SECTION C
75th ANNIVERSARY EDITION
The Official Student Paper of the University of Kansas
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VOLUME XXXVI
LAWRENCE, KANSAS, SUNDAY, MAY 28, 1939
SOCIETY and ACTIVITIES
NUMBER 161.
Students Form Governing Bodies
Hill Women Have Voted For 27 Years
- Feminine Rights at Polls Granted Nearly a Decade Before National Women's Suffrage Was Passed
Eight years before the National Women's Suffrage amendment, the right to vote was given to the women students of the University. On May 14, 1912 the feminine voters went to the polls to elect officers for their own student government.
Miss Carrie Watson, 77; Miss Kate Stephens, 75 and Miss Hannah Oliver, 74. Miss Stephens died last winter.
A platform of one of the candidates for president, appearing in the Kansas May 9 of that year stated the following policies: Rooming-houses for women should be closed not later than 10:30 p.m. EVERY NIGHT in the week except when entertainments of general interest are held; social engagements should not be made for the evening of an evening or for Friday evenings or for evenings preceding holidays). This candidate was not elected but her policies were put into effect.
The purpose of the Women's Self Governing Association is to foster among women students a feeling of mutual responsibility, maintain high standards of living and scholarship, make all rules necessary to carry out the regulation of conduct and behavior, and aid promote and assist all student organizations and activities in which women students are concerned.
The first secret ballot was taken at the old check stand in Fraser hall. The petitions for office required the signatures of fifty women students and no class could be repaired by them. A majority, two members from the freshman, sophomore and junior classes were elected and the officers for the incoming freshman class were elected the following fall. The total number of votes cast at that first election was 330 votes, so the majority-Lapton, nicknamed "Dick," was the first president of the Council.
To promote sports activities the council divided the following year into three sections devoted to basketball and volley ball (www.moan.org) www.moan.org
Twenty-five cent pieces were collected from the members, in 1918 to aid in war work such as the support of a French orphan; contributions to the Red Cross and Y.M.C.A.; Company M Mess Fund; and yarn for knitting classes. That same year closing hours for women were restricted to 10 o'clock every night except Friday and Saturday when the women could stay out a day. On week nights no dates with mer could be made to last later than 10 o'clock.
In 1918 the W.S.C.A. gave a varsity and hired for the occasion the "new S.A.T.C. orchestra" which was composed of a piano, drums, and a violin. In November of that year the Council instructed all rooming and security rooms to elect a head to make up the House President's office in response to those the business meeting of the governing body gave way to knitting classes and work in the surgical dressings rooms.
In 1919 a point system was devised as a test of eligibility for women candidates. The students were allowed only so many points each year which were given for holding office in Campus activities. Thus one woman could be prevented from holding too many offices. The council election was spooned. Spooned. The council offered two money prizes that year to the organized houses having the highest scholarship rating.
Three Early Graduates
The organization sponsored "Middy dances" once a month, the year after the war ended, with music by "Sofstuffal and his traps." These dances have evolved into the present day "Puff Pant Prom" and "Skirt Swing" at which both dancing partners are women. This is an endeavor to promote greater friendship and acquaintance among the
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Council Rules Fraternity Rush
★ Men's Pan-Hellenic Body Regulates Procedure of Organized Houses
The Men's Pan-Hellenic Council serves as a regulatory body on fraternities by making the rules of the game. These rules deal with the procedure and methods of rushing and pledging as well as determinative actions, and to some extent regulating other activities of the fraternities.
In the past the council has given cups to the fraternity with the highest scholastic average for the year; Helt basketball champions, and winning debaters. Only one of these the scholarship can, is still given.
Other actions of the council have been a correspondence and information department operated to bring outstanding students to the Campus; the theoretical elimination of "lead pipe" tactics of Hell Week; designed to bring the fraternity men closer together. In the old days these smokers were colorful affairs with each fraternity contributing a play or some stunts.
The council has not always been as roxy as it might seem. There was a time when it was at war with the University Senate over the latter's decision to regulate fraternity auditing books. A lesser fight ensured twenty years ago over the high prices charged by the hill orchestra. Someone pointed out that the university had two thirds more that charged by the bands at the University of Nebraska. The protests of the council were finally instrumental in bringing the hands to terms.
One of the big events of the year is the annual Spring formal which is probably the most exclusive lance on the hill. In addition the council usually holds a banquet or jeer bust.
Membership in the council is limited to the fraternities with each house entitled to one member and an alternate. The officers of the council are chosen from the members.
Twelve feet of frozen earth, a 40-mile gale, and near-zero temperatures confront workmen in 1911 when the foundations of the Journalism building had to be deepened to provide for installing the first printing laboratory and printing equipment for the Daily Kansan.
Kansan 'Shack'
Started in Blizzard
The present Journalism building was once the home of the University's medical school. When the Kansan became a daily in 1911, the medics moved their equipment to the north half of Dyche museum. The other half worked as a volunteer workhouse worked day and night to install the printing equipment.
After the machinery was ready, news sources had to be set up and reporters had to be found
Three Years After Founding, Faculty Women Adopt Rules
Informally the Faculty Women's Club was organized in 1916 but it was in 1919 that a formal constitution was drawn up and adopted. At that time Miss Elizabeth Meguilar, to women, was elected president.
When the University hospital was moved to the Hill in 1920, the Club purchased the vacated house at 1300 Louisiana for permanent quarters of the organization. Their first house was located on Ohio Street.
Teas, programs, exhibits, picnics, bazaars, parties, and sales have been sponsored by these University women teachers. For the past eighteen years the Club has held at Christina's time selected memorabilia from odd corners of the world are presented to visitors for exhibition and sale.
Prof. Hopkins Also Known As Distinguished Organist
Prof. E. M. Hopkins, known to many through his long service in the University English department, attained distinction as an organiser.
Hopkins began playing the organ at the age of 13 and played continually up until 12 years ago. During that time he was organist for the Princeton University, and was always organist for some church.
The retired professor even earned part of his college education by playing the organ.
Independent Students Decide To Organize
★ Recent Movement Gains Foothold on Campus; Over 600 Members Are Enrolled in New Association
When in November, 1937, a handful of students decided to organize the independents. Hill-goers didn't exactly arise en masse and applaud. It wasn't the first time that waffle-faced leaders announced plans to organize.
But when that handful grew to 50 within a week, it looked like the real thing and the professedly-cynical Campus decided to be interested.
An original program to "give the independent student social contacts and an opportunity to attend social functions," has now broadened to become "cultural, educational, and recreational." While dances were the major activity of the I.S.A. in its early days, the recently-elected council has promised forums, dances, parties, a newspaper, and intramural athletic activity for next year.
New a year and a half old, the Independent Student Association has a paid membership of 600, plus added to increase in 2000 next year.
But all has not been smooth sailing for the independents as the phenomenal growth of the organization would indicate. Early this year, an attempt to oust Susan Maloney, c39, president-founder of the organization, deadlocked rival factions of the LSA. Led by the national chairman of the independent student associations, the attempt to control the LSA. resulted in a mass meeting to break the deadlock.
Here the I.S.A. threatened to become a football for Hill Political parties as strong factional rivalry between them erupted the organizational troubles.
After a stormy session, independents finally succeeded in defeating ambitious power-seekers by the election of a non-partisan president, Louis Fokele, c39, and a new supporting council.
Under their guidance the rejuvenated organization regained its stride and was host to the second national independent convention which culminated in a three hour meeting in the Memorial Union ballroom.
Having added 100 more to membership rosters since the convention, the LSA. continues to grow
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Alumni Didn't Climb Fourteenth Street;
In 1913 Was Adams
"Adams, Henry, Lee and the other Lawrence streets which bear the name of American patriots are no more. The city council has passed an ordinance changing the names of the cross streets to numerals," according to Daily Kansan files of Dec. 3, 1913.
"Hereafter, instead of climbing the Adams Street hill, University students will ascend the Fourteenth street for the name "Adams" has been sacrificed to satisfy the post carriers; civic duties and labor; Boston Club and hundreds of citizens," the story continued.
"The change will be made at once and in order to avoid inconveniences, the city will erect signs at the south-west corner of each intersection bearing the new names of the streets. These signs will be blue with lettering in white enamel."
Hill Medics Have Three Groups
Medics on the Hill are professionalized in three medical fraternities, Phi ChI, Nu Sigma Nu, and Phi Beta Pi, all having houses.
Kappa Upsonil chapter of Phi Chi was organized on Mount Oread May 22, 1915 and Delta Kappa Upsonil chapter at Kansas City, Kan. Oct 15, 1929. The first chapter was organized at the University of Vermont, March 31, 1888, and now comprises 65 active chapters.
First organized as a local medical fraternity May, 1907, Alpha Sigma obtained a charter from Nu Sigma Nu. national professional medical fraternity, Feb. 6, 1909, the first on the campus.
Phi Beta Fis mother chapter was established at the University of Pittsburgh in Ithaca, New York, and at the University of Iowa, the Kansas organization, was founded in 1901.
Alpha Omega Alpha, medical honor society, was established at Kansas University in 1880. A national organization of 41 chapters was found at the University of Illinois medical school at Chicago.
Sigma Theta Tau, national honorary society for nurses, whose membership is limited to university schools of nursing, was established at University in 1922. Delta chapter at the University was organized in 1831.
Supervise Large Family
Plan Social Life for 5,480
"University women are funda- mentally the same as always," says Elizabeth Megular, Advisor of Women.
"The average woman has more training and more of an opportunity to develop herself today than forman- tionally." "The more innovative and more independent."
Home making ranks as high in the colleges and universities of today as at any time previous and perhaps not so recently referred to the big book of statistics
Many changes have taken place since the coming of Miss Megular in 1917, more landscape, more buildings, larger faculty, larger student populations. Many of the parts of the students in general. Problems of practically every nature have been brought to her but perhaps the most important of all is the financial problem. There is usually but one thing that Miss Megular can do to help solve this problem is to seek employment for the student.
According to Miss Megular one of three things usually suffers when a girl works part time for room or board. They are her grades, health or the work which she is doing. "It is an unusual student who can work with you the same time as your highscholastic standing." Miss Megular said.
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Elizabeth Meguiar
Grades or Work Superior
Henry Werner
A tall, slender figure with a clipped English accent, Henry Werner is a far cry from the fabulous Dean of Men as pictured in college movies or novels, but to the thousands of men students at the University who have gone to him for help or consultation during their college years, he has proved an able and friendly counsellor.
Since he came to the University in 1920, Henry Werner has served both as a professor and in his present capacity. He still continues his work as a chemist and when not in his office in Frank Hard ball can teach him about analytical and chemical laboratories carrying on analytical work for the State Food Laboratory. Besides this, he teaches a course in food analysis.
Henry Werner was born in Chichester, England and came to the University by way of Germany, British Columbia and Pennsylvania. He undertook his early studies in chemistry at the University of Liverpool, England, and then continued them at Cambridge, where he became Frankfort and the Main, Germany.
A stay in British Columbia for his health preceded his migration to this country where he first went to Philadelphia and became interested in industrial chemical work. While in Kansas City on business, he first heard of the University of Kansas. In 1920, the Dean was appointed
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Men's Student Council Appears On Hill in 1909
Summerfield Students Enter Hill Activities
When the Men's Student Council was founded in 1909 upon the suggestion and with the aid of the faculty, student government was born on the campus. At first the council was attacked by some of the state newspapers, some going so far as to declare that the council would bring anarchy to the hill and would force the staff of the University to resign. Through all of this storm the Kansan advocated creation*of the council and after its establishment gave it support.
- Outstanding High School Men Scholars Mix With University Organizations For More Than Ten Year
By Richard MicCann, c 10 Overrunning Mt. Oread is a group of grade-makers called Summer-Scholars. These men have been awarded the honorary positions and activities for some ten years—ten classes of them with a membership if 128, 55 of whom are now undergraduates.
They are supposed to be the outstanding scholars of their respective years. As such, they have been provided with a college education in theology and philosophy, and the board of the Gotham Silk Hosiery Company in New York City.
Solon Summerfield
Contrary to prevaluing impressions, it was Prof. Olin Templin who conceived the idea of a series of state-wide, four-year University scholarships—it was not Solon Summerfield himself. Summerfield supplied the money, $20,000 a year for the enterprise.
The idea started in 1929, was that some of the most outstanding seniors of Kansas high schools were obviously unable to go to college. Mental ability was going to waste. These men needed to be given the additional knowledge and training that was being offered to them they could go out, strengthened as Kansas' contribution to the leaders of the future.
Solon Summerfield — successful manufacturer, philanthropist, keen student of America's needs—was impressed by this idea. He told Olin Templin, professor of philosophy, former dean of the College and keen student of humanity, to work out the plan in detail.
The Summerfield system is notable for this fact that the student is given only as much money as he needs above his own resources. Thus one student will perhaps need money at all from the fund. He is not thereby denied the honor of "being a Summerfield" but the money he has surrendered can provide for another one on the list.
For ten years allotments have been made with a surprising degree of amicability. And the number of students provided for has varied, in accordance with those allotments, from ten to twenty each year.
the summer of 1929 saw the first
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The first few elections for membership were rather quiet affairs with candidates having their names placed on the ballot after submitting their names on a petition signed by twenty-five students to the secretary of the council. There were no parties at this time, but a short time later the machines were formed putting some life into the elections.
Today a Student Council election is a headache to Independent and Greek alike. The Greek pesters the Independent to join his party so they can influence the fate of the party before election day is post. Posters, handbills, tags and even packages advertise the lists of candidates for office. The two main parties, Pachacamac and P.S.G.L., battle for weeks before the election even resorting to such tricks as cutting telephone wires and filling water with water. The day after election everyone becomes friends again.
Taking over the Associated Students Enterprises the council assisted and even directed the Band, Glee Club, Debating club, Athletic association, Orchestra, and Mandolin club. Today, although the council does not have much to do with these organizations, it makes contributions toward their support and promotes their interests.
The variety dances, K-Book, Activity Book, Student Directory, student forums on campus problems, and the housing inspection were all inaugurated by the council. The recent move toward a men's dormitory may have in its discussion the beginnings of action. Thusly many of the achievements of the past have become reality.
Disciplinary powers are granted to the council in making rules of student behavior and punishment offenders. This affects such conduct as painting the campus at Kansas State or minor infringements of the law such as violating the parking regulations. Cases are decided on before a board consisting of three members of the council and three members of the Women's Student Government Association.
One of the foremost policies of the council has been the upholding of tradition. Co-operating with the K-ten and the Sachems the council has been over the pajama parade, hobo day, home coming, and other traditions.
Recently proportional representation was adopted. Membership is limited to twenty-one including the president and the defeated president who serves as a representative at schools on the hill are represented and in the fall two freshmen are elected as special members.
The council meets usually twice a month and acts in co-operation with the W.S.G.A. Parliamentary procedure is observed and an attempt is made to meet the meetings from ending in brawls. Students are free to attend these meetings. The committee has membership in the National Student Federation of America and sends a delegate to their convention each year.
Fireside Forum Evolved From Endeavor Society
Fireside Forum, the Congregational student group, grew out of a townpeaceful's forum and an old Christian Endease society organization. The war. The transition to the present Fireside Forum took place in 1917.
This forum meets at the parish house of the Plymouth Congregational church on Sunday evenings. The members discuss the bearing of religion on current issues, and the importance of religious questions.