Page 8
University Daily Kansan
Monday, June 3, 1957
Senior Recalls Memories,Events Of Past 4 Years
THE SENIOR YELL?—KU cheerleaders led yells for the fans crowded into Memorial stadium
By JOAN GEORGE
last fall for the KU-Oklahoma game, which was designated as the "Senior Day" football game.
Tonight the graduating seniors "walk down the hill," going through the rites of the students' last tradition at the University of Kansas. There are four years of memories in every step.
Memories begin with 1953 when the seniors, as freshmen, were still becoming orientated to life at the state university.
That was the year Dr. John Ise was named the "biggest bum on the campus," the temperature soared over the 100 degree mark until early October, and the law students wanted to publish the University Daily Kansan for one day, a request that was refused by the staff who said their paper was "not a toy" to be played with by the law-vers.
Sikes Resigned in 1953
That year saw a happy beginning to the football season when Kansas defeated Iowa State 23-0 at the first home game. Jules Sikes was coach, but he resigned after the Homecoming game with Missouri, which Kansas lost 10-6. Sikes was replaced by Charles "Chuck" Mather, of Massillon, Ohio.
The basketball team won the Big 7 pre-season tournament in Kansas City, Mo., and tied for the Big 7 title, only to lose to Colorado U. in a draw.
Track star Wes Santee set a Kansas Relays record for the Glenn Cunningham mile, and basketball fans watched he construction of the new field house with anticipation.
The University Theatre presented Tennessee Williams" "The Glass Menagerie," with Nancy Reich, of Independence, Mo., starring in the leading role of Laura. Stan Kenton was on the campus with his "Festival of Jazz," and Henry Fonda, the late John Hodiak, and Lloyd Nolan were seen on stage in "The Calne Mutiny Court Martial."
The freshmen that year watched with interest the invalidated All Student Council elections and returned to the polls to vote a second time. The ASC moved to take control of the Rock Chalk Revue from the YMCA, and the students formed a new political party, the Allied Greek-Independent party, Janice Johnson, of Ottawa, was elected secretary of the party.
It was the year the KU debaters won the national tournament at West Point, N. Y., and the late Bernard De Voto, Pulitzer prize-winning historian, spoke on the campus. Construction of Douthart Hall, women's scholarship hall, was begun. Students were involved in plans for the Kansas territorial centennial celebration to be staged in Lawrence in 1954.
Bermudas Arrive In 1954
Bermudas Arrive in 1954 Bermuda shorts and the Ringling Brothers circus came to town in '54, the sophomore year, which also saw the arrival of the Athletics in Kansas City.
Dean W. Malott, former KU chancellor, dedicated the new $3-250,000 physical science building, Malott Hall, and the new field house was dedicated and named for Dr. Forrest C. (Phog) Allen, then basketball coach. Construction work was begun on Gertrude Sellards Pearson women's hall, and the Chi Omega fountain was built.
That was the year Dr. Ise taught his last economics class at the University, and the proposed UVO honor system was defeated at the polls.
O'Neill's "Ah Wilderness" was staged by the University Theatre, violinist Isaac Stern appeared in a concert here, and the Studio Theater presented "The Philadelphia Story."
That year Carol Curt, of Neodesha, was an attendant to the Homecoming queen, and Sharon Theis Rooney, of Lawrence, was chosen Greek Week queen. Her attendants were Lynne Livingston and Karen Howard, of Wichita. The queen of the Army ROTC spring hop was Nancy Olsen, Delafinie, Wis., and Judith Garver, of Kansas City, Mo., was Jayhawker queen. Linda Thorn, of Louisville, Ky., and Judith Howard, of Salina, were attendants.
The junior year, 1955-56, was the time of enrollment via the IBM machine, and the building of the Kansas Turnpike. Contracts were let for the new music and dramatic arts building, now almost completed. Remodeling of Bailey Hall for the school of education was underway, and Flint Hall, the journalism school building, was dedicated.
Junior Year: IBM Machine
Mrs. Joseph R. Pearson gave the University $175,000 for the construction of a new men's dormitory, and the building of the new Alpha Omicron Pi house was in progress.
The class again had its share of queens. Ann Straub, of Chicago, was an attendant to the Homecoming queen, and Miss Howard was Military Ball queen. Ruth Taggert, of Topeka, was named Honorary Cadet Colonel, and Barbara Keeler, of Lawrence, and Ann Poirier Ross, of Wathena, were attendants. The Law Day queen was Lorene Hunt, and Jananne Littrell, of Kansas City, Kan., and Shirley Kubik, of Caldwell, reigned at the Air Force ROTC ball.
Inge Helped Dramatists
KU alumnus and Pulitzer prizewinning author William Inge came to the campus last year to help dramatists stage his play, "Picnic." The Jose Greco dance troupe played to a near capacity audience in Hoch Auditorium, and "Carousel," a University Theatre production, drew crowds to Fraser Theatre.
Late in the year, after panty raids occurred elsewhere, a band of University men unsuccessfully attempted to raid a sorority house here. This led to the guarding, by police and University officials, of women's houses.
Two of the most exciting events of the junior year were the Wildcat theft and the panty raid. Prior to the KU-K-State football game a group of University students successfully stole Touchdown IV, the Aggies' mascot, from his cage in Manhattan, and hid him here.
George Sheldon, of Salina, served as ASC president. Constance Cloeys, El Dorado, and Steve Schmidt, of Salina, were named editor and business manager, respectively, of the 1957 Jayhawker.
Miss Peterson Resigned
Miss Peterson Resigned
Dean of Women Martha Peterson
resigned to take a similar position
at the University of Wisconsin, and
Miss Emily Taylor, of Miami
University, was named to replace her.
1856-57 was the year of Wilt the Stilt, who brought fame to KU basketball—the team narrowly lost the national title to North Carolina.
Students voted against seat saving of any sections in Memorial Stadium at football games in an ASC referendum, and a tornado lashed through the area, killing scores and injuring many more.
KU track stars who won honors at the Olympics in Australia were Bill Nieder, of Lawrence, who placed second in the shotput, and Al Oerter, of Hyde Park, N. Y., who established a new Olympic record for the discus.
President Eisenhower was re-elected for a second term, and George Docking, of Lawrence, was the first Democrat to become governor of Kansas in 20 years. International developments in Hungary and the Suez caused concern throughout the world, and students contributed to the Hungarian Relief Drive.
Visitors to the campus included Sir William Haley, editor of the London Times; Herbert Hoover Jr., undersecretary of state; Ella Fitzgerald, Gene Krupa, Louis Armstrong, and Frankie Carle, who played for concerts and dances, and the Berlin Philharmonic orchestra.
Davis, of Kansas City, Mo. Nancy Squires, of Wakeeney, was a Homecoming queen attendant, and Miss Straub was Senior Calendar queen.
The "Dean for a Day" this year was Marilyn Mundon, of Coffeyville, and her assistant was Kay
Managing editors of the Daily Kansan included Jane Pecinovsky, of Leawood, Kent Thomas, of Ottawa, and Dick Walt, of Girard. The
Jay Watchers, a group formed to finance the televising of KU basketball games, was organized by Bryce Cooke, of Overland Park, and Bob Reck, of Wichita.
A $75,000 television transmitter was presented to the University, and Tom Sawyer, who was both criticized and praised for his reviews of plays and dramas, was accepted for study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in England.
Wilt To Leave?
And so the year ended. These memories, and many more, will be remembered by the graduating seniors tonight as they leave the University, to return next as KU alumni.
Basketball fans worried when rumors were circulated in the spring that Wilt Chamberlain would leave KU to play professional ball and Ron Loneski would transfer to another college.
Seniors on the basketball team were Maurice King, of Kansas City, Mo.; Lee Green, Lew Johnson, Harry Jett, of Kansas City, Kan.; Gene Elstun, of Fairway; Blaine Hollinger, of Russell; John Parker, of Mission; Ron Johnston, of Seacliff, Long Island, N. Y., and Eddie Dater, of Garden City.
One hundred million people in the world speak German.
TO THE SENIORS!!
We wish to extend our wishes for the fullest measure of happiness and success for the future.
TO THE UPPERCLASSMEN!!
We hope that each will have a thoroughly enjoyable summer vacation and we will be looking forward to seeing you again in the fall.
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