2A THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS
FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2005
Professor emeritus reflects on a century
Contributed photo
BY FRANK TANKARD
ftankard@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
G. Baley Price taught mathematics at the University of Kansas from 1937-1975. Price recently set up a $100,000 endowment with Spencer Research Library for archival research.
G. Baley Price, 100, greets Dale Seuferling, president of KU Endowment Association, August 8th. Price, a distinguished professor emeritus in mathematics, gave a $100,000 endowment for archival research at the Spencer Research Library.
Contributed photo
The poster still hangs over the shoulder of the man who helped revolutionize how math is taught in America. It's been five months since G. Baley Price turned 100 on March 14, but the giant paper has stayed up. "Happy Birthday Grandpa Price. A century ... and still counting."
He is the man who brought the first computer to the University of Kansas, helped the U.S. Air Force improve bomb accuracy during World War II and once served as president of the Mathematical Association of America,
Not only is he still living, he's still giving to the University.
On Aug. 8, at a ceremony held in the Spencer Research Library, Price signed a paper marking a $100,000 endowment to the library for archival research.
In his residence at room 117 of Presbyterian Manor, 1429 Kasold, this week, Price sat in his blue recliner, dapper in a sport coat and tie with his daughter, Lucy Price, at his side, and looked back on a few significant episodes from a prolific career.
By 1943, as the United States was deciding to enter World War II, Price had established himself as a leading intellectual in mathematics. One day, then-KU Chancellor Deane Malott told him that the Pentagon had contacted him and wanted Price to fly overseas to use his mathematical knowledge to help the Air Force.
Price was born in 1905 and earned his bachelor's degree in 1925 from Mississippi College in Clinton, Miss. He received his doctorate from Harvard University in 1932 and, after a short stay at Brown University, started his 38-year career at the University in 1937.
Price was originally told that he'd be sent to the South Pacific, he said, but by the time he talked it over with his wife, the late Cora Lee Price, an educated woman who would later teach English and classics at the University, the assignment was filled. Instead, the government sent Price to England to help the Eighth Air Force improve its bombing accuracy.
"We tried to make more bombs fall on targets," he said.
In 1945, after the Allies defeated German, Price returned home and resumed his job at the University. But as soon as the war ended, the Cold War began and the United States government put pressure on the scientific community to race past the Russians.
When the Soviet satellite Sputnik was launched on Oct. 4, 1957, America realized the capabilities of the Russians and the U.S. government pushed scientists and mathematicians to develop better ways to teach.
As the president of the Mathematical Association of America from 1957-58, Price worked with
the nation's leading math teachers to develop the School Mathematics Study Group. The group worked on developing "New Math," a style of teaching math in U.S. schools, and Price traveled the country to educate teachers on this new style of teaching math.
"It was a high-powered effort," he said.
Around the same time in 1957, Price brought the first computer to the University. He said he talked to a friend of his at the National Science Foundation and was able to obtain a $40,000 grant for the University to buy its first computer. An IBM 650. The primitive machine was installed in the basement of Strong Hall and took up an entire room. Price said.
"It produced so much heat that it was necessary to build a pipe through the window so the room wouldn't overheat," he said.
Price could easily fill a large set of books with stories of his contribution to math in America. In fact, he has written multiple textbooks. He has also donated his personal papers to the Spencer Research Library, where they are still available for public viewing.
Before his wife died in late 2004, Price set up a $500,000 professorship in her name. The money was matched by the Hall family of Kansas City.
This fall, the University filled the Cora Lee Beers Price Teaching Professorship in International Cultural Understanding for the first time. The chosen professor, Devon Mihesuah, came from Northern Arizona University and is teaching a class in indigenous studies.
"That fact that this is going into
indigenous studies is very,very important for this university," Miheusah said.
At 11 a.m. on Wednesday, it was time for Lucy, the third of Price's six children, to help him into a wheelchair and take him to dinner. His mind is still intact, but his diet and sleeping habits have changed.
"I am 100-plus years old," he said. "I guess the emphasis belongs on old. I'm not as well as I used to be, but two of my daughters live in town here."
enamedle Jayhawk pinned onto a sports jacket Lucy brought out from his closet. He rubbed the expensive pin, given to him a couple of years ago by Kim Wilcox, former dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Science. The gift was a symbol of appreciation for all Price has done for the University.
Before he wheeled off, Price had a gift to show off, a cloisonne-
"I traveled the country as dean," Wilcox said, "and it was very seldom that alumni didn't ask me about G. Baley Price. That's the impact he had on students."
Edited by Patrick Ross
NIGHTLIFE
Bull remodels, hopes to draw more well-rounded KU crowd
BY ALY BARLAND
abarland@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Regulars at Bullwinkle's, 1344 Tennessee St., may notice a few changes at the bar this year.
Marley Polian took control of the bar, also called the Bull, and remodeled the inside of the establishment and increased the options for food and drink, in hopes of drawing a larger, more diverse crowd.
Not everyone is thrilled with the changes.
"We lost our homefield bar," said Chris Nelson, Overland Park sophomore and member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity.
Marley Polian and her husband, Kevin Polian, have owned Bullwinkle's for the past four years. Kevin maintained a controlling interest, but considered either selling it or shutting it
down, citing dwindling crowds over the past year and a half.
When Kevin Polian decided he did not want to deal with it anymore Marley Polian decided she wanted to give it a shot instead.
"I really have a lot of good memories from when I was in college and I wanted our family to continue to be a part of it," she said.
Both Polians discussed changing the name of the bar, but Marley Polian insisted on keeping the original name.
Kevin Polian thought the bar's only chance to rebound was to start from scratch. He encouraged his wife to broaden the clientele because the traditional crowd was no longer profitable.
"We're going to be doing pretty much all the same things the Bull did before except we're not going to alienate
people. We want it to be an allaround KU bar for all college students." Marley Polian said.
Remodeling, began in June and is an ongoing project.
The majority of changes made were inside, including painting the walls in tropical colors and giving the bar a tropical theme. Patrons are still encouraged to graffiti the walls.
"A lot of people before complained about it being dirty. It wasn't dirty, it just looked dirty because it was unfinished wood," Marley Polian said.
Along with the bar's remodeling, more brands of beer and a food item will be offered to patrons.
Hot dogs will be served from 6 p.m. until 3 a.m., when the bar closes. It stops serving alcohol at midnight.
In addition to Budweiser, Colors and Miller products, Corona, Miller High Life and Heineken
will be available.
They also now serve beer in flavors such as Pink Flamingo, Beach Bum and Green Apple.
Some regulars did not like the changes, but instead preferred the charm the Bull used to have.
Anthony Liolios, Overland Park sophomore, and a friend of Nelson, said he and others in Phi Delta Theta used to frequent Bullwinkle's but were not sure if that would continue.
"I liked how you could write whatever you wanted on the walls. Now all that history is wiped away," Liolios said.
Callie Penzler, Lawrence junior, thought the changes might attract customers.
"I think it would be interesting to see how they changed it and try the new flavors," she said.
- Edited by Jonathan Kealing
Kristin DriskeII/KANSAN
Bullwinkle's, located on 1344 Tenn., is now owned by former KU student, Marley Polian. She has started remodels throughout the bar.
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