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By Bob Hoyt
Student May Become Poet
University Daily Kansan
Jim Heaton, Baldwin graduate student, may become a poet. At least he is off to a small start, even though he says he is not "striving to be a poet."
His poems have appeared in the "Kansas City Star," "The College Anthology," published by the National Poetry Association, and "Quill," the creative writing magazine published by the KU "Quill Club." Recently, he was notified that a poem of his, "An Early Evening Shortly Before Christmas," had received honorable mention in a creative writing contest sponsored by the "Texas A&M Review," published at the Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College, College Station, Texas.
HEATON IS serious about poetry even though he says it is not "primary" to him.
At times he has gotten some friendly ribbing because of the irregularity of his haircuts.
"Just being alive is primary," Heaton said. "But, poetry is the closest thing to truth — and maybe value — it's an expression of the inexpressible."
"There's a simple explanation for that," he said. "I don't get a haircut every week because I can't afford it. I've even thought of growing a beard. You know, it's just not practical to shave every day. But, if you grow a beard, you get yourself typed. Even if you don't grow a beard, you get yourself typed—by the other side. I don't know, I just try to disguise myself as a person."
HEATON IS AN individual — an individual in the sense that he is not the image of the "All-American Collegiate" type, and he is equally reluctant to have himself typed as a writer or poet of the beard-and-sneaker school.
"Like the other day," he said.
"This guy sees me out on a spring day in my sandals. He says, 'Well! I see you're playin' the part!"
"Everyone plays a part." Heaton says. "The girls wear masks, literally. I mean.
"The men, too. You have to work like hell, underground, to find a new pattern."
HE WAS BORN James Treat Heaton, 23 years ago, in Canton, Mo. His family moved to Baldwin, Kan., when he was four.
His father, John W. Heaton, is a professor of history and political science at Eaker University in Baldwin.
An older brother, John W. Heaton,
Jr., a physician, is working on his
Ph.D. in medicine at Mayo Clinic
at Rochester, Minn.
Jim began his college work at Baker in 1956. He came to the University of Kansas in 1958 and received his B.S. degree in physics in 1960.
Trash Fire Causes Templin Evacuation
A faulty sprinkler system in the south trash chute of Templin Hall was responsible for fire trucks being called to put out a fire in the cute early Sunday morning.
No damage was reported and the fire's origin is undetermined.
As an undergraduate at KU, he played the part of the deputy in the University Theatre production of "Desire Under the Elms."
AFTER GRADUATION, he spent a year as an electronics engineer in the Washington, D.C. area, and returned to KU last fall to begin work toward an M.A. degree in English.
He spent last summer in summer stock at the "Theatre Lobby" in Washington, appearing in productions of "Julius Caesar," "The Father," and "Zoo Story."
Since his return to KU he has appeared in University Theatre productions of "Purple Dust," "Between Two Thieves," and "The Second Shepherd's Play."
WILL SHE BE ONE OF TOMORROW'S TOP STARS?
TOMORROW'S TOP STARS?
This pretty gal is one of dozens of stage-struck kids at America's most unusual public school. In this week's Post, you'll read about New York's School of Performing Arts. And learn which Hollywood stars got started there.
Now he is trying to break away from the theater.
"I don't like people calling me up and telling me to be sure and be at this rehearsal at this time. I prefer to sit in my room, working out my own salvation, alone."
HEATON LIVES SIMPLY, in a small, rented room with a typewriter, a tape recorder, numerous books, and a pin-up of a very personable female folk singer, Joan Baez. His simple manner of living is not pretentious — to him to live simply is "freedom."
What is he for, or against?
"I'm against silence in people. People seem afraid to talk about deep emotion. This silence! I'm against silence — and still against this inane noise made about nothing.
"As for what I like — I have a predilection for ice cream cones — the 15-cent kind. And I like Mort Sahl. When Sahl was in Kansas City last fall, I went over to hear him. I elbowed my way through all the teenagers and got trampled by a fat lady — but I talked to Sahl.
"I JUST HAPPENED to have a copy of "The Republic" (Plato) with me. You know, I've probably got the only copy of the "Republic" in existence autographed by Mort Sahl!"
Sahl's notation above his signature in the book asks.
"Or is it a democracy?"
At present, Heaton is looking for a summer job where he may use his technical education.
"Being in a university insulates you too much," he says.
"To live and write, you need to be where things are really happening."
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