University of Kansas - Jayhawker Yearbook (Lawrence, KS)

Page 15 text:

il -ii-T, 1 ' ' 'H ' ' Yi' AQ those who had trouble getting the routine down, People who mastered the steps got a pat on the head. l l'his can be the best marching band we've ever had, Foster said. At 11:30 a.m., the first half of prac- tice ended. It was break time. Less than two hours later, the march- ing resumed-and so did the sweating. Studen 11

Page 14 text:

more apprehension than excitement before a performance. 1 know a lot of things can go wrong, and 1 wait to see if they happen, Foster said. l've been doing this for a few years too. Foster is the fifth band director in the history of the University marching band. 1-le has directed the band since 1971 and has been directing marching bands for more than 30 years. lt takes continuity to build a tradi- tion of excellence, Poster said. Every time you change, you start over. The marching band received the 1989 Suddler Trophy, an annual award recog- nizing long-term excellence in collegiate marching bands. It was the seventh band ever to receive this award. Q As Robert Foster stood in the middle ofthe marching mass, intercom in hand, every one of the band members was at his command. Band! Foster yelled. Band! they responded. H10-hut! Foster yelled. One, two, they replied. Marching band members practiced in the 90' degree heat during Hawk Week. photo by Stephen Pingry Feet, legs, and instruments moved in perfect sync, perfect parallel lines of students flowed together to the right side ofthe Memo- rial Stadium field, turned in harmony and returned in the opposite direction. Each mem- ber ofthe band moved snappily and in perfect step. lfyou do it right, you only have to do it once, Foster promised. And they did it once. Twice. And again, until they got it right. Though the band practiced many of the same turns and other details of the routine repeatedly, members did not seem to mind. They did not complain. 'lWe have an absolute commitment to quality and excellence, said Foster. What's fun is being good, and that includes self-discipline. Self-discipline is what got the band through six hours of practice every day of Hawk Week. When classes were in session, members attended marching band class six hours each week and may spend up to two hours each week in additional rehearsals. Get your left leg up like it's show time, Foster instructed them. Student Life 10 They did. Band members counted beats and sang to the music to keep their places since the instruments were quiet on this run-through. Foster sang with them, counting the beats with extra emphasis on the Hands. One and two and...Get your left leg up on the 'ands. ' Drum majors and section leaders moved in and out of the lines, working with

Page 16 text:

Ll Z Z about Bees Qrle Buzz Ta lor gifves students a chance to experience biolog firsthand. Students from the class biology of honeybees leave for the field with a bee food mixture for their honeybee hives. The school apairy is in West Campus behind LiedCenter. photo by Stephen Pingry t was a hot day and a thick smoke of burning cow manure filled the air. We tied on our bulky veiled hats, Armed with hot smok- ers, we marched out, looking like stormtroopers form the movie Star Wars. In a moment the group was engulfed by thousands of furry, flying insects equipped with formi- dable stingers. For some, this may sound like a Student Life 12 scene from a bad dream, but for students enrolled in the course biology of honeybees, it was just another day ofclass. Bees, the subjects of the course, have also been the subject of about Z5 years of study by our fearless leader, Dr. Orley Buzz'l Taylor. Taylor teaches the course so students may experience the bees up close. This is a class in which students can