Strike a pose
The story and significance behind some of KU's most famous figures
By Rebekah Scaperlanda
rscaperlanda@kansan.com
When one of my friends came to visit, I gave her a tour of our campus. Of course, my tour consisted of facts about myself rather than facts about the University."Oh, that's where I have my English class," should have been replaced with,"Oh, that building is named after Chancellor W. Clarke Wescoe."As we passed "the study abroad building," as I referred to it—as opposed to Lippincott Hall—she asked me about the statue in front "Who the crap knows?" I replied. "Let's take a picture acting like we're them!"
As much fun as I have with photo ops, I think it's time for students like me to stop walking past such campus landmarks without a clue about their significance.
about statues if I wasn't an ambassador."
"I think most students see the statues, but never think about why they are there," says Mario Rodriguez, Stilwell sophomore and KU student ambassador. "It's just something they see every day. They pass by and don't give a second thought. I would probably have no idea
Allen Fieldhouse Forrest Clare "Phog" Allen If you're attending this University and you've never heard of Phog Allen, you
need to stop reading this magazine and dig yourself out of the hole you've been living in. Not only is the bronze statue of the legendary men's basketball coach hard to miss at 9 feet tall, but it stands in front of Allen Fieldhouse, home to our 2008 National Champions.The Fieldhouse, named for Allen himself, was named while Allen was still coaching at KU. He began his legendary stay at the University in 1904 as a basketball player under the coaching of James Naismith, the inventor of basketball. Allen, known as the "Father of Basketball Coaching," coached basketball for 49 seasons. He retired from
the statue of Professor James Woods Green and student Alfred C. Alford outside Lippincott Hall was sculpted by Daniel Chester French, who also sculpted the Abraham Lincoln statue inside the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Above right: The Tal Chi Figure outside Green Hall was donated by former Chancellor W. Clarke Wescoe and his wife in 1987.
coaching with a 771-233 record, the best record in coaching history at the time.
Although his coaching career is vast, the history of the statue is not. The statue, built by Overland Park resident Kwan Wu—who also created the George Brett statue at Kauffman Stadium—was dedicated on December 13, 1997. This dedication took place on the 100-year anniversary of KU basketball and the 90th anniversary of the first game coached by Phog Allen. According to the University Archives, the total cost of the statue was $140,000. When renovations were done on Allen Fieldhouse in 2005, 6- and 12-inch granite pavers inscribed with donors' messages were placed around the statue. The 3,600 pavers are shaped in the form of a basketball going through a hoop.
Lippincott Hall James Woods Green and student
What may look like "a statue of two random people walking to class," Sonia Pantoja, Mission junior and KU student ambassador, knows is actually Professor "Uncle Jimmy" Green, the first dean of the School of Law, with student Alfred C. Alford. According to KU Info, Alford was the first KU student to be killed in the Spanish-American War.
"The statue was nicknamed the 'peacemaker statue,' because Green is with an engineering student," Pantoja says. "Law and engineering feuded and raided each other's buildings back in the day."
French, sculptor of Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.The memorial statue was funded by the 1919 Million Dollar Drive,a fundraising campaign to gain funds for the construction of a World War I memorial honoring the KU students who died in the war.The drive also funded the construction of Memorial Stadium and the Kansas Union.
Smith Hall Moses
Green served as dean of the School of Law for 41 years. The statue in his honor was sculpted by Daniel Chester
It is only fitting that the statue of Moses kneeling in front of a stained-glass burning bush stands in front of the religious studies building. But Moses should hold significance to more than just those students who have read his story in the Bible.
While Moses may date back to 1405 B.C., for the University, Moses and the burning bush trace their history back to R.W. Oliver, KU's first Chancellor. Chancellor Oliver, who was an ordained Episcopal minister, chose Moses to appear on the University seal in 1866.
Why would a public university have a religious figure on its campus? Fire symbolizes knowledge in many stories. A kneeling Moses is thought to represent the humble attitude of the scholar who recognizes the unquenchable nature of the pursuit of truth and knowledge.
"The statue symbolizes the teacher passing on its knowledge and wisdom to the student," Pantoia says.
Eldon Teft, former KU professor; created the metal filigree sculpture during a period of 10 years.
Green Hall Tai Chi Figure
You may be wondering why Green Hall, home to the School of Law, has a seemingly unidentifiable statue in front of it while a statue of the first dean of the school—and the person for whom the building is named—stands in front of Lippincott Hall.The answer lies in KU history.
As the KU Web site explains, the building we know today as Lippincott Hall opened in 1905 as Green Hall, the then Law School. In 1979, the Law School moved to its new location, and the name Green Hall moved with it. The statue cannot be moved, however, because Lippincott Hall is now a historic landmark
In 1987, former Chancellor Wescoe and his wife donated some flare to the new Green Hall.The Tai Chi Figure is a large sculpture by Zhu Ming. an awardwinning Taiwanese sculptor.The statue signifies strength and balance.
The awkward nature of the Tai Chi Figure has led to some interesting nicknames for the statue. "It is sometimes called the 'Surfin' judge' or the 'Stoned Faced Sumo,'" Pantoja says.
"I think it's important for students to know about the statues on campus," says Cindy Heliman, KU Info representative. "They're a part of our school's history. It's nice to have background information on things you see day to day."
Now you are fully prepared to answer questions about campus statues when your friends come to visit. Just be careful walking backward when you're giving your very own campus tours.
Photos by: Marla Keown
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for more information: www.kuhistory.com
05.08.2008 VOL 5 ISS 31
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