Thursday, March 11. 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section C·Page 7
EmaKate Janis, Whitefish Bay, Wis., sophomore, relaxes with Tim O'Donnell, Wichita senior. The two met while working on this year's Rock Chalk show. The couple is in the Kappa Kappa Gamma/Beta Theta P performance. Photo by Christina Neff/KANCAMI
Revue romances often aren't built to last, actors say
By Amber Stuever
Special to the Kansan
After months of working together, many Rock Chalk Revue actors find themselves dancing a little closer together during performances.
They are the couples who have fallen into the infamous Rock Chalk romance, a Rock Chalk tradition as old as the show itself. It's the classic story of boy meets girl, only it's not set at a local bar. During the hours of Rock Chalk Revue practices, the only intoxicating substances are the music and dance.
Tim O'Donnell, a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity, met his new girlfriend while working on a Rock Chalk show with Kappa Kappa Gamma. O'Donnell said that the rehearsals were great for developing a relationship.
"You get to be around the people that you like and have a good time at practices," O'Donnell said. "If one of those happens to be the person you're dating, all the better."
John Wade, psychologist for Counseling and Psychological Services, agreed that Rock Chalk is an ideal opportunity for relationships to develop.
"Often what does lead to a relationship are things like having common interests, which especially creates a sense of a connection in the sense that you're working together," Wade said.
The Rock Chalk romance worked for Julie Dunlap, who met her husband while working on the 1992 show. Dunlap, an alumna of Kappa Alpha Theta, and her husband, David Dunlap, an alumnus of Beta Theta Pi, developed a Rock Chalk crush that turned into an engagement two years later.
Julie Dunlap said that although couples are brought together by the revue, they must have things other than the show in common for the relationship to last.
"So many Rock Chalk romances start because you have so much in common," she said. "If they really want it to last beyond Rock Chalk, they need to
make a point of not talking about the show once in a while and being relaxed about the relationship."
Matt Haverkamp, Mission senior and a member of Lambda Chi Alpha, began dating his dance partner in the fraternity's show last year with Alpha Delta Pi. Haverkamp and his dance partner are still together even though his girlfriend is participating in the show this year while Haverkamp is not.
Although the Rock Chalk romance worked for him, Haverkamp said many problems could accompany it.
"I think it's a good way to meet people, but I don't know that it's the best way to find a strong relationship," Hvaerkamp said. "A lot of times the stress from Rock Chalk brings people together and pushes them anart just as quick."
Dylan Hale, a director of Phi Delta Theta's shows last year and this year, said that he had seen Rock Chalk romances come and go.
"It can work out and last, but I've seen more relationships break up a month after Rock Chalk than I've seen last," Hale said. "Maybe it's because they're not seeing each other every day or things just change. But I think it can work."
Rachael Augustyn, Overland Park freshman and a member of Alpha Delta Pi, is dating a man from the sorority's show with Kappa Sigma fraternity. She said Rock Chalk romances were a good way to start a relationship, and that they could improve the show.
You're all working together for a common purpose, obviously to get the show done," Augustyn said. "You're in a stressful environment, but you're all in it together."
Although Rock Chalk preparation has seen its share of one-night stands, Dunlap said she was proof that the Rock Chalk romance can last. The key, Dunlap said, was to maintain a friendship.
"The passion of the show ends in March so they need to have something to carry them past that," Dunlap said.
— Edited by Kelli Raybern
Rock Chalk promotion leaves few seats empty
By Jason Walker Special to the Kansan
Brooke Wiebe, Wichita freshman, felt lucky that she was able to get tickets to the March 13 performance of Rock Chalk Revue. Wiebe, a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority, is taking her parents to the sold-out show as part of the sorority's Mom's Day activities.
"I have heard some good things about Rock Chalk," she said. "You have to be really good to be in the show."
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the show, and just two weeks before the performance, few tickets are left.
John Laing, director of public relations for the revue, said that the revue usually attracted alumni from past performances.
"It's great to get people to come that have been in the revue before," he said. "A lot of them like to come back and see the show again."
"We give the houses performing in the show first chance at tickets," he said. "The Saturday day show was sold out even before tickets went on sale to the public."
Laiing said that promoting the show wasn't too hard, especially within the greek community. In fact, the men and women performing in the revue are all members of greek establishments, even though the performance is not limited to greek participation.
Melanie Morgan, co-director of the cast from Delta Delta Delta, and said that it hadn't been difficult to gather participants.
"Everyone wants to do it," she said. "We had about 100 people from the house try out.
Morgan said that although the community service aspect of the revue was important, the work had allowed the women to make new friends with the men of Phi Delta Theta, the fraternity that Delta Delta Delta is naired with.
Girls that don't get in come up and ask to volunteer.
“It’s a good way for our houses to get to know each other,” she said. “You can make lifelong friendships.”
Aaron Darden, co-director of the show for Delta Chi, said that although it was good for the houses to get together, the one-hour-a-day time commitment could sometimes be hard to deal with.
"A lot of people make room for practice because they think it is worthwhile," he said. "But sometimes it keeps people away that have a full schedule."
Greek houses are not the only organizations that may submit entries to perform in the revue. Laing said that any living organization — a campus group whose members live together — was welcome to try out for the revue.
"We have had groups from dorms and scholarship halls try out in the past," he said. "And we have made some rule changes that level out the playing field."
Laing said that few non-greek organizations submitted entries because of the time commitment involved, money needed to produce an entry and the turnover in residents.
"We try to promote non-greek entries," he said. "But it's tough for them to get the support needed to participate."
— Edited by Liz Wristen
Stiff fines keep show's players on best behavior
By Derek Prater Special to the Kansan
Rock Chalk Revue is about fun and entertainment, but it's serious business as well.
To ensure that the many hours and thousands of dollars spent producing the revue aren't wasted, participants face a system of punitive fines for unacceptable behavior.
Fines keep groups on the ball and make sure everything runs smoothly said Alex Locke, executive director of the revue.
Locke said that he and his assistant were responsible for assessing fines and that revue groups, rather than individual participants, were held accountable for paying. Fines are donated, along with proceeds, to the United Wav.
Fines can be assessed for everything from having alcohol or drugs to chewing gum at rehearsals or performances, but Locke said the only fines so far this year had been for unexcused absences.
"If I see someone with gum, I'll tell them to spit it out. But I can't give a warning for the attendance rule," Locke said.
With rehearsals running seven days a week, all five groups have incurred fines for attendance this year.
If a revue group has less than 90 percent of its cast present 10 minutes after rehearsal starts, that group is fined $200.
"It sounds like a lot at first,but when you think
REVUE FINES
Groups are accountable for their participants' behavior at Rock Chalk Revue rehearsals and performances.
food, beverage, or gum at at rehearsal or performance — $100
Smoking at the Lied Center or any rehearsal site — $200 and indefinite suspension of the group
Failure to clean up after any rehearsal — $100
Alcohol or drugs found at performances or rehearsals — $300 and indefinite suspension of the individual violator
interruption of another group's rehearsal — $100 per person
Missed Lied Center or other facility rehearsal - $500 and indefinite suspension of the individual violator
— This information provided by the Rock Chalk Revue public relations office.
about how many people are coming to Rock Chalk, it's not that bad," said Adam Saylor, revue director for Beta Theta Pi.
Fines are necessary to punish and deter unprofessional attitudes. But participants say being part of a great show and a great cause is motivation enough.
"This is a big deal, being in Rock Chalk, and everybody needs to be there," said Melanie Morgan, revue director for Delta Delta Delta.
Edited by Kelli Raybern
More than just a good show, Revue raises money
Participants donate Rock Chalk profits to United Way, volunteer time
By Matt Gardner Special to the Kansan
and other work."
After all the lights have dimmed, the curtains have closed and the audience has gone home, the rewards of the 50th Annual Rock Chalk Revue will continue to live on.
Since 1983, the money raised from the revue has been donated to the United Way of Douglas County. Hank Booth, director of the United Way of Douglas County, said many different projects reap the benefits of the the student-raised money.
"I think it's important to point out that the tone for our whole campaign last year was set with contribution results from Rock Chalk," Booth said. "It was an all-time high on campus for givers and we made a big point to let the University know what students at KU are doing with donations
Last year, with the help of the $42,500 raised from the revue, the United Way met and exceeded its campaign goal for the year of $1.25 million.
The United Way not only receives donations of money from the revue, but also receives volunteer help from students willing to get their hands dirty. Many students involved with the revue help out each year in the United Way's Day of Caring, which is a day each year where students help paint and do yard work along with a variety of other community chores.
Booth said all the money earned from the revenue is used to help 30 different agencies in Douglas County, including the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
"We really just can't say 'thank you' enough," Booth said. "The revue really sets the tone for the year for us, and it's because of the revue that we were able to set our goal."
Jenny Lill, business manager of the revue, said the coordinators decided to give
FAST DONATION
1991-92 - $43,000
1992-93 - $26,000
1993-94 - $43,000
1994-95 - $16,000
1994-96 - $27,000
1996-97 - $30,000
1997-98 - $42,500
to the United Way because of the variety of causes it supports.
"We picked the United Way as our source of donation because it's the most broad-based organization in the Lawrence area," Lill said.
The money the revue gives to the United Way each year comes from several sources.
"Mainly, it comes from ticket sales," Lill said. "We also have several companies from Lawrence, Kansas City, Topeka and even Dallas that buy advertising for the program. That helps bring in money."
Lill said other revenue sources included alumni donations, drawings for prizes and sweatshirt and video sales also help to make money for the United Way.
This year's revue coordinators hope to donate $50,000.
"We thought with this being the 50th anniversary of the revue and all that $50,000 would be a good goal," Lill said. "That will all depend on how many companies put ads in the programs, how many seats we sell and et cetera."
Lill said the shows on Saturday night have sold out the past 15 years, and the Friday night performances have been packed for a long time.
The United Way was started by religious leaders in Denver in 1887 with the original plans to coordinate local services and conduct fund-raising campaigns.
Today, approximately 1,400 community-based United Way organizations and 45,000 agencies help millions of people around the world.
United Way also continues to grow more and more financially each year. Nearly 112 years after its start, the United Way makes more than a billion dollars annually in contributions, including $3.4 billion in their 1997-98 campaign.
ADVISORY BOARD THANKS YOU FOR MAKING OUR 50TH SHOW TRULY SPECTACULAR!