WILLIAM BASS
Big class is 'happy hour'
Anthropology I, Origins of Man, is the University's most popular class this semester with a record-breaking enrollment of 797 students.
By Janet Hamilton
William Bass, associate professor of anthropology, attributes the astounding increase to continuity in teaching. He teaches the class for two semesters and then takes a semester off.
"WE MUST TEACH things that interest the kids," he said in referring to himself and Robert Squire, associate professor of anthropology, who teaches the class every third semester.
Teachers usually switch from course to course each semester, Prof. Bass pointed out. This doesn't give them a chance to build a reputation for the course. He thinks most students take his course under recommendation of his former students.
Prof. Bass's major field of interest is in the biological aspects of anthropology. This includes human evolution, races, and growth and development. His major field of research has been in the human skeleton.
HE HAS DONE extensive work with police departments throughout the state in the area of human identification. He studies the skeletons to determine the sex, race, stature, age at time of death and whether the person was right or left handed.
Age is determined by studying the ends of the long bones. These bones unite at certain ages. The method is only effective with persons who died before reaching 18.
Age from 13 to 80 can be determined within a four year range by studying the pubic symphysis. This is the area where the two hip bones come together in front. As the body ages, certain changes take place in these bones.
PROF. BASS also teaches a class at Leavenworth Federal Prison every Wednesday night. Since he began seven semesters ago, he has taught Human Origins, Man and Culture, and two upper class courses — North American Indians and Races of Man.
Plan skating party
Falling down continental-style will be the theme of the International Club skating party to be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Lawrence Roller Rink.
The party has been planned to "give the American and foreign students a chance to meet each other in a relaxed atmosphere," Linda Speaker, Leavenworth sophomore and secretary of the organization, said.
DOORES
927 Mass. VI 3-1833
The men pay $10 a credit hour,
the usual price for a university
extension course. In order to enrol,
they must meet all entrance
requirements of KU.
The Kansas Anthropological Association's largest chapter is at the prison. The men initiated the chapter and named it after Prof. Bass. Members meet once a month to hear lectures by speakers from KU.
PROF. BASS hopes to continue teaching human origins as long as he stays at KU. "I like that course the best of any course I teach," he said. "I like students. I like to meet them.
"It's a good course, because you can see so much enthusiasm on the student side," he said. "They are introduced to so many things they hadn't thought about before." Most high schools do not offer anthropology.
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Last semester, students called it the "happy hour." Prof. Bass
likes to combine humor with education. "I hate to have a bad lecture. You can't always make it entertaining, but you can do a lot with it if you try."
NEW BUILDINGS do not provide classrooms big enough for such a large class. But, Prof. Bass hopes he will not have to limit the enrollment.
"So far I've had good results," he said. The problems are mechanical. He does not like to give multiple choice tests which must be graded by machine, but there is no other way. Just handing out material, receiving answer sheets and printing quizzes present big problems.
Some of the deans do not like such big classes, he said. But, as long as Hoch Auditorium is still used as a classroom, he will leave enrollment open. "It would take a long time for me to fill Hoch" he said.
Daily Kansan 3
Wednesday, March 9, 1966
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS THEATRE REPERTORY WEEK
March 11, 12 . . . . The Bedbug by Mayakovsky
March 14 . . . . . . The Taming of the Shrew by Shakespeare
March 15-16 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf by Edward Albee
March 17 . . . . . . The Taming of the Shrew by Shakespeare
March 18-19 . . . . The Bedbug by Mayakovsky
All Performances at 8:20 p.m., Murphy Hall Tickets may be obtained by presenting Certificate of Registration at the Murphy Hall Box Office
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