NOVEMBER 29,1945
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
PAGE FIVE
Sachem Represents Highest Ideals In University Honor, Action, Service
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A University history full of tradition—a need for unified student action—a handful of students interested in molding K.U. spirit and loyalty—chancellor who inspired such ambitions—and Sachem, senior men's honor society, was born, 25 years ago.
When Prof. F. E. Melvin, of the department of history, was a graduate student in 1908 and 1909, he and other men students took to heart Chancellor Frank Strong's question, often repeated at daily all-student chapels, "What can we do for K.U."
"Chancellor Strong changed K.U. from a college into a university," Professor Melvin said today. "He gave us vision, pounding it into us that we needed a 'permanent student body,' and a K.U. spirit based upon K.U. traditions. Several of us graduates and senior men met often to discuss things we could do for the University."
Out of these discussions grew the first honorary class society, formally organized in the fall of 1910, with 12 charter members and five honorary faculty advisors.
Adopting the name Sachem, which means "Indian Chieftain," the society incorporated Indian symbols and rituals, and stated its purpose, "to further in every possible way the interests of the University and the student body, and especially to promote the unity of spirit and action which prevent its breaking up into groups."
Skull and K, another senior organization, was formed in 1912, choosing members on the basis of scholarship, prominence in activities, school spirit, and character. The two societies were merged two years later, with 28 members and 14 faculty advisers.
Sachsen encouraged the wearing of freshman caps, to foster class spirit among the freshmen, Professor Melvin said.
"The custom was not new," he added. "In the 1870's, every class had insignia. The freshmen wore caps, while the seniors sported stovepipe hats."
In 1926, Sachem started the Rock Chalk cairn every year adding a new stone with some significance in University history. Originally the cairn was to have been placed in the center of Fowler grove, at the west edge of the campus. Professor Melvin first promoted the idea of the cairn in 1906 to be a distinctive mark on the campus, such as the famous Yale "fence," where students meet to discuss problems which further the university interests.
Every year near Commencement time Sachem warriors have a pow-wow and banquet, with talks by faculty members at occasional smokers during the year, Professor Melvin said.
"Because its members are active in so many other University activities," he explained, "Sachem is largely an honorary society, not having too many activities of its own
However, it represents University tradition and service, and helps give K.U. sprit the 'continuity and stability' Chancellor Strong envisioned.
Each spring the new members of Sachem are chosen by the graduating members and the faculty advisers, and announcement of the choices is made at the annual honors convocation.
Present members are: Rudy Carl, chief sachem; Keith Dunnell, Albert Chase, Clyde Jacobs, Boliver Marquez, and Thad Marsh.
Les Breidenthal Went Through Paris-- But Not to See Much
Lt. Leslie Breidenthal, former B-17 pilot and now a sophomore in the School of Fine Arts, went through Paris but he didn't see many of the sights.
War prisoners usually don't.
Lt. Breidenthal, a University student four years ago, returned this semester, after spending 16 months in a prison camp in Sagan, Germany, and four months in a camp at Moorsburg, Germany.
"On Sept. 13, 1943, my crew and I parachuted into France after a mission over Germany," he said, "but I was free for only four hours."
Lt. Breidenthal was "banged up" when he landed near a French village and a French sympathizer was taking him to a doctor when the Germans changed their plans, he explained.
There were 2,000 officers and enlisted men in his prison camp who did their own cooking over coal stoves, and even made eating utensils from tin cans, the lieutenant said.
"Did you ever bake a cake, using tooth powder for soda?" he grinned.
Lt. Breidenthal spent two Christmas Days in the prison camp. The men decorated their barracks with crepe paper received from the Red Cross, and fixed one room to ressemble a night club.
He was liberated April 29, 1945,
by Gen. George S. Patton's army.
"One of the happiest days in my life," the lieutenant said, "was when I saw the white flag go up over Moosburg."
The bombardier on his plane, George Padgett, who also parashuted to safety, was a University student in 1940. Lt. Breidenthal said; out the two hadn't known each other while here.
Accountants Honor Stockton
Frank T. Stockton, dean of the School of Business, has been made the first honorary member of the Kansas Society of Certified Public Accountants, John P. Bonicamp, Wichita, secretary of the organization, announced.
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The end of the World Student Service Fund drive will be reached Friday, with $3,100 collected and pledged.
W.S.S.F. Drive Closes With Total of $3,100
This fund combined the community chest and W.S.S.F., with each organization receiving half the total fund. Mrs. Christine Alford, YWCA secretary, and drive committee member, stated all pledges should be paid immediately.
Famous Cow Missing
Chicago (UP)—Legend has it that a cow being milked by Mrs. Patrick O'Leary kicked a kerosene lamp and started the fire that destroyed a large portion of Chicago 74 years ago. Diligent research has failed to disclose what became of the cow.
Ernie Pyle Post
Chicago (UP)—The Ernie Pyle American Legion post, named in honor of the late was correspondent, has been organized by 250 employees of the Chicago Sun, which featured Pyle's dispatches.
Mary Shelley, the poet's wife, who wrote Frankenstein, wasn't the first person to think of robots. A gentleman back in 400 B.C., says the Encyclopedia Britannica, made a wooden pigeon that would fly. Another ancient is said to have made an iron fly which would flutter around the room and return to his hand.
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Three Men, 20 Women On Honor Roll
Three men and 20 women were on the School of Business honor roll for the spring semester of 1945, Dean F. T. Stockton announced today.
Seniors were: Guy E. Ashcraft,
Mary D. Burnside, Margaret L. Fessler,
Bonita Gustafson, Joyce Lee
Hahn, Mary Tudor Hanna, Kathleen
A. Hazen, Hazel E. Jones, Virginia
Kirlin, Betty Leibbrand, Charleen
McCann, Evelyn Mercer, Marian
Montgomery, Mignon Morton, Elizabeth Pile, Helen Stormont.
Lt. Brown Is in Manila
Lt. Bert L. Brown, '41, is attached to the 29th replacement depot near Manila where he is awaiting transportation to the United States and discharge from the army.
Lt. Brown, the son of Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Brown of Topeka, was inducted into the army in 1942. His many months overseas service have earned him the Asiatic-Pacific and Philippine liberation ribbons with three battle stars.
Juniors were: Paulene Bohannon,
Mrs. Esther J. Dudgeon, Mary Jean
Hatch, Jack Lee Nichols, Donald
Hunter Ong, Gloria M. Schmitendorf,
Barbara Showard
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