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University Daily Kansan Tuesday, May 11, 1965
75 Years of Honor, Prestige Mark Phi Beta Kappa at KU
By Jacke Thayer
Former MU grid star Jim Keker is once replied to a reporter's query as to his choice of fraternities, so the story goes, by saying, "I wanna be a Phi Beta Kappa."
KU's chapter, the first established west of the Mississippi River. is in its 75th anniversary year.
Last night that wish was fulfilled for 45 KU juniors and seniors as they were initiated into Kansas Alpha of Phi Beta Kappa.
"We're planning to have an official celebration of the anniversary sometime next fall," Raymond Nichols, vice-chancellor and secretary of the chapter, said. "It will be more or less in conjunction with the centennial of the University."
A CONGRATULATOR letter from the national secretary of Phi Beta Kappa has been received by Nichols.
Nichols said he had no total of members initiated into the society in its 75-year history, but the number would be "well over 2500."
and 2377 living members," he said. Current officers of the chapter are W. J. Argersinger Jr., associate dean of the faculty, president; Mrs. Natalie Calderwood, associate professor of English, vice-president; Nichols, secretary; and Tom Yee, director of the KU News Bureau, treasurer.
Clifford P. Osborne, professor of philosophy, spoke on "Kierkegaard's Philosophy of Religion" at last night's initiation dinner.
INITIATES WERE Peter H. Argersinger, Lawrence junior; Patricia Barnes, Osage City senior; Karl E. Becker jr., Wichita senior; George S. Benson, El Dora senior; Robert A. Beyerlein, Phillipsburg senior; Dennis L. Bicknell, Pittsburgh senior; Henry F. Bisbee, Toledo, Ohio; junior; Pamela J. Botts, Blue Springs, Mo., senior; Richard S. Bowman, Merriam senior; Margaret Caswell, Kansas City, Mo., senior
Lawrie K. Cena, Newton junior;
Mary Jean Curtis, Leoti senior;
Dan E. Davidson, Wichita senior;
Charles E. Doubleday Jr., Shawnee Mission senior; William D. Engber, Wichita senior; Barbara L. Ericson, Lawrence senior; Gwendolynn Fisher, Topeka senior; Ann Barry Fleod, Topeka senior; Victor W. Goodman, Wellington senior; Susan K. Griffiths, Chanute senior; Jack G. Hills, Independence senior.
Margaret H. Hoecker, Lawrence
senior; Daniel F. Householder,
Wichita junior; Neil E. Johnson,
Kansas City, Mo., junior; William
E. Kapelle, Baldwin senior; Stephen
H. Klemp, Lawrence junior;
Nancy L. Knapp, Beloit senior;
Bronwen Anne Lewis, Emporia
senior; M. Scott Linscott, Topeka
senior; Mary Lynne Mangan,
Dodge City junior; David H. Martin,
Coffeyville senior; Narly
Moffat, Great Bend senior; Stephen
R. Munzer, Salina junior; Sharon
E. Nelson, Larned senior; Judith
Ann North, Clinton, Iowa, senior;
John C. Piper, Parsons senior;
Letha M. Schwiesow, Shawnee
Mission junior; Robert E. Shenk,
Lawrence senior; Anne E. Shontz,
Kansas City, Mo., senior.
Margarete E. Stolzenbach, Lawrence senior; Marjorie L. Reaka, Lawrence senior; Phillip S. Rhoads, Overland Park senior; Ann Curry Thompson, Iola senior; Dennis L. Wagner, Webster City, Iowa, senior; and Frederick A. Whitehead, Pratt senior
This year's group was equalled in size in only two previous years, 1839 and 1949.
THE KU CHAPTER was chartered April 2,1890-36 years after the founding of the University and three years before the first Kansas-Missouri football game.
It was the 29th of over 100 chapters established. National Pihi Beta Kappa is the oldest Greek-letter honorary in the United States.
SOME OF THE early initiates in Alpha chapter are memorialized by campus buildings; William Herbert Carruth, H. S. Bailey, L. L. Dyche, F. C. Marvin and E. Miller.
KU members are normally selected from the upper 10 per cent of College seniors (or seniors in other schools who have fulfilled College distribution requirements), and a few outstanding juniors are occasionally admitted.
In 1924, the local chapter decided to admit "graduate students, and persons distinguished in letters, science or education." The first graduate students were elected to membership in 1925.
Past issues of the University Daily Kansan are dotted with unusual items concerning the local chapter.
In 1919, perhaps as a result of World War I, only three of the 24 initiates were men.
DURING THE LATE 1930's a rivalry sprang up between the office of Chancellor Ernest K. Lindley and the School of Education office. Both offices had a large
number of PBK's employed. Eventually, the School of Education office won the competition when all members of its staff were members of Phi Beta Kappa.
But Chancellor Lindley was not to be outdone and in 1939 the University Daily Kansan dutifully reported that his office, too, had 100 per cent Phi Beta Kappa membership.
The local chapter also originated the first plans for an honors curriculum at KU during the late 1920's and early 1930's. Their plans emphasized departmental, rather than general, honors. A general honors program has existed at KU for over 10 years, but the original departmental approach has never been abandoned totally.
In 1938 the society was involved in a major campus futur. The editor of the Jayhawker yearbook had been named to the society, but never initiated. Between the time of the announcement of the honorees and their initiation, an article appeared in Scribner's, a national magazine, written under a pseudonym. The article was a personal testimonial on how the author had worked his way through junior college by ghost-writing term papers for fellow students.
The identity of the author was discovered; he was the Jayhawker editor and Phi Beta Kappa pledge. Faculty members refused to initiate him into the society.
THE GHOST-WRITER said he understood their position and did not regret his past activities. He felt he had "gained immeasurably from writing those papers and helping other students."
Many members of Alpha chapter, living and deceased, have attained local stature and national fame. They include George Waggoner, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; James K. Logan, dean of the Law School; Tom Yoe, director of the KU News Bureau; John Ise, professor emeritus of economics; Deane Malott, former chancellor; Irvin E. Youngberg, executive secretary of the Endowment Association; William Conboy, chairman of the department of speech and drama; Raymond Nichols, vice-chancellor of finance; Ernest K. Lindley, former chancellor;
Hilden Gibson, professor emeritus of political science; and Veta B. Lear, former assistant to three chancellors.
In the legislative process of the All Student Council (ASC), the Committee on Committees and Legislation is regarded as an important arm of the ASC.
The committee is not only important to the evaluation of ASC bills and amendments, but often provides the training ground for future student body presidents.
The representative who heads the Committee on Committees and Legislation is the vice-chairman of the ASC. The four other councilmen who make up the rest of the committee are appointed by the ASC chairman.
A student who has had the responsibility of appointing ASC members to the committee is Mike Miner, Lawrence senior and former ASC chairman.
THE COMMITTEE also may advise the ASC chairman on other committee appointments and make minor decisions when calling the whole council would not be feasible.
ASC Body Evaluates Bills
Before the last five student body presidents were elected, all five served on this committee.
The committee's main responsibility is the inspection and review of all ASC amendments and bills.
"THE MOST IMPORTANT thing you look for in making these appointments is someone who can make value judgments that are unprejudiced and objective," Miner, said.
"You try to choose people without party bias," he said.
Miner said the amount of legislation that comes before the committee will range from nothing to four or five bills during a weekly meeting.
THE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN may only vote on legislation of the other four votes are tied.
In the case of such a 3 to 2 decision, sometimes a minority and majority report is presented to the council.
After the committee considers a bill, it is either reported out
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favorably to the council or the defeat of the bill is recommended.
"Most bills are reported out favorably." Miner said. "I would say 9 out of 10 bills that are reported out favorably by the committee are passed by the council."
Miner said that the committee's decisions carry a great amount of weight with the council in deciding a bill's fate.
However, all changes or amendments must be approved by the ASC.
THE COMMITTEE also is given the power to propose new amendments to legislation. The purpose of the bill cannot be changed but changes for clarity or a degree of correctness are permissable.
The four other members will soon be appointed by Mike McNally, Bartlesville, Okla., sophomore and ASC chairman.
"They are the group most informed besides a bill's sponsor," Miner said.
Bill Brier, Overland Park senior, was elected ASC vice-chairman and will assume the chairmanship of the Committee on Committees and Legislation.
AT THESE FINE STORES
KANSAS
Arkansas City, McDowell's Jewelry
Coffeyville, Wall Jewelers
Emporia, Stanley Jewelry Inc.
Garden City, Patterson's
Hays, Kuhn's Jewelers
Hays, Vernon Jewelers
Hutchinson, Torrence Jewelers
Junction City, Flower Jewelers
Lawrence, Marks Jewelers
Liberal, Collins Diamond Jewelers
Lyons, Sloop Jewelry
Newton, Hankins Jewelers
Pittsburg, Benelli's Jlr.s.
Russell, Kuhn's Jewelers
Salina, Vernon Jewelers
Topeka, Mace's Jewelers
Wichita, Wehling Jewelry Co.
MISSOURI
MASSO
Kings City, Gale Grossman Jr., Country Club Pluza
Kansas City, Gale Grossman Jlr., Country Club Plzza
Kansas City, Jaceard's-Downtown-Ward Parkway
Sedalia, Bichsel's
Warrensburg, Highland's Gift & Jewelry Mexico, Pilcher Jewelry Co.
Fulton, Taylor's Jewelry
OKLAHOMA
Enid, Morgan's Diamond Shop