THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 1941
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
PAGE THREE
Histories of Department and Kansan Blend
Histories Department Here Founded In 1909
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in the department of English. The course was included in the catalogue of the department of English that fall, but only three students enrolled.
Because of this apparent disinterest the course was not offered the following semester.
Popularity in reporting appeared no greater in 1903 when journalism training again was offered by the department of English, for again only three students signed up for the class in newspaper writing.
After a second start the reporting course began to grow, and more students enrolled. In 1904 the students enrolled in the course helped to supply news to the recently founded University Kansan which was started as an independent student newspaper. To bolster the work of the journalism course, a volunteer group of reporters was recruited from the freshman rhetoric classes. With these reporters writing articles, other work in journalism such as copy-reading and editing was turned over to the sophomore students.
Gleanings from the Hell Box
L.N. Flat By David Shore
Practical work in journalism thus was started at the University. Many of the writings of the student reporters were published in local papers, and some were published in the Kansan. Later the Kansan was turned over to the journalism students to manage, and at that time it became the official newspaper of the campus with support pledged to it by both students and faculty.
Becomes Official Paper
Lectures, along with the regular class work, were featured in these early newspaper classes. Prominent newspaper men from the state were invited to tell the students of their experiences and of the problems of running newspapers. Among the early lecturers were L. N. Flint of the Manhattan Nationalist, and Charles M. Harger of the Abilene Reflector. Both editors came to the University in 1905 as faculty members. Harger was made director of the courses in journalism, while Flint started as alumni secretary, taking charge of the volunteer reporting section in the following year. During these early years as alumni secretary Flint raised funds for a printing plant to publish the alumni magazine. This was the beginning of the growth of the printing plant that now does much of the printing for the University.
Take Complete Charge
In the fall of 1907, Flint and Harger
Take Complete Charge
took complete charge of the work in journalism as members of the department of English. At this time the course in reporting, which had been voluntary and without credit, was made an independent sophomore study and elective course for credit in that department.
In the first courses were enrolled 12 students who studied newspaper writing and general newspaper administration. Under Harger the department had planned to emphasize the practical side of newspaper training such as type setting, proof reading and correcting, and press work. However courses in this training were not included.
Move in 1911
In the fall of 1911 the new department of journalism moved into its own building. This was formerly the medical building which was abandoned by the medics in favor of the north half of Dyche museum. Merle Thorpe was made head of the department at that time.
New courses were added when the department moved into the building. Among these were three in advertising which still appear in the catalogue of the department today. The curriculum of journalism was growing. From the first course it had developed slowly to six; and finally to the 40 which are offered today.
The story of the development of the department is not complete without a resume of the career of Professor Flint. The development of journalism at the University is synchronous with the record of effort and accomplishment of the retiring head of the department. It was in 1916 that Flint was appointed chairman of the department, the post which he has filled for 25 years. There is a traditional saying at the University that the department of journalism is Flint and Flint is the department of journalism.
Banquet To Draw Many Alumni
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(continued from page one) dlewest has been limited to less than nine hours.
Doors of the banquet hall will be opened five minutes before Clapper speaks to admit persons who wish to hear the columnist's address but cannot attend the banquet. The address will be broadcast over radio station KFKU from 7:35 until 8 p.m.
The entire banquet has been planned with emphasis on simplicity, said Ray Heady, chairman of the faculty committee for the dinner. Heady explained that the main objective of the dinner was to get grads back so that they could shake hands and talk to Mr. Flint. Neither telegrams nor congratulatory letters will be read at the dinner. These will be present to Flint in a bound volume. The letters are expected to number more than 400. White To Present Gifts
Immediately following the dinner and entertainment Toastmaster White will present a small gift from students, alumni, Kansas editors, and friends. Flint also will be presented the bound volume of congratulatory letters. Included in the volume are more than 50 messages from heads of schools and departments of journalism in other colleges and universities.
The doors of the Union ballroom
will be opened, and Clapper's address will follow immediately. Although the dinner will officially end shortly after 8 o'clock, an informal visiting period is scheduled to continue until later in the evening. Three Committees in Charge
The three committees in charge
of the dinner and their members are:
Alumni committee—W. A. White, Roy Roberts, Wes Gordon, Dolph Simons, and Fred Ellsworth.
Student committee-Bob Trump, Gray Dorsey, Ken Jackson, Stan Stauffer, and George Sitterley.
Faculty committee—Ray Heady, Elmer Beth, T. C. Ryther, Siegfried Mickelson, and K. W. Davidson.
Tonight will be the second time Mr. Flint has been presented gifts by his former students. Four years ago he was presented a watch and a radio.
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Sincere Best Wishes --
to
L. N. "Dad" FLINT
from
K M B C's K. U. GANG
☆
Claude Dorsey,'38, Newscaster Dave Partridge,'38, Publicity Ed Browne,'38, Educational Director Walt Meininger,'40, Transradio Press and Karl Koerper,'22, Managing Director
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