MONDAY, JUNE 11, 2012
PAGE 12
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SENIORS
2012 class gift features Centennial Jay
ANNA ALLEN
aellen@kansan.com
Class gifts allow graduating classes to literally leave their mark on the University.
From the bronze Jayhawk statue in front of Strong Hall to an array of scholarships and war bonds, the gifts have come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and they are a University tradition that dates back to 1873, according to KU Endowment.
A large mosaic of the 1912 Jayhawk was exactly what the Class of
2012 wanted to give the University before parting ways.
Senior class officers began talking to Marion Waller Paulette, the University's Design and Construction Management project manager, in mid-fall.
From there, they knew they wanted a 1912 Jayhawk mosaic because it's the hundredth year since its creation.
At first, they wanted it to be featured on a walkway somewhere, but Paulette said they eventually decided on a wall feature because
of the fragility of mosaics. The mosaic, they decided, should be located somewhere with high traffic.
Though they looked at various places like the Union and buildings on campus that were constructed around 1912, the ultimate decision was Wescoe Hall.
After they determined where and what they wanted, the committee contacted Tina Murano, a mosaic artist from Wichita.
Murano said it was an honor when she was approached to create the piece in early January of this
year. Murano also said it made great sense to accept the project, especially since her daughter Emma is currently a sophomore at the University.
Murano began sketching and collaborating designs with the committee in January. She had the concept to work with, but still had intricate details to work out.
"With it being the 1912 Jayhawk," Murano said, "I played around with size and framing the curve of the frame, mosaic work, and the image of the jayhawk... how to lay the tile
for the curves of the feathers and bird legs to look like little bird legs, and the variety of colors."
Murano said she worked mostly in-studio all the way up until its installation before graduation in early May.
After nearly half a year planning, fundraising, and creating, the Class of 2012 has left their colorful mark in the entryway of the Underground in Wesco Hall with the help of some Kansas talent.
Edited by Megan Hinman
JESSICA JANASZ/KANSAN
The 2012 class senior gift is displayed in the entryway to the Underground at Wesco Hall. Tina Murano, a mosaic artist from Wichita created the piece and completed the installation right before graduation with her daughter Emma, a sophomore at KU.
RECREATION CENTER
Guest membership offered at Rec Center
The Ambler Student Recreation Center is now offering a "Home for the Summer" membership. This membership is for non-KU students who attend other colleges, but are living in Lawrence for the summer. To get a "Home for the Summer" membership, students must present their college ID and their spring 2012 and fall 2012 class schedules and proof of residency at their college. The cost is
$5.20 per week or $20.83 per month.
"Home for the Summer" is a pilot program. Jill Urkoski, associate director at the recreation center, said the membership is an opportunity for non-KU students to use the facility and spark interest in the University in potential students. Urkoski said KU students are the top priority, however, and if the membership affects their recreation center experience, they will discontinue the membership.
KUBOOKSTORE.COM
Victoria Pitcher
THE OFFICIAL BOOKSTORE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
THE ALUMNI COLLECTION CAN BE FOUND IN-STORE & ONLINE AT KUBOOKSTORE.COM
Kansas Union Level 2 *1301 Jayhawk Blvd.* Lawrence, KS 66045 * (785) 864-4640
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