University Daily Kansan, October 9, 1981 Page 9
Great Times
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Early KU student life colorful
By KEVIN HELLIKER and ANN LOWRY Staff Reporters
Students who came to KU by crossing the Kaw on horseback during the last century began college for reasons similar to those of today's students.
When asked by yearbook staff members why they came to KU, members who responded to "68 responded with timeless replies that my popper told me to, "Too lazy to do anything else," "It was KU or Baker," "To get into a frat," "Didn't want me at home," "To learn how to live without it," "To learn another word" and "To have a good time."
UPON THIS last point, the students surveyed expounded by listing their favorite pastimes: cashing checks, going to play, bowling, eating, catches, doing nothing, sleeping, skipping classes and, yes, reading Chaucer.
Although the world of the 19th century KU student was devoid of cars, movies, administration, electricity and machinery, he was all he needed to stir up a good time.
While they didn't play Space Invaders, for instance, the early students had their own method of dealing with invaders.
In 1882 a young professor stepped off the train in Lawrence, determined to
enlighten this town with his Eastern education.
A student welcoming committee, amused by the gentleman's arrogance and silk top hat (the first this side of the building) to initiate him into the wilderness.
A gun, the committee said, is a necessity here in Lawrence.
Bah, the Easterner said. No such thing.
But when the leader of the students opened his coat to reveal his own six-shooter, the bewildered Easterner and set out to find his boarding house.
As he walked down Massachusetts Street, a shot rang out nearby. He glanced from side to side, then ran up the hill toward the University. On Tennessee Street, a second shot blew apart his silk top hat. He left town the next day, convinced that Kansas still lacked civilization.
If the students of a hundred years ago seemed uncivilized, perhaps it was because they were not afforded the luxury of leaving Lawrence for the weekend. The early administrations forbade student to skip town—a rule that would surely drive modern students crazy.
THE UNIVERSITY had a habit of monitoring students' lives in its early years. In 1875 a letter from an administrator to the Lawrence com
munity boasted that "the evil of drink and cards" had been stamped out in the state University.
A long'necked ketchup bottle, filled them with a feeling of vague unease.
But if the early students suffered under strict University rule, they at least enjoyed the atmosphere of a small personable academic community.
The yearbook from the first few decades included each student's picture and a few revealing observations. Below one woman's picture these words read, "Can be driven single, sugar from the hand and is fond of children."
CONCERNING ONE listless student the yearbook noted that he "has not presented a suitable excuse for his existence, but will someday serve humanity by becoming a receptacle for embalming fluid."
By now this prophecy, no doubt, has proven true.
Although the University, Lawrence and society as a whole has grown immensely in the last 100 years, KU students of today are driven by the same desires and hopes that characterized the students of the past century.
In "Atras the Years on Mount Oread," Robert Taft wrote that the student of 100 years ago "romped and and landed on it." The student sorrowed and was happy on the hill.
Buildings
TWENTE HALL.
From page 8
Twente Hall, originally known as Watkins Memorial Hospital, was built in 1931.
The rooms of the hospital were divided to look as homelike as possible.
In 1974, the building, which now houses the School of Social Welfare, was named after Esther Twente, an instructor of social welfare.
The first Snow Hall, built in 1886,
stood in front of where Watson Library now stands. It was named after F. H. Snow, one of the first three professors of the University and one-time chancellor.
Old Snow was abandoned in 1930 and dismantled in 1934. New Snow was built in 1929.
LIPPINCOTT.
Known as Green Hall until 1980, it was renamed in honor of John Hua Lippincott, a Methodist minister and the fourth KU chancellor.
It was built in 1905 for the law school
and was named for Dean J. W. (Uncle Jimmy) Green.
MURPHY
The building that houses the School of Fine Arts was built in 1857 and named after Chancellor Franklin D. Murphy.
JOLIFFE HALL
Jolife Hall was built in 1942. It was named after Oliver Jolife, a Peabody banker who donated funds for a men's scholarship hall. The building is now used by the radio, television and film departments.
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Greeks
the government to use as housing for them, he said, and were called PT3 and PT4.
From page 7
Alderson has maintained close ties with the University since 1941, when he was a freshman. He grew along with the University as he earned a master's degree in education psychology and guidance. After that, he was the greatest dean of men from 1948 to 1951 and the later dean of men from 1961 to 1975.
HE WAS DIRECTLY involved with fraternities and sororites and learned of Greek life and some of the popular trends that went along in its history.
From 1941 until 1960, more fraternal and sororites formed houses. Twenty-three professional and social Greek houses were established at KU.
Again in the 1960s, the Greeks suffered from the war effort, but this time the effects made a lasting impact on the Greek system, Alderson said.
"The 60s presented a challenge to the fraternities and sororites" he said. "Students were rebellious about a lot of things in the '60s and when the house rules came into review, this created problems."
FRATERNITY AND sorority members, alike and over from the strictest, are joined by over from the
"People started questioning everything," he said, "and the members of themes and sororites questioned the organization that weren't changing with the times."
Art Farner, Interfraternity Council adviser, said the percentage of Greek men and women had stayed at about 20 percent of the total enrollment since 1975.
codes, study hours and men's visiting hours were questioned throughout the Greek system. Rules were overturned and the Greek system became more liberal, Alderson said.
The situation lasted until about 1975, when the interest in fraternities and sororites revived. Beginning in 1975, new members were added again and two new houses were added.
DURING THAT TIME, students were not as interested in joining Greek houses, he said.
Renovation
From page 7
There are about 3,150 students living in KU Greek houses.
So far, $222,000 has been spent on Spooner's $2 million renovation, but funds may be harder to come by, he says, because of the Reagan budget.
"Federal funds available for
farm workers are pretty much gone."
Wierch said.
Spooner has had his roof re-covered, said, and new windows have been installed.
Funds to finish the Spooner renovation will probably come from private gifts, foundation gifts and state appropriations, he said.
"The problem with some of the buildings we have been renovating is that they don't meet modern building codes in the areas of restrooms, elevators and fire safety," Wiechert said.
The circulation desk also has been moved to near the third floor entrance.
The $6.2 million renovation of Watson Library, expected to be completed in January, includes new interior design, easier access to the stacks and moving the library copying service along with other systems and microforms to the second floor.
Partial renovation in Lindley Hall includes installing a central air conditioning system, Wiechert said, and remodeling areas of the building vacated by the chemical engineering center and the Kansas Geological Survey.
A $849,000 renovation of Flint Hall is expected to be completed by next spring. New classrooms and laboratory spaces will be installed and two floors of 84-year-old Flint.
Chemical engineering moved to Learned Hall in 1976 and the geological survey moved to Moore Hall in 1973.
The oldest unrenovated building on campus was Marvin Hall. However, with the completion of a $2.8 million renovation in mid-September, the building was reformed from principally an engineering building to an architecture school.
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