Pittsburg State University - Kanza Yearbook (Pittsburg, KS)

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Russ. When the bill was finally passed, the legislature voted to fine Senator Porter, Mr. Russ and their asso- ciates a barrel of apples for the successful lobbying . On his return to Pittsburg, Mr. Russ told a few of the stu- dents that if at the proper time in the assembly the motion was made to fine the faculty a barrel of apples, he would let the students vote on it. The first Apple Day was March 8, 1905. Though this story may not exactly fit the true facts, the tradition was established and has been passed to successive generations of Pittsburg students. During the administration of Dr. George E. Myers, second principal of the State Manual Training Normal School, there was a renewed demand for separation from the Emporia school. Students took an active part

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this succession of events looks relatively simple, but there was a long and bitter struggle before the exist- ence of this college was acknowledged. And this conflict did not end with the founding of the school. There has been a series of struggles by the patrons of the College to enhance its growth. After the struggle to establish the college in Pittsburg, there was the fight for independence from the Emporia school, followed by the battle to obtain the right to give its graduates the life certificate to teach and the baccalaureate degree. Then again there were the efforts to achieve the right to offer grad- uate courses leading to the Master's degree. Today, the College offers a six-year Spe- cialist in Education degree. R. S. Russ was the originator of the idea of a school at Pittsburg. He led the college through many of its most important battles and put this institution on the path that has led it to its present position. An organization without traditions is not a complete organization. There are many traditions on our campus. One of the best- known is that of Apple Day or Com- memoration Day which is celebrated an- nually in the early spring. History has it that in 1907 when the struggle for an ap- propriation for a new building was success- fully concluded, the appropriation bill was pushed through the legislature by the late Senator E. F. Porter with the aid of Mr.

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in the campaign. A typewriter room was made available in Russ hall for the students. During their free hours the students worked in this room sending out hundreds of letters to key persons in all parts of the state con- cerning the separation. Modern day repetition of this procedure Was observed in the spring of 1959 when Kansas State students again supported in word and deed the- proposal of a change in the name of the college to fit its present liberal arts status. For the next 27 years, from 1913 to 1940, William A. Brandenburg served as the chief officer and first presi- dent of the Manual Training School. Before the close of President Brandenburg's' first year, disaster struck 44 and threatened the very existence of the school. On june 29, 1944, Russ hall was struck by lightning and burned. Undoubtedly the damage to Russ proved to be only a temporary set-back. It was ac- cepted as a challenge, and plans for future developments began to take form. 9