KU policy revolutionary
experiment caused by lack of funds;
after first century women's gpa leads men's
By Jerry Kern
BUT AN EVEN more stirring idea was being considered by educators a hundred years ago—that of coeducation. In Kansas, the Wyandotte Constitution of 1859 read: "Legislators in providing for the formation and regulation of schools shall make no distinctions between the rights of males and females."
Coeducation, of course, was a revolutionary idea in those days, and even the legislature was skeptical as it specified regulations for the new university: "There shall be two branches of the university, viz., male and female branches. The female branch may be taught exclusively by women, and their buildings shall be separate from those of the male branch."
However, the university was at least on its way, and KU was the first state university in the Great Plains region. Nebraska University began in 1871; Colorado University in 1876. The universities of Texas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Wyoming did not begin until after 1880.
Growing out of the limestone on which it was built, KU of 100 years ago had a meager beginning. However, its meager beginning set the standards for higher education in the Midwest. Perhaps even more important and more controversial at that time, though, was the University's coeducational policy.
Out of necessity, this provision never went into practice. Funds were hard enough to come by for one school to say nothing of two. Thus KU became the third state university in the country to offer coeduction. Oberlin College at Oberlin, Ohio, began practice of
Three faculty members and 49 students were present at the opening day ceremonies Sept. 12, 1866. The number of students quickly increased in the next few days to 55-26 women and 29 men. Forty-nine of these were from Douglas County. Advertisements placed in newspapers throughout the state were evidently of little immediate value. Even more discouraging to university officials was the fact that none of the students were ready for college work.
Motorcycle Scrambles RACES
April 17th 1 p.m.
Wheelsport Club Grounds
Improved Track
9 miles West of Lawrence, Kans., on Hi-Way 40, and 5 miles North on Edgewood Road.
Just Follow The Signs From Hi-Way 40!
Admission $1
Kids Under 12 FREE
Wheelsport Motorcycle Club of Lawrence, Inc.
KMSA POINTS
AMA SANCTIONED
coeducation in 1833. The first state university was the University of the State of Desert, later called the University of Utah. Both men and women were admitted by its founder, Brigham Young, in 1850.
COEDUCATION WAS still in the experimental stage in 1866. Educators were asking, "Have our young ladies the mental vigor and health to maintain fair standing with the men?"
It is interesting to answer this question with the situation as it is now. Of the 13,814 students now attending the Lawrence and Kansas City campuses of the University, 5,050 are women. The all men's grade point average for last semester was 1.35. The all women's average was 1.60.
Judge S. O. Thacher, who delivered the opening address on opening day, said, "As it is a provision of the Constitution . . . the widest avenues of female education will be afforded in the state university. It seems to be a well recognized truth that the real advancement of man, his highest development, is in the ratios of the opportunities for culture given both sexes."
Josiah Copely, a reporter for the Pittsburgh (Pa.) Gazette, on a trip through Kansas in the Spring of 1867, stopped at Lawrence and, observing KU students at work, wrote his newspaper: "This institution places both sexes, as far as education is concerned, on an equality. Toward each other their deportment was that of well trained brothers and sisters in the home circle. Kansas is sufficiently civilized to mingle the sexes in the higher schools without danger of folly or impropriety."
Centennial festivities move to Med Center for nurses
An "Inter-Century Day in Nursing" will be held April 26 at the KU Medical Center in Kansas City by the Department of Nursing Education, Sigma Theta Tau, honorary nursing sorority, and the KU Nurses Alumni Association to observe KU's Centennial.
Registration will begin in the Student Center Building at 9 a.m.
The program will consist of films, tours, clinical conferences, historical discussion and a panel
presentation of the new nursing curriculum. The afternoon session will include excerpts from the 1966 Caduceus Capers and reports on International Nursing. Dr. Martha Pitel, Director of Nursing Education, will lecture on "Nursing for the Future at KU."
Daily Kansan 5
Friday, April 15, 1966
Presenting The Drinking Song for Sprite: "ROAR, SOFT-DRINK, ROAR!" (To the tune of "Barbara Fritchie")
Traditionally, a lusty, rousing fight song is de riguror for every worthy cause and institution. But we wrote a song for Sprite anyway. We'd like you to sing it while drinking Sprite, though this may cause some choking and coughing. So what? It's all in good, clean fun. And speaking of good, clean things, what about the taste of Sprite? It's good. It's clean. However, good clean things may not exactly be your idea of jolies. In that case, remember that Sprite is also very refreshing. "Tart and tingling," in fact. And very collegiate. And maybe we'd better quit while we're ahead. So here it is. The Drinking Song For Sprite. And if you can get a group together to sing it--we'd be very surprised.
Roar, soft drink, roar!
You're the loudest soft drink
we ever sawr!
So tart and tingling, they
couldn't keep you quiet:
The perfect drink, guy,
To sit and think by,
Or to bring instant refreshment
To any campus riot! Oooooh--
Roar, soft drink, roar!
Flip your cap, hiss and bubble,
fizz and gush!
Oh we can't think
Of any drink
That we would rather sit with!
Or (if we feel like loitering)
to hang out in the stilt with!
Or sleep through English lit' with
Roar! Soft drink! Roar!
Yeahhhhbbhhhbbhhh, SPRITE!
Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhh, SPRITE!
SPRITE. SO TART AND
TINGLING, WE JUST COULDN'T
KEEP IT QUIET.
PATRONIZE KANSAN ADVERTISERS
Have You Turned In Your ASC Committee Applications?
Monday Is Your Last Chance.
Turn them in at the ASC office in the Union
or to Carl Struby 1800 Engel
ARENSBERG'S
819 Mass. VI 3-3470