Daily hansan
LAWRENCE, KANSAS
56th Year, No. 141
Wednesday, May 6, 1959
ibrary Noise Near Saw Mill Pitch?
Library Can't Hear Self Think
The majority of students polled on the effect noise has on studying in the library believe they cannot hear themselves think.
Most students disapproved of the bullsessions that take place at the study tables and believed the noise from the turnover of students between classes is the most annoying.
The following is what several KU students think about the noise in the library:
"I used to study in Watson Library frequently. But I don't study there anymore because of the noise. I personally think the librarians in the undergraduate library make more noise than the students. But there are also constant student bull sessions at almost every table."
Judith I. Benedix, Kansas City Mo., sophomore, said;
"I think the noise in the library is definitely the fault of the students Too many students go to the library just to see who is there. They go for the social side of life rather than for studying."
Karlan K. Ison, Overland Park junior, said:
Gary N. Shofner, Ottawa senior said:
Rudy J. Vondracek, Timken junior, said;
"I don't think the library is particularly noisy except between classes when students are walking in and out."
"The noise in the library usually doesn't bother me because I just expect more noise when I study there. It's easier to shut out because you are prepared for it."
Ellen E. Bartley, Kansas City Kan. junior, said;
"I think the library is too noisy because the students constantly run from one room to another. I would suggest a central hallway for future construction."
Police Report Two Thefts
A stolen billfold was reported to police today making a total of two reported thefts this week on campus.
Helene Dunning, associate professor of psychology, reported that her billfold was taken from her locked office in Strong Hall between 11 and 11:45 a.m. Monday. It contained nearly $60.
Later a janitor at the Music and Dramatic Arts Building called her and said he had found her billfold. All the papers in it were torn and her money was missing.
Big Jay McShann, Kansas City recording artist, and his band will furnish the entertainment for the Senior Picnic Friday afternoon.
Also on Monday, Marcia Minnich, Kansas City, Kan., sophomore, reported her purse was taken from a practice room in the Music and Dramatic Arts Building. She had hidden it under her cello case.
KC Band to Play At Senior Picnic
Tickets are available today from senior house representatives and in the alumni office.
McShann will play from 3 to 6 p.m. in the big barn at Bismarck Grove. The program will include both dancing and a short concert.
Sound Indicator Shows:
Following are the results of the Kansan sound meter test in the various parts of the library.
4:30 p.m.
Undergraduate library, front desk—44 decibels
Undergraduate library, water cooler—50 decibels
Undergraduate library, north part—47 decibels
Undergraduate library, middle part—44 decibels
Undergraduate library, back part—44 decibels
Undergraduate library, corner back—48-50 decibels
Smoking room-48 decibels Education room, east side-47-48 decibels Education room, west side-49-51 decibels Kansas Room-50 decibels Reference library, west end-49 decibels (Hig
reference library, west end-49 decibels (High ceiling diffuses actual noise)
ceiling diffuses actual noise) Reference library, east end—48 decibels.
7:30 p.m.
Undergraduate library, west end----48 decibels Undergraduate library,middle----43 decibels Undergraduate library,east end----44 decibels Reference room,west end----47 decibels (high ceiling)
Reference room, east end—47 decibels.
HOW MANY DECIBELS? — Lucretia Gable, Kansas City, Mo., senior, chats with a librarian looking in the reserve stacks for a book. The Kansan found a high noise level in its check of the library.
Old Council Quits Duties
ASC Chooses New Officers
The All Student Council selected officers last night and took action to study the lifting of parking regulations during final examination week.
Rudy Dvorecka, Timkin junior, was elected chairman of the ASC at the new Council's first regular meeting.
Other Council officers are Theodore Hall, Garden City junior, vicechairman; Marjorie Williamson, Hutchinson junior, secretary, and Lawrence Dieker, Westphalia junior, treasurer.
The final ASC meeting of this year will be next Tuesday night, with the new Council in action.
In other action the Council approved a resolution setting up a three-member committee to study lifting of zone parking regulations during final week.
The Council also heard talks by John Downing, Kansas City, Mo. senior and ex-president of the student body, and Dick Wintermote, assistant secretary of the Alumni Assn.
If the lifting of zone parking restrictions is possible the committee will set up a system to be used as a pilot operation. The resolution was introduced by James Henderson, Wichita junior.
Vondracek was elected chairman on the third ballot. He defeated Larry Blickhan, Prairie Village junior; Dieker and Frank Naylor, Kansas City, Kan., sophomore.
Pilot Operation
Downing presented his final report to the Council and outlined programs he feels the Council should undertake next year.
Mr. Wintermote spoke on the role of the Alumni Assn., the Endowment Assn. and the Greater University Fund. The meeting lasted three and a half hours.
NEW OFFICERS -From bottom up aire Marjorie Williamson, Theodore Hall, Rudy Vondracek, and Lawrence Diecker.
Duties Downing Wants More Letters
John Downing, Kansas City, Mo., senior and ex-president of the study body, called for several new All Student Council programs in his final report to the new Council last night, including a continuation and intensification of the letters to the Legislature campaign.
The report said in part:
"This spring, the ASC sponsored a letter campaign which was directed toward the State Legislature. The response from students, parents, and alumni little doubt that our colleges and universities have support throughout the state.
"The campaign this spring was, however, only a token beginning. There is little question but that our educational institutions will have a similar fight for money next spring.
"For this reason it is imperative that our student council take immediate steps to develop an interested and informed public which will support higher education."
Downing also called for an intensified freshman orientation program, a teacher evaluation program, and a teacher recruitment program.
"The teacher evaluation program has had some criticism this year. While there is no question that many members of the faculty give these sheets much consideration, some hold the opinion that those professors needing the sheets the most generally tend to ignore them.
"One approach the ASC might take would be to conduct a senior evaluation." the report said.
In items for immediate consideration Downing called for a new edition of the ASC constitution, more work on the student health insurance program and strengthening the student-faculty disciplinary committee.
Watson Has High Decibels
That popular image of a library as a haven for quiet study and peace does not apply to Watson Library, according to the findings of a recent Daily Kansan measurement of library noise.
This is not to say that any part of Watson contains all the noises of a saw mill or a boiler works.
But every section of it tested proved to be well above the normal sound level in the average American library, which is 40 decibels. (A decibel is a unit for the measurement of loudness of noises.)
The figure of 40 decibels was established by the American Society of Heating and Ventilating in a survey. The Daily Kansan recently measured the sound levels in various parts of Watson with a special sound meter borrowed from the mechanical engineering laboratory.
43 Lowest Reading
The readings were taken at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. There was not much difference in the sound readings at these two times.
The lowest reading was 43 decibels in the middle of the undergraduate library. Other readings ranged up to the 51 decibels found in the west side of the Education room.
For instance, at 4:30 p.m. the west end of the reference library had a reading of 49 decibels. At 7:30 it had a reading of 47 decibels. The east end of the reference library had a rating of 48 decibels at 4:30, and of 47 at 7:30.
Readings in the undergraduate library ran along in about the same ratio. The noisiest places in the library, after the reading of 51 for the west side of the Education room, were the Kansas Room and undergraduate library water cooler area, which each clocked 50 decibels. Both readings were taken at 4.30.
Excessively Noisy
Excessively Noisy Ivan Nemecek, associate professor of mechanical engineering, said that all of the sound readings from the library showed excessively noisy conditions in a building of this type.
But the casual observer of the Watson scene would probably not conclude that the place even approached the din of a slaughter house. And besides, there is an advantage to a certain amount of noise. Robert Vosner, director of the library, said, that he objects to attempts to enforce quietness in the library on an official basis.
"The riddance of noisy conditions in the library is up to the students. This should be a community project. We are not prepared or interested in acting as policemen for mature people," he said.
Noise Varies
Mr. Vosper said that the amount of noise students want to study by varies from person to person.
"Some students need extreme quiet to study by, and others like a more sociable atmosphere. We have a variety of rooms in order to give the individual students the type of atmosphere they want.
"Sometime in the future we hope to provide group study rooms where people can talk their studies over with each other," he said.
Weather
Fair west, partly cloudy east late today. Generally fair tonight and tomorrow. Cooler east tonight. Warmer west and central portions tomorrow. Low tonight 40s west to lower 50s east. High tomorrow generally 70s.