Kansas State University - Royal Purple Yearbook (Manhattan, KS)

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Set-Ups and Set-Backs of 1939 By Jean Gibbs I I OPES for the year of 1938-39 ran high, but ' when the achievements of the year were summed up, they seemed almost paradoxical. Open- ing with the science hall a realization and ending with the student union building a dead dream, the year has been a maze of successes and defeats. The progress of Kansas State might be compared with Kansas weather, sunny one minute, and gloomy the next, but always changing. Freshman week started with a bang, although fewer frosh than last year enrolled. That was counteracted by the total enrollment, another re- cord breaker — -of 3,918, an increase of 63 students over last year. Change in Constitution A move to give Kansas Staters more say in their government was evidenced by the changes made in the Student Governing Association con- stitution by student vote early in the year. Di- visional representation was inaugurated, increas- ing the membership from seven to nine and insur- ing each division a voice in the body. The 1938 Royal Purple was honored as a Pace- maker, the third consecutive time the K-State annual has received this award given by the National Scholastic Press Association to only five yearbooks each year. A feature of Homecoming activities and the climax of the seventy-fifth anniversary celebrations was the greatest parade in the history of the college. Two and one-half miles of floats, representing every civic and college organization and depart- ment, passed before thousands of visitors. Student Union a Sore Spot The result of the plans for a student union build- ing is still a sore spot in the hearts of Kansas LAYING THE CORNERSTONE of Willard Hall ore Superintendent of Construction William Duncan; Dr. J. T. Willard, for whom the building was named; Jay Payne, chairman of the ceremonies; C. M. Harger, chairman of the Board of Regents; and President F. D. Fcrrell. Page 21

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,«u 4 t 9 a , ' p 1 WILLARD HALL bleak against a wintry sky Page 20

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tr Staters. In the fall the Board of Regents recom- mended to the legislature a plan for such a build- ing, emphasizing the need for it, and stating that but few state schools are without such a recreation spot. The plan provided that a grant be made by the state and that part of the debt be paid by a small amount added to each student ' s enrollment fee, a measure originally proposed by the students. Proposed Plan Killed A death blow to the idea was struck when the attorney general ruled that the proposal was un- constitutional. He also killed an alternate plan presented by President Farrell. Refusing to give up, students then suggested that the old chemistry annex be revamped into a union building after the occupation of Willard Hall. But this plan died too when a committee investigating the situation reported that the idea was impractical. Student feeling was further evidenced when a small out-building appeared on the campus one morning LONG LINES of students wait in Kedzie for the 1938 Pacemaker Royal Purple. FRESHMEN STUDENTS tour the campus during Induction Week con- ducted early in September. NEW STUDENTS file out of the College Auditorium after the ordeal of aptitude tests. in March with the title K. S. C. Student Union Building above the broken-down door. The Greeks copped almost all offices in the fall class election, but the independents came back in the spring and carried away a majority of offices on both the student council and the board of publications. Christian Mission Here Kansas State was one of the 30 large state schools visited this year by the University Christian Mission and a group of seven internationally known leaders headed by Dr. E. Stanley Jones. These speakers spent nearly a week here. National honors of all kinds were captured by the college this year. Several deba ters had their Page 22