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

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student Life K-State students eased into the school year. The electrical energy of the previous year dimmed to a glimmer of anticipation, a feeling of expectancy that no one was quite able to pinpoint, but that was balanced by a year of progressive change. Along with the traditional activities of partying in Aggieville and late-night trips to Swannie ' s, students witnessed the renovation of a K-State landmark, Nichols Gymnasium, as it began to come to life from a simple, hollow stone structure to a breathing, living element crucial to the tradition of the campus. The physical campus underwent much progression as beautification through landscaping became a top priority. Well- kept lawns blanketed with colorful arrays of flowers could be viewed throughout. Not all of the progressions were of a positive nature, however, as students felt another increase in tuition as it jumped nearly $100 each semester above the previous academic term. Also, resulted as many students battled receiving financial aid, after having had FIERY BRILLIANCE — lights envelope the sky Selective during a fireworks display at a Fourth of July celebration, being characteristic of the sparkling Individuals have their own feelings of burst of student life. — Photo by Andy Nelson expectancy for life beyond the classroom, feelings that are modified by the changes in the University and throughout the world. These feelings of expectancy can be compared to the uncut diamond, the rough and jagged sides providing a preview of the wonders hidden below. But when cut and polished to a high degree, the result is a fiery brilliance of student life. BEHIND HER TEAM — Veronica Fallon, sophomore in education of Alpha Xi Delta sorority, encourages her volleyball team on du ring Sigma Chi Derby Days. — Photo by Andy Nelson

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JUBILE Royal Purple celebrates 75 years of progressions By Steven J. Onken bet everyone has at least one. At least one yearbook that probably just sits there those old scrap books and the several over-stuffed photo albums, collecting dust, weathering the elements and possibly making itself a permanent home in that walnut- stained bookcase, finely- trimmed, but not often visited. Well, this year, we have that finely-trimmed book c ase, cleared those shelves and dusted off dozens of book covers, and among the rubble and the clearing dust remained a tradition that is now 75 years old and is growing stronger and more recognized as the years The 1984 edition marks the Royal Purple ' s Diamond Jubilee. The first edition of the Royal Purple was printed in 1909, but was not the first publication on campus. It ' s predecessors included the Symposium (1891), the Sunrise (1904), the Bell (1905), and the Banner (1906). The 1909 Royal Purple a four-and-one-half fold-out page of the campus and actually pictured most of the buildings on the campus rather than the students themselves. There were no candids, only pictures of the Board of Regents, faculty, organizations and senior students. Class histories, names of the class yell, color, motto and flower were also in this first edition as well as individual sayings that ran along side each graduating seniors portrait. The first yearbook sold for $1.50 per book, and 800 copies were ordered, containing 308 pages. The 1984 book sold for $9.50 per book to students, and 7,500 copies were ordered, containing 480 pages. Obviously much progress has been made since that first Royal Purple was published. One area that the Royal is known for is its techniques. In 1919, the book employed division pages and opening pages of a texture than the rest of the book, while the 1938 book was the first in the nation to use a cover tip-on color Also, the 1939 book used die-cuts on division pages, a trend that was utilized well before its time, and the 1941 book produced the first lithographic cover in the picturing a new building named Willard Hall. More recently, the 1983 Royal Purple became one of the few major college to go to full staff by setting type and having pages prepared nearly camera ready. The Royal Purple has a tradition within a tradition that will be hard to match. Under the guidance of C.J. Chief Medlin, the 1936 Royal Purple received the All- American award and also the Pacemaker award, which is presented to the top two or three annuals who first receive the All-American rating. What followed was an era of nationally aclaimed For the next 36 years, the Royal Purple received All- American recognition, ending finally in 1972. And for Medlin, his tenure at K-State is nothing short of legendary. Medlin conducted the first summer workshop on a college campus at the University of Minnesota in the early 1940s. He wrote two books, Yearbook Editing and Management and Yearbook Layout, which have set standards for yearbooks across the nation. In 1958, he received the first Albert Love Award as the outstanding yearbook adviser in the and in 1961 he was named Distinguished Yearbook for outstanding service to the university ' s student press by the National Council of College Publications Medlin retired in 1967, a standard of excellence that few publications will be able to match. Following Medlin ' s the Royal Purple, as well as many other college yearbooks, reflected the troubled and restless times of the late ' 60s and early ' 70s. The 1972 Royal Purple was by far the most controversial book in the book ' s history. The cover was red, white and blue, and the endsheets were printed with graffiti providing a desolate and pessimistic theme. Although the book may have been an adequate reflection of the troubled times, student acceptance was quite negative. The turbulent times have calmed down now but the tradition of the Royal Purple is still alive and kicking, as most of the more recent editions have earned the All-American rating with the 1979, and 1980 editions receiving Pacemaker honors. Perhaps a new of excellence has already begun. And what ' about the future? Well, that is up to you. Without student interest, the yearbook could slowly decline both in numbers and to keep the tradition alive. In this time where new, highly sophisticated developments are occurring, it is crucial to hold on to these past traditions, for it won ' t be long until they all may wither away to the technological future that lies ahead. Enjoy with us the 1984 Royal Purple ' s Diamond Jubilee. Illustration by John Sleezer iubilee 17