Kansas University Weekly.
109
A Protest.
In the editorial columns of the last issue of the Weekly appeared an article calling upon the students to wear at foot-ball games the alleged new University colors, the crimson and blue. The writer of that article evidently takes it for granted that the colors were officially changed with the consent and by the wish of the entire student body. It seems proper that now, at the beginning of the foot-ball season, the facts concerning that change should be stated.
One morning last spring the rank and file of the students, the "citizens on foot," who are the main support of foot-ball here, came up the hill and were coolly informed that the college color was no longer crimson, but a combination of crimson and blue.
This high-handed proceeding had been carried through by a small clique of Athletic association officers in order to curry favor with a certain Yale man. A majority of the faculty was not in favor of it, as the writer of the before mentioned article states. The whole matter was arbitrarily rushed through without due notice being given and without the consent of the students, whom it most intimately concerned. The matter did not create much stir at the time because there was no occasion for wearing the colors in the spring. However, be it said to the credit of the class of '96, that they refused to allow the chapel to be decorated with the new colors for commencement, and insisted on the old crimson.
It is no argument against the crimson that it is the same as some other college's colors; the same objection would hold with any colors we might adopt. But let it be distinctly understood, the Kansas University colors are not changed. Such a change can be made only by a majority of the whole University. We refuse to sanction or recognize the action of the athletic association. The Kansas University color is crimson, and we will not suffer the other combination to be thrust down our throat.
Let us turn out to the foot-ball games wearing the good old crimson, and may it in the
future as it has in the past wave triumphant over many a hard-fought field. P.
WE AGREE with the writer of the above on one point at least, namely that "the Kansas University colors have not been changed," they are now, as heretofore, sky blue and corn yellow, as displayed on the authorized University pin. In referring to the colors last week we of course meant the Athletic colors and supposed it would be so understood by all. Whether or not the entire student body were in favor of the change has nothing to do with the question. The Athletic Association had the right to change its colors, and the athletic board exercised that right in response to a petition signed by a majority of the members of the Association. Any student was at liberty to join the Association and work against the change. Or even if the students as a body had manifested in some way that they wished to retain the crimson, the Association would probably have taken no action which seemed to be out of harmony with the general desire. But no opposition of the kind was made. And it was not for lack of opportunity. There was nothling "high-handed" about the manner of making the change. It had been talked of for several months. The editorial columns of the WEEKLY for Feb. 14, 21, and May 1, contain discussions of it, and the petition for a change circulated freely among the students and professors.
Crimson and blue are the legal Athletic colors. If we do not like them we can wear the University colors; but the crimson, which our conservatism and sentimentality seem almost to have made sacred in our eyes, is no more. We have not space to consider the minor points in the question, nor do we see the use of going over all the old arguments again; but we repeat what we said last week, that, in view of the facts, students should not wear the crimson without the blue.
AGAIN OUR foot-ball team has met the enemy and made them bite the dust, or more literally, eat the mud.