LAST GASP SEAT SAVING—Ellen Proudfit,
Kansas City and Wally Strauch, Elmhurst,
The LAST GASP
LAWRENCE, KANSAS
8:30 a.m.
Monday, June 2, 1958
Seniors Immune To Lines; Survive Academic Peril
As we stood in the long, hot lines of enrollment last fall, we were glad that we had survived three years of academic peril. We were in the stretch drive and it was a pleasant feeling. Nevertheless, the sophistication of seniorism didn't immunize us from the surprises that always come up in the course of a year on Mt. Oread.
This year saw the biggest enrollment in a decade-8,500 eager people wanted learning and most of them were getting it.
Football season brought surprises. A team that had been heralded as one of the best in the Big Eight went down under a series of heavy early-season defeats. Pressure and disappointment brought the resignation of Coach Chuck Mather before the Nebraska fray—but, at the same time, a resurgence of the hustle that we needed to win games.
Basketball season brought the end of the Asian flu—the itinerant Oriental malady that had bloodshot eyes competing with the disappearing waistlines of the controversial chemise. Which created more discomfort for whom is anybody's guess. At any rate, the sack dress staved.
Senior Class Ring Adopted In 1948
Basketball season also brought a surprising end to what we had thought was an N.C.A.A. glory road. Wilt Chamberlain's mid-season injury let the Wildcats from Manhattan get through to trophy-dom. We won't be worrying about Chamberlain anymore—he's off to
The University of Kansas Class ring was designed and first adopted by the Class of '48. It was felt that the adoption of the ring would be a fitting tribute both to the school and to the students. It would be a symbol of class unity while in school and a distinctive identification in later years.
The gold ring features the seal of the University modeled on one side with the letters of the degree on a chevron below. The Jayhawk and the year of graduation are on the opposite side. On the top is a ruby stone framed in an oval with the words: "University of Kansas—1865."
South American fortune in a loong red car. Vice President Nixon's South American visit was equally interesting—and probably more worthwhile.
Campus politics spiced the late spring with John Downing and his Vox Populi bringing home the bacon and everybody reading The Daily Kansan. The track team was, as usual, winning all of the meets—and Jack Mitchell's first KU footballers turned the trick against an astonished and beefy group of alums.
Cinema fans were seeing the Oscar Winning "Bridge on the River Kwai" and "... and God created Woman," with Brigitte Bardot, who doesn't buy sanforized dresses, doing her conscientious best to compensate for a hamstrung plot.
As we headed into the closing days of our big year, we were hearing about a recession, but we were, as seniors ought to be, optimistic. KU has been good to us—and has taught us, sometimes painfully, that people who don't have nightmares can't have dreams. Good luck!
Jayhawk Still Lives Today
In some ways the Kansas Jayhawk is like Santa Claus. No one knows positively where he originated and no one has ever seen him. Yet only persons of little imagination will deny he exists.
Earliest unauthenticated report of the word "Jayhawk" comes from Texas in the 1830's, where Sam Houston's army was fighting along the Mexican border. Some of the
men, it is said, referred to them-
selves as "Javhawkers."
A story related by early settlers concerns the Irishman Pat Devlin, who in 1856 was living on the Kansas side of the border. One day he came galloping across the Missouri line, his horse loaded down with equipment which he had
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Editorial
President Blds Adieu
Throughout the last few years, the members of the Class of 1958 have brought honor to themselves and to the University. The events that have made these years unforgettable were brought about largely by the efforts of members of the Class. Be it scholarship, leadership, or athletics, or any other field of university endeavor, our Class has been active and contributory. The University of Kansas is a better university because we were here.
To the Members of the Class of 1958:
It will be difficult to rekindle the spirit, but it is our responsibility to the Class, to the University, and to ourselves to preserve the spirit of 58 and reunite in the years to come with the same energy that is present now. We have grown with the University. We must now grow with the alumni. By being active in the Alumni Association and attending Class reunions, our spirit will be preserved.
Shortly, we will walk down the hill, contented because we have done a good job. Suddenly, there will be a great addition to our repertoire of memories. From here on it will be up to us to prove what we have gained through the application of what we have learned and attained here.
Our hats are off to those who have worked sincerely, but often unrewarded, for the betterment of the Class. Thanks!
In the Spirit of '58. Bob Boyer
Graduation Activities Set
Docking To Greet Senior Guests At Memorial Stadium
Gov. George Docking will deliver the commencement greetings to 1,200 seniors, their guests and faculty, at the 86th annual graduation exercises at 7 p.m. in Memorial Stadium.
Five KU Alumni Get Citation
Five alumni of the University have been named to receive the citation for distinguished service to mankind given by the University and the Alumni Assn.
The five to be honored are: Dr Henry K. Beecher, class of 1926 world renowned anesthesiologist and professor at Harvard University Louis LaCoss, class of 1911, Pulitzer-prize winning editorial writer for the St. Louis Globe-Democrat; Burton McCollum, class of 1903, pioneer petroleum geophysicist of Houston Tex.; Mrs. Gertrude Sellards Pearson, class of 1901, who with her late bushid significantly advanced the University's housing program, Corsicana, Tex.; and Prof. D. Ruth Thompson, class of 1920, chemistry teacher at Sterling College in Sterling.
These citations were voted by a committee on the basis of the individual's contribution to the welfare of mankind.
Today's Schedule Of Senior Events
8 a.m. Class of 1958 breakfast, Union Ballroom.
11 a.m. Bus tour of campus,
leaving from Union.
11:50 to 12 Carillon recital.
1 p.m. Art and Architecture faculty exhibition opening and reception, Museum of Art.
2 p.m. Phi Beta Kappa meeting. Kansas Room, Union (restrictive).
3 p.m. University reception for seniors, parents and alumni. Union Lounge.
7 p.m. Commencement exercises, Memorial Stadium. Greetings from Gov. George Docking, Regent McDill Boyd and Chancellor Franklin D. Murphy. Music by KU commencement band.
The members of the faculty and the deans of the schools will be seated on the platform, graduates will be seated in the center part of the north bowl and parents and guests will be seated on either side of the stadium.
The deans of each school will present the class to the chancellor. All seniors will cross the center stage and will receive dunny diplomas from the dean of the school from which they are graduating, from Chancellor Franklin D. Murphy and from Regent McDill Boyd.
Following the commencement exercises, the graduates will go to the west side of the stadium to turn in their caps and gowns and receive official diplomas.
If the weather is bad tonight, two long blasts of the University whistle after 5:30 p.m. will indicate that the exercises will be held in Allen Field House. All graduating seniors will then report directly to the field house.
The Rev. Edward Welles, bishop of the Episcopal Church for Western Missouri, gave the baccalaureate address last night at Memorial Stadium.
Reunions for the classes of '08, '18, '33 and '48 were held over the weekend. A luncheon of the Gold Medal Club, graduates of more than 50 years ago, was also held.
ROTC commissioning ceremonies will be at 11 a.m. at the Music and Dramatic Arts Building.
Weather
Slightly cloudy to damned cloudy to clear in the East. Slightly warmer, with promise of torrential heat and something real cool in the West. Foggy in the morning.
The staff without official notification ventures a guess not as to the weather but rather to the probable outcome if any should occur that would be considered out of the ordinary. It is the opinion of the staff that nothing will stop tonight's proceedings. It took the graduates from 4 to 40 years to take this walk tonight and nothing will stop the march.
OFF AND RUNNING—Keeping in shape is fundamental to a successful walk down the hill.