Thoe, Mission sophomore.
2. 10000000000