Rochow Casts Steel If Strikers Will Not

Disgusted with futile attempts to solve the crippling nation-wide steel strike, Eugene G. Rochow, associate professor of Chemistry, decided to take matters into his own hands yesterday.

Shortly before C.I.O. chief Philip Murray ordered steel workers back to the mills, Rochow got to work himself and produced 12 pounds of steel right on the podium in Chemistry 1. Later, he commented, "Somebody has to do it."

Demonstrating the "Thermit" method of producing steel, Rochow ordered the first four rows to vacate their seats--then ignited a cone-shaped crucible filled with powdered aluminum and iron oxide.

Students were alarmed when a shower of sparks erupted from the crucible's top, but Rochow calmly knocked the plug out of the bottom with a long rod and the molten steel flowed into a trough.