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University Daily Kansan
(Photo by Harry Krause)
DOORS OPEN TO ALL—Danforth Chapel, in a pleasant site shaded by tall trees, stands apart from the mainstream of campus traffic at the corner of Lilac Lane and Jayhawk Blvd. Persons
of all creeds are welcome to use the chapel for worship services, marriages or meditation. The chapel doors are never locked and all are welcome to enter.
Danforth Chapel Serves All Who Pray, Worship, Marry
By Bobbie Bartelt
KU's "marrying chapel" will be the scene of many spring and summer weddings again this year.
Since before its dedication in April, 1946, Danforth Chapel has been the scene of about 80 weddings each year. Most of the weddings take place immediately after final exams or during the several yearly vacations.
Last year 83 weddings were held in the chapel, often as many as five or six in one day. Although meetings in the aisle between two wedding parties is unusual, weddings are often scheduled with as little as 15 minutes between services.
ONE SUCH DAY, according to the reservations file in the KU Enrollment Office, was last fall, when there was a rehearsal at 9 a.m., a wedding at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., another rehearsal at 3 p.m. and weddings at 7 and 8 p.m. Such crowded days are usually the days immediately following the close of school at semester break or for the summer.
Already the planned schedule for June 5 this year, is for a rehearsal at 10 a.m., weddings at 11 a.m. 12 noon and at 2, 4:30 and 7 p.m. It might be noted that June 4 is the date grades for the spring semester are due.
Twelve weddings are scheduled for June. Some of the reservations were made as early as December.
An unusual wedding was held
last semester at 5:30 a.m. on Nov.
29. Classes resumed Nov. 30, following the Thanksgiving recess.
INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPAT in a wedding are responsible for setting up the chapel for the wedding, and the only charge for KU students or graduates is $2.50 for a janitor's fee. Non-students must pay a $5.00 fee for use of the chapel.
Although weddings are the most common services conducted in the chapel, memorial services, baptisms and special religious observances are also conducted there. Last year a special Greek Orthodox service was conducted in Danforth.
Student religious organizations meet regularly in Danforth to hold prayer services. This Easter Sunday a fraternity has a sunrise service scheduled.
Aside from the frills that go along with weddings, Danforth has a simpler meaning to KU students. It is a quiet place to go to escape the activity and bustle of campus life.
THE CHAPEL WAS constructed with funds given by the Danforth Foundation, university friends and various student organizations. William H. Danforth, chairman of the Ralston Purina Co. of St. Louis, made the initial donation, and his gift was augmented with proceeds from SUA dances, the All Student Council and other campus organizations.
A contest was sponsored in 1947 to find the design for the hymn covers, and fittingly, a KU design student, Donald Kane, won. The Panhellenic Council contributed the stained glass windows, and the Home Economics Club donated a cross and candlesticks.
Leonard Axe, dean of the School of Business from 1947 to 1957, can be credited for finding the building materials for Danforth. He noted a large stone fence along Highway 40 between Lawrence and Topeka, which he felt would be enough to make the chapel. The University then purchased the fence and the land it was on.
German prisoners of war constructed the chapel.
The idea for a place for meditation was readily accepted among students as is shown by the contributions which came directly from student organizations. An editorial in the Kansan on May 2, 1945, lauded the construction, but criticized the size as being too small to accommodate student religious needs. Danforth Chapel will seat 96.
Danforth Chapel was the 19th building constructed on the University campus from private funds.
The natural stone, red tile floors and the dark rafters give the place a meditative aura that is unmatched anyplace else on Mount Oread.
Grads Tracked ByAlumniOffice
By Suzy Tichacek
Once a student graduates or leaves KU one of the few contacts, if not the only contact, he will have with the University will be through the Alumni Association.
"We encourage a continued interest in the University," Richard Wintermote, executive secretary of the association said, "by keeping everyone informed about their classmates and the activities of the University."
This organization is a chartered corporation under the state laws. It is a self-supporting group which is completely separate from the University. Although it is separate, Wintermote explained that since it works so closely with the University the association appears to be an arm of the University.
FIFTEEN STAFF MEMBERS work year round compiling records on past KU students, putting out publications, and performing numerous services to benefit both the University and the alumni.
The total budget for this year's operation of the Alumni Association is $127,305, which is obtained mostly from members' dues. With a total of 60,000 alumni on the mailing lists, there are 20,000 who are active members of the association, Wintermote said.
Anyone who attends KU is an alumnus, even though he does not graduate. To become an active
member, he must pay the annual dues to the Alumni Association.
"Our University has a higher per cent of active members than any other University with 50,000 students or more on their mailing list." Wintermote said.
Other people may also become members of the association. Parents of students now enrolled in the University may become associate members by paying the annual dues and faculty members who are not alumni can become special members, Wintermote explained.
The major portion of the staff works with the alumni records and keeps in contact with the alumni. By sending out questionnaires to former students the Association keeps track of their activities and families, he explained.
IN ADDITION TO keeping records of the alumni, the Association also puts out several publications. "The Kansas Alumni" is a monthly magazine which is issued throughout the academic year and is sent to the alumni. In addition to news about former students, the magazine includes articles about activities on the campus.
A newsletter, "KU Today" is published four times a year and is sent to all parents of KU students. In the fall, the association sends out football coach Jack Mitchell's report to each active member who is interested in it.
Center Trains Officials
The training of state and local public officials in the modern techniques of their occupations is one of the most important functions of the Governmental Research Center.
Special in-service training programs are established each year under the direction of William H. Cape, associate director of the center and professor of political science. Last year the number of training programs averaged about one training school every two weeks.
One of the sections of instruction is to train local peace officers throughout the state. The state is divided into six districts and instructors go to different sections to help the peace officers up-date their methods of crime detection and solving.
OTHER TRAINING SCHOOLS are set up throughout the year to train police personnel, city and county clerks, city managers and federal, state, and local personnel officers.
At each of the seminars, members of the center tape all the lectures and panels. The tapes are then edited and compiled into a manual which aids not only the people who participated in the seminar but also those who were unable to attend.
Flowers in All Seasons
Oasis Under Glass Seen in KU Greenhouses
By Corrine Newberry
Tangerines and bananas you can pick right off the vine . . . orchids and magnolia trees . . . geraniums numbering in the thousands.
The "paradise," otherwise known as the KU Conservatory, is located just behind Flint Hall. It was brought here from Kansas City over 20 years ago, not only to inspire art and botany students, but to provide enjoyment for faculty, students and visitors.
There's a dark, cool tropical paradise on campus where harried students who want to escape dreary spring showers or chattering roommates can go, and where the only reminders of a midwestern locale are some 50 varieties of cactus.
ALTHOUGH FROM THE outside the conservatory looks like any other greenhouse, its interior is another world—a fish pond is surrounded by tropical vines, trees and fruits of at least 70 different types. A huge fern, larger than any tree around it, extends all the way to the ceiling, and a rubber tree thrives beside a fiddle-leaf fig.
William Smith, University florist, says there's even one plant in the conservatory that will "paralyze your vocal chords if you eat it," and which is called "Dumb Cane."
The nursery building grows three flower "crops" each year to use on campus grounds, in campus offices and to decorate the stadium for commencement exercises. A third building stores grown flowers ready for use.
The conservatory is only one of three greenhouses maintained by the Buildings and Grounds department under the supervision of foreman Harold E. Blitch.
Every September, some 1500 geranium cuttings must be taken off living plants on campus to be grown in the nursery. The cuttings are placed in electrically heated sand beds to root, then placed in pots to await spring and their display at graduation exercises.
"WE HAVE TO grow enough geraniums to decorate the Union, the stadium, and in case of rain, the field house." Smith said. "We wrap each pot in colored foil and
put them right out in the center of the field. Last year people took 217 off with them. I didn't mind the flowers going, but I hated to lose the pots." he said.
The nursery also houses about 3800 snapdragons, which are grown from seed in September. These are used for cut flower arrangements, mainly in the decoration of offices. No flowers are sold, used off campus, or made available to students.
AMIDST THE Norfolk Island pine and the coffee trees in the conservatory is one vine for which Buildings and Grounds employees have special affection. Called the "Delicious Monster," the huge plant bears fruit resembling ears of corn in size and shape, but having the flavor of seven different fruits, including orange, pear and pineapple.
Although his free time is limited, Smith keeps several sand beds in the nursery for his own pet experimental projects, such as cactus plants and bittersweet.
"But sweet peas and onions are my favorites," Smith said.
(Photo by Harry Krause
OASIS IN KANSAS—Dust, drought and endless prairie are forfotten in the KU greenhouses. Flowers and exotic vines bloom and flourish the year round, flaunting the idea that Kansas is suitable only for gophers, wheat and cattle.