Friday, February 23, 1968
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
5
LOOKING 'DEATH' IN THE EYE
"Death," the pirahna fish, swims lazily in his tank as his new owners, James Walters, left, and Charles McLean,warily admire their new pet.
Students buy 'neurotic' piranha
'Death' likes image in mirror; throws tantrums when mad
By Sandy Zahradnik Kansan Staff Reporter
S OLD: one vicious, skittish piranha named Death,
perfect for the macabre-
minded.
J. R. Walters, Phillipsburg freshman, and Charles McLean, Independence, Mo., sophomore, wound up owning this fish after they answered an ad in the University Daily Kansan.
The ad, placed by Chris Barteldes, Lawrence junior, read: "One full-grown piranha. A very interesting and unusual fish. Eats meat and small animals. Also 20 gallon tank."
"We just saw the ad one day, and decided it would make a sort of strange, exotic pet," Walters said. So they bought it and keep it in their room at the Acacia fraternity house.
Living up to the ad's promise—"interesting and unusual"—the piranha has already shown several semi-neurotic tendencies.
The fish, commonly known as "Death," sits for hours looking at himself in a mirror hanging near the corner of his tank.
"I blocked his view with a sheet of paper once, and he really got mad," Walters said.
"He's just like a psychotic small child who throws tantrums when he's upset," McLean added.
"And when he's really mad, he belches indigently."
There are only four species of piranha considered dangerous to man: white; black; red, which is the most vicious; and spotted. "Death" the red piranha.
"Death" doesn't look like the vicious man-eater he's built up to be. But behind those never-smiling lips as a set of razor-sharp teeth whose bite is fast, clean and painful. No one has stuck his finger into the tank yet to see if "Death" is really as vicious as rumor has it.
Walters did say they have to buy a new net whenever they remove the fish from the tank to change the water—"Death" rips the net to shreds. That night indicate he isn't a very personable character.
"Death's" man-eating reputation doesn't seem to bear much weight with the other men in Acacia. "They don't believe he's harmful—they're even making bets on who will stick his finger into the tank first," McLean said.
But the trauma of moving seems to have upset "Death's" metabolism. He hasn't eaten anything yet, his owners have provided him with four guppies to munch on when his appetite returns. When he does settle down, the seven and one-half inch piranha will eat almost any meat.
Official Bulletin
According to Webster's Dictionary, piranha are remarkable for their voracity—that means they eat a lot of anything.
TODAY
However, his owners are considering changing his name.
"Death' just doesn't seem to fit him," Walters said. "After all, he hasn't killed anyone yet."
Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship
with the Fellowship of
Jesus Christ" 829 Mississippi
These fish usually have a fairly lengthy life-span of from five to ten years. But McLean and Walters are ready to perpetuate "Death's" memory. If something should happen and he should die, they're thinking of taking him to a taxidermist and having him stuffed.
Latin American Club. 8 p.m. Party welcoming new students, 25 Winona. Society underground Films. 7 & 9:30 a.m. Ekun underground Including Anger's "Fireworks," Nelson's "Plastic Haircut," Emshwiler's "Totem." 303 Bailey.
Popular Film, 7 & 9:30 p.m. "812"
Dyche Auditorium.
in military expenditures which will have a great effect upon our national economy and upon our ability to solve domestic problems."
Graduate Record Examination. All day. 303 Bailey Hall.
SATURDAY
Other Armed Services Committee sources described the new troops sent to Westmoreland as "quick beef, ready to fight, with their weapons in their hands." The sources said these troops were to give Westmoreland "maneuvering and fighting troops for a specific job."
Business School Insurance Forum, 2 p.m. "Conceptual Patterns in In-
fusion Management Development. Dr. Robert I. Mehr, U. of Illinois. Forum
Room, Kansas Union.
Freshman Basketball. 5:45 p.m. K-
State, Allen Field House.
Popular Film, 7 & 9:30 p.m. "8½"
Dyche Auditorium.
International Club, 9 p.m. "American Night"; refreshments, dancing. Come after the game. Big 8 Rm., Union.
It is a job to assist embattled Marine forces at Khe Sanh and Hue and other American troops now fending off stepped-up enemy action aimed at South Vietnamese cities.
The committee source said when the immediate military situation eased, some of these ready forces could be returned to the United States.
SUNDAY
Concert Band. 3:30 p.m. University Theatre.
Gamma Delta & Lutheran Students Association. 5:30 p.m. Prof. Grant Goodman, "Background of Vietnam." University Lutheran Church.
Popular Film. 7 & 9:30 p.m. "8½." Dyche Auditorium.
Pearson predicts increase in draft, reserve call-ups
WASHINGTON — (UPI) — A members of the Senate Armed Services Committee Thursday predicted increased draft calls and possible activation of additional military reserve units to further build up U.S. forces in Vietnam.
Sen. James B. Pearson, R-Kan-, said, "It is apparent to me, after hearing testimony from the top administration and military spokesmen, that the administration will soon ask for additional U.S. troops over and above our 525,000 manpower commitment in Vietnam."
With the dispatch last week of 10.500 additional troops requested by Gen. William Westmoreland, the U.S. force level in Vietnam now stands at about 512.000.
FEBRUARY 29 — MARCH 1 and 2
Pearson said this would "mean a request for substantial increases
ROCK CHALK 68
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