University of Kansas - The Jayhawker Yearbook

“viewer, and many come to the realization that one can find the different buildings without using a good compass and a prayer wheel. The new student gets to see one of the types of living conditions offered at the University. Preview headquarters is at Hashinger Hall, one of Kansas University ' s new dormitories. The preview director is Dr. Carl Fahrbach, Assistant Director of Admissions, who works with James K. Hitt, Registrar, in a co-ordinating effort. However, previews are not a result of one or two men ' s efforts. The hospital staff must prepare for the physical examinations, the Guidance Bureau must give the placement examinations, and the academic deans of the various colleges must be represented. The Dean of Men, and the Dean of Women, also have work to do along with the student counselors they have chosen. Members of the ' University staff and the Student Advisory Board are available for consultation concerning fraternities, sororities, ROTC, housing, student insurance, courses, and instructors. The KU Preview Program is, therefore, a combined effort of the people involved in virtually every facet of university life. This affords the new student entering Kansas University not only a look at the physical set-up of the University, but a better understanding of his area of study, class- mates, instructors, living conditions, and campus life in general. Having already been partially introduced RUSH to the campus during previews, freshman men going through rush were able to concentrate more on the hectic days at hand when they returned to KU on September 4. What did a rushee encounter in the 1963 rush week? A revitalized, expanding group of fra- ternities invited eligible men through their doors. A changing system of college group living pointed with pride to their acceptance of changing, modern values. Initially, the arriving rushee found two new chapter houses anxious to accommodate more men, and another fraternity on the verge of construction. Both the Lambda Chi ' s and the TKE ' s had finished construction, although the TKE ' s were destined to spend the first few weeks of school in the Holiday Inn Motel until the interior decorators finished. ,The Phi Psi ' s were planning a ground breaking ceremony to celebrate a soon-to-be-new chapter house on 15th Street. Half of the rushees had used the new pre-registration forms sent them by the Dean of Men, Donald Alderson. Consequently the registration lines at Templin Hall were considerably shortened this year. It was even possible to have sent in the 814 fee by mail. Many of the men had already been invited on " Train Dates, " parties held by the fraternities on Wednesday night. The rest attended a " smoker " arranged by the WC in the Student Union. It afforded them a chance to meet several representatives from all the houses. Closing was 10:30 that night, so the parties in Kansas City, Topeka, and Lawrence broke up fairly early. At 11:00 p.m. that night the IFC-appointed floor counselors had meetings with all the par- ticipating rushees. All were advised not to leave the dorm any night, not to accept any phone calls, and not to leave their assigned dormitory floors. In short, they were to go to sleep. The next day, Thursday, September 5, was probably the most important day of rush. Statis- tics compiled by the Dean of Men showed that a great majority of the men who pledged visited their eventual home sometime during the first day. Rushees visited six different houses during that day. " Care for a cigarette, Bob? " " What are you majoring in, Chuck? " " I ' m going downstairs, anyway. . . . How about another bottle of pop, Ralph? " Gazing at trophies, sensing the pride and tradition that accomplishments have nurtured in each group, it became possible to see why fraternity spirit is so infectious. The cooperation and respect for all other " brothers " was communicated in a hundred different ways. In an impersonal world the rushees saw this sense of belonging proffered to them, and many began to feel it was very important that they join one of these national organizations. Rock Chalk Revue, intramural competition, homecoming decorations, SUA Carnival skits and booths, parties, traditions . . . all became a blur of a hundred excuses for young men to organize for a common purpose. " Anybody for bridge? Hell, how about hearts then? Gin Rummy? Old Maid? I wanna ' play some cards! " And this is the way fraternity men selected their future members? You bet it was! The best way to get to know a man was just to talk . . . about the Kansas City Chiefs, or the Dodgers, or their high school, or their plans, or their likes, or their dislikes .. . " C ' mon, Larry, a little football out front, huh? " " N ' other bottle of pop, jay? Maybe a Coke this time, OK? " By Saturday, many had accepted a pledge pin and only the formality of signing the official pledge list remained to make them probationary members of their chosen group. Of the 601 men who entered rush, 497, or 82%, decided to pledge that week. Some of the ones who didn ' t probably 4 ”