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UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
TUESDAY, MAY 22, 1951
Malott's Achievements Are Mingled YoungManTakenForStudent Found To Be New Chancellor
Bv VERNON SUTTON and JACK ZIMMERMAN
"Well, young man, are you ready to start your studies at the University again?"
The question was directed at a well-dressed young man whose face was hidden beneath a barber's hot towels. When the towels were removed, the questioner was surprised to see the new chancellor of K.U., Deane W. Malott.
"There was a note of excitement, for the tall, handsome successor to Chancellor E. H. Lindley very definitely caused feminine hearts to flutter at first sight. The men, however, soon revealed the news that youthful Professor Malott is happily married and the father of three children."
This scene took place shortly after he came to Lawrence to succeed Chancellor E. H. Lindley. The man in the barber shop was not the only person to recognize the youthfulness of the new chancellor.
The April 4, 1939, issue of the University Daily Kansan said:
"Professor" Malott faced a big job when he took over as chancellor. Besides an able administrator he had to be a capable public relations man. As the Douglas County Republican said editorially in the April 13, 1939, issue: "... the big school has advanced rapidly in the last two decades in a scholastic way, but has grown away from the people."
The hatless figure of Chancellor Deane W. Malott is often seen walking about the University campus.
How well he succeeded in his job was summed up by Fred Ellsworth, secretary of the Alumni association, in an interview with a reporter from the Topeka Daily Capital, in which he called Chancellor Malott "one of the greatest salesmen Kansas ever had."
The article in the Capital said "the tremendous advances made during Malott's 12 years at the state school are due chiefly to the way in which the chancellor sold himself, his ideas, and the University to the people of Kansas and the nation."
Chancellor Malott attained his objective in many ways. The structural changes in the University are a matter of record. The overall efficiency has been increased tremendously, and the campus is richer by many buildings.
But the changes on the campus and in the curriculum are only part of the story. Along with these changes has come an increase in the freedoms given to students. These freedoms were not always evident to the students, because along with them came responsibilities. Chancellor Malott has said many times that "the years here at K.U. should be ones of great freedom . . . but freedom always with responsibility."
The students didn't always know exactly where their freedom left off and their responsibility began.
On Nov. 17, 1941, the students wanted a holiday after their football team scored a 20 to 16 upset over Kansas State. Chancellor Malott felt that a holiday after the University of Missouri game the next week would be more justifiable. However, the students refused to go to class and staged a parade in downtown Lawrence carrying "Malot's coffin". They later hanged the chancellor in effigy.
The chancellor still refused to permit a holiday and said that beating the following week was more important than celebrating the Kansas State victory.
Later that day, after the "funeral," Chancellor Malet appeared at football practice with several faculty members. The spectators gave him
an ovation. Later, several campus leaders sent him letters of apology for the morning demonstration.
One year later, another demonstration put the campus in an uproar. On Dec. 19, 1942, the University senate cut the regular two-week Christmas holiday to four days. Students crowded into the chancellor's office and staged a sit-down strike. Although the chancellor had no power to override the senate ruling, he appealed it and finally got the vacation lengthened to seven days.
While these incidents were outward demonstrations by the students against a man whom they considered an outsider, he gradually became popular with them. On many occasions he took part in student activities with more enthusiasm than most students. In 1941 the students staged a drive against dandelions and set aside a day to spend digging them. The first person to appear, clad in a bright sport shirt, was the chancellor. He started the day by digging on the lawn in front of Strong hall.
In October of 1944 the Gamma Phi Beta sorority hired him for $52 to answer the telephone and greet dates at the house. His "job," part of a war fund drive, lasted for half an hour.
During his stay at KU, he has answered telephones at sorority houses, greeted dates at the doors of a sorority house, washed students cars, and ridden in a nightshirt parade.
In 1947 he unfortunately found out that people sometimes listen to him too closely. He and a few professors attended a dinner prepared by students in a foods class at the University. After the meal as the professors were relaxing, Chancellor Malott commented, "The men should do the dishes to show their appreciation." Five minutes later he and the professors were busy washing and drying dishes. One of these professors was John Ise. His comments were not recorded.
Another time he and Paul B. Lawson, dean of the College, washed a student's car in front of Strong hall for $65 later donated to the World Student Service fund.
One day while the rest rooms in Fraser hall were being remodeled, he stopped by the Journalism building and said there was material for a story over there.
Chancellor Malott looks on as the first shovelful of earth is turned at the site of the campanile on Jan. 12, 1950.
Chancellor Malott has an eye for news.
An Eye For News
Investigation revealed several commodes lined up along the sidewalk. On the parking facing them was a sign saying "No Parking."
a freshman at the University skipped all his classes one day and decided to hitch-hike to Kansas City.
Finally a man picked him up. As they rode, the student boasted of how he had put one over on the faculty by sneaking off to Kansas City.
A Chauffeur, Too
The man driving just smiled. The boy didn't know it, but his chauffeur that day was Chancellor Malott.
One evening about 1920 girls in the W.Y.C.A. at the University gave a dance. No men were allowed.
Malott Was Special
As the young ladies were dancing with each other, a tall well-padded lady strode into the hall and asked one of them for a dance. The couple whirled around the floor once. Then the stranger strode out into the night.
Deane W. Malott, alias the "tall lady," was the only male student in the University who attended that dance.
Chancellor Malott has been signing diplomas at the University for 12 years.
Chancellor Malott almost entered city politics in August of 1948. He received one vote as a write-in candidate for constable in the election that year.
He has tried continually to escape the limelight. When it has been impossible to escape he has had to be content with poking fun at the situation.
On his 10th anniversary as chancellor, the faculty sponsored a formal dinner in his honor. Faculty members gathered in the English room of the Union and waited for the chancellor. Finally an old man in a top hat, swallow-tail coat, cane, white wig, horn-rimmed glasses, and a large false nose entered the room. It was the guest of honor.
Dean L. C. Woodruff tells about a party he and Mrs. Woodruff planned one night a few summers ago. It had been a blistering hot day, and Mrs. Woodruff called the guests and told them to come informally. Chancellor Malott obliged by stepping from his car in a top hat and a pair of gaudy swimming trunks.
Chancellor Malott can spit a cherry seed farther than Dean Woodruff. The two men sat on the front porch of the chancellor's house one evening with a bowl of cherries, seeing who could spit the seeds across the driveway.
He was vice-president of the Hawaiian Pineapple company years before he came to the University. When asked why he chose to become an educator instead of a big business man he says,
"I decided long ago that I would rather deal with young people than with pineapples."
Last year, Chancellor and Mrs. Malott went back to Hawaii for a visit. They got off the plane in Honolulu wearing glasses with very large noses attached. It was several
minutes before their friends recognized them.
Chancellor's Malott's dislike for any, public demonstration for him was evident when he arrived in Lawrence for the first time after being named chancellor.
He came on an early train to avoid any welcoming committees that might be waiting for him. He had slipped up the Hill and talked with Chancellor Lindley before anyone knew he was in town,
On June 21, 1921, while he was a student at the University, Deane Malott read the prophecies. In his speech he said: "Future mayors of Lecompton, matrons in homes for shipwrecked sailors, licensed embalmers, and proprietors of waffles stands in ancient Rome are numbered among the members of the graduating class of 1921."
DEANE W. MALOTT
Including a chancellor at the University in this list of prophecies probably seemed ridiculous.
Chancellor Malott and Gamma Phi Betas take a sleigh ride around the campus.