Hawks cheer through the years
By PHYLLIS JONES Kansan Staff Writer
Loyal, enthusiastic coeds wearing navy blue skirts, white blouses, and red vests with a Jayhawk sewn on front are are familiar sights at football and basketball games.
These are the well known Frosh Hawks, KU's freshman women's pep organization.
In 1947, the Frosh Hawks wore white slacks, white jackets trimmed in blue and one red and blue sock with brown or saddle shoes. The Frosh Hawks-spelled Froshawks-were men.
The evolution of KU's pep organizations to the present cheering squads is long and involved. A trip through the dusty files of the University Daily Kansan unfolds the history of KU's peppers.
KU's first pep organization was formed in 1919 and was called the Ku Ku Klan. Established to organize student support for all athletic games, the group was limited to 50 upperclassmen. Urging the Jayhawks on to victory, the Ku Ku Klans wore hoods and robes, reminders of a more nationally known organization with similar name.
Perhaps to guard against the less than favorable connection or in a spirit of racial enlightenment, the governor of Kansas requested the organization change its name. In the fall of 1922, it became the Ku Ku Club, and the notorious robes were discarded for more respectable sweaters.
discarded for more respectable sweaters.
In December 1922, the Ku Kus formed Pi Epsilon Pi (PEP), a national pep organization, to foster better spirit between schools. KU and the Universities of Nebraska and Missouri were charter members.
At this time, another pep organization bounced onto the Hill. In November 1923, at the Homecoming game with MU, the Jay James, upperclass women's pep organization, made its first appearance.
Members of both the Ku Kus and Jay Janes were dressed in white. They marched on the field during half time in two
groups equally divided and formed the letters "K.U."
The organization originally consisted of 52 women half were non-sorority women and half were Greek. Jay James are no longer selected on a ratio of Greek to non-Greek, but from sophomore women.
The Ku Kus was a prestigious organization with strict requirements. Open only to upperclassmen, an aspirant first pledged into the organization and then proved himself worthy to become an active.
Pledges had to accumulate 35 points earned by saving seats for the club at football and basketball games, decorating goal posts for football games, working in the Ku Ku office on Saturday and serving on committees.
The underdog was required to attend all pep rallies, meetings, athletic games, and special University functions. Three unexcused absences meant an automatic dismissal from the club.
Even if a pledge earned the necessary points, he had to endure the initiating period which rivalled that of any Greek organization.
The unfortunate pledge was blindfolded, doused with fish oil, sawdust, syrup, and soaked with water. He was also beaten by the actives with baseball bats—later changed by a pitying soul to boards—on the seat of pants padded with blankets and towels. He then had to "duckwalk" up the 14th street hill on a padded but painful behind.
The climax of the endurance test was a free bath in Potter Lake. If a pledge survived all this willingly, he deserved to be called a Ku Ku.
Membership into the club was determined on a ratio basis. In 1942, three members were taken from each of the 15 fraternity houses, three from the four were residence halls, and 13 independents.
In 1939, the Ku Kus organized the Froshawks, a pep organization for freshmen men. Froshawks were required to pay dues of 25 cents, buy an official sweater for 75 cents, and attend all football games wearing a sweater and freshman cap.
Neither rain nor sleet . . .
No one can say that KU's pom-pon girls don't lead a varied life. Ask Jan Merrick, left, and Kandee Klein, about last year's New Mexico game.
Apr. 24 1969 KANSAN 7
To generate more enthusiasm, in 1959 the men's club joined forces with the Red Peppers, a freshman women's pep organization, under the name Froshawks. The majority of the members were male.
The club's insignia was a Jayhawk wearing a freshman hat and holding a megaphone on a white background, sewn on a red sweater.
Classified ads get results
The male ego suffered a blow, however, when in 1960 membership was limited to women. The Frosh Hawks were selected by residence for even distribution between residence halls and on the basis of high school activities and a written test.
Now, Frosh Hawks are
The Ku Kus quietly peppered out between 1963 and 1965.
pom-pon and yell leaders squads in 1965.
Now the 10 pom-pon girls and 10 yell leaders leap and kick on the field of Memorial Stadium and in Allen Field House acting out the 50-year-old role established by the Ku Ku Klan.
selected from personal interviews by Jay Janes.
To revive school spirit and team support, Vince Bilotta, director of the Alumni Association, organized the
1968 pom-pon squad
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