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Friday, Oct. 28, 1960 University Daily Kansan Page 9
It's Euphoria
Political Science Stresses Election
By Lani Mortenson
The political science department is enjoying a state of euphoria.
Every other year the faculty members just lecture. The in-between-years come, and they have every day happenings on the political front to discuss.
The highest state of euphoria comes every four years when the presidential election is thrown in with all the others.
ROY D. LAIRD, assistant professor of political science, said enrollment in the political science department definitely has increased.
"I feel the student interest in the elections is a major factor in this increase," he said.
The political science department is utilizing the real-life political activity for research projects.
"In the introductory courses which I teach, students are doing a two-part analysis of the feelings in their home communities." Prof. Laird said. They are contacting voters in their hometowns and writing about the opinions and attitudes concerning the issues in the presidential, gubernatorial and senate races.
"AFTER THE election a second portion of the project will be written. It will show how closely the analysis coincided with the actual results. The purpose of this project is to show the students all of the pre-election thought that will go on in their communities."
Walter E. Sandelius, professor of political science, said his classes are conducting a poll to judge how the students identify themselves with the two major parties, and which candidate in the several races they would vote for.
"It is being run like a Gallup poll and the results should prove interesting concerning the attitudes of students about the elections," Prof. Sandelius said.
"The very essence of a democratic government are the free elections to determine the leaders of the government," Prof. Laird said.
POLITICAL SCIENCE classes lectures also are based on the national election.
"I always lecture about the importance of maintaining these elections, and this year being a presi- dential election year, the examples which can be used to illustrate a point are endless."
PROF. LAIRD and Prof. Sandellius agreed that students as a whole tend to be well informed on the issues in the campaigns, and would be more inclined to vote according to issues than personalities.
"The actual identification of the student with a specific party is usually with the party that his parents are identified with," Prof.
Laird said.
Roy D. Laird
"Since this is a university in Kansas and the majority of the students are from this state, KU students tend to be Republican more often than Democrat."
More than 100 high school senior women will begin argyling on campus late today for the annual High School Leadership Dav.
Events planned for the women begin with a style show at 8 p.m. and continue tomorrow with discussion groups and tours of the campus.
The day is sponsored by Associated Women Students and serves as an introduction to KU for selected women students from over the state.
Dance Discusses Devil- Literature at Poetry Hour
By Lani Mortenson
"The devil appears in many forms and images in literature." Frank E. X. Dance, assistant professor of speech and drama, said during the Poetry hour yesterday.
The subject for the Poetry Hour was the appearance of the devil in literature. Prof. Dance read selections from several works which showed the various ways in which the devil may appear.
"THEOLOGICALLY, I firmly believe in the existence of the devil and in the principle of evil which he represents." Prof. Dance said. "One of the greatest tricks the devil can pull is to hide his presence so completely that nobody knows that he is there."
The feasibility of demonic collaboration in literature is presented in a book by an Italian named Giovani Papini, Prof. Dance said. This book is not a history of opinion about the devil or a defense of him but it does point out that satanic influence is quite great in many well-read books, he said.
"The most important truth which Mr. Papini emphasizes is that most authors do not realize that this collaboration is taking place." Prof. Dance said. "There is no true work of art which has ever
been produced with which the devil has not been associated."
EVERY READER meets many difficulties in conjuring up a picture of the devil as he reads a particular bit of work, he said.
"It would be quite hard to identify the devil by physical descriptions given by authors," Prof. Dance said.
"Everybody presents it differently. Some of the devils are dressed in black, have small pointed beards and talk in awe inspiring tones about mysterious subjects. The only true clue to a doubtful character's true identity—have him take off his shoes. According to tradition, devils always have cloven hooves."
THE VARIETY of physical descriptions is not the only problem encountered by readers, he said. There are several names which have been attached to the devil-image. Devil, Satan, Beelzy and Lucier are among the names which have been used during the history of the devil.
"Before I discontinue this satanic discussion I want to say one thing," Dr. Dance said. "I never saw so many people show up to get hell in any other place but the army."