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Wednesday, August 24, 1977
University Daily Kansan
KU's devoted and energetic Union director, Frank Burge, would 'jump over the moon for students.'
He welcomes visitors and visiting groups at the door of the Kansas Union. He always has time in his 10- to 12-hour day to talk with students, even though he might suddenly rush out the front door to inspect the shrubbery.
He's Frank Burge, director of the Union, a man with endless energy who's devoted more than 25 years to developing Union services and facilities.
But he won't take all the credit.
"it's my staff," he said. "It wouldn't be what it is without them."
His role as administrator is to assist in program development, he insisted, and to listen to what students say they would like in programs and facilities.
"One of the greatest joys is for me to walk in on a program that's going on," Burge said. "To me, that's what the Union is for."
He says that he likes to see what's going on and to see whether the Union is measuring up to his standards as a manager.
manager. You learn to be a manager. People like
to see you around. They like to know that you know they exist."
Listening is his administrative philosophy, he said.
"That's my antenna, listening. You'll go a long way in life on that."
He said that by talking with students he found that they wanted a satellite union and Burge has been involved in the planning stages and talks with architects.
"You know, this place is kind of moving like a turnip," he said. "It's hard to anticipate the needs in a changing University."
The Union has changed since his early days.
"There were few residence halls then, so people came to the Union to eat at it 7:30 a.m." he said. "Now we're seeing a return of students to the Union as a place to be."
Students have changed, too, he said. KU students are more mature and utilise the facilities better.
He said he thought that student leadership had changed for the better.
It showed real leadership of the
students when they convinced the Board of Regents that they could have 3.2 beer in the Union. That brought a return of much of the social life to the Union."
The union should accommodate the interests of freshmen and graduate students, he said, because the maturity levels and interests are different.
Warner Ferguson, associate director, said that students are Frank Burke's great friend.
"He'd jump over the moon for studium. Ferguson said "He'd do anything."
Ferguson said Burge knew everyone on the Union staff by name.
"No matter how high or low they are on the toot pole, he greets everyone the same," Ferguson said. He's sincerely interested in people.
"Sure, he makes mistakes, but everyone does. He remembers something about a person that makes the person feel special. You don't meet many people like that."
Burge doesn't procrastinate, Ferguson said, and he's not one to sit idly at home. He's at the union seven days a week.
"He's got a lot of nervous energy. I've seen him push a broom in the lobby, just because he saw that it needed doing. It's very hard to be someone able to do it—he just has nervous energy."
Ferguson said that his boss helped with the construction during the renovation of the Union entrance.
But the burning of the Union in May 1970 bothered him deeply, Ferguson said.
nam arumed his hair white," he said. "Just to see things go that you helped build." Burge said. "It was just the emotion of the thing."
Coping with less stringent daily pressure is another facet of the Frank Burge philosophy. He arises about 4 a.m., reads, then jokes. Burge is 57.
"If you get yourself emotionally and physically prepared for the day, have some time to get yourselves in order, then you can meet whatever comes." Burge says of the girl she met in school. "It's no reason for a play in my position to blow his cool."
position to blow its horn.
"You know the Union manager should be at the shop when there are lots of people coming here."
He usually arrives at 7 a.m.
Frank Burge is full of ideas and analyses about working with people from the experiences of his long career as director, but retirement is down the road a way, he
He and his wife, Gladys, like to travel,
"When I travel, I go as far as I can in the time available."
To prepare himself for his busy schedule, Burge rises early and jogs every day.
Planning the Satellite Union with an architect. . .
Story by Donna Kirk Photos by Rick Padden
or sampling watermelon with cooks, Burge enjoys being boss