Fraser Hall: Famous Symbol of Kansas
Since completion in 1872, Fraser has symbolized the University of Kansas in the minds of students and alumni for almost a century. There are numberless legends told about it by succeeding generations of students—including the tale about a certain statue alleged to turn a spade of earth miraculously on certain occasions. Beyond Frascr as a lilac hedge, more famous locally than the cherry blossoms of the Fotomac.
Oldsters whose grandchildren now attend KU recall that Fraser's stair treads, even in their day curved in hollows worn by uncounted thousands of feet. Even then its ivied limestone walls were yellow with age.
The ivy, as well as age, apparently contributed to Fraser's death sentence. Don Schaake, Lawrence architect who fought to save the old building said foundation damage, with resultant cracking of walls, came from poor water drainage around the foundation. That, he said, was due to ivy growing into downspouts and drain pipes and could be corrected.
News that Fraser had to come down stunned KU alumni, faculty and students more than a year ago. Most did not believe it actually would come about.
Fraser Construction Bid Date Is June 29
Bids for construction of new Fraser Hall at KU will be received in Topeka June 29.
The seven-story, native limestone exterior structure will have $2^{1/3}$ times more floor space than the old hall it will replace.
Total available for the project, including architectural fees and site costs, is $2,200,000. of which $450,000 is from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation and the remainder from the state educational building fund.
The completion goal is January, 1965.
"It's about like tearing down the White House because termites have gotten into a portico." said
an irate member of the class of 1525. At the time, he was a member of the legislature, but he did not say whether he was for a whipping appropriation to shore up the old building.
If news that Fraser must go saddened alumni, students and faculty, the design for its successor angered them.
They labeled it variously "a monstrosity," "an insult," a "crime against Mount Oread," a "blight on the skyline," a "barn" and "the most abominable pile of masonry since the pyramids of Egypt."
Bernard Frazier, renowned sculptor-in-residence at KU, told Avery, "I swear to you I haven't even found anyone who knows anyone who likes the new building."
But Chancellor W. Clarke Wescoe disagreed. He described the design for the new hall as "digni-fied, simple, unencumbered."
The law really left old Fraser's fate and the look of its replacement to the chancellor and the Board of Regents. The Lawrence Daily Journal-World put it this
way, in an editorial the day the "Save Fraser" forces went to see the governor:
"What happens to Fraser Hall is primarily a problem of the regents, upon advice of the chancellor. The governor . . . is wise in shedding responsibility for individual problems and to leave these in the hands of the delegated authorities. Whenever any governor gets to the place where he wants to pick the building custodians, shape the courses in political science, hire the deans, select the design and decoration of new buildings and tell professors what color neckties they can wear, higher education in Kansas will be in for some very rough and troublesome days."
According to long established tradition, one specific United States flag, at each institution at which more than one flag flies, is designated by the chief administrative officer of the institution as the "official" flag. The United States flag on Fraser Hall has been so designated by each chancellor of the University of Kansas since
the activation of Fraser Hall in 1872.
For the duration of the construction of New Fraser Hall Chancellor Wescoshe has designated the United States flag which will join the State of Kansas flag on its flag pole in front of Strong Hall, as the "official" United States flag at the University of Kansas. The date for the change of location of the "official" flag will depend upon the construction schedule for New Fraser Hall.
Upon the completion of New Fraser Hall the United States flag, flying again from Fraser, will be designated as the "official" flag.
The University of Kansas flag now flying from Fraser will be retired for the duration of the construction of New Fraser Hall. Upon the completion of the new building it will again join the "official" United States flag on top of Fraser. The two flags, under lights, as has been the custom for many years, will again fly together sometime in 1967.
George B. Smith Vice-Chancellor
Summer Session Kansan
53rd Year, No. 3
Lawrence, Kansas
Tuesday, June 22, 1965
'Kansas Engineer Discontinued for 1966
Publication of the "Kansas Engineer," official publication of the School of Engineering and Architecture has been discontinued for the coming school year, according to Dean John McNown.
McNown issued the following statement concerning the decision today:
"The School of Engineering and Architecture has decided not to continue its support of the Kansas Engineer. Inadequate interest on the part of both faculty and students has made continued publication less meaningful as a School activity and increasingly burdensome for a few. The scarcity of contributed articles which are properly representative of the primary activities of the School
has led to increasing departures from the original goals for the magazine.
"The magazine has been under continuous review since it encountered serious financial problems several years ago. The pressures on students nationally, as well as here, are such that the number of magazines like the Kansas Engineer is declining steadily. The School authorities regret the necessity of taking this step."
A recent issue of the magazine featured editorials on the architectural design of new Fraser Hall and a cartoon satire on Fraser entitled "Thumbfinger."
The cartoon was reprinted in the May 25 issue of the University Daily Kansan.
The Music Man' Leads Off Summer Theatre Season
Drama students have been busy with rehearsals and try-outs during the past few weeks. Opening summer production of the University Theatre is Meredith Willson's "The Music Man," which will run from June 30 to July 3.
The production, co-directed by Durwood Redd and William R. Reardon, professor of speech and drama, will leave July 20 on a USO-sponsored tour of the Northeast Command in Greenland and Iceland.
Starring in the production are Tom Rea, KU's actor-in-residence; Paul Hough, Norma Sharp, Wynne Goff, Linda Eckard, Brenda Currin, Mary Lou Groom, Tom J. Rea, Roger Winell, Sandy Gresham, Kip Niven, Laurie Crew, Susan Tisdall, Wes
Payne, Dave McCubbin, Carol Wilcox and Durwood Redd.
Casts have been selected for three other summer productions: "Escurial" and "Episode from an Author's Life," two one-act plays which will be presented July 6 to 9, and "The Night of the Iguana," by Tennessee Williams, scheduled for July 13-16.
Selected for "Escurial" are Morris Burns, Steve Grossman, Robin Huggins, and John Adams. The play will be directed by Jack Garrison, graduate student.
Directing "Episode from an Author's Life" will be Joe Kaough. graduate student. Cast members are John Adams, Rose Moury, Dorothy Burbock, Kate Wheeler, Shirley Potter, Ed North, Sandy DiMaio, Bruce Levitt, Gary Mitchell, Larry Hannah and Earl Trussell.
--ter, Ed North, Sandy DiMaio, Bruce Levitt, Gary Mitchell, Larry Hannah and Earl Trussell.
HARRIED AND HURRIED—The 6-week Midwestern Music and Art Camp of the University of Kansas began its 28th season Sunday with a record attendance from 45 states in prospect. On the right is a weary staff member, smoking a long-awaited cigarette after the 1 p.m. rush of registering high-schoolers. The other side of the situation, that of weary parents, is illustrated by Mrs. Thaddeus May and her daughters of Mission. Roxanne (next to right) will be enrolled in the art division of the camp. Younger sisters aid the job of unloading Roxanne's luggage into Lewis Hall.
Art, theatre, science and speech students registered in Lewis, and music, ballet, and journalism campers registered in Templin. Floor meetings were held at 6:30 p.m. Sunday and a full-camp meeting was scheduled for 7:30 in University Theatre. Paid enrollments were nearly 1,200, a new high, earlier this week and late registrants and "walk-ins" Sunday should add more than 50. About 250 registrations are for the junior high music camp July 4-18 and the remainder for the senior high school divisions. Campers will live and eat in air-conditioned Templin and Lewis Halls.
"The Night of the Iguana" will be directed by Jack Brooking, associate professor of speech and drama. The cast includes Richard Kelton, Julia Calahan, Nancy Vunovich, Arturo Jiminez, Barry Schmidt, Mary O'Connell, Clayton Crenshaw, Annorah Bryant, Jack Braun, Connie Tanis, Carole Calano, Ed Gilham and David Clark.
Previews Begin For New Frosh
The two previews for transfer students will be July 8-9 and July 12-13. The schedule for new freshmen is June 24-25, June 28-29, July 1-2,
July 15-16, July 19-20, July 22-23,
July 26-27, July 29-30, and Aug. 2-3.
Planning to Stay?
Three hundred new freshmen are taking their first official "on campus" steps toward becoming Jayhawkers at the first of 12 summer KU Previews.
Between 3,000 and 3,500 are expected to attend the 10 previews for freshmen and two for transfer students, according to Bill J. Reynolds, assistant director of admissions and preview director.
Each preview features a "get acquainted" dinner and program in the Kansas Union Ballroom.
During the two-day program new students take the two half-day placement examinations, confer with personnel deans and academic deans, complete medical histories and physical examinations, and get their identification photos and cards made.
There is free time for personal arrangements about housing, financial assistance, military training and other problems.
Summer session students desiring to obtain credit for their eight weeks of effort are advised to pay their fees this Friday or Saturday.
The enrollment of any student whose fees are unpaid Monday, June 28. will be canceled, the registrar's office warns.
Before paying fees, pick up fee card in the rotunda, first floor of Strong Hall. Then pay fees at the business office, also on first floor of Strong.
Suggested letter schedule for fee payment is M-Z, Friday morning; A-L, Friday afternoon; all unable to pay Friday, Saturday morning.