Monday, November 6, 1967
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
13
Sigma Chi 'Mom' hub of activity
Mrs. John Nation, like most KU housemothers, is doing a little recuperating today, after homecoming weekend. Mrs. Nation is housemother at Sigma Chi fraternity.
While housemothers don't build the decorations or cook the food for receptions and buffets, they are still in the center of all activities.
"We wonder if everything will be ready when the day arrives," said Mrs. Nation, who has been a housemother four years
At homecoming time a housemother might have to answer questions like, "Shall we use papier-mache or chicken wire," or "What shall we serve at the alumni reception."
Mrs. Nation said she kept the coffee pot perking this past week as members of Sigma Chi fraternity and Kappa Alpha Theta sorority collaborated on house decorations.
Mrs. Nation said she was startled one rainy afternoon when she looked out the window and saw something moving underneath a tarpolin in the yard. She soon learned that some of the girls and fellows were stuffing paper into the framework of their "masterpiece."
All of their work was rewarded, though, when Kappa Alpha Theta and Sigma Chi were awarded the grand champion trophy for house decorations.
The most important duties of a KU housemother, such as, serving as official hostess, planning menus and ordering food are added to at homecoming time. For example, Mrs. Nation, who is "second-mother" to 96 men, had to order food for 250 extra persons who ate at a buffet Saturday noon.
For parents, alums, and visiting K-State Sigma Chi's, she ordered 60 pounds of beef, 40 pounds of ham, a case of potato slices, a case and a half of green beans with mushroom sauce, a case of fruit for salads, vegetables for relish trays, two sheet cakes and 40 dozen rolls.
Mrs. Nation, who orders foods from local wholesalers, said she always thinks she has bought everything, and then some little thing, such as powdered sugar for the icing, comes up missing. Then she has to run next door or to the corner store.
Mrs. Nation, herself a KU graduate, said she gets excited about seeing her old friends at homecoming. She was hostess at an after-game reception for more than 150 Sigma Chi alums. At the reception, she said there were sentimental moments as alums sang old fraternity songs.
Like most housemothers, Mrs. Nation was escorted to the football game and the Louis Armstrong Concert by house members. Mrs. Nation said there was a little bit of a let-down after the hectic weekend.
"The boys' excitement rubs off on me and it really builds up," she said.
Mrs. Nation, however, won't have too long to rest and has already begun to plan a pre-Thanksgiving dinner for the Sigma Chi's.
Manager
Shakey's Pizza Parlor 544 W.23rd St.
Lawrence, Kan.
Dear Sir:
In all my travels throughout the British Empire, I have never seen such an authentic pub as you gentlemen operate.
Your taste is exquisite down to the very last tap handle. I must say that it made my stay in Lawrence pleasurable and I had a jolly good time at your establishment.
As a suggestion, may I advise you to serve something more British—fish 'n chips, say. Yes, I do believe fish and chips would be dandy fare in your establishment. Do be a good egg and attend to this matter forthwith.
I have but one complaint. You insist on serving Italian pizza in an English Pub! Now, gentlemen, I must insist you stop this immediately! If you do not, I fear I must report you to the British Empire Pubkeepers Association.
Sincerely,
CHARLES APPLEGATE, Esq.
V.C., H.M.S., R.S.V.P.
P. S. Your piano-bango ragtime music is splendid!
(WATCH FOR ANSWER TOMORROW)
I won't
go into business when I graduate because:
□ a. I'd lose my individuality.
□ b. It's graduate school for me.
□ c. My mother wants me to be a doctor.
Can't argue with c), but before you check a) or b)-pencils up! There have been some changes. Drastic changes in the business scene. But changes in the vox populi attitude regarding business ... especially on campus . . . just haven't kept pace.
Take the belabored point that business turns you into a jellyfish. The men who run most of the nation's successful firms didn't arrive by nepotism, by trusting an Ouija board, or by agreeing with their bosses. Along the way, a well-modulated "No" was said. And backed up with the savvy and guts today's business demands.
In short, individuality is highly prized in much of the business world-the successful much. Even when the business is big. Like Western Electric, the manufacturing and supply unit of the Bell System.
We provide communications equipment for
our Bell System teammates, the Bell telephone companies. This takes a lot of thought, decisions, strong stands for our convictions, (and sometimes some mistakes . . . we're human, every 160,000 of us).
Individuality pays off. Not only in raises, but in personal reward as well. Like an engineer who knew deep down that there was a better way to make a certain wire connector—and did. Or a WE gal who streamlined time-consuming office procedures, and saved us some $63,000 a year.
Rewards and accolades. For saying "No." For thinking creatively and individually. For doing.
Not every hour is Fun Hour, but if you've got imagination and individuality—you've got it made. With a business like Western Electric. We'll even help you answer b) with our Tuition Refund program. Come on in and go for President!