Perceptions of Lives in Northeast Kansas City - Saturday, March 9, 1963

My work was with Enid from National College and Loren from MU. Our job was varnishing the woodwork of a 4th floor apartment living room on East 11th Street. All of the other groups had painting jobs. Mrs. Williams was a Negro woman with five children. She evidently took a little more pride in keeping her apartment looking nice (though the living room was junky) than some of the other occupants. The old wooden stairway, dirt, and writing on the walls looked pretty wretched. We discussed the day's work tonight and all decided that just being with these people did as much good as the physical work. Tonight we all walked down to the Helping Hand, an organization that gives tramps and alcoholics board and room for small fees for three nights, the Italian center of KC, Mafia, and welfare stores.

Arriving for a Weekend Work Camp - Friday, March 8, 1963

Hal drove Chris, Gidget, and me to the Kansas City weekend work camp being held at Northside Presbyterian Chapel, and we were the first arrivals at 5:00. We soon met Kim, one of the two co-pastors here, and Jan, our cook and woman chaperone. There are 19 of us from seven colleges - Park, Southwestern (Winfield, Kansas), El Dorado Junior College, National, Stephens, MU and KCU. It's a nice bunch of kids. After supper we had an orientation session and discussed problems of the area with several social workers and innercity church ministers. Then we watched a junior high teen hop here and went in two groups several blocks to the high school one. They are part of the social program for the kids in the "projects."

Will Make Campaign Cards for Karon - Thursday, March 7, 1963

Well, back to Thursday night and history to read and poli sci definitions to type and write my own of (15 terms in all), French to do before class tomorrow, then hurry back and get ready for the work camp. We had a WRA meeting this afternoon. Student council electioneering was this morning. There are some good candidates. Karon Haenisch was just here campaigning. She wants me to do some note cards - Karon Haenisch for Proportional Representative. There was no swimming or phys ed today!!

A Thank You Card From Dr. Romani - Wednesday, March 6, 1963

After all my "trouble" with the last two articles last night Carol wasn't able to find room for them (thanks to Dr. Urban's lovely long book review). I told her Dr. Hamilton would choke me. I was talking to Rev. Seamans this afternoon about transportation to and from the work camp, WUS, and the Amana Colonies and Mennonites (he went to SUI and used to preach in Iowa) - we just had "Bizarre American Religious Sects" in religion class. I think he may be asking me to lead vespers some time. Ann had it tonight. Dr. Romani was really thrilled with his "Happy Birthday" song, Mom said. He sent third floor a cute card that said "Thank you - I was tickled pink."

Will Sing "Happy Birthday" to Guest Lecturer - Tuesday, March 5, 1963

I wrote news all afternoon and still had two articles to do tonight. I had taken them down to the print shop and on finding it locked, was trying to see if there was a crack at the side or bottom of the door to push them through when I was caught in the act by Mr. Sherwood. He had just been driving past and saw me. I've been getting third floor together on the idea of waking up a visiting lecturer in the Hawley guest room whose birthday is tomorrow (read it in his biographical sketch last week) by singing "Happy Birthday" to him. I found the perfect card in the drug store and we're giving him some campus pictures that Kathy and Tom printed.

Saw Two French Plays at University of Kansas - Monday, March 4, 1963

Tonight the French class and Dr. Hampl went to see two French plays, "Orphee" and "L'Apollon de Bellac," at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. They were very good and I understood most of what was going on in the second one and knew nearly everything they said in Orphee. Carolyn and I went with Fred and Nancy, and Frank came back with us. This afternoon John Laderer, Elliott Goldman and I went to observe in the Chinn Elementary School for ed psych. I watched second and third grades.

Went to Dr. Schurr's Existentialism Discussion - Sunday, March 3, 1963

This afternoon I read history, tonight political science. Now I have an essay on "The Dimensions of Time and Place in the Political System" to write. I went to the discussion led by Dr. Schurr this evening on existentialism. It was a continuation from last week. I got an A on the ed psych test. Yesterday doesn't seem like it was Saturday. We have really had a warm and beautiful spring like weekend, and Friday night's weather report had predicted 30 and 40 degrees temperatures.