Dr. L. Worth Seagondollar
Speaks On The Implications
Of The ‘ Atomic Age’
journal photo by dean hubbard
Dr. L. Worth Seagondollar,
chairman of the Department of
Physics at North Carolina State
University, gave an informal talk
in the Denny Building on
Tuesday evening, November 12.
His topic was his work in
estimating the size of critical
mass of 92-Plutonium-239
necessary to sustain a
continuous nuclear reaction, a
vital step in the development of
the first atomic weapon and
some of his experiences related
to the 'Manhattan Project'.
Dr. Seagondollar described
how he first came to work for
the government in the Spring of
1944, how he became an
integral part of one of the many
teams of physicists involved in
research for the War
Department at that time, his
experiences at the Alamogordo
testing site in New Mexico, and
his impressions as an eyewitness
to the first detonation of the
atomic bomb.
he also voiced his opinion as
to the necessity of the 'bomb's
use in ending World War II,
suggesting that in the long run
more lives were saved by an
early end to the war than would
have been should a full invasion
of Japan taken place. Although
this controversy is still debated,
and while there are as many
diverse opinions of the event as
there are experts in the field.
Dr. Seagondollar's special
position of being able to relate,
first hand, many of the details
and stories surrounding those
months and ays that marked
man's entrance into the 'Atomic
Age' proved to be nothing short
of fascinating for the audience.
We were able to feel what it was
like to be roaming the New
Mexican mountains hours
before the blast to complete
some final experiments and to
gather some last minute
by douglas m. lerner
information; we heard how
possible fatal mishaps had been
narrowly avoided and what it
was like working in a compound
that might have to be evacuated
at any moment (nobody really
knew how large the blast would
actually be}; and we were told
what it was like contending and
working with one of the largest
bureaucracies in the world.
While this was not meant to
be a technical lecture delving
into the physics behind an
atomic explosion, I feel that
most of us gained some insight
into how great discoveries are
found and developed, an idea of
the amount and type of work
involved, and what it is like to
work as a scientist within a
government operation. Dr.
Seagondollar's talk remains of
interest to many areas of the
university community, in both
its historical an physical
context.
Dorm Students Boycott Servomation
by susan sluss
Servomation Incorp., whose
responsibility it is to provide
not only adequate but appealing
meals for resident students of
UNCC has been brought under
severe criticism by the student
body which resulted in a
boyco The boycott, which
was held Thursday, November
7, was initiated by the R.A.'s of
Moore Dorm. David Dorries,
Food Service Director said 1400
students usually eat supper on
Thursday nights, but on boycott
night, approximately 1100
students ate.
When asked the purpose of
the boycott, Jim Sledge, R.A.
on the 4th floor of Moore said,
'We the R.A.'s of Moore Dorm
are under the opinion that the
general quality of the food and
service from Servomation does
not meet minimum standards as
designed by the 1973-74 Food
Committee."
Commander Chuck Colby,
Resident Counselor for Moore
Dorm said he felt the reasons
behind the boycott varied with
the individual, but all thought
something needed to be done to
show the administration that
students here are not happy
with servomation.
When asked what he
thought the purpose of the
boycott was, David Dorries said
"I have no real idea. No one
came to me. They should have
come to me and told me what
was wrong, given me a list of
complaints, and if I didn't at
least try to solve the problems,
then they would have a right to
boycott". Mr. Dorries added,
"Everything could have been
handled by a simple meeting".
A list of complaints
containing the R.A.'s grievances
plus those collected from the
Student Media was given to
Residence Director Chuck
Lynch. A meeting is planned for
Friday between Servomation
officials and the R.A.'s of
Moore to discuss the complaints
and work out the grievances.
Mr. Sledge said that
Servomation can produce good
food, they've proved that, but
as a general rule they are not up
to par. He's not suggesting they
spend more money, but take
more pride in what they
produce.
According to the Minimum
Performance Guidelines,
Servomation is to maintain a
three (3) week cycle of menus,
they are nto to serve the same
meal in a three week period.
Many students complain that
the same food is served day
after day, for example chicken
and fish, and that variety is
inadequate. Food Service
Director Dorries broke down
the three week cycle into 63
meals being served without any
repetition. He asks for anyone
who can produce a menu for 63
meals without any item being
used twice to please turn it into
him.
Dorries said, "1 feel we're
doing a good job for the money
— regardless of the money, I feel
like we're doing a good job. We
offer variety and quality food. I
feel most people who were here
last year feel we've improved
this year".
Servontation Incorp., which
has been with UNCC since
April, 1972, has a three-year
contract with a stipulation
stating that it can be broken by
either party at the end of
academic year with a 60-day
notice. Servomation is paid
$1.69 per day, per student.
Parrish Concerned About Media Space Problems
Student Media Board's
meeting of November 18, 1974
was h i gh I i gh ted by the
cooperative actions of Vern
Parrish as related to the Board
by Chairman Steve Morris.
Morris told the Board that
Parrish wanted to have a
meeting with the editors of the
three publications and the
station manager of WVFN to
find out where the space
problems lie in the Media.
Parrish, prompted by a letter
received from Donna Hoover
describing the present space
conditions, told Morris that he
would see what could be done
to provide the needed space for
the Media.
Parrish also has agreed to
pay one half of the total price
for new combination locks on
the Media facilities. No one has
yet taken Parrish up on the
offer.
In the Media reports, Joe
McCorkle of Sanskrit told the
Board that the arts magazine
would go to the press over
Thanksgiving. He added that
Tuesday November 26 was the
publication's deadline. The
magazine should be out
sometime during the exam
period.
Dick Wyzanski presented
the WVFN report. Wyzanski
said the Chancellor accepted the
station's proposal for FM. The
Chancellor sent a letter to the
Student Broadcasting
Association (SBA) stating that
an engineer could be hired.
Wyzanski added that he is now
in the process of filling out the
applications. The station has
^decided to transfer the
ownership of the station to the
Board of Trustees for legal
reasons. The application should
be sent in by December 15 and
the FCC should approve the
request by March 1.
Wyzanski said the
carrier-current station was going
well. The station will run until
the last day of classes and begin
full swing again at the first of
January. Wyzanski said the FM
station was going to purchase
stereo equipment as it would
^by michael evans
make the operation cheaper in
the long run.
Ben Barnes, the Darkroom
Coordinator, gave the Darkroom
report. Barnes said $150 had
been spent on badly needed
equipment. He added that the
other $150 was not going to be
spent until the second semester
unless there was an emergency.
The locks are also being changed
on the darkroom. The keys will
be distributed to each staff, to
the darkroom coordinator and
the Media Board Chairman.
7HE JOURNAL
volume X, number 12
charlotte, north Carolina
november 19, 1974