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

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- . itemt—rapa K-State counts On December 13, 1968, spectators spilling out of Ahearn after a basketball game, saw a smoke- blackened sky above Kedzie Hall. A burning ember of discontent landed on Nichols Gymnasium, igniting and gutting the castle-like structure. Comforts of Home- Tom Hickey, Junior in business administration carries his refridgerator into Haymaker Hall to Improve the comforts of his dorm room. Alumni Play- Still knowing the words and tune to the fight song was the Alumni band at the Parents Day football game. Social Time- Some watch the game, some watch others, others visit friends during the social get-together of a K-State football game. Dawn Salute- Anderson Hall wakes up to the rising of the flags. 6 Opening

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1972 when the natatorium was completed. Later that year. the first student group emerged to do something about the abandoned shell. A group of architecture students expressed Interest In the renovation of Nichols for use by the art department. The student chapter of the American Institute of Architects formed a committee to complete a study on the possibihty of renovation. This was to be the first In eight years of studies by various organizations, di leading to increased confusion of the student body and community. Definite measures seemed apparent In April 1978, when a 545.000 feasibility study allocation passed the Kansas Legislature, but bureaucratic red tape mangkd the plan. The Senate Ways and Means Committee decided to scrap the plan in April 1979. Nichols Burns- Lighting the night sky. the Castle casts its final light Decern• bet 13. 1968 on the few spectators. Sw PIntric

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State Senator Wen WinterIPOttaival chairman of the committee, asked the University Consultanve Committee, headed by President Duane Acker, to discuss three proposals and recommend one to the Legislature. Of the three proposals: appropriate $l0.000 for a feasibility study, raze Nichols at an estimated cost of $125,000 or appropriate $50,000 to landscape and preserve the tire, the collective wisdom of the Consultative Committee was to rate the building. Curt Cunningham. a student member of the committee, disagreed with the opinion. saying that though Acker asked for collective wisdom all he got was collective opinion This was a result he said, of the committee members not having enough technical information about the alternatives to give anything but opinion. Greg Must!, student body president, first showed his strong support for the preservation of Nichols (which was to became a persona drivel In activating a Oar L•tian Gutted- Ten years of barrenness and Nichols still stands empty except for the weeds that have taken a hold in the floor. flcc Opening 7