Nebraska Wesleyan University - Plainsman Yearbook (Lincoln, NE)

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r DK. W. S. GII.I.AM By NEIL DAVIS Chemistry is being recognized and proved to be the center of all branches of science. It made possible the Kronz? age, the Iron age, and the Machine age. This subject is important in gen- eral education in that it acquaints the student with the scientific method which has so greatly modified our civi- lization. Chemistry is closely related to the study and progress of electrons and protons in unit, and in their ag- gregate form in which they compose the ninety-two known elements. Here at Wesleyan the central figure in this central science, chemistry, is W. S. Gillam, A. B., M. Sc, Ph.D. Dr. Gillam is new this year, but al- ready he has proven two important NEII. D.WIS at the wator stiU. Chemistry facts to us. First, he is qualified to have a Ph. D. The amount of chem- istry that guy knows I And second, that he was recently enough a student himself to remember the problems of college life. And the ease with which he explains problems, that to us chem- istry students looked pretty tough! Perhaps you know that organic chem- istry was recently voted the most dif- ficult course of a college curriculum, and here a good lecturer certainly helps, for even if it is the most diffi- cult it probably remains the most fascinating when properly explained. Dr. Gillam taught at the University of Nebraska for three years before coming to Wesleyan as head of the chemistry department in 1938. He re- ceived his A. B. degree from DePauw university in 1930, getting his l. Sc. , in 1933. and Ph.D. in 1938 from the University of Nebraska. Dr. Gillam is a member of Sigma Xi, Phi Lambda Upsilon, Gamma Sigma Delta, Phi Mu . lpha, . merican Chemical So- ciety, and Soil Science Society of . merica. Four Assistants From 1935 to 1938, Professor Gillam was in charge of a state soil survev ' crew which mapped Cass and Lan caster counties. He hopes to give a course in soils in connection with the chemistry department next year. Dr. (;illam has published a work on soil . ' Ike Foi-Diathm of Lime Concretions ill the Moody and Crojton Series, and has at press, The Geographical Dis- tribution of Soil Black Pigment. Soil Survey Besides Dr. Gillam, we have in our three laboratories four assistants and two storerootii men. This year we have Homer Hix, a Phi Kappa Tau, in the storeroom, who, when he isn ' t juggling j the chemicals around, whirls the baton i for the Wesleyan band. His fellow sufferer in the storeroom is Harold Pickering. He says he doesn ' t ha -e g time for a hobby, but it ' s fellows like 1 Pickering that keep the chemistry de- partment among the Phi Kappa Phi ' s. The chemistry department had two of the six Phi Kappxi Phi ' s in the school last ' ear. (22)

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COMPARATIVE AXATII.MV CLASS 1 )| SSKir I M ; lH)i;l ' ISH. Left- EInU ' l- A ti t. Tniii l ' :iikili. I...iiis (iill.Tl. :iysisl:i lil. .lulni (ii ssrr. I,l..yil Mill.r The idtiniatr aiiibitioii of a stii- dint nurse is to get her R.X., B.S., or Mrs. — Jerry Eastham, bacteriology lab assistant. Twenty-five student nurses are en- rolled this year, five of whom are now in training at Bryan Memorial hospital, ' ith one year of pre-nursing training in any of several hospitals in the state, a girl may earn her quali- fication of registered nurse. By an additional year at Wesleyan she may receive a B. S. degree. In bacteriology, the first course for student nurses, the use of microscopes is thoroughly explained. The making; of slides, important in this work, is taught. Actual disease causing bacilli are studied, as well as fungi, yeasts, molds, and viruses. Neatness, cleanli- ness, precision in laboratory techniciu? are stressed. The laboratory uses microscopes, other small ec|uipment, and the funda- mental machinery of bacteriology, an incubator to maintain uniform tem- peratures for bacterial cultures, a dry air sterilizer, and a steam pressure sterilizer. Microtechnique, a second semester course, gives practice in actual bloorl count work, microscope tests and la- boratory clinical work. Hygiene, gen- eral and social, and inorganic chemis- try, complete the training reciuired of a nurse before she enters the hospital. About one-fourth of the Wesleyan students each year take work in the biology department, and while the greater fame of the department has ijeen achieved through its training of physicians, nurses, and research work- ers, its objective of giving a general fundamental knowledge to many stu- dents is an important reason for its success. .Since 1913, 147 stufients have com- pleted a major in the biology depart- ment. Of these twenty have gradu- ated with honor, and twenty-seven have secured fellowships to Yale, Princeton, Chicago University, Iowa State, the University of Nebraska, University of Missouri. New York University, Northwestern, and St. Louis University. Si.xteen are now college or universit - professors, seven are in research positions, three are missionaries, and two are ministers. Eight master ' s degrees have been granted. In this year, two biology graduates are studying on fellowships : Raymond Wilhelmi, at New York University, and Edward Weaver at the Universitv of ? Iissouri. MKS. l.. iiN. I NOKKKKKI.KK I]istriii-lor III ' I5iiiliij;y I |; CT.AKEXCrE OROOK Mfii ' s I ' h.vsiciau DK. lU ' ril WAIt.VKl; VinncM ' s rii.vsicinn dlOVOGY (21)

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IXdIK.AMC I IIE-MIS ' I i MitIi- MMhr. assistMii S ;iTis( n, I ' .ry;int Ni In .general laboratory lerle j lahr, a Crescent, tortures the students on two days of the week. He says he doesn ' t have any hobby either except wanting to be a doctor, and that ' s no hobby, that ' s a job. His partner in crime is Bob Gottschalli of Benkel- man, a pre-med too, and a Delta Omega Phi. He has a holjby, and she ' s a nice kid. This year Xeil Davis, a senior barb from Lincoln, is handling all four or- ganic labs, and also is trying to go to three quantitative labs a week; then the teachers wonder why he says he ' s busv. His hobbv is football and bas- ketball. The assistants are chosen from the chemistry students who make the best (23;) O l,.V15. In front of lab t:ible. loft to right— Lloj- t, Kiirl Brown. Beriiice Anderson. Behind table- i]i-y, Wnrron Neweonib. showings, and who care for the work. We think it is a real system because it gives them an opportunity for self- help, and it gives them valuable ex- perience in chemistry. General Idea This is a general idea of our chem- istry department here at Wesleyan. If there be just a few of you who read this who feel the call and excitement living in chemistry, which is now the frontier of advancement in civiliza- tion, then we ' ll be satisfied. Today chemists are in great demand, and be- cause of their growing importance to all types of industrial and research businesses the field is just in its in- fancy. Wesleyan is a good place to enter that field for in the last 20 years, 26 major students have been d Frederick, Bob Twinem, —Lois Rnsmussen, Marion placed for graduate assistantships. Last year two major students received assistantships totaling $1,400. Wes- leyan ' s continued success in placing its graduate students indicates that these students give the graduate schools good results. CU£ V T 7