University Daily Kansan
Thursday, Sept. 10, 1970
7
Social Calendar Is Wife's Concern Mrs. Chalmers: Friendly, Confident and Busy
By RITA HAUGH
Kansan Staff Writer
Behind every successful man there is a good woman, and behind Chancellor E, Laurence Chalmers Jr. there is Mary Ann Chalmers, a warm, friendly woman.
She sees her role as the wife of the chancellor as that of keeping social functions going and keeping the family together.
"I take care of the social calendar and he takes care of the job," she said.
That job of keeping the family together is a difficult one. She
Mary Ann Chalmers
... comfortable at KU
has two sons, Chip, a high school senior, and Tom, a ninth grader.
MRS. CHALMERS said Chip had sideburns, and some people said that was not proper for a cancellor's son.
"Perhaps the most upsetting part is that the children get involved, and that's the part I find hardest to look at objectively," she said.
She admitted that she never feared for her husband's safety during the past school year.
"If this is a major concern you can be tense all the time. I feel perfectly comfortable and safe, even though people say I should be scared because I'm living in the middle of the University," she said.
SHE WAS CONCERNED the
day of alternatives at the stadium, however.
"Larry's secretary called and said, I suppose you've heard what's happened to Dr. Chalmers.' Quite worried, I said 'no.' He just got a standing ovation,' explained the secretary. I don't think she realized what a shock that was." Mrs. Chalmers said.
When the Chalmers family came to Lawrence a year ago, they knew there would be some problems. The shock, however, was the magnitude of the problems, she said.
"Nobody likes or approves of arson—it looks bad at KU, but people should look at the other schools in the nation before judging KU," she commented.
THE CHALMERS are pleased that a student group has organized on campus in the "Kansas Needs Laurence" campaign, Mrs. Chalmers said.
"We didn't know anything about it (when it started) because we were gone. We think the students are great!" she said, a smile lighting up her face. "It makes us feel very good—some people know we're not hopeless and no good."
Mrs. Chalmers decided when she came to Lawrence last year that she wouldn't join any organization as a permanent member until after her first year here. She is now involved with the Douglas County Mental Health Association and goes to Topeka with the members.
She helped with "Kaleidoscope," sponsored by the KU Museum of Art and the Lawrence Art Guild, last February. She is also a member of the Women's Chamber of Commerce. Everything else she is involved with is in the University.
She said she thought the "town-gown split"—the poor relations of the townspeople and the KU faculty—was common to any town of this size where the institution was a major part of the community. The way to help alleviate it is to "keep trying," she said.
"TALK DOOM and gloom and you get doom and gloom," she said. "There's no question we have problems. To ignore them and pretend none exist is foolish. Some will occur even if we don't anticipate them.
lieved that her husband could deal with problems in all areas because his background was so varied.
"He is well aware of the problems in being dean of the college or director of the honors program, for example, because he has had those jobs," she said.
Mrs. Chalmers said she bea calendar, is against one wall of the kitchen.
One of the first improvements Mrs. Chalmers made in the chancellor's home was to transform a terrace on the back of the mansion into an informal family room. Big windows on the east side let in the morning sun, and the orange and yellow carpeting and orange, yellow and green furniture are "things we like," according to Mrs. Chalmers.
"I SUPPOSE we should call this the Kansas room, but we call it the Florida room," she said.
The kitchen and service kitchen were remodelled, too. Her desk, piled with papers and
Throughout the house the Chalmers have combined their possessions with University things.
Mrs. Chalmers, dressed in a tailored navy dress with white trim, hasn't bought any midi dresses yet.
SENIOR SENIOR SENIOR
"I tried one on and I could see it was going to take some time to get used to. I'm not sure Lawrence is ready for them," she explained.
It could be that Laurence isn't ready for them, either.
Apis, the bull, is a god of ancient Egypt.
SENIOR SENIOR SENIOR SENIOR SENIOR SENIOR SENIOR
HOPE AWARD
NOMINATIONS DUE
SENIOR SENIOR SENIOR
Fri., Sept. 11 Dean of Men's or Alumni Association Office
SENIOR SENIOR SENIOR SENIOR SENIOR SENIOR SENIOR
GUYS & DOLLS LEAGUE
Now Forming
This Sunday
4:00 p.m.
at the JAY BOWL
Basement, Kansas Union
400 Students Live in 8 Halls
A total of 400 students are living in eight different scholarship halls this year, Lorna Grunz, assistant dean of women, said Wednesday.
These students live rent free, but some may have to pay for food or utilities, depending on the endowment which sponsors them, she said.
There are no general requirements for admission to the scholarship halls, said Mrs. Grunz, but each individual case is decided on the basis of need, scholarship, and interest in cooperative living.
208 Accepted for Honors Program
Two hundred and eight freshmen have been invited into the KU Honors Program for the 1970-71 school year. These students rank in the upper 2 percent of college freshmen across the nation.
High school seniors who reach the final selections in the Summerfield, Watkins-Berger and National Merit Scholarship competitions or who have achieved a composite score of 30 or above on the American College Test are invited to participate in the program.
TAKE A BUS to a
HOME GAME?
Come to the STABLES at 10:00 a.m. Sat. and enjoy Ace's Victory PreParty. Then, join the other revelers on a bus that goes directly from the STABLES to the game.After the victory return on the bus to the STABLES to celebrate KU's first win!
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