University Daily Kansan Features
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27,1950
SECTION B
A Tradition At KU Since 1913
No one seems to know exactly why or when an annual Homecoming day was inaugurated at the University. However, it is believed by local historians that K.U. had its first Homecoming day in 1913 to honor alumni by extending them an invitation to one of the top games of the year.
The first homecoming, whether in 1913 or 1912, was a success. It had the same ingredients that still make homecoming one of the biggest events of the year at the University: a parade with floats, dances, a queen, and a football game.
In 1914, World War I put football and celebrations in the background, and homecoming was dropped for six years. It was renewed again under the leadership of Prof. H. B. Hungerford, retired, in 1919.
The idea for the first homecoming was inaugurated by Alfred "Scoop"
Hill who later became alumni secretary. The University of Illinois began the homecoming tradition in 1911, but K. U. was among the first schools to adopt the homecoming idea.
"Old Timers" night, the night when graduates of former years return for special honor, started in 1922. Since then it has been one of the most popular events of the homecoming week.
In 1922 the first K. U. football game was broadcast over station WDAF. The year 1922 also marked the beginning of "Hobo Day" when the students paraded in old clothes. This tradition came to an end in 1941 when the Missouri Tigers won over the Javahawkers 45 to 6.
Competition in house decorations began in 1924, and the custom has remained at the University ever since. A sad year for K. U. student
came in 1928 when "Chalkie," the ornithological, feathered, mascot died. But "Chalkie" did his duty to the school just the same. He was stuffed and taken to the rest of the games in 28, to bring the team good luck.
The idea of homecoming was originally associated with Thanksgiving day football game. Because many people couldn't attend the Thanksgiving day game it was decided several years ago to have homecoming earlier in the season.
Although the homecoming costs for house decorations, dances and even for the game, have increased over 15 times the cost of the first homecoming in 1913, the majority of University students and alumni believe it is still a bargain because it is probably the most colorful and spirited event of the year.
Ku Ku's Men's Pep Club, Plan Stunts, Rallies To Cheer Team
KuKu club, men's pep organization, is active throughout the school year in cheering Kansas athletic teams.
The club has a maximum of 115 members with four men taken organized house and the other 25 from the independents.
Every spring the club holds its annual initiation, which includes quantities of fish oil and sawdust in the hair of the pledges, paddling on padded postiors all the way up 11th street hill and a thorough wetting with water tossed from sorority house windows and porches.
On occasion the pledges have been tossed into Potter lake as a climax. After the ordeal is over the men go through a formal initiation rite, and if they live, they can call themselves KuKus.
This fall the KuKus have plans for stunts to be performed at the games, and methods to increase the noise in the student section of the stands.
G. Q. Pierce was appointed "whipper-snapper" at a recent meeting. His job is to lead the pep organizations in yells while the cheerleaders aren't yelling and thus keep up a constant flow of support from the stands to the team.
The club plans to attend the Kansas-Kansas State game in Manhattan Saturday, Nov. 18. They will travel to the game by a special train which will leave at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 18.
In Manhattan they will hold a pep rally in front of the Wareham hotel.
AWS Adopts Rules For Women's Lounge
Rules for the new women's lounge, which is next to the dean of women's office, were adopted by the Associated Women students senate Oct. 19.
The lounge will be open daily to all women from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Women's organizations may reserve it from 4 to 5 p.m. and from 5 to 6 p.m. by signing a chart in the A.W. S. office. Since the door will be locked at 6 p.m., arrangements will be made later for night meetings.
Furniture is expected to arrive about Wednesday, Nov. 1, and the A.W.S. office will be furnished in one corner of the lounge at a later date.
Smoking is prohibited because of ventilation problems. No refreshments will be served in the lounge, and the staff will be served later on special days.
Besides its uses as a lounge, meeting place, and A.W.S. office, the room will contain the social scrap book, list of women's activities, and possibly the history of women's government at the University.
Frances Barnhardt, engineering junior, was named chairman of the freshman counselling system for next fall in accordance with the freshman dormitories.
Amercanization Of Foreign Student
A foreign student was taking his first quiz. He wasn't prepared for it, so his sheet of paper showed a pure, innocent white after the first nine questions had passed.
The tenth was asked: "Who was Republican candidate for the position of governor of Kansas in 1949?" He didn't know, of course. The student next to him saw the desperate expression on his face, slowly bent sidewards and whispered, "Better tell him you're a foreigner. To leave the paper all white ain't any good, man!"
"Thank you so much," the foreign student said with a sigh of relief, took his pencil and proudly wrote, "Republican candidate for the position of governor of Kansas in 1949 was Benny Goodman."
Famous Quotation Answers Questions
"Old sailors never die; they just sail away." This old phrase has almost become a cliche in the literary world. But what happens to old soldiers?"
A recent reunion of Kansas veterans of the Spanish-American war in Topeka gives us an answer.
BEAT NEBRASKA
"How long can we keep this organization going?" was asked during the business meeting.
In answer, another olderster of the group (the youngest was 72) recalled a war anecdote.
"During the fighting in Manila, General Lee asked Colonel Funston, of the Kansas regiment, 'How long can you maintain your present position without reinforcements, Colonel?' Colonel Funston answered, 'Until we're mustered out, General,' " the veteran related.
"And I guess that's the way with this organization, we'll keep it going until we're mustered out."
Court Goes On Vacation
Brazil, Ind.—(U.P.)—it was an exceptionally quiet day in court when Judge Robert B. Stewart dismissed a case for want of prosecution. The plaintiff, the defendant and attorneys for both sides all failed to appear.
College Gives Attention To All Student Problems
By MONA MILLIKAN
The philosophical quotations you've noticed on the bulletin board of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are only one of the personal touches offered to all College students.
Dean Paul B. Lawson says that although the College is the largest school on the campus, it has "very adequate provisions for all students, including personal consultation concerning individual problems."
The dean named three persons, besides himself, who hold personal consultations with the students. Dean Lawson is there daily after 10 a.m. and sees from six to 20 students a day about "everything under the shining sun."
Gilbert Ulmer, associate professor of mathematics, has been assistant
"Students come in with questions about studies, illness, finances, roommates, and home situations," he said. "Or they want to drop courses, change majors, or find out what credits they need for graduation. No two come with the same problems."
From 9 to 12 am. daily. Miss Maude Elliott, assistant professor of Romance languages, is in the College 0'ice as special counsellor. Although she talks with any student who needs assistance, she is there primarily for women students. "Because women students will talk to her better than to a man," the dean said.
dean of the College since 1941. He is in his office every afternoon for counselling.
Miss Veta B. Lear, assistant to the dean, is in complete charge of the College office. She has been there since the spring semester of 1919.
Dean Lawson considers Miss Lear "one of the most remarkable women I know when it comes to ability and knowledge of details. She can answer 1,000 questions of all kinds and knows more about the details of enrollment than anybody on the campus."
"This desire to help the student solve his problems is evident in the freshman-sophomore advisor system," said Dean Ulmer.
Dean Ulmer estimated that about three-fourths of the students see their advisers. He believes this advising program is one way to help bring faculty and students closer together.
"Some people even accuse us of being too paternalistic" he said, "but we think it's a pretty big job to move from high school to K.U. without some help."
Students Disagree About Lindley Hall Shrubbery
Some students and faculty members disagree about shrubs recently planted near the lower floors of Lindley hall because the plants cut down the light.
Arguments in favor of the shrubs' come from persons who use rooms on the north side of the building next to the sidewalk. More privacy has been added and draftsmen in the Geological Survey drafting room say they are able to work with less outside distraction.
The area on the east and north sides of the building has been landscaped which improves the appearance of the structure.
Damage to the car was about $100 and to the truck about $25, police said.
Luthye Treated For Minor Injuries
Dale H. Luthey, engineering junior, was treated at Watkins hospital for a lacerated chin and bruised nose Sunday morning.
Luthye's car struck a parked truck on North Second street near the city limits.
MARY LOU LANE
DIANE BREWSTER
LOU LAWRENCE HIRD
THE 1949 HOMECOMING queen and one of her attendants are still attending the University but the other attendant was married in June, 1950, and now lives in California . . . Diane Lee Brewster was the 1949 Queen and this year is a College sophomore and intends to major in radio dramatics. She is a member of Chi Omega sorority and is from Mission, Kan. . . Mary Lou Lane, one of her attendants, is an education senior from St. Marys, Kan. She is a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority. . . Mrs. Wayne Hird, the former Lou Ann Lawrence, was also an attendant. She now lives in San Diego where her husband is stationed with the Navy. She is a member of Gamma Phi Beta.
Opposition to the shrubs comes from classrooms on the lower floors. Although many of the rooms are laboratories, there are some classrooms there which must rely solely on artificial lighting.
Many persons in the laboratories remain neutral. Much of their work requires brilliant and controlled lighting which can only be supplied artificially, so the amount of natural light makes little difference to them.
Because of its setting, the main entrance of Lindley hall is actually on the third floor. Classrooms below this level on the north and east sides receive no sunlight.
On the south and west sides, which are not landscaped, sunlight shines in first floor rooms since this floor is even with the ground level on these sides of the building.
The photographic darkroom technicians don't care what happens. The darker it is the better they like it and the shrubs don't affect them.
Stateswomen Elect Six
Stateswomen's club, University chapter of Sunflower Girls State alumnae, elected officers at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday at the Kappa Kappa Gamma house. Kathryn Conrad, president, announced the following slate of officers:
Loretta Cooley, College sophomore, and Marilyn Bailey, College freshman, president; Patricia Harris, fine arts junior, and Jerry Hesse, College sophomore, vice-president; Ellen Jane Lupton and JoAnn Van Petten, College sophomores, secretary; Leta Baker, College sophomore, and Kay Roberts, College freshman, treasurer; Joan Fink, College sophomore, and Madeleine Hodgson, fine arts freshman, alumnae secretary; and Johnnie Lou Shafer, business junior, and Norma Lou Falletta, College freshman, representative-at-large. Nominations will also be made at the meeting.
The club is the first college alumnae chapter of Girls state. It was organized in March and consists of the alumnae from the years 1947-49, inclusive. It is a service unit of the Sunflower Girls State Alumnae association.
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