University of Pittsburgh - Owl Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

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The Radio 5 THREE years ago, Chancellor Bowman, foreseeing the cultural possibilities of radio broadcasting, received favorably the suggestion of the Wcstinghousc company to establish a studio of KDKA at Pitt as a joint undertaking of the two institutions. Early radio programs had been planned for informative value as well as for entertainment, but no systemetized educational program was presented by any station in the United States until the studio in State Hall was opened. The third anniversary of the opening of the Pitt studio was celebrated on March 30th, 1927, with a special program consisting of speeches by Mr. H. P. Davis, the Father of Radio Broadcasting”, Vicc-Presidentof the Wcstinghousc Company, and Mr. A. E. Braun, a member of the Board of Trustees of the University, and President of the Pittsburgh Post and Sun Publishing Company; and songs by the Pitt Four. Mr. Davis defined the scope for broadcasting by educational institutions: The future development of broadcasting lies in the bettering of reception and in the widest dissemination of cultural information and entertainment, no matter in what guise it is offered. Always the radio program should be of a higher grade than the generally accepted average, so that it may serve as an inspiration and education to listeners. In this future the University has a very definite responsibility, perhaps the most important of any of the agencies that make up this exceedingly complex institution of broadcasting. Programs arc arranged in conference with the heads of the various departments at the University and with guest speakers. They arc interesting to men of technical professions, to the miner, to the farmer, to the bank president, to the school boy, or the college professor. Many letters arc received, but perhaps the most gratifying response comes from the bed-fast listeners. An extremely well-balanced program has been broadcast this year: The Origin and Development of Light Sources, Dynamo, and Steam Engine ; Philosophers and Their Times ; American Art ; Mining, Metallurgy, and Oil Refining ; The Story of Our Courts ; Poetry ; Psychology for Parents ; Auto Engines: Their Operation and Care ; Spring: The Naturalist Afield ; European Sketches . Campus organizations contribute to the entertainment of the radio audience. Broadcasting is done four nights a week. Two nights arc given over to the series lectures and on each of the other two nights, a complete discourse is given. Copies of the programs which have been broadcast during the past three years may be found in most of the libraries of this country; in Natal Technical College, Durban, S. Africa; in the Soochow Technical College, Soochow, China; in the American Library in Paris; in the Technological Institute of Leningrad, Russia; and in many other libraries all over the world. A schedule of talks is distributed at the beginning of each month to a mailing list of four thousand. Miss Mary Frances Philput, as manager of the studio, is a member of the advisory committee which controls the studio's activities. Other members arc Deans Sieg, Bishop, Manley and Fricscll, Mr. Shockley, and Mr. Gow. Tfx 192S Otel Psgf J

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WILLIAM MORRELL, A. B. University Editor THE University Editor finds himself obliged to say yes or no to a multitude of questions regarding University affairs. It is he who must release all information regarding this great organization, who must edit the hundreds of bulletins, catalogues, dissertations and abstracts of dissertations; who must direct the writing of any information which goes to the newspapers of Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania, and by a judicious handling of the advertising which the University requires, give to the general public its ideas about Pitt. Perhaps the most interesting part of his duties is his work with the student editors of campus publications, which he carries on in the manner of a big brother, acting as a medium between students and Administration. WILLIAM MORRELL CHARLES R. FOSTER, A. B. Graduate Manager of Student Activities THE Advisory Board of Student Activities budgets a portion of our individual twelve-fifties into rather sizable appropriations for a large number of non-athletic activities. Mr. Foster's duty as representative of the Advisory Board is to transmit the budget to the students and to assist them in their adherence to the budget. Into his office flows a steady stream of organization managers. The I cbating Club. Pitt Players, Chess Club, Pitt Week Committee, Band, Combined Musical Clubs. Pitt Weekly, Dance and Ring Committees, Cap and Gown, S. S. G. A., W. S. G. A., and even the Owl, send delegates to haggle with him over expenditures. He appoints or approves officers for all non-athletic organizations, and he rakes them over the coals when they arc lax. Such a position should cither keep him very young for a long time or make him grow old in no time at all. CHARLES R. FOSTER K. E. DAVIS ?• {,' y Tt ins Owl K. E. DAVIS, C. E. Graduate Manager of Athletics MR. Davis has unusual opportunities for knowing both the undergraduate and alumni aspects of university life. As Graduate Manager of Athletics, he has devised a system of student managership in which the manager is elected after three years of apprenticeship. Mr. Davis supervises the work of all managers and apprentices, whose duties range from serving meals at Camp Hamilton to the handling of guarantee money for the big games. With the Student Managers he makes up each season's athletic schedule. His policy is to remain in the background and to allow the students to exercise their own initiative and executive ability. He is directly responsible to the Stadium Committee, and to the Athletic Council, of which he has been Secretary for fifteen years. As Secretary of the Alumni Association, he has charge of all Alumni records. He edits the Alumni page in the Weekly, which 5.000 Alumni read, and handles all Alumni funds. His more personal duty is to promote Alumni activity. He endeavors to keep in contact with our twelve tnousnnd Alumni, who arc scattered throughout the known world. Over his desk is a framed collection of foreign stamps from the letters of those who have strayed farthest. His office secures for the Alumni everything from positions to theatre tickets.

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Dean of Men T 'HE first contact of a new student at the University is with the Dean of Men. Dean Harrison confers with him concerning objective purposes of his university work and advises that plan of study which he thinks best suited to his subjective interests. During the transition period from the close guardianship of preparatory school to the more impersonal attitude of the University, the Dean keeps close watch over the student's adjustment to his new environment. If a student encounters difficulties, Dean Harrison consults with him in order to search out causes. Sometimes a student has decided on a special course of study for which he is unsuited. In a few minutes conversation Dean Harrison diagnoses his ease and suggests a plan of study which will result in a better direction of the student's peculiar talents. Often the undergraduate has no definite goal, and so is restless at school. Dean Harrison attempts to set a spark to his energies. Failing in this, he may suggest a few months away from the campus to give perspective. If the student has latent ability, but shows a propensity towards laziness, Dean Harrison plays against his conceit in order to develop in him an energizing ambition. Sometimes the student is unsuited for study at an urban university; he desires, perhaps, the quiet of ivy-covered Halls, or he may want the practicalities of the technical school. Dean Harrison helps the individual student make his adjustments to the Pitt environment, and tries to provide for the fullest development of his finer potentialities. W. DON HARRISON Air. Harrntn, Dean tf Mtn and Uni-Tfriity Examiner, rectntJ the defrees A. B and M. A. at the University tf Itwa. He taught at Iowa and the University tf Akrtn, and held staff ftsttitns tn several newsfafers heftre etminf ft Pitt in 1912 as an Enyhsh initrncttr. In 192J he was made Dean tf Mtn here. Assistant to Dean of Men IT is the duty of John R. Johnson, assistant to the Dean of Men, to see that the individual student retains a balance between his extra-curricular and his scholastic work. The freshman who has unwittingly submerged himself in activities so that he is unable to derive full benefit either from his school work or from the activities, would be likely to waste four years in learning the cause of his inability to carry on if he were not forced to limit his ventures. The sophomore who worked as apprentice manager of a sport, reporter for the Weekly, and member of two or three committees when he was a freshman finds that his duties have grown, that he cannot properly handle such diverse activities and still keep up to the standard in his school work. John R. Johnson sees to it that in all eases there is an equilibrium maintained. Pati i 2 JOHN R. JOHNSTON University tf Pittsburgh The I92S Owl