Latin American educators evaluate KU
Judgment Day came to KU yesterday afternoon, as 23 Latin American university administrators presented their evaluation of the school's overall performance.
Addressing more than 100 administrators, deans of schools, department chairmen, professors and students in the Kansas Union Forum Room, the visitors gave impressions of KU gained during the four-week-long. Eighth Annual Seminar on Higher Education, which ended yesterday.
THE EDUCATORS generally praised the University's efficiency in relationship to its size, commended its high academic achievements and noted its constant working for self-improvement.
The Latin American educators interviewed administrators, professors and students, in order to evaluate both their own universities and KU.
The group praised KU's large faculty for its general excellence and noted the high degree of confidence given the faculty by the University. In interviewing students, however, the Latins had heard
complaints of deficiencies in some teachers' psychological preparation for teaching. As a remedy they suggested a course in the art of teaching, to be taught by the School of Education.
THE EDUCATORS also criticized an "excessive preoccupation" with research at the University. They felt that the concentration in this area created an imbalance and was detrimental to classroom teaching.
A widespread use of textbooks at KU had its advantages in efficiency, the educators said, but the heavy reliance on them could be a dangerous coverup for deficient teaching, and also could discourage individual learning.
The KU student received the closest examination by the Latins.
IN SURVEYING THE psychological balance of the student, the educators observed a depersonalization at the University and criticized the school for ignorance of individual problems. Students, on the other hand, rely too heavily on their academic advisers, the educators felt.
The high degree of school spirit at KU surprised and pleased the Latins, and they attributed this asset to student pride in the school's academic achievements. But the evaluators feared that the importance students place on their grades could be an obstacle to true learning."
The Latins' talks with students and observation of last month's student elections revealed a marked lack of knowledge of the workings of student government, and little concern with it, they said.
"THE EXPERIENCE of the election process and the opinion of the students, apparently general, indicate the little influence the Student Council has on the student body," said the report.
Concluding their evaluation, the Latins said: "The University of Kansas enhances the system of higher education in North America and models itself as an entity in permanent eagerness for improvement. Its international programs, and, in particular, those that concern Latin America, manifest its universal spirit, an essential mission of every university."
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY kansan Serving KU For 77 of its 101 Years
77th Year, No.128
LAWRENCE, KANSAS
Thursday, May 4, 1967
Western Civ registration ends Friday
Students who plan to take the Western Civilization Comprehensive examination must register in the Registrar's office in Strong Hall by tomorrow, said James Seaver, chairman of the Western Civ department. The exam will be given at 1 p.m. May 20.
Seaver said about 900 students have already registered. He expects many more to register at the last minute tomorrow.
A list of readings to be covered in the exam was distributed to Western Civ classes this week. Students who did not receive the list may pick one up at the Western Civ office in Oread Hall.
The next examination will be given in July.
Planning begins for 1968 Revue
With nearly a year to go before the next Rock Chalk Revue, living groups are pairing up for entries.
"We are still taking applications and I would urge any interested living groups to seriously consider it," said Allen Purvis, Topeka junior and Rock Chalk producer.
Bill Lupton, Wellington sophomore, was recently appointed Rock Chalk business manager. Interviews for the 12 committee chairmanships will be held in the Union Tuesday night, May 9. Prospective chairmen may sign up for the interviews in the KU-Y office.
"Those who would like to work on Rock Chalk, but feel they are
not qualified for a chairman's position may interview for a committee sometime after school starts in the Fall." Purvis said.
Purvis said he would like to stress that it is not necessary for chairmen applicants to have had experience on either the production or business staff of Rock Chalk.
Positions open on the production staff are assistant producer, in-between-the-acts manager, production assistant, choreographer, music advisor and stage manager.
Chairman positions on the business staff include assistant business manager, press agent, publicity committee chairman, ticket committee chairman, comptroller, and program committee chairman.
Interviews will begin at 7 p.m. with exact times and place assigned when the applicant signs up at the KU-Y office.
Communists hit Special Forces
SAIGON — (UPI)— Communist guerrillas, apparently aided by Vietnamese traitors inside a U.S. Special Forces camp, invaded the camp in the northwest corner of South Vietnam today under a curtain of mortar and machine-gun fire and inflicted heavy casualties on the U.S. and Vietnamese defenders.
The attack was only five miles south of the mountain ridgeline where U.S. Marines inflicted a beating on North Vietnamese regulators who tried and failed to hold three strategic hills guarding the invasion routes to the south. Marines were still fighting Communist remnants today.
Court hears loyalty oath
KANSAS CITY, Kan.—A threejudge federal panel today took under advisement the constitutionality of the Kansas Loyalty Oath.
Authr J. Stanley, U.S. District Judge, said, "Gentlemen, we'll take the case," after 90 minutes of arguments presented by lawyers for the plaintiff and defense.
Judges did not indicate when the ruling would be made.
THE BOSTON STRANGLER'S LAWYER
F. Lee Bailey, internationally-known defense attorney, was one of seven panelists at a fair trial—free press debate yesterday in Kansas City, Kansas. See story, page 2.
Attorneys for the plaintiff said it may be weeks before a ruling is made.
Center open house set
Students and Lawrence residents will have an opportunity to view KU's Student Mental Health Center during an open house Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m.
Conversion of the second floor of the old nurses home behind Watkins Hospital was completed last January.
The Student Health Service and the Lawrence Mental Health Association are holding the open house in observance of National Mental Health Week.
DR. SYDNEY SCHROEDER, director of the student mental health clinic, said, "This open house gives anyone interested a chance to come and look around.
"We will be giving a handout sheet explaining the function of the center. Throughout the afternoon, staff members will be in their offices to answer any questions."
A clinic for student mental health was established at KU in 1948, as part of the student health service. Last year about 475 students were treated at the clinic. That number is expected to rise this year.
STAFF MEMBERS at the clinic, besides Dr. Schroeder, are Dean Kerkman and William Binns, psychologists; Sandra Wolf and Roberta Holder, social workers; and Dr. Orlando Moreno, Dr. Randy Johnston, and Dr. William Routt, resident psychiatrists.
Some remodeling was done to the nurses home in converting it to the clinic. Individual bedrooms were changed into offices, and a waiting room and secretary's area was added.
Visitors to the open house should walk around Watkins Hospital, through Watson Library parking lot, and in the back door of the clinic.
The Communists struck the Green Beret camp before dawn and killed 39 Montagnard troops, two U.S. officer advisers and wounded 37 others, including some Americans. Thirty-eight more tribesmen were missing and feared captured. Eight Americans were in the camp.
The Communist raiders apparently had some help from the inside in staging their raids. One of the first places hit was the command bunker, and it appeared to have been blown apart by explosives placed on the inside.
The camp commander and a lieutenant, the only two officers among the eight-man force, were killed by the blast. Two American G.Ls were wounded.
The Communists sent an estimated two companies (about 300 men) of North Vietnamese and Viet Cong into the camp. They penetrated three layers of barbed wire surrounding the Lang Vei camp, blowing it up with satchel charges and rockets and machine-gun fire while mortars pounded into the camp.
CANDIDATES, who will appear in bathing suits, include Nancy Stucky, Hutchinson sophomore; Bambi Buck, Wichita junior; Peggy Haydon, Western Springs, Ill., junior; Nancy Kaiser, Paola freshman; Sally Wilcox, Shawnee Mission sophomore; Susan Littoy, Hutchinson sophomore; and Marsha Kresge, Salina junior.
The queen contest, held at 10:15 a.m. at the TeePee, is part of the morning activities that include senior skits and speeches by Student Bar Association presidential candidates.
Law School fun day set
Miss Res Ipsa Loquitor (the thing speaks for itself) will be crowned this Saturday at the Law school's annual Habeas Corpus (fun) Day.
Carolyn Wiley, Leon, Iowa,
juniior; Mary Plucker, Kansas City
juniior; Candy Allen, Springfield
Pa., freshman; Ann Miller, Platte
City, Mo., sophomore; Linda Morris,
Ulysses sophomore; Ann
Nuessen, Quincy, Ill., senior;
and Karen Schlapper, Prairie Village
freshman.
Following the morning's activities a picnic will be held at the estate of Charles Oldfather, professor of law.