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

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Hundreds of students wait hours in line at Bill Snyder Family Stadium to receive one of 6,000 free student tickets to President George W. Bush ' s Landon Lecture by Salena Strate Gl When Savvy Rogers heard the Jan. 18 announcement that free tickets for President George W. Bush ' s Landon Lecture would be available the next day at noon, she made sure to get in line. Rogers, freshman in secondary education, arrived at Bill Snyder Family Stadium 14 hours before tickets were distributed. She was the first person to receive a ticket. We didn ' t know we were going to be first in line, Rogers said. After we had been there 15 minutes, people started showing up. We didn ' t purposely plan to be first, but we were hoping the first 15 in would be able to shake (the president ' s) hand, but that didn ' t happen. Rogers said despite the cold weather, she and her friends were determined to get tickets. It was so cold, Rogers said. I was one of the only girls to stay up the whole night. We called Pizza Shuttle, and they called back asking if we were really at the football stadium. I don ' t think they really believed us. The next day, a long line curved around the parking lot down Kimball Avenue. Keaton Brewer, sophomore in business administration, arrived at 5:30 a.m., and camped out with others from Quest Freshman Honorary. Some (Beta Theta Pi fraternity The university allowed faculty members to decide whether to cancel class, and a memo was issued from Provost M. Duane Nellis. Because of the limited space availability, we are not canceling classes that day, Nellis said in the memo. I ask that faculty make reasonable accommodations to men) at the front of the line brought a students who have tickets to attend grill and were selling hamburgers, hot the Landon Lectures. dogs and brats, Brewer said. We started a Facebook group called, ' We Tailgate for Bush. ' It was also fun just being around my friends all morning and not going to class. Joseph Unekis, professor of political science, heard about the lecture from a colleague who heard the announcement on the radio. After double-checking the information, he announced it to his class. It ' s a pretty big deal and it ' s a class on politics, so I encouraged them to go get tickets, Unekis said. The president of the United States doesn ' t show up very often. Bramlage Coliseum usher Suzanne Schreiber said she felt the excitement days before the event. Schreiber, senior in architectural engineering, said other than football games, it was biggest event she had ever worked. The 6,000 free student tickets were distributed by 3 p.m. Before we got to the actual line, we kept busy, and you know we wanted to keep warm, Rogers said. I had a bonding experience with all the girls on my dorm floor, and I will get to tell my grandkids, ' Yeah, I camped out to hear President Bush speak. ' coverage of Bush continued on page 30 george w. bush29

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Students in line for tickets to see Bush present the 142ncl Landon Lecture turn the corner from out of the stadium parl inglot onto Kimball Avenue. Tickets were distributed at the football ticket office and the line extended to the Chester E. Peters Recreation Complex. I joined friends who had been there since 5:30 a.m., Abby White, senior in agricultural communications, said. The only reason they let me stand with them is because I brought doughnuts. Christopher Hanewinckel Excited to finally leave the stadium at noon. Jan. 19, Savvy Rogers, freshman in secondary education, shows off her ticket to friends. Rogers, who waited since 10 p.m., Jan. 18, was the first student to receive a ticket. When we were at the (ticket) gates, we took great pleasure as we told others we were first in line, Rogers said. It was crazy watching the line grow and how many people started showing up. By 3 p.m., all 6,000 free student tickets were distributed. Christopher Hdnewincltel 28student life

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Jokes, anecdotes and personal stories fill President George W. Bush ' s hour-long speech to a packed Bramlage Coliseum. Jan. 23. Most of the crowd applauded frequently to show approval. It was amazing how into his speech the crowd got. Charles Henderson, senior in sociology, said. You would have thought there was a major band performing on stage. Catnna Rawson Audience members in Bramlage wait in anticipation of Bush ' s arrival. Poor weather and a motorcade ride from Forbes Air Force Base in Topeka to Manhattan delayed the president about 45 minutes. Upon arrival, Bush thanked his audience, specifically the 800 Fort Riley soldiers, 25 Fort Leavenworth soldiers and 200 Reserve Officers ' Training Corps army and air force students. Christopher Hanewinckel tn-fi l ' : v mam ' iTJ ' ttilttlf :: v 7 .■• ' , (• ' •»»i - 1 ■Si ■ :. [1- ' . 30student life