University of Kansas - Jayhawker Yearbook (Lawrence, KS)

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UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS Th e crowd roars BY CHARLES RANKIN A short, frank description of the cheering situation at the Kansas games . . 7 : . E ERY succeeding year it is becom- ing more apparent that the old adage about experience as a teacher does not apply to the type of student who attends Kansas University. At any rate, the pedagogical abilities of Old Man Experience must have undergone a degenerative metamorphosis since the advent of such a teacher in disproving old theories anyway, so it probably does not seem at all strange to some student body who actually have a de- sire to be cheerleaders. However, since the general consen- sus of opinion seems to be that the job of cheerleader is the Hill ' s most thank- less task, and that the position is be- coming more thankless every year, this writer at least believes that cheerlead- ers do not learn by experience. And where, you may ask, is the evi- dence for such a statement? To those who attended the annual cheerleader tryouts held in the sta- dium, the answer is not only apparent but is even axiomatic in its truthfulness. For the number of aspirants for the various cheerleading jobs had not di- minished in the slightest, nor had the anxiety of the candidates decreased, even though the sole reward of last year ' s incumbents was a series of Bronx cheers and catcalls from the crowd, together with a feeling of jus- tifiable pride in having given their utmost in service to an unappreciative Alma Mater. Although it may be a sacrilege to say it, there are, nevertheless, some who attended the annual tryouts held this year whose frank opinions were that the tryouts were a joke. These dis- believers will insist that the committee members did not take their responsibili- ties seriously. And it may be said in support of such unorthodox statements that the method used by the committee was not conducive to unbiased selec- tions. Stuffing the uncounted ballots into the pockets of the voters, for in- stance, does not lend assurance to the possibilities of a fair election. It is a strange fact, therefore, that when the final counting was done, the SEEING THE TEAM OFF FOR TULSA results were not only representative, but in the main were quite satisfactory. Hans Pfuetze, the committee ' s selec- tion for head cheerleader, is an experi- enced cheerleader, having served on the staff since 1932. But even more to his credit than his years of experience is his infinite patience with a crowd that many times becomes sullen and refuses to cooperate. His ability to take it in this respect would undoubtedly qualify him for the job of orchestra crooner provided, of course, he could sing. His directing is smooth and rhythmical: this fact, together with his tempera- ment, give him excellent qualifications for his position. The junior cheerleaders are Clyde Nichols and Ray Anderson. Nichols was a sophomore leader last year and should be a good yell leader this year provided he can learn to control his temper in the face of indifference from the cheering section. Anderson is at- tending the University for the first time this year. His leading looked good to the committee, but nothing further can be said until he has had some experi- ence in the stadium. He served as var- sity cheerleader at Northwestern last year, and so his patience with a Kansas rooting section is still a question. The University of Kansas boasts one of the finest university yells in the country, and it is really a shame that it should be wasted on such an unappre- ciative student body. The Rock Chalk ' was written in 1866. and since that time has been the official yell of the Uni- versity. Kansas men have used this chant not only on the athletic field, but also on the battlefields of the Boxer Rebellion in China, and the World War. With capable cheerleaders, and fine yells, the only place that blame for poor support of the school can be laid is on the student body as a whole. CLYDE NICHOLS HANS PFUETZE RAY ANDERSON

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THE JAYHAWKBB The K. U. Stadium; battleground of the Jayhawkers. Each fall all eyes turn to this stately coliseum in anticipation of the battles to be fought within its walls. Its ivy covered entrance is fast becoming one of K. U. ' s most attractive land marks, and is indeed a Filling home for Kansas athletes

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Government of the men BY LLOYD METZLER THE JAYHAWKBB Inside dope on how the men on the Kansas campus are ruled and an explanation of the Student Council ' s status TO THOSE inclined to scoff at stu- dent self government, the Men ' s Stu- dent Council at Kansas is an active re- futation of the claim that such govern- ing bodies are impotent and unneces- sary. Acclaimed by The National Stu- dent Federation of America as one of the most powerful student councils in the country, our men ' s governing body has at all times exercised its varied powers and prerogatives with discre- tion and good judgment. The functions of the council might be categorically enumerated, but such a list would be productive of nothing so far as explaining the true purpose of student government is concerned. Suf- fice it to say, therefore, that the Men ' s Student Council is one of the two official bodies whose chief function is the crystallization of student opinion. This student opinion as exposited by the council is to be found in the bills, reso- lutions, motions, and suggestions of council members. In recent years there have been some critics inclined to question the indepen- dence of the council. These critics view the bills and resolutions of the council as products of the school administra- tion passed upon by a subservient group of council members. The absurdity of such rn argument will be at once appar- ent when the method of selecting coun- cil members is analyzed. ' Our men ' s governing body is com- posed of 24 members, all elected from various school constituencies. First of all there are those members elected from the entire student body. This group includes the president, vice- president, secretary, treasurer, two year representatives-at-large, and athletic board representative. Then there are the representatives of the various schools, including six college representatives, three from the School of Engineering, and one representative from each of the professional schools. Elections are held annually in the spring of the year. Candidates are selec- ted by the Pachacamac, Oread, and Kayhawk. In addition, any student has the privilege of running as an indepen- dent candidate through the method of petition. It is the custom for the politi- cal parties to present in addition to their candidates a platform or tentative program which the candidates pledge themselves to follow if elected. When the question of representation is thus analyzed, the assertion that the student council is a tool of the admin- istration becomes ridiculous. The demo- cratic method of council selection as- sures that the council will reflect true student opinion irrespective of the po- litical party in power, or the issue at -stake. The only basis for such criticism then seems to be that the council and the administration are frequently in agree- ment on matters affecting student wel- REED VORAN Vice-president KEAN TILFORD Secretary I.LOYD METZLER GUNNAR MYKLAND President fare. Such a situation does not in any way indicate that the council is subser- vient. Indeed, it would be a most dis- heartening spectacle to see the council and the Administration continually at swords-points. Such disagreement would indicate either a rebellious and com- munistic student body or a tyrannical administration, neither of which is found at Kansas. The natural result of a sympathetic and democratic administration and a representative student council is a con- structive and harmonious program of cooperation between the council and the administration. Such a situation pre- vails at Kansas. There has been a tendency of late to use the council ' s financial statement as a criterion for determining how worth- while it is and what its shortcomings may be. It is not only futile, but often absolutely misleading to judge the coun- cil thus. The yearly financial statement is no more a complete picture of the activities than are the resolutions and bills which it passes. Each bill, each resolution, and each financial statement is merely a part of the picture. Those who attempt such an analysis are con- fusing the governmental functions of the council with the benevolent func- tions of a private charitable institution, which the council does not claim to be.