Tuesday, June 18, 1968
THE SUMMER SESSION KANSAN
5
Wilson protects his cubs
By Sandy Zahradnik Kansan Staff Reporter
In addition to looking every bit "the man in the gray-flannel suit," KU's balding and slightly paunchy director of residence halls has the business and executive background to go with it.
J. J. Wilson, in his McCollum Hall offices, gave careful thought to each question thrust at him, and answered them in the same manner as a corporation president at a board meeting.
A business major graduate of Pittsburg Kansas State College, Wilson came to KU as business manager in 1949. "I don't believe
they've had the title before or since," he said. "Keith Lawton occupies the role now, with a different title." Prior to his KU appointment, Wilson worked for 14 years as manager of Lawrence's Rapid Transit Bus Company.
As director of residence hall housing, Wilson is "gung-ho" about the residence hall system. It's his baby, and he's nursing, it through a slump right now.
Reluctantly, he admitted that residence halls are going through a phase which is leaving many empty rooms—but he hastily added that he believes residence hall living will make a comeback.
Throwing his arms behind his head, Wilson eagerly explained the functions and concerns of his office.
His job was to "sell" residence hall living, and every sentence he uttered bore this in mind.
Wilson brightened visibly when he spotted the chance to turn the conversation to coed residence halls, and he tightened up again when he discussed people who could not distinguish coed living from cohabitation.
Actress returns to KU to entertain Day Camp
Actress Joanna Featherstone will present her one-woman show for the children of the Lawrence Summer Day Camp this afternoon.
The campers will be transported from the campsite at the 4-H Grounds to KU on buses. A show for first, second and third grades
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will be given from 2:00 to 2:40.
Grades four through six will be entertained from 3:00 to 3:40.
Wilson spoke the seemingly required "I enjoy my job and meeting people" phrases, but they were just words. It was as if he had been all business so long that he did not know quite how to explain just how he felt about the people he met—but somehow you knew that the feeling was there.
Miss Featherstone is a former KU student, and is a product of the Neighborhood Playhouse of New York City. Her performance, which includes acting, singing and pantomime, has been presented in such locales as London, Paris and Liberia.
One New York critic has said of Miss Featherstone that "she infused her act with such excitement that a poetry reading takes on the aura of an enthusiastic revival meeting."
He was worried about what people thought of him—not as J. J. Wilson, the man, but as J. J. Wilson, the administrator. He was interested in the problems of the people who filed through his office everyday, but he took extra care to see that everyone was treated fairly and no one got any special favors.
"One of the things every administrator dreads is the charge that he has been inconsistent," he said.
Classified ads get results
J. J. WILSON
Professor goes to NASA
Ammon S. Andes, professor of aerospace engineering, has been awarded a second-year fellowship to attend a summer faculty program in space research at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)—Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala., June 10 to August 16.
A total of 31 educators representing 25 different colleges and universities will participate in the
program, sponsored jointly by Auburn University, the University of Alabama and the Marshall Center.
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