University of Kansas - Jayhawker Yearbook (Lawrence, KS)

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I4 campus life wheat ...and waving the were a way to Shcw ku Spirit. Rock Chalk Jayhawk! Iayhawks were notorious for their school pride. From the Rock Chalk Chant to the Wav- ing of the Wheat, the University of Kansas has had a long tradition of pride. But some stu- dents wondered where these expressions of spirit originated. The Jayhawk mascot was one of KU's greatest traditions. The name was originally used to descibe robbers and thieves, but it took on a completely new meaning during the Civil War, when a regiment adopted the term Iayhawker. Their fearlessness and cameraderie turned the title Iayhawker from a shameful name to a proud one, and that heritage has been carried on since. The University of Kansas adopted the Iayhawk as its mascot in the early 20th century, and even named its yearbook after the mythic bird. There were many other traditions on the KU campus. The Rock Chalk cha.nt,which was one of the most famous college chants in his- tory, was praised even by former president Teddy Roosevelt. With the chant came the Waving of the Wheat, a longstanding garneday tradition. Basketball games had their own series of traditions, including fans who held up news- papers when opposing teams took the floor in Allen Field House, followed by a shower of paper confetti when the Iayhawk players took the court. Other less official traditions are associated with different groups on campus. The frater- nities were known to coerce their fraternity brothers to jump naked into the Chi Omega by scott. fountain on their twenty-first birthdays. These traditions were a link between gen- erations and a way of showing pride in KU.

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git 0' , wg' nr .. I , 7141 I Mijn y I if ,, J H. W if' -I II' 'it U- ' v 7: 'i I' DON JOHNSON, STAR OF MIAMI VICE AND, MORE RECENTLY, Nash B rid ges, attended the University of Kansas on a full scholarship for his acting ability. Other act- ing alumni included Dee Wallace Stone, Scott Bakula, Kirstie Alley and Tony award winning performer Mandy Patinkin.-photo courtesy Qf llizi- versity Archives WILT CHAMBERLAIN, ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS NfxMEs IN the history of the NBA, was a KU graduate. His record of top scorer for seven consecutive seasons stands as a testament to his ability, In 1998, Cham- berlain returned to KU to retire his jersey at a cer- emony in Allen Field House.-photo cozzrtvsy Qf Uni- versity Archives J II NANCY KASSEBALM-BAKER poses with her father Alf Landon, on his 100th birthday. Kassebaum- Baker was the first woman to be elected on her own to the U.S. Sen- ate, following in her father's political foot- steps. Alf Landon served as Kansas Gover- nor and also ran against Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1936 presidential election,-photo courtesy Qf Uriiziersity Arclzizves famous alurnnl I7