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

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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

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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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K-State counts The empty shell stood as a reminder of the unconstructive change K-State had been able to avoid until 1968. Ten years later, Nichols stands as it did after the fire. Weeds spread up from the gutted floor and fire-twisted beams form an inadequate roof. It stands as a symbol of the bureaucracy ' s lack of decisiveness. In April 1979, President Acker, in a surprise move, recommended the razing of Nichols. The recommendation lit the fire of protest under the feet of K-State students. A rally in front of Anderson Hall and a motorcade to the statehouse gained a stay of execution for Nichols. K-State was there when it counted. K Street Swing-Pott County Pork and Bean Band, Plain Jane and Moffat Beers Band had Run Flynn, Junior in marketing, and Shari Evans, sophomore in general swinging in the streets of Aggieville on Do It in Aggieville day. Stuff the Union-The Jan band captivated a large crowd for the Union Homecoming Activities Day, and received ovations not only alter the individual numbers but after several instrument solos. ' non Cotten, kb Rader 8 Opening