Friday, Nov. 5, 1954
Rock Chalk Pep Clubs Have Long History
University Daily Kansan
By MADELYN BRITE
"Rock Chalk Jayhawk!"
This familiar yell has long been heard from the four pep club composing the cheering section at games. The K.U. pep clubs have become an institution synonymous in promoting school spirit.
The pep club tradition dates back to 1919, when the forerunner of the present KuKu club was founded. Previously, the job of promoting pep was relegated to a few cheerleaders who did stunts for spectators. That fall 100 men students met and organized the Ku Klan, and adopted the resolution of "Put KU First."
Dressed in white shirts, red sashes, and blue turbans, the Klan made its debut to KU society at a rally before the KU-MU game and performed half-time stunts at the game.
The group voted to sit as a unit in a cheering section and elected John Kenhel as Chief KuKu. An announcement of "original stunts and other features of interest" appeared in the Nov. 27, 1919, Daily Kansan.
Early activities of the Klan included trips to road games and a serenade of KU songs for sororites here. The first initiation ceremony was held by the white-robed and hooded KuKus on North College hill.
The 1921 season saw the Klan selling concessions, tickets, and launching a $1,000 drive to furnish the football squad with fresh fruit, Members carried cow bells with them to the K-State game in Manhattan that year.
The name KuKu Klan was dropped in favor of KuKu Klub in 1921, after University officials requested it because of the similarity
of the former name to the notorious Ku Klux Klan.
The club became the first chapter of Pi Epsilon Pi, national pep organization which was formed in 1923. The Greek letters were chosen for their appropriate initials. PEP. A new constitution provided for a larger membership, and the more democratic method of choosing members from petitions stating the qualifications of those desiring to join.
The Kuku's discussed forming a women's auxiliary in 1920, but nothing was done to organize a women's pop organization until Dorothy McVlor founded the Jay Jane club in 1923. The Nov. 27 Kansas referred to the new club as "one of the peppiest and most popular organizations on the Hill."
The Jay James made their first appearance in the torch light parade on the eve of the Homecoming game with MU. Uniforms were white skirts, toboggan caps, and white sweaters with a red triangle emblem with a blue jay bird inside.
The white robes and hoods were discarded in favor of white sweaters with an insignia of a Jayhawk in a blue circle. The present Jayhawk appeared in 1925.
From their inception the Jay Janes took on their present duties of selling programs, ushering, and attending rallies, in addition to
sponsoring benefit drives and social functions.
The two clubs began working as a combined cheering section in 1925, forming the K formation, and flanked by the freshmen, wearing crimson and blue caps.
The Jay Janes club was a charter member of Phi Sigma Chi, national women's pep organization formed in 1933. New emblems, white triangles with the Greek letters, and a jay in the center replaced the old insimiles.
Both clubs expanded their membership to include a certain number of students from each organized house on the campus. The KuKus adopted the pledge system in 1928.
A group of 212 freshman women met with the Jay James in 1949 to organize the Red Peppers. The new club, open to all freshman women, was so large the first year that only half the members could sit in the cheering section.
The first freshman pep club appeared in 1947 when the KuKus sponsored the Froshawks. About 100 men attended the first meeting with a KuKu advisory committee and made plans to work with the parent club in the cheering section. The first Froshawk uniforms were white trousers, freshman caps, one red sock, one blue sock, and red or blue sweaters. The present red shirts and corduroy trousers became the official uniform in 1948.
The story of the four clubs from 1919 to the present has been one of enthusiasm for KU athletics and of adding new activities and ideas each year to promote pep and "Put KU First."
Lawyer-Engineer Rivalry Has a Long History, Dating As Far Back As 1900
By DAVID F. CONLEY
There's more to the lawyer-engineer rivalry than one probably thinks. It began before there was a Marvin hall, even before the lawyers had Green hall for their sanctum. It began, not with a snowball fight or a tug-of-war, but with a boulder 54 years ago, back in 1900. Even this wasn't the first uprising between the "laws" and the rest of the University.
The first skirmish seems to have been between the lawyers and the Collegeians (members of the School of Arts) which began in 1894. However this little fracas was short lived—probably because the lawyers were so far from the rest of the University.
The first real lawyer-engineers contest was a draw. It was started by the engineers on the night after May day, 1900, when they placed on campus a boulder of some 5,000 pounds inscribed, "Eng. '01." The lawyers found it the next morning and moved it to see what was underneath, and so it began. The lawyers moved it—the engineers moved it back. Chancellor Snow saw what might happen and had the boulder dynamited. Too late, the battle had begun.
Dr. Robert Taft, professor of chemistry, tells of the highlights of the rivalry in his book, "Across the Years on Mount Oread." His telling of the second major skirmish
is both enlightening and amusing.
It took place shortly after "Uncle Jimmy" Green announced the $50,-
000 grant for the new law building
—a grant for which everyone was
grateful.
"Yes, and the engineers felt so thankful that the laws were to have a new building that in the dark of night they hauled a 'small frame building' up the slopes of Mount Oread and placed it in front "of Fraser. It bore suitable inscriptions 'Green Hall,' 'The New Law Building,' and 'Gymnasium in the Basement.'
The interior of the 'New Law Building' had been filled with hay and when the laws saw it in the morning, some one of their number threw in a lighted match and another was hoisted to its roof where wrapped in smoke, he delivered a dedicatory oration.
the authorities called out the janitor force that formed a bucket
brigade and attempted to put out the fire. Laws and engineers were now assembled in considerable numbers but on opposite sides of the 'building.'
"The laws would give a heave and the building would go over on its side but the engineers would replace it. The janitors felt that they were between three fires and withdrew from the scene of action but it was not long before only smoke and ashes remained and the fracas subsided."
Jayhawk Mascot Will Reappear
A completely new wardrobe of red and blue felt has been ordered for Mr. Jayhawk, as well as a new pair of leather boots.
Hattiesburg, Mass. — (U.P.)— Mississippi Southern College students may now go through school on the installment plan.
What happened to KU's mascot? After attending the football games this season, we became curious as to what happened to the nine-foot proud-stepping Jayhawk that performed at the games last year.
Have you ever wondered who gives Mr. Jayhawk his "life?" Bill Stevens, college sophomore, is the lad who sees the football activity from a "bird's eye" view.
Installment Education Mississippi School
Times have changed, granted.
Students no longer wear black suits to class, nor do they stand ankle deep in mud to watch the varsity football games. They speak an almost different language. The lawyer-engineer battle has quieted down to an occasional snowball through a Green hall window, or an occasional jibe directed toward a "slip stick genius" or "shyster," but the rivalry still exists—the kind of school spirit that has always been a part of the University.
President R. C. Cook said the system is designed to "make it easier on the parents footing the bills"
The reason for his disappearance, it seems, is due to the major repair being done to his structure.
The total yearly cost of attending Southern is $437.40. Cook said par-
meter instead of making the entire payment, he may pay the tuition in six installments.
"We want to make the paying process less painful," Cook said.
If everything goes according to schedule, and the new wardrobe arrives, the gaily dressed Bill "Jay-hawk" Stevens will make his season's debut at the KU-Nebraska game.
University Phone System No Longer Simple Matter
By HARRY ELLIOTT
From a small beginning in the basement of Fraser hall, the University telephone system has evolved into a large and complex system today.
Started in 1907, the system had its switchboard located in Fraser basement. In 1929, the switchboard was moved into the Buildings and Grounds building, where it has remained to the present.
When on Nov. 22, 1947, the installation of the new dial system was completed, the University became the only portion of Lawrence which could boast of such a system. This, however, is about to be changed since the Southwestern Bell Telephone company is now preparing to install a dial system in Lawrence.
Though the equipment is operated by a University staff, it is owned by the Southwestern Bell Telephone
The KU telephone system has as its head operator Mrs. Mary Neusifter, who has held that position for a number of years. She is now assisted by four others, and service has been made possible on a 24-hour basis.
company, to which the University pays a rental charge for its use.
With installation to be completed early in the summer of 1955. Lawrence will become another city with dial phones, but shortly thereafter it will go another step further with the addition of direct long distance dialing.
There are now in the KU system a total of 583 phones and extensions connected to the city's system by 22 trunk lines.
Direct long distance dialing was first tried in Englewood, N.J., in 1951 and proved to be quite successful. It makes it possible, by knowing the number of the person to be called in the other city, to dial the number without having to rely on an operator.
Its use at first will be restricted to the often-called nearby cities but will be extended to other cities as time passes.
The use of long distance dialing in Lawrence will be its first installation in Kansas and in the five-state area covered by the Southwestern Be Telephone company.
Welcome Home Alums!
Have an Enjoyable Weekend and REMEMBER . . .
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