KU is fortunate
E. Laurence Chalmers, Jr. newly-chosen Chancellor for the University of Kansas comes to the campus well-qualified both academically and professionally.
Described as coming up from the ranks of teaching, Chalmers has been involved in university events from student to administrator. From reading of the new Chancellor and what KU people think of him, he seems to be a man interested in the student population, at least equally as much as any other part of his new job.
Chalmers has been working with a "cluster" program at Florida State University, where he was vice president for academic affairs. The cluster program is similar to KU's college-within-a-college programs. The new Chancellor has expressed his interest in this type of plan as a method of keeping talented freshmen from dropping out of college each year.
He said many freshmen drop out because of "disenchantment with the mechanized, impersonal procedures on most large campuses."
One of his first comments after
notification of his appointment was, "The first and foremost function is the education of the students." With large educational institutions becoming more impersonal all the time, it's refreshing to know the new Chancellor remembered the purpose of those institutions.
Chalmers, who expressed enthusiasm for students' rights, said the proposed University Senate Code would be "a most impressive step forward." On the other hand, however, he implied he would not take a too-soft line with students who intend to disrupt the business of the University. "To impede the progress of others carries individuals' rights past their constitutional domain," he said.
In a day when so many college administrators are leaving the field because of disorder or a myriad of other reasons, the University of Kansas is, indeed, fortunate to find a man who seems so eminently qualified for the job as chancellor to a University with a student population approaching 20,000. (ATJ)
Flu bug may be fittest
By Mike Shearer
After waging a very scrupulous battle against the Hong Kong flu virus and its occidental cousins, Watkins Hospital has all but retreated back to its foxholes. The foe has not been beaten.
Nor will the foe be beaten. According to a study by the Rand Corporation, flu viruses are likely to be our link to the future, our descendants. Disease germs very well may be the only life which could live through a nuclear war.
As Sydney J. Harris, a Chicago Daily News columnist, points out in his book "Leaving the Surface," with the increase in the number of nations owning stockpiles of nuclear weapons there is a parallele increase in the possibility of a nuclear "accident." Harris uses the example of a highway with an
increasing number of cars; the more cars added to the highway, the greater the chance of an accident.
In fact, when there are enough cars on the highway, an accident is no longer a possibility, but a probability.
The flu germ, which most evolutionists believe to be very similar to our most distant relatives.
The bothersome germ has proven time and time again that Darwin's survival of the fittest theory is true. Medicine cannot conquer the germ, and now scientists believe nuclear effects will also go unnoticed by the durable little creature.
Students who have received vaccinations or who have fought off the flu germ were probably not aware that they were fighting what very well may be the beginning of a new civilization.
Reporters Notebook
"Life is the art of drawing sufficient conclusions from insufficient premises."
Samuel Butler
Received over the UPI wire Monday night:
"American and South Vietnamese troops . . . seized . . . weapons and supplies apparently stockpiled by Communist units for an offensive roughly coinciding with Tet-the Lunar New York."
A University Daily Kansan photographer taking pictures of an Arab student meeting on campus couldn't understand why the students seemed unresponsive to her questions. After taking several pictures, the photographer realized she was wearing her "I am loved" button, which happened to be written in Hebrew.
Save the discount
Find ink and a stamp and pen a letter to save student airline discounts if you still want to fly half-price to Fort Lauderdale for spring break.
Student rates enabling students between the ages of 12 to 21 years of age to fly for either two-thirds or one-half of the regular rates may be discontinued as of February 20.
The proposal to discontinue the reduced rates is under review by the Civil Aeronautics Board CAB now. According to one member of the Board's examining body, the rates are unfair to adults.
But the lower rates have made it possible for many students to fly home for short vacations if they live across the country. More students have been able to travel during vacations; before the airline prices had been too steep.
Possibly the rates have also had a beneficial side effect. Flying to New Jersey or California in three hours is much safer than trying to drive there in 28 straight hours of speeding.
American Airlines who initiated the fares in January, 1966, doesn't want to stop the fares. Officials state that they believe the fares are constructive and should be continued.
The CAB however admits that the airlines haven't lost money from the youth fares and the rate of student airline customers has jumped more than three million in the last two years.
If you want the lower rates to stay, write a letter either to the Civil Aeronautics Board, 1825 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington, D.C., 20009, or to one of your congressmen (AMS)
Off the Walls
"Felix loves Oscar"
"Mickey Rooney is a hobbit"
"Lenny Bruce spoke the truth and truth died of a heart attack."
"Keep the baby, Faith"
Liquor harmful
To the Editor:
I was rather interested in the editorial "Extra: Kansas IS dry" which appeared in the Friday, February 7th UDK. In it, the editorialist asked, "Who said just because liquor can be bought by the drink, that drinking will increase?"
Well, one person who seems to hold with that opinion is William N. Plymat, president of Preferred Risk Mutual Insurance Co., Des Moines, Iowa. He said, "Figures clearly show that there has been a tremendous increase in sales of liquor by the drink, month by month, since such sales became legal. At the same time, there is . . . a modest
increase in bottle sales . . . The conclusion seems clear that liquor-by-the-drink promotes the consumption of liquor in a dramatic way." This was in his home state, Iowa.
Also, I would remind the author of the article that it isn't the alcoholic "who stays at home" who poses the greatest problem to other people. Instead, it's the social drinker who doesn't realize that his impaired judgment and slowed reaction time may cause an accident, and may endanger other's lives.
Deborah Crawford Florence sophomore
A student newspaper serving the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. Published at the University of Kansas daily during the academic year except holidays and examination periods. Mall subscription rates: $4 a semester year. Second class postage paid on request with no other accommodations. Advertised offered to all students without regard to color, creed or national origin. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the University of Kansas or the State Board of Regents.