Friday, October 24, 1978
University Daily Kansan
5
1929
1941
George "Dumpy" Bowles was a member of the Class of 1912. He wanted to make a contribution to KU. As a musician he produced several student musical shows. A song in one of these shows was, "Tm a Javhawk."
'Jay, Jay, Jay, Jay, Jayhawk' started in 1912
1946
The song was not used after the show until 1920 when there was a big push to school spirit. The song was reborn and it still lives on today as the KU fight song.
Talk about the Sooners
The Cowbys and the Buffs,
Talk about the Tiger and his tall—
Talk about the Wildcats,
And those Cornhuskin' boys,
But I'm a bird to make 'em weep and wall.
Chorus:
'Cause I'm a Jay, Jay, Jay, Jay, Jay,
Jayhawk.
Up at Lawrence on the Kaw—
'Cause I'm a Jay, Jay, Jay, Jayhawk,
With a sie-boom, ibo iphorak,
G got a bill that's big enough
To twist the Tiger's tail,
Husk some corn and listen
to the wolverine.
'Cause I'm a Jay, Jay, Jay, Jayhawk,
Riding on a Kansas gale.
Rolk Chalk yell rich in historm
The Rock Chalk Chant has been the battle cry of KU fans for more than 80 years. However, few supporters realize that the Rock Chalk Chant was used at Jawahir football game. It was used at Jawahir football game.
This strange, traditional chant, which is among the most famous of all college cheers, was started by E.H.S. Bailley, a professor of chemistry. Bailley wanted a cheer for his Science Club. Returning from a convention in Wichita, Bailley and some associates patterned the yell after the cheer. They ran train ralling along the tracks. On May 21, they submitted the cheer to his club. Even though there was no football team at KU until 1890 the Rock Chalk Chant tradition steadily grew.
Before the University adopted the cheer in 1897, it consisted of "Rah, Rah, Jayhawk, KU" be repeated three times. But an English professor soon suggested that "Rock Chalk" be substituted for "Rah, Rah" because it rhymed with Jayhawk. It was also symbolic of the chalky limestone formations on Mount Oreal.
Dunkers, coins find Chi-O water
The Chi Omega fountain, at the west entrance to campus, is often filled with more than recycled water and lucky penny. Reluctant bodies, bubbles and a dog or two are often found there, according to O'Mack, a resident of Chi Omega society.
Warm weather and restless students combine for busy days at the fountain, Womack said. Today's students, just as the students of the past enjoy the slapstick
hurry of seeing a friend dunked in the water.
Since the fountain's construction in 1955, many traditions have been established for "taking" students who are newly engaged or celebrating birthdays. Sorority and fraternity pledges also find a dip in the fountain an established "surprise."
"This year the pledges surprised us," Wornack said. "When they got back from their walkout they all jumped in the fountain before we had a chance to throw them.
"The thing that really got me was when members of the ftrvvlp up the street burst in during dinner and threw the whole sorority house in the fountain."
Wornack said she escaped the fate of her friends. She made it to her room and wished her dead.
Steffen Van Keppel, a resident of Sigma Alpha Fidelity fraternity, said that because of the established traditions, fraternity members knew when they could expect a
laking. They just hope they aren't carrying a wallet when the time comes, he said.
Occasionally fraternity members put marbles in the fountain for pledges to fish out. The trick is to get all of them, which isn't always easy. Van Kemel said.
During the streaking craze the fountain was used as the origin of streaks down Jayhawk Boulevard. Womack said that one night the excitement and noise was so high that police had to intervene but that such problems didn't arise very often.
An event which is a little more subdued is the annual senior dinner of the Chi Omega sorority. After dinner the members gather in a circle around the fountain and throw pennies for luck. Womack said it was a sentimental tradition.
Kelly Scott, president of Chi Omega sorority, said the fountain was usually turned on the weekend before the Kansas game and turned off after homecoming in the fall.
"Once it starts flowing so does the activity." Scott said.
Staff Photo
sophomore, and Joise Steinbucker, Kansas City Kan., freshman
cavort in the recently relanced Chil Omega fountain.
Recently a change was made in the landscaping around the fountain. The live trees that had surrounded the fountain for many years were removed. The university owns the trees we were getting overgrown, Womack said, but she didn't agree with the decision.
Ann Cantrell, another Chi Omega resident, looked at the humorous side of the
"Now there won't be any trees for the naked boys to hide behind," she said.
Noren Woody, a Chi Omega resident, said the designer of the fountain would be laughing at the attics it had prompted. The designed, Itasco Hilman Wooady, an 80-year-old Chi Omega alumna, is Noren's grandmother. Woody said her grandmother loved the attention the fountain had received over the years.
Fountain funnies
cheer as they charged into battle.
The Rock Chalk Chant's use by the military originated in 1898 when Company H of the Twentieth Kansas Infantry, which played a role in producing the yell to United States Volunteers who were stationed in San Francisco. The Twentieth Kansas had been using the cheer for football games between their unit and the University of California and 'Leland Stanford.'
The cheer was also heard in World War I. The "Jayhawk News" reported that the 137th infantry of the 38th Division observed Kansas Day in 1919 with a large meeting at Samplberg, France. The chant was used to open and close the meeting.
The first time the yell was heard on a battle field was during the Spanish-American War. On Feb. 7, 1899, the first Kansan died in action. The Twentieth Kansan saluted their friend at dusk with a song from the band followed by the Rock Chalk Chant. During the fighting in the Philippines the Kansans would yell the
Over the years the yell has changed forms. The three quick lines, "Rah, Rah, Jahyawk, KU," have evolved into two lines that are chanted, followed by three that are shouted. But the basic cheer still remains. Professor Bailey would be amazed to hear that the band had always cheered he gave his Science Club in 1896, a cheer that was used in the Boxer Rebellion in China and a cheer that Teddy Roosevelt said was the best he had ever heard.
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