CAMPUS AND AREA
University Daily Kansan, February 22, 1984
Page
Jim McCrossen/KANSAN
Keith Paton, Leawood junior, practices the Highland bagpipes while the sun sets across the campus. Paton is a member of the Kansas City Saint Andrews Pipe Band. He was practicing Tuesday evening south of Memorial Stadium.
Ceremony lauds first black regent
By MARY SEXTON Staff Reporter
The simple motto "Be the Best" carried Elmer C. Jackson Jr. and Bertram Caruthers toward success.
The men were two of the first blocks to make strides in the battle against racial segregation and discrimination in Kansas.
Caruthers, a life-time friend of Jackson and a former assistant super-intendent of schools in Kansas City, Kan., gave the keynote address last night at a ceremony in Kenneth Speed Library Audiorum opporning Jackson.
THE CEREMONY coincided with the opening of an exhibit at the library honoring Langston Hughes, a noted
Jackson, the first black member of the Board of Regents, dedicated his personal papers to the Black Collection of the library's Kansas Collection.
The papers include speeches Jackson made as a Regent, various documents of the National Bar Association and other personal papers that document the progress of blacks in Kansas.
black writer who lived in Lawrence.
Jackson was the president of the association that was the black equivalent of the American Bar Association. "All through junior high we were
taught the motto 'Be the Best,' " Caruthers said. "Every student knew the motto."
With that motto ingrained in their way of thinking, the two men entered the University of Kansas and began to struggle toward achieving racial equality.
MANY UNIVERSITIES during the early 1930s, such as the University of Missouri and the University of Oklahoma did not even allow blacks to enroll.
Although KU did not bar blacks from enrolling, racial segregation and discrimination was rampant in Lawrence, he said. And blacks were not allowed to live in residence pools, swim in the pool, or compete in any contact sports.
But Jackson said that KU did treat blacks fairly in the realm of academics.
"We got the grades we deserved," said Jackson, who graduated from KU in 1933 with a bachelor of arts degree and in 1935 with a law degree.
JACKSON ATTRIBUTES most of his
estate to his family and his religion
background.
"Having a good, comfortable and peaceful home has been of tremendous value," he said. "The one thing I always knew was that at the end of the day I would find peace and contentment at home."
Jackson was also quick to acknowledge the friends who helped him along the way.
Gazing at the standing room only crowd of colleagues and friends Jackson said, "No person can communicate significantly without the help of others."
THURSDAYS!
16 oz. PRIME RIB----$6.95 au jus, baked potato, or steak fries, salad 6-9 p.m.
QUARTER DRAWS! From 9-12 midnight
THE SANCTUARY
IT'S WILD AND CRAZY!! LEARN HOW TO PLAY WALLEYBALL
SAT., MARCH 3
clinic at 9 a.m.
tournament at 10 a.m.
volleyball on a raquetball court
ENTRIES DUE: March 2 Robinson 208