University of Kansas - Jayhawker Yearbook (Lawrence, KS)

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THE JAYHAWKER fROM the piles of apartment houses in New York Gty and from the Kansas prairies comes the annual horde of Freshmen men to become abruptly a part of the Hill life. Five hundred and fifty strong they were this year, wondering frantically what a mid week is, what intramural means, and if the Union Building has anything to do with these strikes they read about. Last spring the leading men ' s organizations on the Hill, such as the Sachem, the Owl Society, and the Men ' s Student Council determined to eliminate some of the worries, avoid some of the embarrassment, and speed the acclimatization of the new men this fall. The result is the Men ' s Student Advisory System. When the plan was proposed to Dean Werner, he examined its possibilities, improved it, and heartily endorsed it. By BILL FARMER The first step was the nomination, by the organi- zations, of upperclassmen eminently qualified to act as student advisers. These were quickly moulded into a large but efficient organization by Miss Persis Cook, of Dean Werner ' s office. Then, during the summer months, under Miss Cook ' s direction, a bible of Hill information was compiled by some of the advisers, and sent to all the rest. Last of all came the tremendous task of reaching all the prospective fresh- men. Over seven hundred letters were mailed out. During Freshman Week small groups of new- comers met with their upperclassman advisors in classrooms, meeting-rooms, offices, and recreation rooms in nearly every building on the campus for informal conferences. Topics included the History of the University, intelligent self-direction, distribution of time, intramural and varsity athletics, extra-cur- ricular activities, social customs, and even studying. Politics were, of course, discussed from a strictly non- partisan viewpoint. The University of Kansas is a pioneer in any system of Men ' s Student Advisers. But if other schools follow our example, and meet with our success, it (Continued on page 81)

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OCTOBER 1937 2J raining, redheaded, already well- known at M.U. The reputation the band quickly gained was re- tained when Dick Gossett took it over in the spring of that year. It was then that organizer Phipps left the campus for more attractive offers in the east, leaving mild chaos among the hodgepodge of student musicians. For some time now a certain Louie Kuhn, with a very passable band but no recog- nition, had been struggling to get engagements, finding competition against the organizing ability of Bill Phipps very hard indeed. Now Louie had the chance he had been waiting for. He and Red, along with the rest of the old timers in the bands, got their heads together, with the result that the three bands dissolved themselves into two com- plete and talented dance bands, incorporated into the Unit Music Service. These surviving bands were the ones that are now sc familiar. Not the least responsible for the success of these bands is Henry Miller, booker for the Unit Music Service. Henry, short, jovial, and vocally inclined, travels about, since his graduation from the Fine Arts school, and keeps the bands busy every week end, which is necessary to guarantee the musi- cians their means of support in school. He also scouts for candi- dates for new members in the bands. All is legitimate; support is promised, and the prospective swing-cat gets his money for the hard work that he expects and loves. A far cry is this from the By CHARLES ALEXANDER haphazard organization of the first university dance bands. Advancement has been spec- tacular. Miller keeps the bands busy and the bands steadily im- prove. As the bands improve they are more in demand, so it is easier to keep them busy. Among the new stars that Henry discovered for K.U. swing include: Dale Alligator Shroff, innocuous master of ceremonies in Louie ' s Band, front man for the smaller Dixie Land jam unit, and hitter of hot trumpet licks. Dale hailed from Kansas State College at Manhattan. Eddie Singleton, present front man for Kuhn, Ray Buckley, and Dorothy Jean Rus- sell, cute little soloist that was such a success in Kansas City last summer and packed the stags in front of the bandstand this fall. Lynn Hackler, first trumpet, had a band at Emporia State Teacher ' s College, and for the past year has been on the road with an orchestra whose engagements in- cluded Chicago and New York. Duff Samples and Don Wright are new ones shipped in from Emporia. And back from six months with Chic Scoggins comes our favorite keyboardman, Bud Frink, still nonchalant, slumped half under the piano- In Louie Kuhn ' s early days, when he was struggling hectically for existence as an outside band competing against organized bands on the Hill, he got his first summer engagement at Rockaway Beach, Missouri. His next summer, 1935, was spent at the Rendevous at St. Joseph. By sheer determination and an improved band he gained headway and reputation. His firs t summer after his full recognition by the Hill was spent at Lake Okabojie, and on the road, play- ing as far north as St. Paul, Min- nesota. He topped all previous records by his splendid reception during his 14 week engagement at Fairyland Park in Kansas City, this last summer, bringing in greater business for the park than did his (Continued on page 79)

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OCTOBER 1 9 37 2$ IF tea dancing receives any more impetus this year, | you can guess it will be from Paul Kihm. The new dance manager may not go so far as to employ a soap box he ' s not the type but he ' s all for the idea of afternoon exercise also the Big Apple. Is an old orchestra man and traveled with one to Europe in the summer of ' 36. We couldn ' t find out all the details of his stay in Paris, but he ' s noted for doing a good Photo by Art Wolf job of whatever he sets out to do. Thumbs-down Clyde McCoy on Sugar Blues. Is president of Kappa Sigma and contributes effort to the K.U. band and the Modern Choir. Comes from Leavenworth but doesn ' t expect to end up there. Has a theory about women which you must discover for yourself. In short, and you may want to know how to pronounce his name he ' s a Kihm fellow.