Page Two
THE STUDENT MEMORIAL COMMITTEE REPORT
Tuesday, April 9, 1946
The Student Memorial Committee REPORT
is published by students of the University of Kansas in the interest of the K.U. World War II Memorial.
Edited by ... Cathie Pillar
Assisted by Members of the Student Memorial Publicity Committee;
Ralph Coldren Hilley Stong
Marian Thomson Joan Veach
Mila Williams Anne Scott
Kathy McBride
Kathy McBride
Toward Towering Stature
("El Dorado Times")
In the course of his straightforward and inspiring address to alumni and friends of the University of Kansas at a dinner in El Dorado Wednesday evening, Chancellor Deane Malott uttered this pungent statement of the ideal he holds for the institution under his able direction:
"I hope we can give to our students more than inert knowledge of life, but as well the judgment to select the best elements of it and the wisdom and curiosity to pursue it."
This is a tense way of saying that genuine education does not consist merely of remembered facts and lore, but rather constitutes a wide-open, friendly door to a superior way of life. If Deane Malott and his earnest associates at the university can open this door to the thousands who pass under their tutelage, they will have achieved the major portion of the high objective toward which they are striving.
The chancellor, as well as Justice Hugo T. Wedell and Fred Elsworth, alumni secretary, who also spoke on this local occasion, presented a revealing picture of the scope of university aims and ideals. The university is progressing scholastically, and this includes an expanded program of required courses in fundamental subjects that should serve to produce far better-rounded graduates. All the way thru the curriculum, emphasis is being placed heavily upon fitting students for full participation in the modern world with its changed conditions and tests. One could not listen to these representatives without believing that the university is being conducted by men and women with eyes open to the problems of the present, backed by the fortitude and wisdom of past accomplishments and experience.
The University of Kansas family sings of its alma mater "towering toward the blue". That word "towering" is not only outstanding in this entire expression of university fidelity, but proclaims the ambitions of the school's founders and of those today to whom its destinies are entrusted. Kansas, as is its custom, will support all its other state and denominational schools generously. It will not minimize them or their truly helpful functions, or neglect their nourishment and growth. But it has the opportunity to make of the institution on Mount Oread something of enduring superiority among educational institutions of the Middle West. And this requires far more than lip service and casual support but rather the exercise of devoted attention and even sacrifice to its needs
The University of Kansas can be transformed into a creation that is truly towering in all its stature—and all the elements are present to make it so if zeal does not lag.
"Carillon music is inspired and cleansing. A carillon tower is quite permanent and the basis for a great tradition at the University. As chimes pour forth their melodies everyone will be reminded of the great and noble sacrifices of our sons and daughters."—L. J. "Jack" Bond, 117, El-Dorado, Kansas.
"Because he is a living member of the class of '43, because the war has not escaped him personally, I feel that every member of our class will want to support a K.U. Memorial to those who shall not pass this way again."—Willis L. Tompkins, President, Class of 1943.
A Great Attraction
To find a place to listen to carillon music is always of importance. Such a place should be at least 500 feet from the bells and should combine quiet and an unobstructed view of the loure windows or the lantern of the tower.
The K.U. Memorial campanile will afford unexcelled opportunities for large numbers of persons to hear carillon recitals. No campanile in the world will be more admirably located for this purpose. There is room for at least 50,000 persons to be comfortably seated in the stadium, Potter lake area, Marvin grove, and other open areas north of the campus.
Carillon music is frequently called the "music of the masses" and the most democratic of all music. Because carillon music can be heard over such a wide area and because this campus has ample space for persons to sit and listen, recitals here will have a tremendous drawing power.
power.
Hugh Bancroft, Cohasset, Mass.
speaking of carillon recitals in that city said, "There were undoubtedly 25,000 listeners at each of our last two recitals."
The Mountain Lake, Fla., (Bok Singing Tower) recitals from December 1929 to April 1930, were attended by a total of more than 250,000 listeners; the average being approximately 5,000 listeners for each recital.
Since the K.U. campanile and carillon will afford opportunities for vast numbers of listeners to hear the carillon recitals, it is felt that the Mount Oread recitals will draw thousands of persons to Lawrence.
A "Living" Memorial
The world is full of monuments which are just as dead as the cause or the men whom they memorialize. Few there be which have captured a living quality as has the great Lincoln memorial in Washington, D.C. Following World War I many memorials were designed and built which, through being 100 per cent utilitarian, were planned as "living" monuments. Hospitals, stadia, gymnasia, theaters, recreation centers and many other buildings were baptized with the name "memorial" with the hope that those who used them in future years would be reminded of the heroic past.
the heretic pastitian aspects so far overshadowed their memorial intent that the even name, "Memorial", with which they had been so hopefully christened, fell into sad disguise.
Those men responsible for the planning and designing of the Memorials for World War II sacrifices have established a new trend—the "living" memorial. Designed to be of service to the community, the "living" memorial places the memorial function first, the utilitarian aspect second. Such a memorial is that planned for the University of Kansas.
Primarily it is a memorial which honors all K.U. men and women who served with the armed forces during the late war, and particularly pays homage to those who lost their lives. The landscaped scenic parkway will be literally "alive" through the many shrubs, trees, and flowers, which will be planted along its borders. Its beauty will be inspiring, will lift people up. No memorial could achieve more.
And for those who spend a year, or four years, on the campus of the University, the Memorial will become the focal point of their college memories.
The campanile will live through the music of the carillon. Its spinetingling music will be a source of inspiration to all who hear it. No youngster, on visiting the Hill for the first time, will leave without being thrilled and impressed by the towering campanile and the sonorous tones of the great bells. It will draw him back to the University as will no other single thing on Mount Oread. What more could a memorial achieve than to attract students to an institution dedicated to peaceful pursuits and the perpetuation of that peace?
K. U. will be a better, finer, lovelier place because of the World War II Memorial.
INQUIRING REPORTER (continued)
"Through the years, this Memorial Drive will become a true memorial to the sons and daughters of K.U. It is my studied opinion that it will do more for the University in a physical way than any other project which could be developed." — Edward W. Tanner, Kansas City, Mo.
Charles Elliott, College senior, Hal-stead: "As far as I'm concerned, I
think the drive,
the tower, and
the bells all will
be an excellent
memorial — It's
hard to put in
words what you
actually think it
about something
like this — why
think it's a good
idea and so
on. But to me,
just one reason
for its being a
good idea is that K.U. is going to continue to expand and we might as well build a scenic drive now that will accommodate an enlarged campus at a future date. Also, the campanile tower will draw thousands of visitors to the University — this will undoubtedly add to the prestige of the school. I definitely think its a good memorial."
Chuck Elliott
Ben Ferenbaum. Business junior,
Kansas City, Mo.: "This will be a useful memorial as far as I can see—I really think its a good idea. The carillon bells certainly will be a lot better than the whistle we have now."
--ful memorial as far as I can see—I really think its a good idea. The carillon bells certainly will be a lot better than the whistle we have now."
Ben Ferenbaum
great idea to me —
Bob Gove, V-12 junior in engineering, St. Joseph, Mo.; "It all sounds like a sure I approve!"
Bob White, College junior, Parsons: "Seems to me a memorial to the war dead should be something that could really be used — like a few badly needed new buildings. That's a lot of money to spend for a couple of bells."
Joan Carr, College senior, Kansas City, Mo.; "All that money would be much better spent on a lot of things this school really needs like housing units, loans for veterans, or scholarships."
Mary Morrill, College Senior, Hiawatha. "I like the Campanile and Parkway Memorial idea not only be
cause it will add beauty to the campus but because it is a real memorial. I think whom we are memorializing deserve the best there is and I believe the proposed project is the best.
"I hope the student body supports the cam-
poign on the Hill this week. The whole-hearted endorsement by the students of the Memorial will assure alumni and other friends of the University that this is a project we want for Mount Oread."
provide a place of beauty where people would like to gather in their leisure time. It will be outstanding and that's something the University has needed for a long time."
Molly Marge Wilson, Fine Arts junior, Pittsburg: "I like the idea of the drive and the tower and the carillon bells because it is an inspirational idea — something that the students themselves could enjoy. The only thing I would have changed maybe is the location of the drive, otherwise I think its fine."
Sally Fitzpatrick, College senior, Lawrence: "I think the scenic drive, the tower, and the carillon bells are all right for the memorial — if that's what it's to be, then everyone should support it."
provide a place of beauty where people would like to gather in their leisure time. It will be outstanding and that's something the University has needed for a long time."
Milford Brown, Business freshman, Ft. Scott: "The drive and the rest of the planned memorial is a good idea. I'm for it because it will
Milford Brown
Pearl Geiger,
College s o ph o m ore,
Paola I:
like the idea of the drive and the bell tower, but at the same time I think
the funds could be used to a better advantage in some more practical way. You might say I approve of the idea as a memorial, but not while the school needs other more useable things."
Art Johnstone, Graduate School.
Pearl Geiger
Art Johnstone, Graduate School, Lawrence: "I do think that the memorial, as it is planned, is a good one.
K. E. Paxton
It will add more beauty to the campus and the scenic drive will give visitors a chance to see parts of the campus that they otherwise would miss. In fact, the new drive probably will give easier access to the stadium and a few other buildings."
having a memorial to our KU boys, but it's also its wonderful way to pay tribute to them, by making our campus as beautiful as it deserves to be. When we have such a nice campus to begin with, it seems to me that we should go
K. E. Paxton, Pharmacy iresman,
Wichita: "Yes, I think the whole thing's a good 'idea—the drive and the tower will add a lot to the beauty of the school."
Beverly Stucker, College senior, Ottawa: "I think the proposed idea of
Beverly Stucker
the rest of the way and show it off to best advantage."
Memorial Projects Planned By Many Schools and Cities
Compared with other school and community memorials in the nation, which have been announced, the proposed Memorial to be built on Mount Oread in Lawrence will be one of the great "living" monuments in the country.
The Kansas University World War II Memorial is to include a Campanile, housing a Carillon, and a Scenic Parkway built around the outer edge of the Hill. The Memorial will honor the 8,000 K.U. men and women who served in the armed forces during the recent war, and the more than 200 men and women from Kansas who lost their ership of Alf M. Laude lives
Memorials planned by other schools include: University of Arizona, student mem orial building; University of Alabama, memorial hall; Baker University, Baldwin, Kansas, memorial gymnasium; Kansas State College. $200,00 memorial chapel; Washburn College, Topeka, Kansas, memorial building; St. Benedicts, Atchison, Kansas, memorial college expansion building program;
Kansas State Teachers, Emporia,
memorial student union and gymnasium; Kansas State College, Hays,
student memorial union; Wichita,
Kansas, University, memorial stadium;
Iowa State College, Ames, memorial field house costing $1,250,000;
Michigan State College, memorial arboretum;
Dartmouth, Hanover, N.H., $100,000 intramural field; Ohio State gold star scholarships; and University of the South, Sewanee, Tenn., individual scholarships.
Topeka To Have Similar Memorial A memorial similar to that proposed for the University at Lawrence is planned for Topeka. Under the leadership of Alf M. Landon, a committee of Topekans selected as their community memorial a "singing tower" with appropriate landscaped surroundings.
California, 5,000 acre redwoods grove to be called the "National Trib-
Spokane, Wash., memorial lane featuring flowering trees in memory of each veteran; Walden, N.Y., memorial book in the public library for each serviceman and woman; Coral Gables, Fla., $75,000 youth center; Paducah, Ky., municipal recreation center; Muskegon county, Michigan, auditorium and civic recreation center;
Northampton, Pa., community park and swimming pool; Harvey, Ill., memorial YMCA building; Arkansas City, Ark., $250,000 memorial hospital; Rochester, N.Y., $2,500,000 memorial community center; Omaha, Neb., $250,000 memorial park which will include recreation spots, gardens, memorial wall and flagstaff;
Other community memorials to be built include: Kansas City, Mo., a memorial hall which will house offices and meeting rooms for the various war veterans organizations; Cleveland, Ohio, $100,000 memorial fountain in which will feature cascading water displays, lights, and a single jet which will rise 70 feet in the air;
ute Grove"". Boston, Mass., granite shaft containing perpetual flame, memorial library and community meetings rooms; La Mesa, Calif., civic center; Nebraska City, Neb., individual trees planted in honor of the community's servicemen; Bowie, Tex., community center for youth; and Janesville, Wis., $2,500 "Shrine of Honor", a colonial style building housing war mementoes, and displaying on the exterior the names of all servicemen and women.
"Living Memorials" Most Desired In 1945 the magazine "American City"made a survey of 366 U.S. communities in an effort to learn what was the trend in World War II Memorials. Of 111 definitely chosen; 53 were community buildings or auditoriums; 27 parks, playgrounds or stadiums; seven libraries; six swimming pools; four airports; four groves, parkways and drives; two American Legion homes; two bridges; two hospitals; one "singing tower"; one Salvation Army center; one college memorial fund; and one museum with an auditorium.
Funds for these memorials were being raised by: public subscription, 33 per cent; the remainder by current municipal revenues, new taxes and bond issues.
Encirclement
"Not only will the winding road enhance the scenic beauty of the place but it will bind the University into a friendly campus, giving the atmosphere of a community. The driveway and tower will become a part of each student, giving all a feeling of encirclment in their place of learning. That encirclement, with its tower and chimes pealing forth across the valley, certainly will be a living memorial."—Eugenia Hepworth, Student.