Potter Lake spouts whale legend
By JIM COBB
It was two in the afternoon on a warm summer day, June 5. 1911
The swimming and canoe races of the University of Kansas commencement activities at Potter Lake had just begun when a whale was sighted, spouting water and thrashing in the middle of the two-acre lake.
A whale? In Potter Lake?
According to campus legend, a number of people, whose names have since been forgotten, insisted that they had been killed by the Nazis.
Edward L. Griffin, Route 3, a 1911 KU graduate, said he had participated in the swimming races.
"I swarm around and around the lake and I didn't bump
to a puddle." Besides, it's not a very big puddle to find a whistle in.
BUT ROBERT Taft, author of "Across the Years at Mount Oread," wrote in 1941 that a boat, dispatched by students to capture the whale, was capsized by the animal.
The whale supposedly disturbed commencement activities for the rest of the afternoon before plunging into the water.
Even if there was a whale in Potter Lake, its origin remains a mystery.
The lake was named for State Sen. T.M. Potter, who also was present in 1911 when the whale was supposedly killed.
The dam for the lake was completed in March 1911, just three months before the alleged white attack at the commencement race. Because the lake was slow to fill it, the dam filled with city water through temporary water lines.
"Just how a while could appear so readily in a man-made, fresh-water lake does not appear to be a matter of years."
OTHER ALUMNI from the years 1911-1914 were equally
identical about the whale.
Thomas A.E. Belt, 144 Massachusetts, said, "I've never heard of such a thing. It might have been a big
Belt was in the class of 13. He said that even without a campaging shell, the lake was a hazard for students in
The first of many drownings in Potter occurred before the lake was completed. A group of engineering students returning from a party in Marvin Hall decided to swim across the lake, Taft wrote.
On the return lap one of the students drowned in 12 feet of water.
Other drowning followed. By 1821 the Kauai report that six persons had lost their lives in the lake, and five others died from water poisoning.
In 1924 a diving tower, pier, springboards and dressing rooms for men and women were added to the lake, and lifeguards were provided. The possibilities of pouring and putting disinfectant into the lake were considered.
Bathing in Potter was banned in 1927. That year, the construction of a public swimming pool in Lawrence was approved.
Harold Bilch, supervisor of buildings and grounds, said that incidents of swimming in the lake were still reported.
"It's not the purest thing in the world," he said. "Frankly, I'd rather swim in the Kaw."
There is a lot of litter around the lake, he said, because many people frequent the Potter area.
Several drain lines for street sewers run into the lake, Biltch said, including one from the Chi Oemga fountain. Soap or chemicals poured into the fountain end in the lake, he said.
"I've seen times where there was soap suds in the lake, just like in the fountain," he said.
Warm water, used to make steam, also is drained into Potter, causing problems for ice skaters, he said. Sometimes, he said, there will be as much as seven inches of ice over most of the course, or two inches on
Potter, circa 1911
Photo courtesy of UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS ARCHIVES
This picture of cane races on Potter Lake was taken about 1911, the same year the lake dam was completed. It was also the same year a whale was reportedly reported in the lake during commencement activities. The lake was named for State Sen. T.M. Potter. It was originally constructed to provide water for campus fire protection.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KANSAN
The University of Kansas—Lawrence, Kansas
Indiana champ after defeating Michigan, 86-68
Vol.86 No.112
Tuesday, March 30, 1976
See page 7
Staff Photo by JAY KOELZER
Buu-centennial decorations
Businesses in Lawrence, like businesses throughout the nation, are picking up on the bicentennial theme and using it to promote their products. The storefront display is an example of this.
Senate okavs bill with KU budget
By JIM COBB Staff Writer
The Senate version of the $342.4 million higher education funding measure, containing KU's appropriations, was virtually completed on March 19 by the House of Representatives.
Salary increases for faculty at KU remain at 8 per cent, and increases in other operating expenditures (OE) are 10 per cent.
The University of Kansas' fiscal 1977 budget appropriations of $43.16 million won final approval yesterday in the Kansas Senate.
Although both increases are 2 per cent below Gov. Robert F. Bennett's recommendations, the governor is expected to sign the measure if it leaves a joint House-Senate conference committee without major changes.
ONLY TWO changes were made on the Senate floor yesterday. State Sen. Arden Booth, R-Lawrence, proposed a successful amendment to include $20,000 for KU's Audio-Reader program that had been cut off by the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
An amendment proposed by State Seen Robert V. Talkington, R-Iola, will add $37,000 for resident training programs for the Wichita branch of the KU Medical Center. The amendment will raise the amounts of grants to Wichita interns to the
The bill allotts the Med Center $25.7 million for fiscal 1977. The Senate approved nearly $1 million that was added to the Senate Ways and Means Committee to restore seven Outreach positions and to make up for the losses of federal funds at the Med Center.
"We hope to go ahead with our budget plans with the hope that what the two houses passed eventually will be our funding," he said.
Shankel said he thought KU had been treated fairly, despite unstable financial circumstances.
Left Shankel, executive vice chancellor,
said last night that he was pleased that the Senate had agreed with the House on the appropriations.
The measure now goes back to the House where representatives will vote on whether to concure with the Senate's changes. The lower chamber is expected to vote not to concur and to send the measure into a Senate-House conference committee.
same level as those in the Kansas City program.
THE EDUCATION funding measure won tentative approval yesterday morning and was hurriedly passed, 38-1, in mid-adffternoon in an effort to clear the Senate's calendar.
BOOTH SAID he expected all major appropriations bills to be held in committee until the last days of the session. Such a situation would make bills to be considered together, he said.
★ ★ ★
Audio-Reader funds added
Winter's statement had been disputed by Rosanna Hurwitz, director of Audio-
State funds of $20,000 for KU's Audio-Reader program were restored yesterday to the University's 1977 budget requests by a vote of the full Kansas Senate.
The funds had been cut last week by the Senate Ways and Means Committee upon a suggestion by committee chairman State S. Wint Winter, R-Ottawa. Winter had said the money wasn't necessary because it would be used to pay volunteer workers.
Winter told the Kuman Sunday that the Senate would reconsider the funding cut. He said in incorrect information given by a lawyer, it was responsible for the misunderstanding.
Conflict delays policy on exigency
By JERRY SEIH
The $2,000 was loan to KU's budget requests in an amendment by State Sen. Mark Gosnell.
Final approval of a financial exigency policy is being delayed by disagreement over the issue of faculty expansion in a time of financial stress.
Staff Writer
The committee believes the clause would prevent an administration from expanding
Joel Gold, chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on Financial Exigency, said yesterday that the University administration had refused to approve a policy clause that prevents the hiring of new faculty during financial exigency.
He said the administration had approved a reminder of the proposed 10-page policy.
THE CLAUSE in question says the grave nature of financial exigency should prevent the University from filling new positions with appointments from outside KU, Gold said. It wouldn't prevent switching a KU student to from one department to another he said.
"Sen. Winter is a good man and I know he certainly didn't have correct information," she said.
Gold said the administration had argued that elimination of the clause would allow greater flexibility in improving programs it considered necessary.
Reader, who said that the money would be used for Audio-Reader's expansion.
Financial exigency is a financial crisis in which the University is forced to release
The proposed financial exigency policy outlines procedures to be followed in that financial state. The policy was approved by the University Senate last April.
Final approval of the policy will hinge on the ability of the administration and the exigency committee to agree upon wording acceptable to both sides. Gold said.
HE SAID he had received a letter last week from Del Shankel, executive vice chancellor, suggesting a compromise wording that Gold said was unacceptable to the committee. Gold said he had answered questions and expected another letter from him soon.
Shankel said he would meet this week with Ron Calgaard, vice chancellor for academic affairs and Mike Davis, the faculty counsel, to develop another proposal.
one school or department at the expense of another during financial exigency.
Shankel said that it was possible the administration and the exigency committee wouldn't be able to reach a compromise, but that he expected to find a solution.
Audio-Reader serves 2,250 blind persons within a 85-mile radius of Lawrence, Hurtzwit said. Such materials as newspapers and special radio frequency 65 hours a week.
"I think we're close to something we can work with and we think they can live with."
The program now has two full-time employees but relies mostly on volunteer workers. Hurwitz said the money would be expanded in expanding the program across Kansas.
According to Hurwitz, the $20,000 will be used either to match a federal grant for improvement of the program's facilities, or to hire a worker and help purchase new equipment.
"When he discovered how generous the volunteers really are, he decided the program was very worthwhile and very valuable."
See EXIGENCY page 6
Budget requests from 48 groups totaled $386,322. The Senate has $533,252 to distribute. The Senate has more to allocate this year because the Kansas University Corporation (KUAC) didn't file a budget request. Last year KUAC requested about $47,000.
groups request money
StudEx last night approved committee assignments for budget hearings and called for a special session Thursday of the Student Senate.
Line items, which are budget allocations guaranteed through the student activity fee,费.
Some of the larger, regular budget requests came from the following groups:
StudEx rejected the budget requests of Versuch, the American Society of Engineers, and the Under Anthropology because their requests were turned in late.
SCORMEBE, $,130; International Club,
$,7,895; Consumer Affairs Association,
$,7,320; and Douglas County Legal Aid.
$,400.
Steve Owens, student body vice president and StudEx member, said he thought that by accepting the three requests, other groups would be penalized.
Tedde Tasheff, student body president and StudEx member, said the Finance and
Auditing Committee should adopt a more stringent budgeting philosophy.
She asked the committee to pay particular attention to allocating funds to the groups that provide direct opportunities for KU students.
StudEx passed a proposal that charged the finance committee with determining what the Senate means by intangible benefits, in terms of students involved and the potential impact a group may have on the student body.
The Senate will meet at 6:30 Thursday night to discuss a more stringent budget philosophy. The meeting place hasn't been determined.
Booth stressed that the outcome of a public school finance bill would have an effect on whether changes would be made in the higher education appropriations.
The legislature has passed the public school bill with appropriations $21 million to fund new buildings. Bennett has threatened to veto the measure. If he does and the legislature fails to override his veto, a new bill would need to pass before the legislature's final adjournment.
Booth said he was concerned that if the
legislature cut public school financing, it might also reduce university financing.
Booth said he was fairly pleased with the approved version. He said that he had not yet reviewed it.
See KU page 9
"But if they chop a lot from that bill, they'll take a whack at this one."
"I THINK we'll just hold it and see what happens to the public school bill," Booth said. "If the legislature gets satisfaction with the public school bill, nothing will happen to this one."
Robinson to return to burn care work
Bv MARION ABARE
KANSAS CITY, Kan.-David W. Robinson steps down Thursday after serving since June 1975 as acting executive vice chancellor for the KU Medical Center.
The new head of the Med Center, Robert B. Kugel, moved from Albuquerque to the area yesterday and will begin duties as vice chancellor Thursday morning.
Robinson said yesterday that he would resume his position as vice chancellor for clinical affairs and would continue as director of the burn center.
"It's a terribly hard ioh" he said
During recent months, Robinson has weathered many storms as acting head of the team.
At the busy hospital a job to do is
Arise. At the emergency room last
Dec. 1 of open heart surgery because
of alleged unsafe conditions, as well as
the resignations of two cardiothoracic surgeons
and support personnel. Also, a state audit in
January reported management deficiencies
in the areas of physical plant, dietetics,
housekeeping, laundry and purchasing.
Malcom Arnold, cardiothoracic surgeon, was hired and began March 15 to prepare for resumption of open heart surgery. He said last week that heart surgery could resume in early April after thorough training of the support team.
Robinson said that, as vice chancellor for clinical affairs, only policy matters would be handled on his own. He said he was particularly looking forward to working with patients again. Right now, he said, the burn center is one of the volume of very serious, disaster-type burns.
Robinson leaves Thursday evening for San Antonio, Texas, where he will present a paper, "Reconstruction Aspects of Burns," at National Burn Association meeting Friday.
Mani M. Mani, clinical director of the barn center, and two nurses from the barn section will attend the three-day meeting Thursday through Saturday.
Alleged bias studied
The committee from the U.S. Office of Civil Rights investigating three discrimination complaints against the University of Georgia met here yesterday to complain.
Del Shakel, executive vice chancellor,
said the investigators met with William
Balfour, Director of the Defense
Intelligence Department general counsel. At the
meeting, Shakel said, they asked for and
were given information and written records
such as student admissions and "a whole
collection" of documents.
An office was set up for them in Wescoe Hall.
The investigators plan to finish by Friday after interviews and research of the
records, Shankel said. They will then meet with Chancellor Archie R. Dykes, Shankel and Davis to give preliminary findings. He said the students will be two former KU students, both black
The complaint was filed by Muriel Paul and Jerry Williams. It alleged discrimination by KU in the hiring of replacements for James Rosser, a black, who had been associate vice chancellor for academic affairs.
The other two complaints are an alleged violation of Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars discrimination because of nationality or race, and the sex discrimination charge of a student allegedly denied admission to the KU Law School.
Student Senate fund requests
**Student Execs with the following budget request:**
**ACADEMIC AFFAIRS**
| | REQUESTED |
| :--- | :--- |
| Architecture and Urban Design Student Council (Class B) | 288 |
| Black Tree | 800 |
| Black Business School Council | 3,668 |
| Black Business School Council (Class A) | 150 |
| Chancery Club | 150 |
| Computer Health Services | 150 |
| Engineering School Council (Class A) | 4,300 |
| Engineering School Council (Class B) | 4,300 |
| KU Association for Social Workers (Class B) | 888 |
| Scholastic Association (Class B) | 1,888 |
| Chicago Law Student Association | 1,888 |
| Chiropractic Project | 888 |
| Women in Law Project | 888 |
| Undergraduate Photography | 1,000 |
**TOTAL $B = $8,947**
COMMUNICATION TECHNICIANS
$ 100
Rachel W. Reed, Computer Workers
$ 100
Kevin M. Kudo, Data Engineer
Judy K. Kawan
$ 100
TAXABLE TERMS 10 %
CULTURAL AFFAIRS:
International Club
KL Mandalah
$ 7,885
UNITED STATES
$ 3,296
KU Permanent Club
KU Public Library Club
UKU Science Fiction Club
Tai-Saigon Dance Society
University Music Center Society
25,725
University Theatre
17,400
Theatre University
**DEPUTY SERVICES:**
Commission on the Status of Women $ 2,368
Commission on the Status of Women 2,550
Conservative Affairs Association $ 9,400
National Council of Law Officers $ 9,400
Pristine of Headquarters $ 1,025
Merchants $ 1,025
New American Alliance $ 744
Volunteer Clearing House $ 1,108
Women's Coalition Women's Center $ 2,060
Women's Council Women's Center $ 1,906
Junior class $ 1,170
SPORTS:
Recreational Admission Board $ 36.01
Integrated Athletics $ 11.49
51,458
Totals: 87,458
FINANCE AND ADJUSTMENT
FINANCE AND AUDITING:
1 G 0.24
Controlled Funds
Total: 19,784
Total: $ 28,370
TOTAL ALL REQUESTS: 4298.32
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