4A
Opinion
Monday, December 6, 1999
One hundred thirty-three years have passed since the first classes were held on Mt. Oread. During that time, the University of Kansas has been blessed with a rich history of which every member of the University community can be proud. The following is the Kansan's glimpse at part of that history. Whenever a list like this is compiled, there will be disagreement, and we doubt everyone will agree with ours. Our goal simply is to highlight some of the best—and worst—the University has produced. We'd like to thank the editorial board:
Tabatha Beerbower, Matt Dunehoo, Jeff Engstrom, Erik Goodman, Emily Haverkamp, Heather Herrman, Katrina Hull, Rupali Limaye, Kursten Andrea Phelps, Corey Snyder and Brett Watson for their research. Additionally we'd like to thank the staff at the University Archives for their valuable assistance. As a result of their hard work and dedication, we are able to celebrate our storied past.
Chad Bettes and Seth Hoffman for the editorial board.
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Frank Burge — The longtime director of the Kansas Union had a satellite union named after him in 1982. Mr. Burge has a big heart and a great bike.
Spencer family Mrs. Helen Foresman Spencer, a KC art collector and arts patron, donated $4.6 million to the University to fund the construction of a new art museum.
Potter Lake — Plans to use Potter Lake as a recreational facility were abandoned after several drownings and multiple ear infections stemming from the lake's polluted waters. Other doomed traditions included the sailing of a commencement regatta and high-diving.
Walking down the Hill — The first commencement was in 1873; however, it wasn't until 1924 that the student parade started marching down the Hill to Memorial Stadium for graduation.
Day on the Hill — Every year, Day on the Hill brings bands to campus for a student-sponsored concert. Some bands played on the Hill before they made it big, including Pearl Jam and Toad the Wet Sprocket.
1969 protest The disruption of the 1969 ROTC review catapulted the University into the spotlight as one of the most politically active campuses in the nation.
Freshman beanies/caps — The freshman cap tradition was started by upperclassmen in the fall of 1908. A list of rules to regulate freshman behavior, known as the Ten Commandments, was created to take the place of the annual fall scrap between the freshmen and the upperclassmen.
Rock Chalk Chant — The origin of the Rock Chalk Chant is thought to have come about on a train ride home for chemistry professor E.H.S. Baily and his associates in the 1880's. Teddy Roosevelt called it the greatest college chant he'd ever heard.
Vespers — Vespers is a musical performance started in 1924 that is presented by the School of Fine Arts. The first program was by a small choir in the auditorium of Old Fraser Hall. By 1927, the program had moved to Hoch Auditorium because of growing audiences.
Waving the Wheat when this display of school spirit started, although there are photos of KU fans with their arms raised above their heads, waving back and forth as early as 1936.
Waving the Wheat — No one really knows
Greeks — The number of Greek organizations on campus grew from two in 1873, to 19 in 1909. In those early days Greek organizations often were accused of hazing and discrimination. We're glad things have changed.
Union Bombing — On April 20, 1970, an arsonist's firebomb ignited the Kansas Union. Firefighters and more than 100 KU students risked their lives extinishing the blaze that caused $2 million in damages but no loss of life.
Carrie Watson — she was the librarian at the University of
Kansas for 34 years, from 1887 to 1921. Watson Library was named after her.
Phog Allen — The University's winning basketball coach coached from 1920 to 1956. Allen lead Kansas to 24 first-place conference finishes and three NCAA titles. Allen was also athletic director and football coach at KU and was instrumental in building Memorial Stadium.
1952 National Championship KU won the national basketball title in 1952. Eight members of this team were picked to play on the Olympic team, which brought home the gold.
Jimmy Green.
Jimmy Green — Nicknamed "Uncle Jimmy," he was the
Orange Bowl — Unfortunately, in the 1968 Orange Bowl, Kansas was called for having 12 men on the field on the last play, giving Penn State another chance at a last-second two-point conversion. They took advantage of it, and Kansas lost.
University's first dean of the law school, Green Hall, the current law school, was named after him. Lippincott Hall, where a statue of Green stands, used to be called Green Hall.
Hoops on TV The first
Computer center bombing — The computer center was bombed in 1970, and several students were injured.
local basketball game was televised in 1952. Kansas began a long tradition of defeating K-State on TV with a 78-61 win.
Wescoe Beach — The concrete area facing Jayhawk Boulevard was termed the "beach" by
students because the closest beach is located thousands of miles away. A popular student hang out, it also used to be the site of many athletic celebrations.
Strong Hall backwards — The wings to Strong Hall were built separately — the east in 1911, west in 1918 and the center in 1923. The original campus plan called for the campus to be built to the north down Mt. Oread, but it didn't happen, so Strong faces the wrong way.
Old Fraser — The original Fraser Hall opened in December 1872 and was called the largest and most glorious educational building in the country. By 1923 however, faculty complained of splintering floorboards, uncontrollable heating and rats and mice. Despite efforts to save the University's oldest building, Old Fraser Hall was razed in 1965.
William Allen White
Without Allen White — The famed Kansas newspaper editor William Allen White spent three and a half years at the University but left without a degree in 1890 because he could not pass a required geometry class. Following White's death in 1944, the Board of Regents established the University's school of journalism in his name.
Hoch Auditorium — Hoch was struck by lightning in the summer of 1991, causing a fire that caused major damage to the building.
Foosball — Forget about Sony Playstation, in 1972 foosball was the popular way to let off steam. According to the 1972 yearbook, officials started to worry that the craze would become an obstacle to academics, as skiing had become in some Colorado universities.
by the Rev. R.W. Oliver, the first chancellor.
The University seal — The seal, which picture Moses kneeling before a bush that is on fire but not burnt, was selected in 1866
KU Band — Chancellor Chalmers ordered the marching band to let women participate in 1972. This increased the size of the band, giving them a fighting chance against rude Missouri football players.
The Free University - The 1967 brainchild of English teacher Hamilton L. Salish acquired free
Clyde Tombaugh — The KU graduate student discovered Pluto in 1930 in Flagstaff, Ariz. The observatory on the top of Lindley Hall is named after him.
Hammann J. Salsall offered free classes for "freer learning." Until it died out in the early 1980's because of a lack of interest, anyone could take or teach a class about anything, with no grades or size restrictions.
Protest — Chicago
Seven member Abbie
Hoffman visited campus in April 1970.
After blowing his nose on the U.S. flag at Potter's Lake, he spoke at Allen Fieldhouse, urging students to revolt.
KILLING THE HARPOONED WALRUS.
Elizabeth Watkins — It is difficult to study or work at the University without seeing the legacy of Elizabeth Miller Watkins. Among her gifts were Miller and Watkins scholarship halls and an endowment to maintain them, Watkins Memorial Hospital and its own endowment and the former Watkin's Nurses Home. She also left her house, the Outlook, to the University for the Chancellor's residence and donated all of her land in Kansas outside Douglas County to the University.
Emily Taylor — Taylor was dean of women from 1956 to 1975, and was a big reason for a women-friendly university. Among other things, she started the first university commission on the status of women in the country.
Rock Chalk Revue — An entertainment tradition was conceived when Roy Wonder, a business student, established a campus wide variety show known as Rock Chalk Revue. In 1983, the KU Board of Class Officers decided to donate profits from the show to the United Way.
CHAMPSI — A magical 1987-88 season ended with high flying men's basketball team winning the NCAA national championship. The team was the underdog through the tournament and defeated Billy Tubbs' Oklahoma Sooners in the final.
Cora Downs — One of the early women faculty members at the University, Professor Downs had a distinguished career that stretched from the early 20th century into the 1960's.
Cora Downs
Flora Richardson — The University's graduating class consisted of four
KANU — KANU began operating in 1952. It was the first non-commercial radio station to broadcast in stereo in 1961.
students. Ms. Richardson was the first valedictorian.
Bribery — The Kansas House committee on public education recommended awarding the state university to the city of Emporia. Lobbyists from Lawrence successfully bribed representatives from the House for 5 dollars apiece, who amended the bill to charter the University of Kansas at Lawrence.
Lewis Dyche — The amazing Lewis Linkday Dyche was a professor of anatomy and physiology, taxidermist and curator of mammals and fishes. His collection, located in the Museum of Natural History will fascinate fourth-grade field-trippers forever.
KJHK — Student-run radio goes FM as KJHK for the first time in October of 1975. It became the first station to broadcast a continuous stream on the Internet in 1996, KJHK has become one of the country's finest college radio stations.
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