A ROYAL MEMORY
FLASHBACK TO 1969: It's a crisp autumn day and the announcer says: "And your home- coming queen is... Jan Merrick from Chi Omega."
Merrick smiles as she is handed a large bouquet of flowers, while photographers huddle around in hopes of catching the perfect moment.
The fading photographs in the KU Archives show Merrick in nearly a dozen poses, some with her court and at least one with the mayor of Lawrence. One can imagine her waving to the football crowd—as KU's last homecoming queen.
Beginning in 1970, KU no longer held a contest for queen.
Changing
Beginning in 1970, KU no longer held a contest for queen For years, the announcement of the homecoming queen was one of the most popular events of the homecoming weekend. But when Merrick
Traditions
took her crown, it signaled the end of the homecoming queen era, which stretched back to 1933.
Jennifer Martin, Overland Park sophomore said, "Having a queen was traditional, and added to homecoming." But as
by Jaime Powell KU's cultural base expanded, the idea of one representative queen died.
And there is little expectation of her revival.
Emily Taylor, Dean of women in 1969, remembers when interest in a queen was high. It seemed as if every group had a candidate, dorms as well as sororities. But student enthusiasm for the tradition waned.
"Times have changed, and people change with them," Taylor said. "It's a rather superficial view of women."
ABOVE:
Jan Merrick,
1969 home-
coming queen
and two
attendents
The 1970 Homecoming Committee ended the tradition because its members decided one woman could not represent such a diverse campus as KU had involved into. The Ex.C.E.L. award has replaced the tradition of a homecoming queen.
Sue Morrell, Student Union Activities advisor, said, that the leadership award was given in lieu of a electing royalty and instead honored students for their skills and not just popularity. The Homecoming Committee has on occasion discussed bringing her highness back.
However, judging women on popularity or looks "is not something to go back to," she said.
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Hill • October 11, 1995
Homecoming
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