Section B·Page 4
The University Daily Kansan
Monday, May 8, 2000
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Past graduation ceremonies known for traditions, pranks
By Luke Wetzel Special to the Kansan
In its 127 years of commencement ceremonies, the University of Kansas has had a colorful history of pomp, circumstance, tradition and even disruption. And it all began with a dancing skeleton.
been borrowed from the zoology department.
The prank took place during the first commencement in June 1874, when graduation was a several-day affair. According to University Archives, students lowered a skeleton over the speaker's head and made it appear to dance while the band played. The skeleton had
The tradition of walking down the Hill began in 1924, when the University began conducting commencement in Memorial Stadium. Previously, commencement was in a giant tent for lack of a building large enough to hold 3,400 students and spectators.
At the 1974 commencement, students Jerry Meinert and Dennis Smarker streaked into fame. Just as Chancellor Archie Dykes finished his speech, they cast off their gowns and ran the length of the football field, buck naked. They
were arrested by police and taken to jail where they spent a few hours before posting $250 ball. Charges against the students were dropped.
Probably the biggest disruption in KU commencement history came when a 1980 banner-waving display led to the arrest of 11 students. "Get out of South Africa," read one student's banner, protesting an $8 million investment by the KU Endowment Association in the then-apartheid nation. When the students refused to turn the banner over, seven police officers confiscated it. Other students in the north end of the stadium simultaneously unfurled a banner that said "Help, we're being arrested." KU policy forbids display of political banners at nonpolitical events.
December 1983 graduates, the self-dubbed "Class of 1983 1/2" staged their own unofficial commencement ceremony. Adorned in bathrobes and baseball caps, the fall graduates were handed unofficial diplomas congratulating them on being the first December class to walk down the hill. Fall graduates had grown tired of not having their own ceremony, according to an article in the Laurence Journal-World.
Benches, sundial are options for senior gift
By Courtney Craigmile Special to the Kansan
As graduation day approaches,the graduating class of 2000 must decide how it wants to be remembered.
"We want to do something more because we are the class of 2000," said Jonathan Alt, Winnetka, Ill., senior and class president.
The senior class doesn't formally announce its class gift until the Chancellor's Lunch on May 21, Commencement Day. However, it has narrowed the gift selection down to two choices, Alt said. This year's ideas include benches near Potter Lake or a sundial serving as a time capsule donated to the class of 2050.
Donna Neuner, director of membership services for the Kansas Alumni Association, said the class gifts had a lot of significance.
"Not all these gifts last forever, but they are important at the time." Neuner said.
bronze Jayhawk that sits in front of Strong Hall, given by the class of 1956. Other gifts include the bronze University seal in front of Budig Hall (1997) and the landscaping and plaque at the Lied Center (1992).
The selection of the class gift begins the first semester of a class' senior year and becomes formalized during the second semester. Alt said.
Alt said money was always a big factor in choosing class gifts. Barbara Ballard, vice chancellor for student affairs said money came from donations to the class gift fund, which was done by checking the optional fees box during registration.
rerhaps the most famous class gift is the
The total fund ranges from $8,000 to $12,000 yearly. Ballard said she advised the senior class to look at gifts between $500 and $8,000, enabling them to leave about $2,000 for the next class.
Neuner said money shortages prevented some classes from leaving a gift. Often these classes will donate a gift in conjunction with a class reunion.
This bronze Joyhawk was a gift of the class of 1956. It sits in front of Strong Hall. The class of 2000 will announce its gift on May 21 at the Chancellor's lunch.
Photo by Arna
Hemenway
/KANSAN
KU graduation less important than high school for some
By Jay Ferguson
Special to the Kansan
"My parents didn't even walk down the hill when they graduated," Cameron said.
It may seem odd, but some graduating seniors say they view their high school graduations as more important than commencement at the University of Kansas.
Spencer Cameron, Danville, Calif., senior, said he didn't know if he was going to walk down the hill. He said the ceremony was not important to him or his parents, who will be in Lawrence during the weekend of graduation.
For some students, the college ceremony doesn't have as much prestige these days.
"The ceremony is not going to be that special to me or probably even my family," Coulson said.
Other students have different opinions about why the ceremony means so little to them. Chris Coulson, Mission Hills senior, said he believed that walking down the hill was just taking care of the formalities.
However, some to-be graduates consider the ceremony to be the largest leap of their lives.
Earn University of Kansas undergraduate and graduate credit through
Karen Ebel, Hiawatha senior, said that college graduation was more important to her because she had to work hard for her degree, unlike her high school diploma. Even though she views college as the most important ceremony, she said her family thought her high school graduation was more important.
Ebel said that more of her family members attended her high school graduation than will be here on May 21.
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