Loud whistle catches attention of students
By LaTina F. Sullivan Special to the Kansan
When Ndomby Fhunsu, Kinshasa, Zaire, senior, arrived on campus, he heard a noise that terrified him.
"I thought that the noise was an alarm to a war," Fhunsu said. "I thought that it meant that you had to take shelter. I was paralyzed with fear."
When Fhunsu finally asked someone what it was, the person told him that it was the steam whistle that blew to let students know when class was out.
Fhunsu is one of many KU students who clearly can remember the moment when they first heard the whistle blow.
The steam whistle has been a KU institution since 1899, when it blew only twice a day — the first time at 7:45 a.m. and the second time at dusk to signal curfew. In 1912, Chancellor Frank Strong said that every class would end with a blast, according to an article in the University Daily Kansan.
Now, the whistle blows for seven seconds 11 times a day on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It first blows at 7:20 a.m. and sounds at 20 minutes past the hour, every hour. The last whistle blows at 5:20 p.m.
It blows an extra two times on Tuesday and Thursday at 10:50 a.m. and 3:50 p.m.
Students' first experience with the whistle is usually memorable.
Lesli Carpenter, St. Louis junior, had been warned by friends about the whistle, but she didn't pay any attention to them.
"When I first heard it I jumped," Carpenter said. "I couldn't figure out what it was. It was so loud and atrocious, I thought it was a cow. I realized what it was and just started to laugh. Then it reminded me of a factory, and I felt as though I were a factory worker."
Allyson Walters, McLouth freshman, said that when she first heard the whistle, it reminded her of a Bugs Bunny cartoon.
"You know, the one with the sheep dog and the wolf. When the sheep dog checks in and out of work, the whistle blows," Walters said.
Tasmin Mills, Washington junior, thought it was a train.
"I didn't know that they had trains in Lawrence," Mills said. "I thought it was strange that the train's whistle blew the same time twice an hour. I never asked because I thought people would think that I was stupid."
Rhonda Lewis, Wichita graduate student,
still gets scared when she hears the whistle.
"When I first heard the whistle my heart leaped," Lewis said. "It scared me. I have an overactive nervous system, and it was a really loud noise. After a few seconds, I realized what it was. Now, if I am not aware that the whistle is about to blow, I still get scared."
Sharon McKinney, Andros Town, Bahamas, junior, thought that the whistle was a good timer for people who didn't have watches, she said.
Melanie Posey, Kansas City, Kan., sophomore, said, "I think that the whistle is a unique aspect of KU."
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April 20, 1994 THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN • INSIDE KU
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