University of Denver - Kynewisbok Yearbook (Denver, CO)

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News Willy Schaeffler There's no time for celebrations here. Tomorrow we go to Winter Park and start training for next year.' As long as we won. everything was fine Erwin says Schaeffler's desire to be the best rubbed off on all his athletes. He never settled for less than 100 percent He asked his athletes for 100 percent, and that's how he lived his own life. Schaeffler not only loved winning, he loved life. So much so that he survived four open heart surgeries and another operation to implant a pacemaker. Three weeks before he died. Schaeffler insisted upon undergoing reconstructive knee surgery. despite the high risk caused by his poor health. He decided to take the risk rather than be confined to his bed. Among his other accomplishments. Schaeffler worked with the Kennedy family to establish the Special Olympics. Today, the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity brings a portion of those games to DU. Just prior to his deaths a scholarship fund in Schaeffler's name was established to help handicapped skiers and scholars. 27

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News Living a Legend by Evan Dreyer He fought the Nazis, taught General Patton and prepared America’s Olympians — Schaeffler’s was the life of a legend. The ski pioneer who led the University of Denver to 13 NCAA national championships died April 9 in Denver at the age of 72. Former DU ski coach and coach of the 1972 US. Olympic ski team. Wilhelm ‘ Willy Schaeffler came to the forefront of the ski world in the 1950s and '60s when he led 13 of his 18 University of Denver ski teams to NCAA championships and finished second in two others Thirty three of his DU skiers were named to All-American teams and 15 went on to become Olympians. From 1958-60. Schaeffler left DU to assume duties as the director of Ski Events at the I960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley. Calif. In 1966. 68 and 70 he led the U S A. special I know this sounds absurd, but Willy had such a strong ability to hang in there that I never thought he would actually die. Schaeffler tmly did have a knack for hanging in there. He'd been down several times during his life, but he always managed to survive. Sometimes under incredible odds. Schaeffler was bom December 13. 1915. in Kaulbeuren. Bavaria. By the time he was 8 years old. he was already a competitive skier. Less than 10 years later, he would win the Bavarian Alpine Championships. He was named to the 1936 German Olympic squad, but two broken legs kept him from competing After recovering from the injuries. World War II loomed as Schaefflers next great obstacle. Considered politically what is now the Arapahoe Basin ski area. Two years later. Schaeffler accepted his position at DU. Craig Patrick, who is now DUs athletic director, was a hockey player here during the time Schaeffler was busy building a ski dynasty. I knew him mostly through his players. Patrick says. “They were the best conditioned athletes on the campus. He used to make his players run up and down the (football) stadium stairs as part of their workout. Schaeffler is well known for such high-powered tactics to keep his athletes in shape. Not only would he make them run the stadium stairs, but they often had to run the stairs while carrying a teammate. Ole Wilmann still remembers what a “He never settled for less than 100 percent. He asked his athletes for 100 percent, and that's how he lived his own life. ” — Dale Erwin Ski Team at the World University Games and won 23 medals. Then, in 1972. Schaeffler was named coach of the U S. Olympic Ski Team. His crew captured two medals in the Games, which were held in Sapporo. Japan. Schaeffler's involvement with the Olympics inspired him in his drive to bring the Games to Denver. In addition to coaching the nordic and alpine skiers at DU. Schaeffler coached soccer and served as conditioning trainer for the old football team. Dale Erwin, who played soccer for Schaeffler during the 60s and now lives in Denver, says Schaeffler was one of a kind. “He had an incredible spark for life. Erwin says. He was really something unsafe by Nazi leaders for his outspokenness against their policies. Schaeffler was sent to the Russian front in 1940 He was assigned to an outfit of other anti-Nazis who were used to spearhead the Third Reich's dnvc into the Soviet Union Schaeffler was wounded three times during the war. including a bullet wound to the head and shrapnel lodged in his heart and lungs The Russian army captured Schaeffler, but he managed to escape and organize a resistance group dedicated to sabotaging the Nazi war effort Schaeffler also taught U.S. soldiers how to ski in the Swiss Alps One of his pupils was Gen George S Patton. Following the war. in 1946. Schaeffler came to Colorado and chopped trees in fierce competitor Schaeffler was. Wilmann skied, played soccer and assistant coached for Schaeffler in the late ‘60s and early 70s. He use to make us meet him in the old student union parking lot at 7 a m. on Saturday mornings. W'ilmann says. “Wed drive up into the mountains and he'd take us for four hour hikes. And that was during the off-season. Without a doubt. Schaeffler loved to win Upon his induction into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 1972, he summed up his winning philosophy better than anyone: We never competed for second place Wilmann agrees. Willy was not fond of second place One time, we came in second place in Steamboat Springs at the last meet of the year, and Willy said. 26

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News Media Board Says ‘Do-Or-Die’; Controversy Continues to Plague Media Following the upheaval of past years, this year saw the University's student media straighten up and fly right — in some cases — and hobble along in others. Faced with a continuing financial pinch, the Student Media Board placed ail student media on a do-or-die course, mandating that all media cover expenses without the promise of a last-minute bailout which had saved the functionally bankrupt media last year. The Clarion responded by adhenng to a system which allowed for paper size based upon ad revenue The Clanon looks to make a small profit at the end of the year. Plans arc being discussed to once again return the Clarion to a twice-weekly publication schedule in September. According to SMB member Bnan Kitts, the Clarion is finally out of a slump which has slowed its growth. “The Clarion management has finally accepted financial responsibility for the paper. Kitts said. Now that Tom's (1988 Clarion editor Tom Zakrajsek) stall has cleaned up the financial problem the SMB has great hopes for Mary's (1989 Clarion editor Mary Yanni) vision that a student newspaper can be more than a simple recap of DU news and student events. The future of year-end projects at the University is less dear than the Clarion's success, however The Year in Review stafT is in a rebuilding process. according to Review editor Earl Duval We've made a serious effon to get a variety of students involved in what we re doing so that a year-end project can continue With a committed staff, the Year in Review next turned its attention to the scramble for funding. Creative means for attracting student advertising, a special supplement for seniors and an appeal for parent advertising should help the Year in Review cover its costs — the first time a year-end project will break even in five years The future of any year-end project became the most controversial media question of the year. Debate focused on trends in year-end publications —a year-end magazine vs. a traditional hard cover yearbook or a video yearbook, now a trend on some college campuses. A task force of faculty and students appointed by Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Tom Goodale is expected to make a recommendation for future projects late this spring. Production costs, the reality of small subscription sales numbers and the emotional issues of tradition are expected to weigh m heavily in the final decision Another task force appointed by Goodale will take the issue of the troubled campus radio station. KAOS, off the back burner. The task force of students and local media experts is expected to make recommendations regarding the future of the station. Among the questions to be answered are the cost and practicality of pursuing cable and FM bands for the station KAOS is currently serviced by a weak AM signal Available funds and the University's commitment to the station will decide much of the station's fate. To make the long-term investment worthwhile, the University's central administration and trustees will have to approve the University’s acceptance of responsibility for the station's FCC license. according to Kitts There's also a good deal of money that needs to be spent to upgrade the equipment and move the station. The SMB is committed to maintaining the program — the student interest is definitely here.' Kitts continued It's just that Denver is the second most saturated radio market in the nation and it doesn't make sense to spend money to continue making KAOS nothing more than an expensive toy. “It's been a real fight to get the media the attention they need to operate...The aggressive posture is what will keep us progressing. — Bess Copeland SMB members agreed that no money would be spent on equipment or a requested move out of Centennial Towers until the future of KAOS was determined. KAOS instead was asked to spend its budget on programs which would train students in station operauon The SMB request met with mixed success as KAOS Station Manager Tom Ahart reported that interest in working at KAOS was high early in the year and fell off once students were trained but had no practical way to use their experience. Student Media Board Members Back: Brad Hajem, Jim Manelis, Kerin Arntilage Middle: Kris KorlofT, Bess Copeland. Brian Kilts. Mary anni Front: Shannon Kelly. Chris Adams. Danice Rinderknecht. John Nichols The Student Media Board itself faced a year of growth as the last original Board members. Chairperson Bess Copeland and Danice Rinderknecht prepared to graduate. The aging of the group once termed the most powerful student organization at DU prompted the Board to initiate an in-depth training process for new Board members There has been such history to the problems of the media that we felt new Board members should have the same sense of urgency and protectionism that we've fell in working with the media. said Copeland. It's been a real fight to get the media the attention they need to operate, and we simply can t allow the SMB to become passive again. The aggressive posture is what will keep us progressing. 28