Sarah Smarsh's Heartland
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No 5, 2018 I $5 Sarah Smarsh’s Heartland Poverty and politics in Kansas I DEGREE IN 3 I TAN MAN RETURNS One of the nation’s best cities deserves one of the nation’s best hospitals. You deserve care that gives you your best chance of survival, and that’s what you’ll find at The University of Kansas Hospital. In the recent U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals edition, we are the region’s only hospital ranked among the nation’s best in 9 adult medical and surgical specialties. No one in the region even comes close. This puts us in exclusive company with the country’s top 1% of hospitals. These rankings are particularly important to consider because they’re based on patient survival, advanced technology, patient safety and more. Whether it’s a common or complex health issue, why trust your life to anyone else? Visit kansashealthsystem.com/rankings to learn more about these rankings and what they mean for you. ADVANCING THE POWER OF MEDICINE® © The University of Kansas Health System US News KU Alumni Magazine RD Sept 2018 (17680).indd 1 9/4/18 8:28 AM Contents | Issue 5, 2018 24 30 36 24 30 36 Hard Stories Degree in 3 Tan Man Returns With a blockbuster memoir, Partnerships between KU Wescoe Beach’s iconic sun Sarah Smarsh celebrates her Edwards Campus and local worshiper, John Schneider, Kansas roots and challenges community colleges and high aka Tan Man, came back to assumptions about poverty schools help working students Lawrence, this time to bask in and politics in America. get a quick start on their memories and celebrate a big careers. birthday with old friends. By Steven Hill By Heather Biele By Chris Lazzarino Cover photograph by Paul Andrews Established in 1902 as e Graduate Magazine Volume 116, No. 5, 2018 ISSUE 5, 2018 | 1 September 2018 72 Publisher Heath Peterson, d’04, g’09 4 Lift the Chorus Editor Jennifer Jackson Sanner, j’81 Letters from our readers Creative Director Susan Younger, f’91 Graphic Designer Valerie Spicher, j’94 7 First Word Associate Editors Chris Lazzarino, j’86 e editor’s turn Steven Hill Assistant Editor Heather Biele 8 On the Boulevard Photographers Steve Puppe, j’98 KU & Alumni Association events Dan Storey 10 Jayhawk Walk Advertising Sales Representative Schiefelbusch centennial, La Pia leaves, haunting Teri Harris humanities and more Editorial and Advertising Oce KU Alumni Association 1266 Oread Avenue 12 Hilltopics Lawrence, KS 66045-3169 News and notes: Chancellor Del Shankel remem- 785-864-4760 bered; freshmen receive bystander training. 800-584-2957 www.kualumni.org [email protected] 18 Sports Football snaps losing streak with a win on the KANSAS ALUMNI MAGAZINE (ISSN 0745-3345) is published by the road; basketball enters season among national KU Alumni Association six times a year in January, March, May, July, title favorites. September and November. $55 annual subscription includes member- ship in the Alumni Association. O¡ce of Publication: 1266 Oread Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045-3169. Periodicals postage paid at Lawrence, KS. 40 Association News Alumni donors fund new student scholarships; POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Kansas Alumni Magazine, 1266 Wintermote Award recognizes volunteer stalwarts. Oread Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045-3169 © 2018 by Kansas Alumni Magazine. Non-member issue price: $7 49 Class Notes Proles of a decorated doctor, a beer pioneer, a determined therapist and more Letters to the Editor: 68 In Memory Deaths in the KU family Kansas Alumni welcomes letters to the editor. Our address is Kansas Alumni magazine, 1266 Oread Avenue, 72 Rock Chalk Review Lawrence, KS 66045-3169. Email responses may be sent to Spencer’s Schwarm exhibition focuses on Kansas the Alumni Association, [email protected]. farm life; black literature project gets grant boost. Letters appearing in the magazine may be edited for space and clarity. For letters published, we’ll send a free gift of KU Campus Playing Cards, a $5 value. 76 Glorious to View Scene on campus ISSUE 5, 2018 | 3 Lift the Chorus In the fall of 1968, my tribute to my mother, Audrey, then-girlfriend Lauren and I who had died of cancer the had another fond and personal summer before my senior year memory of Professor Tuttle, in high school. who was teaching an engaging I wanted to raise the results of both good planning class in black history during a awareness of students to the and bad! Your article and great tumultuous year with two health risks associated with photos made it clear what can assassinations and the Vietnam nicotine and referred to several happen when universities War ongoing. All of us in class medical studies funded by the employ great talent and marveled at Tuttle’s ability to American Cancer Society. One intelligent planning. help us understand current study stood out. I reported that It wasn’t that long ago that I events in light of history and nicotine was applied to the drove through campus and voices that we had not studied skin of mice, which resulted in pretty much ignored what in our high school classes. a high percentage of mice that appeared to be a big mess. Now He was a welcoming were aicted with skin cancer. I cannot wait to see the presence in the classroom, and As an eager journalism nished product when I visit we became friends, so much so student I had hoped my in September. anks to your that Lauren and I began to editorial would persuade some excellent reporting, I already babysit his daughter, Kate students to quit smoking and Central beauty know a great deal about the (now, among other things, a encourage other students to Central District and will be an prominent book critic for e never start. I concluded with a I educated visitor. I also intend Boston Globe). On one plea to students to make the you for your wonderful article to ask my friend and fellow occasion, Professor Tuttle intelligent decision regarding on KU’s Central District 1967 graduate of Topeka West invited us for dinner with his tobacco. [“Front and Center,” issue High School, Jim Modig, to family, and when we returned e journey for a tobacco- No. 4]. direct my tour! to my apartment and talked free campus has indeed been I spent eight of my best years Carl McFarland Jr. about the Tuttle family and our long. anks for reporting on at KU earning three degrees. c’71, g’73, PhD’75 own hopes for the future, I this welcome achievement. Back then, KU had a magni- Tucson, Arizona proposed marriage and Lauren Don Culp, j’60, l’65 cent campus and Lawrence was accepted. We were married in Overland Park one of the very best college August 1969, and to this day towns. It was a pleasure just Lifelong we feel connected to Professor Good sport walking to class among the connection Tuttle and his family. great beauty of Mount Oread Tim Averill, c’69 A L will and its great structures. And I to read of Beverly, Massachusetts remember Chancellor Del now, Lawrence is an even more Don Smith’s reconnecting with Shankel as a utility inelder on exciting college town and the Bill Tuttle in response to the Tobacco ban the fast-pitch soball team All famous campus even more 50th anniversary of Tuttle’s the King’s Men in the late ’70s beautiful and functional. service to KU and 80th I interest and early ’80s. e team was a As a longtime college birthday [First Word, issue your article “Banned by loosely based outt of KU professor, I have witnessed the No. 4]. popular demand” [Hilltopics] administrators and law school in the July issue of Kansas faculty who still had some Alumni tracing the transition serious game, along with a to a tobacco-free campus at the student or two to lower its Lawrence and Edwards average age. campuses. Mike Davis, then dean of the As a student in the William law school, was the third Allen White School of Journal- baseman, Bill Westerbeke ism, I wrote an editorial played a little rst base and published in the University roamed the outeld, Bob Daily Kansan in 1958 or 1959 Senecal was catcher and the informing students of the late great Bob Walters pitched. perils of smoking tobacco. e If Del was available, as he editorial was written as a frequently was, he played my 4 | KANSAS ALUMNI picture, he would have been Gift from teacher Your in it. opinion counts He was a delightful, I to Please email us a note self-eacing, and memorable connect the dots, but Lavon at [email protected] teammate. Brosseau, the “retired high to tell us what you think of Anthony Gauthier, c’69, d’70, l’82 school teacher from Concor- your alumni magazine. Grand Rapids, Michigan dia” [Hilltopics, issue no. 4] who le a $7.4 million estate Editor’s Note: Del Shankel, gi for scholarships with the longtime KU professor and chancellor emeritus, died July 12 UKanTeach program, was Thanks for the at the age of 90. For more on his better known to those of us life and work on Mount Oread, who attended Field Kindley memories see Hilltopics, p. 12. High School in Coeyville Shankel during the 1960s as Miss I Crawford. reading Kansas Alumni. I Fab four For several years Miss almost always recognize a regular position at second base Crawford taught junior English name, place or event that puts and I played shortstop. I N. great in a unique and slightly a smile on my face.