MAHWATTVI JAKOPRA
Watchmen patrol while KU sleeps
By Girma Negash
You hear their clinking keys late in the night, and see them moving between buildings like ghosts, or in dark corridors and alleys, mysteriously locking and unlocking doors.
They are KU's night watchman who are on their rounds guarding the University buildings.
There are 15 men presently doing this job. They follow a route system whereby each building will be visited by one watchman once every hour.
WATCHING FOR water leaks and fires is one of the watchmen's greatest responsibilities. They also look for plumbing and electrical malfunctions. If there is a disturbance by somebody they immediately call the police.
There are other problems, too.
"Sometimes students don't like the idea of being asked to leave rooms when we are closing," said Myrl Zimmerman, supervisor of the night watchmen.
In Dyche and Spooner Halls, the night watchmen also check the heat and the "humidity gauge."
The night watchmen used to hate route number one, where they had to raise and bring down the flag on top of old Fraser Hall. Some feel the elevators in new Fraser will be much better than the walking they did before.
"WE HAVE HAD quite a turnover of night watchmen; some didn't like the hours on weekends. The work is tough when it works on your legs," Zimmerman said.
Some of the janitors also work on a day-night shift basis.
Marvin Edward Copp, janitor,
says of his job, "It is not a
rough job. We keep on movin'
and take care of the place."
"It is not the best job, but it is good for livin'. I work here for security," says Gilbert Tolbert, another janitor.
Joe Thomas, who has worked for a year as a night watchman, says simply he "likes the job."
AN OLD PRO of the night watchmen is Theodore Bol, who is described by Zimmerman as "the life of the crowd." He is outspoken about his job.
"During the 18 years I've been here I've seen a lot of change," said Bol. "I came to KU in 1946.
"Marvin Hall used to be open all day and night. That was during the Korean War. The women students used to bring lunch and stay up with the men studying—for moral support," he said.
I worked one year as a rabbit feeder and one year in the Student Union and since then I have been a night watchman.
"I have seen some rough goings and good goings. The work itself was easy years ago. The hours are bad now in the weekends. There's been a big turnover of nightwatchmen for this reason," old Bol said.
When you think of flowers, think first of
BOL CAME FROM Holland when he was only nine years old. He worked on farm and several other jobs before coming to KU in 1946.
Owens Flower Shop
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About the loneliness and tire- suomeness of the job, Bol said, "I am used to it.
Activities of the commencement of 1966 will start on June 4 with a registration and reception in the Kansas Union.
Hotels have few vacancies for graduation
Some of the highlights of the Centennial commencement include the All-University Supper with Chancellor W. Clarke Wescoe presenting his "State of the University" address, Centennial Baccalaureate Services at Memorial Stadium on Sunday, June 5, the Centennial Class of 1966 Graduation Breakfast Monday morning and the 1963 Commencement Exercises Monday at 7 p.m.
Daily Kansas Wednesday, May 25, 1966
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The University, however, has provided places for parents and alumni to stay as has been done in the past. Rooms in McCollum Hall can still be reserved in the Housing Office or the Alumni Office at Strong Hall for $2.50 per person.
SENIORS HAVE BEEN reminded to arrange overnight accommodations and dinner reservations. The hotels and motels in the Lawrence vicinty report that they are nearly all filled except for a couple that have some rooms available.