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

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society for collegiate journalists Front Row: Tonya Foster, Cary Conover, Kimberly Wishart. Second Row: Trina Holmes, Staci Cranwell, Kim Hamilton, Kristi Humston. Back Row: Sarah Happel, Todd Fleischer, Wade Sisson, Steve Rock. society of automotive engineers Front Row: Kate Adams, Jeff Herrmann, Jason Werick, Omar Mohsen, Patrick Friedl, Gabe Snyder. Second Row: Jamie Bunck, Jason Healy, Larry Metts, Justin Hoppas, Eric Burgess, Kurtis Swearingen, Greg Scofield. Third Row: Travis Williams, Jeff Colwell, Tom Darnell, Verlin Jacobson, Travis Lane, Dave Rotole, Mike Overbey, Scott Hermreck. Back Row: Brian Myers, Mark McCall, Craig Severn, Jason Bergkamp, Kevin Gigot, Jason Balzer, Rick Johnson, Larry Kratochvil. society of manufacturing engineers Front Row: Carl Wilson, Tracie Howard, Amy Ratzenberger, Amy Yelkin, D.J. Dammann. Second Row: Sherry Logue, Beth Forge, Daniel Knox, Yuan-Shin Lee. Back Row: Jeff Loucks, Shad Brouillette, Shawn Chase, Paul Harrison. society of women engineers Front Row: Debra Briant, Sarah Rupp, Lisa Keimig, Jenny Tonyes, Kristin Bayer. Second Row: Natasha Walrafen, Jamie Eck, Jill Plautz, Megan Conley, Cindy Glotzbach, Esi Third Row: Kathy Gooch, Nancy Fleming, Kristen Williamson, Holly Bartley, Angela Goetz, Shontell Perkins. Back Row: Deana Delp, Amy Hageman, Elizabeth Van Goethem, Mary Jesch, Michele Aumen, Sabrina Mercer. speech unlimited Front Row: Catherine Freeborn, Beth Esfeld, Tauni Hickman, Jennifer Yoder, Rachel Santine. Second Row: Carrie Cox, Lynn Mastro, Kristin Boccia, Doug Brown, Jennifer Pruitt. Third Row: Stacy Chestnut, Sue Weber, Mark Esfeld, Tim Schultz, Nancy Letourneau. Back Row: Zachary Baze, Tony Filippi, Jared Adams, Janelle Moore, Craig Caylor, Kate Laster.

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TV photographer Scott Morrill videotapes Cheri Parr, freshman in psychology, during a TV break. Classy Cats, an 11-member squad with one alternate, practiced daily for their (Photo by Cary Conover) after a controversial dimissal by the director of bands, the Classy Cats prepare themselves to dance their last dance by Christi Wright goodbye to the Classy Cats. The dance team was officially dismissed from the Marching Band and removed from the of Music after squad members failed to attend a band concert in which they were not participating. Marching Band, an academic course, included all instrumentalists, flag team members, twirlers and the Classy Cats. It was stated in the policies and procedures section of the Marching Band Handbook that One unexcused performance absence warrants a failing grade and possible dismissal from the ' Pride ' at the director ' s discretion. Failing the course concerned group members. When our grades were in question, that ' s when our parents really got involved, said Jeanette Johnson, Classy Cats captain and senior in psychology. We heard he was going to flunk two girls on the team. Johnson said the ordeal was emotional for the squad. As a senior and the oldest one on the team, it hurt me to see the younger girls get so upset. I ' ve had my chance and loved being on the team, but the younger ones are just getting started, Johnson said. I wanted a good squad this year, and that ' s what I got. It just hurts to see everyone so upset. Johnson said Frank Tracz, director of bands and associate professor of music, had a negative opinion of the Classy Cats. She said she took the whole situation personally. We tried to compromise and work with the band director until we couldn ' t take it anymore, Johnson said. Tracz said he had no personal problems with anyone, and that he dismissed the team because they went against band policy. I will excuse anyone from a performance if they have a valid reason, he said. It ' s not a problem, and we work around (that policy) a lot. Tracz said his policy was that a performance was a (Continued on page 225) Christine Welsh, junior in business administration, performs with the rest of the Classy Cats during the squad ' s halftime performance. The team won a trip to the national dance team competition by performing the routine at the National Cheerleading Association Summer Cheer and Dance Camp. (Photo by David Mayes) team close to the crowd during a timeout near the end of the game. It was the last year the Classy Cats performed with the K-State Marching Band. (Photo by Cary Conover)

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Mindi Gibbs, junior in talks with Classy Cats during the K-State vs. KU game, Feb. 12. Throughout the game, the group sat together on the sidelines of the court. (Photo by David Mayes) Gibbs listens as Margaret Turner, Classy Cats adviser, instructs Stefani Radakovich, sophomore in elementary during a time-out. Team members planned to attend a competition in Minneapolis, Minn. March Student Association provided funding for the trip. (Photo by David Mayes) Classy Cats Front Row: Jeanette Johnson, Omayra Borrero, Lisa Buckley, Michelle Wiedle, Diana Yamabayashi. Back Row: Mindi Gibbs, Stefani Radakovich, Jeri Lloyd, Cheri Parr, Natalie Miller, Christine Welsh. last dance (Continued from page 223) performance and was not optional. Tracz was instructor of the Marching Band course, and his policy affected all the students. Although Tracz was not the Classy Cats ' coach, he was responsible for the group as a whole. He said dismissing the squad was following policy. It (dismissing students) is all part of my job, he said. I ' ve had to dismiss several instrumentalists this year for missing one performance. In place of the Classy Cats, Tracz planned on forming a new drill team to accompany the band. He wanted to hire a coach and dance instructor to assist the group. The Classy Cats continued to perform throughout the basketball season, but they were no longer associated with the band. During basketball season, we don ' t receive credit for performing, so it won ' t affect us to no longer be with the band, Johnson said. We perform all our halftime performances to taped music. The team planned to attend a national dance team competition in Minneapolis, Minn., March 10-12. Johnson said the band had money that was to be used for the Classy Cats, but they never received it. We didn ' t even know there was money that was supposed to be ours, she said. Student Governing Association is helping us out by giving us a little money. The team also funded the trip by sponsoring car washes and performing at local events. Despite the anger and hurt feelings the ordeal caused, Johnson said the year went well. We got through it and had a good year regardless, she said. Miller, junior in pre-health professions, performs during a timeout. The group performed to all types of music, including the pep band ' s and dance and rap music. (Photo by David Mayes)