Kent State University - Chestnut Burr Yearbook (Kent, OH)

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James L. Fergason, associate director of KSU ' s Liquid Crystal Institute, is credited witti the first practical use of cholesteric liquids for temperature measurement and the first use of cholesteric liquid crystal analysis and information display. Current research interests include optical properties of the nematic, smectic and cholesteric structures, synthesis of mole- cules for selected experimental studies, surface studies and model structures of liquid crystal- line states. In addition to 13 publications, Fergason has to his credit two issued patents, a British patent, and 10 U.S. patents pending dealing with cholesteric liquid. Fergason, who received his B.S. from Missouri Universty, is a Stewart Scholar with a major in physics. Liquid crystals coating a printed circuit board, left, indicate temperature. The colors produced are the reverse of those usually associated with heat; the blue to red hues indicate the warm to cool areas respectively. Modern medical applications of liquid crystals are unlimited. Doctors can use them to outline tumors, to measure varicose veins and even to locate the placentas In pregnant women. Below is a liquid crystal thermography of cancer of the lymph nodes, better known as Hodgkin ' s disease. A hybrid possessing prop- erties of both liquids and crystals, liquid crystals can be poured like a liquid while re- flecting light like crystals. In certain forms the sub- stance is sensitive to thermal, electrical and chemical stim- uli as shown by its chameleon- like color changes. Discovered in 1 888 by an Austrian botanist, Friedrich Reinitzer, the structure of the colorful crystals was ana- lyzed before 1922. Within the past ten years, James Fergason, Kent State researcher, discovered their peculiar sensitivity. Today liquid crystals are being used both medically and industrial- ly. Biologists studying sen- sory processes discovered the human body contains sub- stances with liquid crystal properties. In time, this dis- covery may help explain how we see, touch and think. —LIFE January 12, 1968 Vol. 64, No. 2 .. . . ' ■■■■ ■■ --

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It ' s being 21, married or a liar to make the big move first but you couldn ' t hack the dorm and you wanted privacy so now maybe your roomie with his endless array of partners leaves you less but you ' re learning to be more tolerant like when the walls play Birnham Wood while you ' re crammin ' away in time to the party overhead but at least you don ' t have to eat that university crud now you eat your own crud like your latest rejuvenation of the American hot dog for instance or if it ' s a big night out it ' ll be Barney ' s or maybe Eddie ' s and when you return the mountain of dirty pots will still stare back with scorched eyes reminding you of the responsibilities going hand-in-hand with your heaven or your hell cuz it ' s as you made it, baby and it ' s home. •- a e