Evening star., 1935-07-14

Its fOurteenth annual summer Cer1n.
For the next six weeks, its hundreds
of enrolled students will traverse vari-
Gus parts of the country, Washington
prominently included, in quest of di-
rect and practical information on the
whole array of subjects which seem
academic distractions when dealt
with in text books and lecture courses.
Earnest young men and women, the
majority of them teachers bent on
supplementing their store of knowl-
edge or those who will become teach
ers upon completion of their academic
careers, literally are being driven
straight to the point of their special
interests through the agency of this
unusual enterprise.
Is it political science or economy
that engages one during the routine
academic year?
Then one enrollS as member of
the Eastern expedition, which in
cludes the National Capital in its
itinerary. With Congress held over
this year, the students of Omnibus
College have an even more alluring
purpose in visiting Washington.
Usually they are not so fortunate. for,
by the time the college term begins,
the term of Congress has closed for
the Summer
This year, however, when the COL
lege comes to Washington, its men,
bers will find the chapters in their
text books on American Govern
ment-those dealing with the func-
tiOning of the House and Senate
made much more real. The big legis-
lative machine will be busy turning
out its special product instead of
standing idle, as usually is the case
when the college comes to town. They
can see just how it works.
Other courses in the curriculum of
Omnibus College are just as practical.
Sociology students have an opportunity
thoroughly to study famous welfare
and penal institutions in all of the
larger cities; the student of history
traverses the battlefield of Gettysburg
to make the scene and its epochal
drama vivid and lasting part of his
education, and those enrolled in
geology go direct to the rock forma-
tions from which their textbooks are
made.
Omnibus College is an academic od-
dity, but by no means a freak. 1t
enjoys an excellent standing in the
field Of education. Its faculty includes
members recruited from the faculties
of several recognized colleges and
universities. Those institutions with
which the various members of the in
struction staff are affiliated grant full
credit for the work accomplished in
the Summer term.
This unusual educational enter
prise began in 1922. Like so many
others, ats present-day development
is quite different than was envisaged
at that time.
Its originator was DR.. William A
Goldsmith, head of the biology de-
partment of the University of Wichita
Kans. A group of DR.. Goldsmith
students back in 1922 manifested a
keen interest in the idea of visiting the
eastern section of the country to study
the fora and fauna of that area
That the expense of the trip might be
kept within the limitations of student
~
journey by automobile. Even though
cars were crude in those days and the
Nations highway system was in its
comparative infancy, the journey was
completely successful.
Like everything else American in
that period of 1922 to 1929, Omnibus
College was destined to develop into
something bigger and better than its
originator had anticipated. Improve
ments in motor vehicle design aided
greatly and the tremendous expansion
of the highway system finally ex-
panded the campus to proportions CO.
equal with the borders of the United
States
The equipment of the college is not
essentially different, with the excep-
ton that it Is mobile. The specially
built buSseS, trucks and cars are the
equivalent of the different buildings
of the conventional college or univer-
sity
The class rooms are special busses,
the dormitories are rather de luxe
autocade homes. The latter are made
of airplane fuselage material and are
equipped with floors, heaters, writing
tables, radio receivers and wardrobes
The "dorms," together with baggage
trucks and mobile cafeteria, move
ahead of the passenger buses and cars
and a special crew has them set up at
the scene that is to be the nights
stop when the students arrive.
Each expedition" of course, covers
= nj
deal more territory than one might
expect. The Eastern expedition, for
instance, visits the Great Smoky
Mountains, Memphis, Knoxville
Washington, Atlantic City, New York
Boston. Salem, Quebec, Ottawa, Nj.
agara Falls, Detroit and Chicago-and
of course, all points of interest be.
tween.
The Western section covers as much
If not more, territory. Its itinerary
includes the Indian pueblos in New
Mexico, the Petrified Forest, Crane
Canyon, San Diego and Old Mexico
Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle
Victoria, Spokane and the Yellow.
stone.
Just as in the life of the average
student, those who go to Omnibu.
College have plenty Of opportunity fol
play as well as work. The recreation!
of the average motor tourist are avail.
able to all and full advantage is taker
of them-at the end Of the educa
tional day.
There have been experimental high
ways made of rubber and of iron, bu
now comes the stone of the pulp vast
road.
Using pulp mill waste, the disposa
Of which is serious problem in sew
eral Pacific Northwest cities, unpavet
and dust-laden Western Washington
roads may be made dust-free ans
given a hard asphalt-like surface.
Already beyond the blueprint
stage, a 13-mile section of Masol