No 6, 2016 I $5$5
Intro to College First-year courses smooth the freshman transition
I VIRTUES OF VINYL I JOURNAL MASTER
Contents | Issue 6, 2016
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22 28 36 From Day One In the Groove Book of Days Engaging students from the A Salina company is drawing Writing coach Charley very beginning of their college rave reviews from music lovers Kempthorne teaches that life, a redesigned First-Year for its high-quality vinyl journaling can help students Experience seeks to improve reissues and an annual blues save something of their own retention and graduation rates festival. lives to pass on to their by including freshmen more descendants. He should know: quickly in Jayhawk Nation. By Chris Lazzarino It saved his.
By Chris Lazzarino By Steven Hill
Cover photograph by Steve Puppe
Established in 1902 as e Graduate Magazine Volume 114, No. 6, 2016 ISSUE 6, 2016 | 1 Lift the Chorus
tan Museum of Art in New Friends for life I York City. Watching my recent Kansas Alumni food students gaze upon works of T of issue. e story on Rick Martin art we have studied always Kansas Alumni, containing the [“From Scratch,” issue No. 4] brings me back to my time at beautiful history of the was excellent and showed what KU. Very o en students will friendship of the gals of Miller an outstanding individual he is. ask why I enjoy art history so Hall [“ e Letter,” issue No. 5], A er reading the Careys’ story much—to which I reply that it touched me, and in my quiet about Lawrence dining, I’m all began with a great professor thoughts brought moisture to ready to camp out in Lawrence and a magical museum at the these old eyes. for a couple of months for a University of Kansas. Chris Lazzarino’s skill as a food tour. Don Perreault, d’88 narrator is unusual and brings Jim Bredfeldt, c’70, m’74 Westbrook, Connecticut real class to a ne alumni Bellevue, Washington Magical museum magazine, a magazine that I’ve now received for some 70 I excite- Mug shot years. My dad was a KU Intro to business ment that I read “ e Big graduate of 1921, having Reveal” in the most recent W of worked his way through KU I S . , e edition of Kansas Alumni. Kansas Alumni here at beginning in 1912. Economist magazine writes During my freshman year at Marketing Communications, Enough history from me. about what is required for KU I enrolled in Intro to and I opened I just wanted to thank and introverts to succeed in a Western Art. My brilliant to the First commend you for a very business environment. instructor, Dr. Linda Stone, Word column. touching narration of ve Open-plan oces and group captivated our class with an What a gals’ lives. work are not well suited for enthusiasm for and wonderful George E. Nettels Jr., ’50 introverts. knowledge of art history as story! I, too, Pittsburg Kansas Alumni has written she brought those pieces of art came by one glowingly about KU’s new to life. She taught us that art is of those School of Business building a window into the past, and Spencer Second helping [“Open for Business,” issue No. history becomes much more Museum of Art mugs rather 3], which incorporates open meaningful through the lens randomly, and it’s one of my I oor plans and moveable of art and architecture. very favorites. Isn’t that Matisse for the rst time “Food for furniture for group e orts. is It took no time for me to picture the best? ought” in the July issue of may suit extroverts, but begin to wander through the All this attention for the Kansas Alumni. I have been certainly not every student. Spencer Museum of Art. is Spencer makes me so happy. I following Chris Lazzarino’s Charles Shoup, e’69 is where the art came to life. To took an art history course my career for a number of years Chesterfield, Missouri come face to face with similar last semester—if I hadn’t and nd it so stimulating to pieces we were studying was already been on my way out read his articles. I really do magical. For a kid from a small the door, I would have added hope to meet him someday. I’d New England town the another major! But luckily, better get around to coming to Spencer Museum of Art was a since returning to KU as a sta the campus soon, as I just special place. member, I’ve been able to pick turned 90. I have taught high school up where I le that interest. I’ll You seem to be in competi- history for almost 30 years and nish my MA in art history tion with yourself. Each article continue to bring into my this spring. gets better. Keep up to the Your opinion counts: Please lessons art history wherever Lauren Erickson, c’06, j’06 good work. email us a note at kualumni@ and whenever possible. And, Interim Director Bill Nelligan, j’49 kualumni.org to tell us what you this always culminates with a KU Marketing Communications Rockville, Maryland think of your alumni magazine. Lawrence year-end trip to the Metropoli-
2 | KANSAS ALUMNI STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, AND CIRCULATION (Required by 39 U.S.C. 3685)
1. Publication Title KANSAS ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2. Publication No. 0745-3345 3. Filling Date October 5, 2016 4. Issue Frequency Bimonthly (Jan., Mar., May, July, Sept., Nov.) 5. No. Issues Published Annually 6 6. Annual Subscription Price $55 7. Complete Mailing Address of Known O ce of Publication The Kansas University Alumni Association, 1266 Oread Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045-3169 8. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business O ce of Publisher The Kansas University Alumni Association, 1266 Oread Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045-3169 10 9. Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor Publisher Heath Peterson The Kansas University Alumni Association, 1266 Oread Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045-3169 2 Lift the Chorus Editor Jennifer Jackson Sanner Letters from our readers The Kansas University Alumni Association, 1266 Oread Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045-3169 10. Owner 5 The Kansas University Alumni Association, 1266 Oread Avenue, First Word Lawrence, KS 66045-3169 e editor’s turn 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities. If none, check box. q4 None 6 On the Boulevard 12. Tax Status. The Purpose, function, and nonprofit status of this KU & Alumni Association events organization and the exempt status for federal income tax purposes: q4 Has Not Changed During Preceding 12 Months q Has Changed During Preceding 12 Months 13. Publication Title KANSAS ALUMNI MAGAZINE 8 Jayhawk Walk 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below September 2016 Boot camp for docs, Jayhawk fashion statement, 15. Extent and Nature of Circulation a fountain that ranks and more Average Actual No. No. Copies Copies of Each Issue Single During Issue Pub. 10 Hilltopics Preceding Nearest to 12 Months Filing Date News and notes: Chancellor announces a. Total Number of Copies retirement; Santos wins Nobel Peace Prize. (Net Press Run) 32,292 28,250 b. Paid Circulation (1) Mailed Outside-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541 31,257 27,232 16 Sports (2) Mailed In-County Paid Self relishes prospect of speedy lineup; volleyball Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541 0 0 topples Texas for share of Big 12 lead. (3) Paid Distribution Outside the Mails Including Sales Through Dealers & Carriers, Street Vendors Counter Sales, & Other Paid 40 Association News Distribution Outside USPS 0 0 Jayhawks ock to Roundup; Wichita Network (4) Paid Distribution by Other Classes of Mail Through the USPS 0 0 launches new KU HAWK mentor program. c. Total Paid Distribution 31,257 27,232 d. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (1) Free or Nominal Rate Outside-County 48 Class Notes Copies Included on PS Form 3541 0 0 (2) Free or Nominal Rate In-County Pro les of a Gambian architect, a prize principal, Included on PS Form 3541 0 0 a social work policymaker and more (3) Free or Nominal Rate Copies Mailed at Other Clases Through the USPS 50 50 (4) Free or Nominal Rate Distribution Outside the Mail 250 250 68 In Memory e. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution 300 300 Deaths in the KU family f. Total Distribution 31,557 27,532 g. Copies not Distributed 735 718 h. Total 32,292 28,250 i. Percent Paid 99 99 72 Rock Chalk Review 16. Publication of Statement of Ownership will be printed A poet gets personal, a man of science seeks God, in the November 2016 issue of this publication. a journalist nds bad news for his eld and more. 17. Signature and Title of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager, or Owner I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on this form or who omits material or information requested on the form may be subject 76 Glorious to View to criminal sanctions (including fines and imprisonment and/or civil sanctions Scene on campus (including civil penalties).
ISSUE 6, 2016 | 3
by Jennifer Jackson Sanner First Word
stories. In addition, four-year "Sign up for the class renewable scholarships, includ- DAN STOREY DAN that will challenge ing the Jayhawk Generations Scholarships for out-of-state you and move you from legacy students, revamped KU’s your comfort zone. Don’t former strategy of rewarding just hang out with the students later in their under- classmates from your graduate years—a switch that Gray-Little directed in 2011. hometown or your home “Prizes are ne, but I think country. Also seek out scholarships and student aid are people who don’t look to help you get the class that you like you, talk like you or want to be here,” Gray-Little said in October, a er announcing think like you." that she would step down at the —Chancellor Gray-Little end of this academic year (see story, p. 10). “Using that money s she welcomed the Class of 2020 at the University’s 151st more strategically to inuence who comes to KU was something AOpening Convocation Aug. 21, Chancellor Bernadette on principle I wanted us to do.” Gray-Little urged new Jayhawks to make the most of their KU As it turns out, students and families like the idea, too. is fall adventures. “Don’t just sign up for the class that you think will KU celebrated its h consecutive year of freshman class growth, give you an easy ‘A.’ Sign up for the class that will challenge you to 4,233 students, and the third straight year of an overall enroll- and move you from your comfort zone,” she said. “Don’t just hang ment increase, to 28,401 students on all campuses. e student out with the classmates from your hometown or your home body is the most diverse in KU history, and the numbers of country. Also seek out people who don’t look like you, talk like graduate students, KU Medical Center students and transfers to you or think like you. the Lawrence and Edwards campuses all climbed. Overall, 61.9 “Test new ideas. Get involved. Have discussions. Have percent of Jayhawks are Kansans, and 38.1 percent are non-resi- disagreements.” dents, an increase of 5.2 percent. Or, to use the parlance of the O ce of First-Year Experience, Another promising sign is the freshman-to-sophomore the subject of our cover story, discover, engage, belong. Shortly retention rate of 80.9 percent, a 10-year high that points KU a er the chancellor and KU leaders unveiled the Bold Aspirations toward Gray-Little’s Bold Aspirations goal of 90 percent retention strategic plan in 2011, they created the O ce of First-Year and a 70 percent six-year graduation rate by 2021. e O ce of Experience. Sarah Crawford-Parker, g’97, PhD’06, who directs the First-Year Experience, the KU Core general education curriculum o ce as assistant vice provost, and associate directors Howard and other changes are beginning to reap results—and the momen- Graham, g’09, and Katie Treadwell oversee KU Orientation, Hawk tum should continue now that higher admissions standards are in Week, rst-year seminars, learning communities, peer mentors place. Under the new guidelines, which took eect this fall, the and the KU Common Book. In our story, Associate Editor Chris members of the Class of 2020 are KU’s most academically talented Lazzarino, j’86, explains how rst-year programs help new in history, with an average ACT score of 25.7 and a GPA of 3.58. students forge relationships and become immersed in the As she set expectations for her nal freshman class at Convoca- scholarly community. In 2012, the o ce coordinated 11 rst-year tion, the chancellor urged new students to seek transformation: seminars; this fall, new students can choose from 29. “Jayhawks, I do not want you to be the same person four years Jayhawks’ early academic encounters are not the only aspect of from now that you are today. And similarly, I don’t want the KU that has dramatically transformed under the Bold Aspirations university you leave to be the same as you found it when you plan. e University also has fundamentally changed the way it arrived. What can you do to improve this community? Figure that identi es prospective students and recruits them to the Hill. An out, and do it.” expanded state and national admissions team and marketing ey could follow no ner example than Chancellor campaign enlist the help of alumni who can share their KU Gray-Little.
ISSUE 6, 2016 | 5 On the Boulevard
KU students celebrated the University’s 104th Home- STEVE PUPPE STEVE coming and showed their school spirit by participating in Jayhawk Jingles, Chalk ’n’ Rock and the sign competition during the weeklong festivities. Alumni and friends joined in the fun for the parade on Massachusetts Street, which featured Bob Davis, former play-by-play voice of Jayhawk football and men’s basketball, and 2016 Olympic gold medalist and former KU track star Kyle Clemons as grand marshals.
Exhibitions JANUARY Lectures 14 Transformations Charity STEVE PUPPE STEVE “Temporal Turn: Art and Gala DECEMBER Speculation in Contemporary 1 Why Write?: An Evening Asia,” Spencer Museum of Art, Murphy Hall with Zadie Smith, Hall Nov. 10 through March 12 Center for the Humanities “From State to Nation: Dole NOVEMBER 2 Milton Steinhardt Lecture for VP, 1976,” Dole Institute, 21 KU Tuba-Euphonium Series: Robert Carl, Murphy through Jan. 13 Consort Hall 22 KU Choirs: Chamber Lied Center events Singers Academic Calendar Grand Marshal Bob Davis NOVEMBER DECEMBER NOVEMBER Dole Institute 29 Rodgers and Hammer- 3 KU Percussion Group 23-27 anksgiving break stein’s “Cinderella” 5 Genaro Mendez, tenor, DECEMBER DECEMBER 30 University Band and and Robert Hiller, piano, 8-9 Post-Election Symphonic Band Faculty Recital Series 8 Last day of fall classes Conference 9 Stop day DECEMBER 6 Rock Chalk Singers 12-16 Finals week 4 Holiday Vespers 6 KU Choirs: Bales Chorale Performances 8 9 “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Collegium Musicum JANUARY DECEMBER Reindeer: e Musical” 8 Nino Sanikidze, piano, 17 First day of spring classes 14-15 Ashley Davis and with LA Opera Young 6 KU Jazz Combos, Ingredi- friends: A Celtic Christmas Artists, Visiting Artist Series ent, Lawrence
6 | KANSAS ALUMNI Alumni Events 22 KU at UNLV pregame party, Las Vegas DAN STOREY DAN NOVEMBER 30 KU at TCU pregame 21 KU vs. UAB basketball party featuring “ e Kansas pregame party, Kansas City Basketball Legacy” by KU Libraries, Fort Worth, Texas 26 KU vs. Kansas State football watch parties JANUARY
DECEMBER 10 KU at Oklahoma pregame party, Norman, 3 “ e Kansas Basketball Oklahoma Legacy” by KU Libraries, 16 New York City Seattle Network alumni event 5 Kansas City Network 18 Common Book discussion Dallas: Jayhawks & Java 18 6 Vespers on the Road, Houston: Jayhawks & Java Overland Park 15 KU Alumni online networking PUPPE STEVE 15 Chicago Network holiday party DAN STOREY DAN 16 Houston: Jayhawks & Java 17 KU vs. Davidson pregame party, Kansas City STEVE PUPPE STEVE DAN STOREY DAN
Grand Marshal Kyle Clemons
Events listed here are high- lights from the Association’s busy calendar. For complete listings of all events, watch for emails about programs in your area, visit kualumni.org or call 800-584-2957.
ISSUE 6, 2016 | 7 Jayhawk Walk
Head start for surgeons
oping to get a leg up on their Hhands-on training, 19 medical residents attended Plastic Surgery Boot Camp at KU Medical Center in July. Sponsored by the American Council of Academic Plastic Surgeons, the boot camp helps students bone up on plastic surgery basics before starting their formal training. Richard Korentager, chair of the plastic surgery department, taught at the first boot camp, last year at the University of Pittsburgh. Impressed, he arranged for KU to be one of three sites
this year, and he and James Butter- CHARLIE PODREBARAC worth, assistant professor and director of the KU plastic surgery residency tional head start ultra sound. “My big entire body from head to toe.” program, served as drill sergeants—er, takeaway was realizing how much How tough is Plastic Surgery Boot course directors—for the three-day there is to learn,” said first-year Camp? Well, it was nip and tuck for intensive course. plastic surgery resident Kevin Xiao. a while, but in the end they all made Participants proclaimed the educa- “The field truly encompasses the the cut.
Clothes make the year. “If people don’t know me and they don’t know I like Kansas, then if they see young man me wearing a Kansas shirt then they’ll S . anniver- know. ey’ll know I’m that one kid who
sary of the rst day of classes at KU. It also likes Kansas.” COURTESY GINA KASTNER (2) COURTESY GINA KASTNER (2) rang in the fourth anniversary of Grand Sure enough, Ben hit his goal. And then Rapids, Michigan, 15-year-old Ben kept going. And going. And going. And Kastner proving his Jayhawk loyalty by sure enough, on the most recent Sept. 12, wearing KU T-shirts and sweatshirts Gina Defeo Kastner, n’89, checked in with every day. Every. Single. Day. the news that her youngest son’s streak is “Kansas is, like, still alive and well—along with a picture the best thing that shows the smiling teenager in a blue ever,” Ben, the KU tee, holding Hugo the poodle, decked son of parents out in a blue KU sweater of his own. who met at KU, “I can’t believe he’s still kept it up,” told us in July Gina says, “but his resolve to do it is still 2013, two going strong!” months before he Ben’s extra 9 inches of height in four reached his years required his Jayhawk shirts to initial goal of undergo a growth spurt, from youth Ben Kastner today, and in the same pose wearing KU gear medium to men’s medium. But his Jayhawk when he started his quest four years ago. every day for a spirit has always been XXL.
8 | KANSAS ALUMNI below-the-cabin e ect dominates the Fee? Fie! above-the-cabin e ect.”
DAN STOREY DAN No fun! Sounds good. Now if they can just do something about the food. F have plenty to grumble about Fountain of praise these days: Long lines. Security gauntlets. KU’ C O F has landed Cramped seats. Meals that rank on the on LawnStarter’s list of the nation’s Top 15 delectability scale somewhere between Most Picturesque College Fountains. school cafeteria and gas-station sushi. e lawn care company in Austin, Texas, Jay’s giving you Turns out one passenger peeve—the regularly compiles lists of the best college checked baggage fee—is actually more scenes, including top-notch landscaping the big eye blessing than blight. and natural grass- eld football stadiums. A study by Mazhar Arikan, assistant “We looked at dozens and dozens of here did all the fun go? It seems professor of supply chain management in photos of fountains,” says John Wwe’ve sadly seen the last of the School of Business, suggests baggage Egan, j’86, editor in chief at streaking boulevard backsides, purple fees actually boost airline eciency. e LawnStarter. “We were chickens prancing around Wescoe research, published in Management looking for fountains Beach on K-State game days, Santa hats Science, found that airlines improved that had a strong perched atop Uncle Jimmy on snowy median departure times and reduced aesthetic impact.” mornings. Even part of the lovely “love” delays when charging for the rst or KU’s legendary garage door on Mississippi Street was second checked bag. landmark came in at recently splintered and tossed aside for Seems those bothersome fees have No. 12 and was garbage collection. prodded travelers to y with less. Fewer applauded for its “lovely R GE A hearty thank you, then, to the UN bags to route and load yield fewer delays, owers and landscaping” that YO SAN mischievous soul who recently adorned bigger pro ts and happier iers. encircle an “intricately designed, SU Academic Jay—the late Elden Tet’s “Because passengers changed their English-inspired limestone fountain.” stern sculpture perched in front of behavior, less weight went into the plane Coming in at No. 1 was the University of Strong Hall—with stick-on eyeballs. below the cabin,” Arikan explains. “ is Washington’s Drumheller Fountain, which We’re easily amused, obviously, but it o set any changes in carry-on luggage, boasts a picturesque view of Mount Rainier. made us giggle. and it helped airlines improve their We’ll take our fountain’s perch on mighty Ah, levity. How we’ve missed you. on-time departure performance. e Mount Oread any day.
the same greeting shown to to rescue them from being Half court, track star and Olympic gold sent to five di erent foster
medalist Kyle Clemons, ’15. JEFF JACOBSEN homes. full heart For the second year in a row, With a sister at KU—fresh- ate Night in the Phog though, the night’s most man Miah was in the stands Lsaw plenty of highlights memorable moment—or so and on the phone with their Oct. 1. Freshman sensation we initially thought—came grandmother when Bechard Josh Jackson made his debut courtesy of former player hit the shot—and three and sophomore forward Brennan Bechard, d’09, siblings still at home, Stiers Carlton Bragg Jr. thundered director of basketball opera- found coach Self’s check a to 18 points in the men’s tions, who again nailed a welcome relief. scrimmage. half-court shot to score a “I’ll be giving part of the All-American Tamecka $10,000 personal check from money to my nana,” she says. Dixon, c’99, 1997 Big 12 Player Bill Self for a lucky fan. “Money doesn’t go a whole of the Year and WNBA But Bechard’s heroics were Stiers long way when you have veteran, made her first KU later topped by the winner, grandmother, Roxanne five kids.” appearance since her jersey sophomore Jordan Stiers, who Edwards, who brought Stiers Already a memorable was retired in 2005. She announced that she would and four siblings into her season, right from the returned to a standing ovation, share the windfall with her Independence, Missouri, home first shot.
ISSUE 6, 2016 | 9 Hilltopics
Hemenway. e quest for NCI designation created 1,830 jobs and $930 million in STEVE PUPPE STEVE regional economic activity. • Last spring, KU completed the Foundation Distinguished Professor initiative, which brought 12 acclaimed scholars to the faculty. • e Central District of the Lawrence campus is beginning to take shape, with construction of the Integrated Science Building, residence halls, a new Burge Union and parking garage all underway. As Gray-Little, 71, surveyed the progress, she considered the future. “I thought, ‘Well, it’s time to do it all over again!’” she recalls with a laugh. “Maybe I could have stayed another year, but if I were going to be here much longer, I’d need to be prepared to stay for an extended period of time. I couldn’t really Eight fateful years push the day that far, considering time and age, so it was really a question of making Capital achievements to mark era of KU’s 17th chancellor sure we have the time to get the new when she steps down June 30 leadership in place for the next phase, which will be another multi-year process.” A er deciding the 2016-’17 academic hancellor Bernadette Gray-Little fall 2013 to provide students clearer paths year would be her nal year as chancellor, Cfocuses on forward motion—working to graduation and more exibility in Gray-Little noti ed the Kansas Board of toward ambitious goals that are o en years meeting requirements. Regents of her intention to step down next in the making. “You’re chugging along and • Changing for Excellence, KU’s plan to June 30. On Sept. 22, just days before KU being relentless about pursuing them,” she streamline business operations and invest announced that fall 2016 marked the h says. “But it takes a long time, and almost the savings in education and research, had straight year of growth in the freshman all of the things we have worked on have provided vital funds as state support for class—with 4,233 students—she been multi-year e orts. While you’re in higher education declined. announced her decision in an email to the midst of them, it’s hard to see that • KU Medical Center began construc- students, faculty and sta . they’re being accomplished.” tion of its long-awaited Health Education “It has been an honor to lead the e summer of 2016 a orded Gray- Building, which will encourage collabora- University of Kansas,” she said. “KU has Little a rare moment to take stock: tive learning and increase the number of always been a special place with terri c • KU Endowment’s Far Above campaign doctors and other health care professionals people and an instinctive spirit to change had just concluded, raising a historic $1.6 to meet the state's needs. e School of our world for the better. ... We have made billion. Medicine also had expanded its Wichita tremendous strides as a university and • e University had completed the h program from two to four years and positioned KU for even greater achieve- year of its Bold Aspirations strategic plan, opened a Salina campus. ments in the future. Leading this remark- achieving many of the goals to enhance • e KU Alzheimer’s Disease Center in able institution is a privilege I always will teaching and research as well as KU’s 2011 earned designation from the cherish, and I’m grateful to the entire KU service to Kansas, the region and the National Institute on Aging, and the KU community for believing in our mission.” nation. Cancer Center in 2012 earned National e mission—educating leaders, • KU Core, the rst Universitywide Cancer Institute designation, ful lling a building healthy communities and making general education curriculum, began in vision set forth by Chancellor Robert E. discoveries that change the world—is a
10 | KANSAS ALUMNI mantra that has united alumni, students, very much a target for us.” we need to have students who are being faculty and sta , bolstering the commit- Many of KU’s transformations since retained at a higher rate and graduating ment and pride that impressed Gray-Little 2009, including more robust student at higher rates. So now it’s on us and the in spring 2009, when she interviewed with recruitment; four-year renewable scholar- students to make sure that happens.” the KU search committee. “I thought, ships; the Oce of First-Year Experience e search for Gray-Little's successor ‘Wow, these people really love this place. If (see story, p. 22); the KU Core; and higher will be led by the Regents, who are they care this much about it, it must be admissions standards that took e ect this expected to select an executive search rm something special,’” she recalls. fall, are aimed toward the ultimate in November, then name the search A er 38 years at the University of North long-term goals Gray-Little set when she committee, with the goal of having a new Carolina-Chapel Hill, where she became arrived at KU: improving the freshman- chancellor in place by July 1. Gray-Little executive vice chancellor and provost, to-sophomore retention rate from 80 to 90 will step down June 30 but remain Gray-Little explains she was “interested in percent and boosting the six-year gradua- available for a year to consult with her doing something else, but I didn’t know tion rate from 60 percent to 70 percent. successor through the transition. Kansas what it was. I took a chance that this was Raising admission standards, which the Alumni will report on the search process it. ... I have not at any point regretted KU community had debated for decades, in the months ahead. making the decision to move. ... ere’s was vital, she says. e Regents rejected —Jennifer Jackson Sanner always something new; there’s always KU’s rst proposal but accepted the something to work on, to keep pushing, second in 2012—with a four-year waiting and that is very attractive to me.” period. “We said, ‘If we’re accepting e chancellor vows to continue students who have a very slight chance to Peace prized pushing toward goals that remain unmet, be successful, then we aren’t going to be ncluding the challenge to hire, develop able to retain them, and they’re not going Nobel committee honors Santos’ and retain outstanding faculty. “We can be to get a degree.’ We needed to convey to bid to end Colombia’s civil war outbid,” she acknowledges.“ ere have students and their families what they need been some sad losses of young and to be successful, and then we need to do resident Juan Manuel Santos of mid-career faculty where I think the everything once they get here to make sure PColombia in October was awarded person didn’t really want to go, but they t h e y are .” the Nobel Peace Prize for his e orts at just saw the possibility of doing something With major changes in place, she says, ending a civil war that ravaged his country elsewhere that we couldn’t provide. Faculty KU should continue making strides for more than 50 years. Although the recruitment, development and retention is toward improved retention and graduation peace accord Santos, a 1973 KU graduate still something we need to make progress rates, she contends. “As we get students with degrees in business and economics, on for the sake of our institution. at is with stronger academic backgrounds, negotiated with Colombian rebels was
CLASS CREDIT
enior Honors Program major, Lynn has worked Physics and Astronomy, Sstudents Annie Lynn in the lab of Liang Tang, and Phil Baringer, profes- and Emily Smith received professor of molecular sor of physics, at CERN STEVE PUPPE STEVE the 2016 Astronaut biosciences, since high in Geneva. Her research Scholarship, which provides school. Her research uses focuses on the search for up to $10,000 for students’ advanced X-ray crystallog- the theoretical top-prime junior or senior year. The raphy techniques to analyze particle in relation to the scholarship for science, viruses at the atomic level. recently discovered Higgs technology, engineering She is a Self Engineering boson. She participates in and math fields is awarded Leadership Fellow and a the Undergraduate Physics by the Astronaut Barry Goldwater Scholar- Committee and engineering Scholarship Foundation, ship recipient. fraternity Theta Tau. which includes members of A physics and inter- Lynn and Smith were NASA’s Mercury, Gemini, disciplinary computing recognized by astronauts Apollo, Skylab and space major, Smith has worked Steve Hawley, c’73, and shuttle programs. with Alice Bean, Dis- Sam Gemar Sept. 23 on Lynn and Smith A chemical engineering tinguished Professor of campus.
ISSUE 6, 2016 | 11 Hilltopics
Shortly a er the prize was announced, Olav Njølstad, secretary of the Nobel Law success: The School of Law ranks Committee, said, “I just had a chance to talk with President Santos on the phone, 23rd in the U.S. for improving the hiring and he was overwhelmed. He said rates of graduates over the last five years, immediately that this is ‘very, very, very STEVE PUPPE STEVE according to National Jurist magazine. important for my country and for the continuing peace process.’” More than 91 percent of KU law classes —Chris Lazzarino from 2014 and 2015 are employed, a return to pre-recession employment rates. Full-time, long-term True leaders jobs requiring bar passage rose for a fifth consecutive Dole, Kassebaum reunite year, topping 81 percent for the class of 2015. to discuss politics of past, today
ormer U.S. Senators Bob Dole and FNancy Landon Kassebaum were William Allen White School of Journalism featured guests at the “Giants of the and Mass Communications, to KU, Senate” event Sept. 17 at the Dole Institute arriving on Mount Oread in 1969. As of Politics, where the longtime friends CARLOS VILLALON CARLOS detailed in a cover story in Kansas Alumni reminisced about their time together in magazine’s issue No. 3, 2011, Santos rst Congress and contrasted their experience lived in McCollum Hall, then joined the with today’s turbulent political climate. Delta Upsilon fraternity as a sophomore. e Kansas-born leaders share a A motivated scholar—as well as a combined 53 years of service in Congress. friendly fraternity brother who enjoyed Dole, ’45, was elected to the House of beers at e Wagon Wheel Café, serenad- Representatives in 1960 and won a Senate ing sororities and participating in all-night seat in 1968. He was elected Senate nickel-dime-quarter poker games—Santos Republican leader in 1985, a position he earned his KU degree in seven semesters, held until 1996, when he resigned to run returned to Colombia, then le for for president. Kassebaum, c’54, the London where he began his career as daughter of former Kansas governor and unexpectedly rejected by voters, the Colombia’s delegate to the International GOP presidential candidate Alf Landon, a Norwegian Nobel Committee expressed Co ee Organization. e KU College of 1908 law graduate, was elected to Senate in hope that the award would encourage Liberal Arts and Sciences named Santos a 1978—the only woman in the 100- Colombians to continue their e orts at distinguished alumnus in 2012. member chamber at the time—and served ending a war that killed more than 220,000 “ is great honor only adds to the until 1997. She chaired the Labor and and displaced nearly 6 million. immense pride KU alumni around the Human Resources Committee and was a “ e Norwegian Nobel Committee world have felt for their fellow Jayhawk senior member of the Foreign Relations emphasizes the importance of the fact that since President Santos devoted himself to Committee. President Santos is now inviting all parties the cause of peace in Colombia,” said Bill Lacy, director of the Dole Institute, to participate in a broad-based national Alumni Association President Heath led the discussion. Both Dole and Kasse- dialogue aimed at advancing the peace Peterson, d’04, g’09. “ is Nobel Peace baum spoke fondly of their 18 years as process,” the Nobel Committee stated in a Prize also brings honor to the long-estab- Senate colleagues. “We were proud to be press release issued Oct. 7 from its Oslo, lished mission of University of Kansas traditional Kansas Republican conserva- Norway, headquarters. “Even those who faculty, administrators, students, sta and tives,” Dole said. “We understood to get opposed the peace accord have welcomed alumni to make our heartland campus a things done you have Democrats and you such a dialogue. e Nobel Committee welcome home to students from around have Republicans, but Nancy and I also hopes that all parties will take their share the world. Our international missions, as had friends on both sides.” of responsibility and participate construc- educators and alumni advocates, will Kassebaum recalled her work on the tively in the upcoming peace talks.” continue with an energized pace thanks to Labor and Human Resources Committee Santos followed an older brother, Luis President Santos, whom we are proud to with Sen. Ted Kennedy, a longtime Fernando Santos, a 1970 graduate of KU’s call one of our own.” Democratic leader, when discussing the
12 | KANSAS ALUMNI importance of fostering bipartisan talked to Donald,” he said. “I told him to Milestones, money relationships. “We worked together,” she tone down his rhetoric. Instead of insulting said. “You can, when you care about the everybody once a week, start talking about and other matters issues. e problems now are di erent, but policy. People want to know what you’re they’re signi cant. e worry is that going to do.” people aren’t willing to work across the Dole noted that the climate was more
aisle. Today, what really is the concern is amicable when he ran for o ce. “I lost in PUPPE STEVE that people don’t have trust or respect.” 1996,” he recalled, “but I always thought roughout the discussion, which Dole Bill Clinton was my opponent, not my kept lively with his quick wit, the senators enemy. You’ve got to approach it that way. expressed great admiration for each other. It’s gotten all out of whack.” Kassebaum spoke highly of her colleague’s At the conclusion of the event, Lacy work on the passage of the Americans for surprised Kassebaum by presenting her the Disabilities Act of 1990, and Dole com- 2016 Dole Leadership Prize, which is n U.S. News and World Report’s ”Best mended Kassebaum for her ability to awarded annually to an individual or group Colleges” rankings dropped KU one connect with people and listen to their with exemplary leadership in public spot, to a tie for 56th among public concerns. service. Past recipients include South universities, but raised the University’s “Nancy had a way about her. She was African president Nelson Mandela, the ranking three spots into a tie for 40th willing to engage people,” he said. “If Wounded Warrior Project, and former place among public universities in the you’re going to be good at anything, you presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill “Best Colleges for Veterans” rankings. have to learn to listen. We had town Clinton. “It is a great honor, and I’m really In undergraduate education programs, meetings. We’d speak and then we’d take touched,” Kassebaum said to a standing the School of Engineering fell four spots questions. People would say, ‘Bob, I’ve got ovation. to 44th among a little problem,’ and I’d say, ‘Good. I’ll give She later requested that the award’s public universities, it to Nancy as soon as I get back.’” $25,000 cash honorarium stay at the Dole and the School of Although unwavering in their mutual Institute to support student programs. “We Business ranked respect, the senators weren’t afraid to are delighted that Senator Kassebaum has 41st among public disagree when discussing the 2016 chosen to generously leave this money with schools, a drop of presidential election. “I am terribly the Dole Institute,” Lacy said in a news two spots. disappointed in my own Republican party release. “Our work with students is an with the leadership Donald Trump has important part of what we do, and this gi n A $5.1 million cooperative agree- given it,” Kassebaum said. “I do not like will allow us to enhance the experience of ment from the Eunice Shriver National the language he’s given it. It’s escalating on all our students.” Institute of Child Health and Human both sides now, and it doesn’t serve the Kassebaum is the second consecutive Development will benefit the Kansas country well. I’m really more sad than Dole Leadership Prize recipient to endow Intellectual and Developmental Disabili- m a d .” the cash award to the Dole Institute. ties Research Center (KIDDRC). Led by Dole has openly supported the Republi- President Bill Clinton, who was honored in John Colombo, director of the Life Span can candidate, but he shared some of 2015, le the $25,000 to help develop a Institute and professor of psychology, Kassebaum’s concern regarding the program for women in leadership. and Peter Smith, senior associate dean direction the election has taken. “I’ve —Heather Biele for research and professor of molecular and integrative physiology, KIDDRC is a nationally designated center funded by the National Institutes of Health since Former Senators Bob Dole 1966. and Nancy Kassebaum n Rosemary Chapin, professor of social shared stories and laughs welfare, has been named a National with a packed house at Association of Social Workers Pio- the "Giants of the Senate" neer. The award recognizes Chapin's event Sept. 17 at the Dole research, advocacy and influential Institute of Politics, textbook, Social Policy for Eective
ERIC MONTOGMERY, DOLE INSTITUTE OF POLITICS DOLE INSTITUTE ERIC MONTOGMERY, where Kassebaum also Practice: A Strengths Approach. Chapin received the 2016 Dole recently published the fourth edition of Leadership Prize. the widely used text.
ISSUE 6, 2016 | 13 Hilltopics
Bob Page, president and CEO of the University of Kansas Hospital. He and John Jeter, c’77, m’81, president and CEO of Hays Medical Center, have discussed a partnership for several years, Page said. “ is is not about back o ce, this is not about anything other than we have a responsibility to the state of Kansas, and our goal is to improve the health of Kansans.” Page said the move will also bolster the hospital as a “regional and potentially national player” in health care. Teaming with the state’s only academic hospital and leading regional health care provider has obvious advantages for STEVE PUPPE STEVE HaysMed, Jeter said. “In the academic medical centers we see MEDICINE most developments that happen in health Kansas Heart and Stroke Collaborative. care, whether it’s through bench research, Hospital broadens reach at initiative to reduce deaths from heart discoveries, or whether it’s equipment with HaysMed partnership attack and stroke in western Kansas by 20 that’s developed, new surgical procedures. percent received a three-year, $12.5 “It takes time for these new develop- T U K Hospital million grant from Centers for Medicare ments to dri into community hospitals and Hays Medical Center are teaming up and Medicaid Services in 2014 [“Best care, like HaysMed. With this relationship, we’ll to boost access to high quality health care anywhere,” Hilltopics, issue No. 5, 2014]. be able to take advantage of new develop- throughout western Kansas. “What we’re really focused on is a ments much quicker than we could e September signing of a letter of relationship between the University of otherwise. is will be extremely helpful intent marks the beginning of a new Kansas Health System and Hays Medical for us and our region.” partnership that builds on prior partner- Center with one goal in mind, and that is e private, not-for-pro t, 207-bed ships between the hospitals, including the to improve the health of all Kansans,” said HaysMed is the only hospital in the
VISITOR CREDIT CREDIT Team player BACKGROUND: Mulally was based approach, Ford became president and CEO of Boeing the only Big Three automaker Alan Mulally, e’68, g’69, former Commercial Airplanes, in his not to require a loan from the Boeing executive and the 37th year at the company and federal government to survive architect of Ford Motor Co.’s convinced he’d never leave the 2008 financial crisis. ANN DEAN, KU SCHOOL OF BUSINESS SCHOOL ANN DEAN, KU historic turnaround, delivered when Ford chairman William the Anderson Chandler Lecture. Ford called. “I knew I was in QUOTE: Joking that working trouble when I didn’t just hang together “was kinda called WHEN: Oct. 6 up,” Mulally said. As Ford cheating” when he was in president and CEO from 2006 ANECDOTE: Mulally noted school, Mulally lauded a School WHERE: Lied Center of to 2014, he helped revive the that Ford was losing money “on of Engineering curriculum that Kansas struggling company that is now every brand and every car” encouraged collaboration. the world’s leading automaker. when he took over leadership of “The classes that contained SPONSORS: The School of He currently serves on the company. “Our first forecast multiple disciplines changed my Business and the Self President Obama’s Export was a $17 billion loss. A few life. Because you realize, hey, Engineering Leadership Fellows Council and on the boards of months later, we achieved it.” this is a team sport.” Google and Carbon3D. With his “One Ford” team- —Steven Hill
14 | KANSAS ALUMNI western half of the state o ering certain to build rapport in addition to responding Milestones, money tertiary services like open-heart and to emergencies. rough administrative robotic surgeries. It also supports the 24 streamlining he has already added one and other matters critical access hospitals in the Northwest additional patrol o cer. Kansas Health Alliance. e University of “One of the things I like to stress is the Kansas Hospital, a Level I Trauma Center, community building that should be done, n A $1 million gift from retired is a 756-bed facility that serves more than no matter what your job is—whether engineering professor Kenneth 33,000 inpatients annually. you’re a security o cer, police o cer, Himmelstein will support graduate dispatcher,” Keary says. “I would like our students and faculty in the department o cers to be out in the community, to be of chemical and petroleum engineering. CAMPUS seen—not only when something bad is The Herbert and Grace Himmelstein happening, but on a regular basis—to be Endowment for the Bishop-Rosson- Alumnus to lead visible, because that makes people feel Swift-Marchello Chemical Engineering campus police force better and it does also create that commu- Fund at KU honors four professors: nity spirit.” Kenneth Bishop, Harold Rosson and A - who has served as the late George “Bill” Swift, e’52, g’57, assistant chief since 1998 was named this PhD’59, who all taught at KU, and the fall to succeed Ralph Oliver as director of GIVING late Joseph Marchello, of the University public safety and chief of the 60-member of Maryland. KU police force. Koch Industries funds business, Chris Keary, c’83, joined the campus engineering scholarships n Seniors Jordan Hildenbrand and police as a dispatcher in 1981, while a Abdoulie Njai were introduced during computer K I , the Wichita-based halftime of the KU-Oklahoma State science student. conglomerate that ranks as America’s Homecoming game as recipients of He stayed on second-largest private company, donated the 26th-annual Ex.C.E.L. Award. The a er graduation more than $1 million for scholarships for Excellence in Community, Education and because he students in KU’s School of Business and Leadership prize recognizes leadership, liked Lawrence School of Engineering in September. communication skills, involvement in and liked being According to KU Endowment, $600,000 the KU and Lawrence communities, part of KU’s will establish the Koch Opportunity scholarship and ability to work with a mission to Scholars Fund, which will be used to variety of students and organizations. educate recruit, retain and provide scholarships for students. under-represented and rst-generation n Morris Faiman, professor emeritus of Keary “One of the students. Juniors and seniors majoring in pharmacology and toxicology, received important engineering will benet from the $240,000 the Cardinal Health Generation Rx things is, I was a student here,” Keary says Koch Engineering Scholars Fund, and the Champions Award from the Kansas of the long-term perspective he brings to $240,000 Koch Business Scholars Fund Pharmacists Association for his work the job. “Granted, things have changed a will provide scholarships for junior and to curb community-based prescription bit over the years, but a lot is the same. It’s senior business majors. drug abuse. nice to have that understanding, because “We hope these scholarships enable that’s why we’re here, for the students.” promising KU students to develop their n Sarah Deer, c’96, l’99, is the KU Keary says he will advocate a commu- innate talents, succeed and help others do Langston Hughes Visiting Professor nity-policing model that puts more patrol the same,” said Je Gentry, b’83, CEO of this fall. The 2014 MacArthur Fellow o cers on the street, where they can work INVISTA, a Koch Industries company. [“Justice for All,” issue No. 1, 2015] lectured on “Gendering Federal Indian Law” at the Kansas Union Nov. 2. “Since receiving the MacArthur fellowship in 2014,” Deer said, “I have been focused “I never wanted to be the smartest person in the on scholarship and activism that amplifies the voices of Native women— room. I just wanted to work on projects that make particularly those aected by violence { the world better.” —Alan Mulally } and abuse.”
ISSUE 6, 2016 | 15 Sports by Chris Lazzarino three-out, two-in team,” Self says, “but I think this year we’re going to get away from it a little bit.” e tinkering is particularly intriguing because the Jayhawks, ranked No. 3 in the rst Associated Press poll, open their season Nov. 11 against No. 13 Indiana at
STEVE PUPPE (2) STEVE the Armed Forces Classic in Honolulu and four days later face top-ranked Duke in the Champions Classic in New York City. ere will be no easy games in which Self can test his four-guard ideas or tinker with an intriguing mix of returning veterans—guards Frank Mason III, Devonté Graham, Lagerald Vick and Svi Mykhailiuk, and big men Landen Lucas and Carlton Bragg Jr.—and newcomers Jackson, forward Udoka Azubuike, forward Mitch Lightfoot, forward Dwight Coleby and guard Malik Newman. Self calls the possibilities of mixing dazzling young players with established starters “an unknown X factor. I do think the pieces have potential to t. Last year the pieces t as well as they could and we still came up short. is year, if the pieces Four on the floor t as well, then I think you may have a little bit more talented group that may give Jackson’s versatility tempts Self to test smaller, faster lineup you a chance maybe to play better when it counts the most.” Vick, a sophomore, says he’s intrigued nd now for something completely the key word in Jackson’s self-assessment, by the four-guard rotation because “all the Adi erent: A four-guard lineup by Bill because there’s zero chance a defensive- guards will be in attack mode.” Mason, a Self? e addition of top-ranked recruit minded coach like Self would consider a senior, also votes thumbs up. Josh Jackson, a 6-8 freshman from Detroit, radical lineup, no matter how enticing the “I really like it,” Mason says. “We have has KU’s men’s basketball coach thinking potential scoring threats, if he thought it good guards who can get in the lane, drive big by going small. would compromise the Jayhawks’ ability to the ball downhill and create easier shots. Yet another reason to pay close attention slow the opposing team. Play four around one and try to get the to what is expected to be a one-year KU Note that Self dismisses traditional experience for the personable young star. basketball terminology that gives numbers “Sometimes I bring the ball up the oor, to positions, from 1 for the point guard to but mostly I’m playing the 2 or 3,” Jackson 5 for the center: “I don’t look at 1s, 2s and says, indicating traditional guard positions 3s. I look at guards. And I don’t look at 4s anking the primary ball handler. “But and 5s. I look at them as bigs.” e [Self] has talked about a couple of times distinction is important, Self notes, this year we’ll go small, so I may be because “if we play four guards, I look at playing some 4. I’ll probably be playing four guards and one big. I won’t look at four di erent positions this year. moving Josh to a big spot.” “I’ve been doing it most of my life, College basketball, Self says, “is getting actually, playing multiple positions. I think smaller.” While power forwards once Freshman Josh Jackson (11) scored 14 in the that’s kind of what makes me a little dreamed of becoming big guards, the Nov. 1 exhibition opener against Washburn. special; I can guard and play multiple reverse is now in vogue, with coaches After KU’s 92-74 victory, coach Bill Self (above) positions.” trying tall guards as “stretch 4s.” said, “It was good for our freshmen to get an Guard—the verb, not the noun—being “We’ve always been a conventional eye-opening experience.”
16 | KANSAS ALUMNI ball inside and let the post-man work one-on-one.” As for the brutal early schedule, Self “I’ve been doing it most of my life, actually, playing laments, “I don’t know what we were thinking.” He says he agreed to the Hawaii multiple positions. I think that’s kind of what tournament for its association with the makes me a little special.” —freshman guard Josh Jackson 75th anniversary of the attacks on Pearl {} Harbor “and what that could mean from an educational standpoint with our guys. I think that was something like, yeah, emotionally, we’ve got to do that.” run, but KU pounced in the second, back-to-back points until KU held a 13-8 holding the Longhorns to their fewest lead. Junior middle blocker Kayla Cheadle points in any set this season. In the pivotal set up match point with a kill, followed by third set, the Jayhawks grabbed a 6-2 lead a match-winning block by Soucie and Texas toppers and were at 19-15 when Micaya White, the freshman hitter Jada Burse. Longhorns’ superstar freshman hitter, “We shook o the fourth and played ‘Hawks spike Longhorns, scored a side-out kill then served through well in the h,” Bechard said. “Everybody grab tie for Big 12 volleyball lead a 6-0 run for a 21-19 Texas lead. had a moment tonight that was good and e tense nal stretch of the third set that they’ll remember.” ntil Oct. 29, when No. 6 KU beat No. included three kills by junior outside hitter With 21 kills, eight digs and six blocks, U2 Texas in a ve-set thriller in Madison Rigdon and, with Texas serving Payne was named national Player of the sold-out Horejsi Family Athletics Center, for the set at 25-24, a kill by junior Week. Yet despite her stellar performance, the KU volleyball team had lost 25 All-American hitter Kelsie Payne. Payne heroes of the match for Bechard were consecutive matches against their lone and senior middle blocker Tayler Soucie Soucie, libero Cassie Wait and setter remaining Big 12 nemesis, the Texas teamed for a block to give KU a match- Maggie Anderson, seniors who can now Longhorns. point opportunity at 26-25, which the say they beat Texas. Until this win, critical for the Jayhawks’ Jayhawks won on a Texas attacking error. “Before we came out here,” Bechard said, conference title hopes, KU’s most recent “ e third set,” Bechard said, “was key.” “we talked about, Maggie Anderson wants victory over Texas came Nov. 8, 2003, and Texas crushed 16 kills to run away with to beat Texas. Cassie Wait. Soucie. at that one actually capped a three-game the fourth set, but the Jayhawks marched inspired our team. I’m proud of (and four out of ve) head-to-head out for the h set and denied Texas them.” winning streak for the Jayhawks. e Longhorns plodded through a 10-10 Big 12 season that year, but more than
re-energized their program with the 2012 MIKE GUNNOE NCAA title and four consecutive Final Fours. e Jayhawks, too, have now established themselves on the national scene, with four consecutive (and counting) NCAA Tournament appearances and three consecutive second-place Big 12 seasons. With both programs now roaring at full steam, the Oct. 29 match marked the fourth-straight Kansas-Texas showdown featuring two top-10 teams. More impor- tant, with their victory—17-25, 25-11, 27-25, 12-25, 15-10—the Jayhawks tied the Longhorns atop the Big 12 at 9-1 with six matches remaining in league play. “Finally,” said 19th-year coach Ray Bechard, “the Jayhawks get a big W against the Longhorns.” Juniors Kelsie Payne (8) and Tori Miller (2) had much to celebrate after KU’s Oct. 29 Texas closed out the rst set with a 7-1 upset of Texas.
ISSUE 6, 2016 | 17 Sports
remainder of the year on Lost for the season the eld,” Beaty said, “but STEVE PUPPE STEVE he’s still going to be a big Dineen’s injury exemplifies part of what we do, from hard year for football ‘Hawks a leadership standpoint.” Four games into the Big hree days a er a 43-7 loss at Mem- 12 schedule, KU’s defense Tphis, coach David Beaty announced led the conference in that junior linebacker Joe Dineen Jr., a stopping opponent’s leading tackler and inspirational leader, third-down conversion had injured a hamstring. “He’ll be back attempts, at 37.7 percent, here in a few weeks,” Beaty said. “I don’t and was second with know exactly when.” eight created turnovers. Two weeks later, Beaty beamed, “He is Junior Cole Moos, who way ahead of schedule,” but the bell ending averaged 50.4 yards on Dineen’s season nally rang Nov. 1, when eight punts Oct. 15 at Beaty conceded that with four games le Baylor, was named Big 12 Special Teams LaQuvionte Gonzalez (1) caught six passes for in a 1-7 season, there was no need to risk a Player of the Week and was later named a 106 yards and a touchdown in the Oct. 22 medical redshirt by pushing his return. candidate for the Ray Guy Award, given to Homecoming game against Oklahoma State. “We’re going to be without him for the college football’s best punter.
UPDATES
placing 14th over Fort Hays State. ... the open pair, double and and earning Sophomore Haley Bishop singles race at the fourth his first All-Big was named Big 12 Swimmer of Jayhawk Jamboree Oct. 23 on 12 honors. ... the Week after winning four the Kansas River. KU also won LAURA JACOBSEN LAURA As Kansas races Oct. 27 against TCU, the novice four, crewed by Alumni went to giving her 12 wins in as many freshmen Reese Arnold, Mary press, the races. On Sept. 17 Bishop and Margaret Roberts, Amelia 25th-ranked sophomore teammate Libby Moore and Kate Mizell, and soccer team Walker finished in a dead heat sophomore coxswain Katie was preparing in the inaugural Collegiate McWhirter. ... Top-five finishes for the Big 12 Open Water Championship at by sophomores Charlie Hillier championship Lone Star Lake and were and Jake Scarrow and senior in Kansas City. declared co-champions. ... Chase Hanna led men’s golf to Lokedi The Jayhawks Junior rowers Kaelyn a 17-stroke victory at the Bayou placed second Thierolf and Olivia Loney won City Collegiate Oct. 11 in Sophomore All-American in the Big 12 regular season, Pearland, Texas, the Sharon Lokedi won the Big 12 their best conference showing Jayhawks’ second- cross-country championship in a decade, by losing just one consecutive team victory. Oct. 29 at Texas Tech, the first match in the season’s final five ... The Big 12 Board of conference title in the history of weeks. Sophomore forward JEFF JACOBSEN Directors on Oct. 17 women’s cross-country at KU. Grace Hagan, named All-Big 12, announced it would no “With each mile, the more I ran led regular-season scoring with longer consider expansion. the better I felt,” Lokedi said. “I seven goals. ... Transfer guards Oklahoma president and was like, ‘I can do this.’” She ran Jessica Washington and board chair David Boren the 6K in 20 minutes, 18.5 McKenzie Calvert combined said the unanimous seconds. Senior James for 33 points in their debut for decision represented “a Hampton led KU men to a women’s basketball, a 98-71 very strong commitment fourth-place team finish by exhibition victory Oct. 30 Hagan to the Big 12.”
18 | KANSAS ALUMNI
STEVE PUPPE (11) Nov. 1– Dec. 30, 2016 The prize drawing will be held Jan. 6, 2017
Grand Prize • $1,000 Visa® gift card • 2016-2017 KU men’s team autographed basketball • Four half-court chair-back seats at the Feb. 13, 2017, men’s home basketball game, KU vs. West Virginia ($1,500 estimated retail value)
Upgrade, renew, give the gift of membership, or make a contribution of any amount to the KU Alumni Association between Nov. 1 and Dec. 30, 2016, and be automatically entered into the Membership Mania Sweepstakes Prize Drawing to win one of five prizes.
Second Prize Third Prize Fourth Prize Fifth Prize 60” Samsung® flat screen Yeti® Jayhawk® cooler Bose® Bluetooth speaker $100 Visa® gift card television and two tumblers ($300 estimated retail value) ($100 estimated retail value) ($1,100 estimated retail value) ($600 estimated retail value)
Please visit kualumni.org/membermania for prize drawing information and o cial rules. No purchase is necessary to enter. Please visit kualumni.org/membermania for o cial rules or contact the KU Alumni Association at 800/584-2957 to request a copy of the o cial rules.
kualumni.org Stay connected. Check out the KU Alumni Association app at kualumni.org/app. 800-584-2957 22 | KANSAS ALUMNI by Chris Lazzarino
Photographs by Steve Puppe From Day
A revamped First-Year Experience Oneguides new students toward their ultimate KU success
t is early on a warm summer e rst KU Orientation morning and already event of the day, “Discover IWoodru Auditorium is KU,” is o cially underway. nearly full. Unlike many other When the 450 attendees events in this cavernous Kansas respond with a less-than-spine- Union space—or anywhere else on tingling “Jayhawk,” Treadwell says, campus, for that matter—attendees “When we say ‘Rock Chalk, Jayhawk,’ we arrive early, nd seats in the crowded are excited about it. And I think you all auditorium in an orderly fashion and could be more excited about it. It was a immediately fall stone silent the moment good rst attempt, but we are going to try the event begins. it one more time. Hour One, Day One, of the KU experi- “Rock Chalk!” ence for these pre-freshmen and their “Jayhawk!” families, and all are on their best behavior OK, so all Jayhawks have experienced as Katie Treadwell, associate director of that sort of “Rock Chalk, Jayhawk” KU’s O ce of First-Year Experience, steps call-response/we can do better/CALL- onto Woodru ’s deep stage. RESPONSE! episode. And those of us who “Good morning!” she exclaims. “It is are alumni, have children attending KU, or 8:32. You’ve been here for all of two both, have also all experienced KU minutes and it is time for your rst Orientation, and, as likely as not, it began assignment as a Jayhawk. Are you ready? I with a Rock Chalk or two. Unlike our am going to say ‘Rock Chalk,’ and you are beloved chant, though, orientation, like going to say ‘Jayhawk.’ Can we do this?” everything to follow from Hour One of “Yes!” Day One through the entire freshman year, “Great. Rock Chalk!” is nothing like we knew before.
ISSUE 6, 2016 | 23 “ is is a really exciting moment to in order to advance to sophomore status. clubs and government, yet still he har- think big,” Sarah Crawford-Parker, “Investing in yourself fully from the bored a fear: “Does it matter when I move assistant vice provost and director of the start is a really good thing,” she later outside of here? Does it matter when I go O ce of First-Year Experience, tells the explains. “ at does not mean we want to a bigger place?” incoming students. “What are your you to join eight clubs and organizations, He assured incoming small-town dreams? What are your passions?” but make sure you have a small course, freshmen—surely far more than the ve or Within the eetingly fast 30 minutes of make sure you have a course you’re really so who raised their hands when rst asked “Discover KU,” students and their families passionate about, make sure you join one to do so by Treadwell—that what he hear some of the best college advice organization, make sure you explore one discovered in his wilderness school, imaginable, and they’ll hear variations on campus o ce. ose are some achievable surrounded by students from big cities, the themes throughout the rest of their and important goals.” will translate to their own experiences on orientation day and the opening chapters When Howard Graham, the O ce of Mount Oread. of their rst freshman semesters. First-Year Experience’s associate director “What I realized really quickly was that Crawford-Parker, g’97, PhD’06, explains for academic programs, bounds onto the none of us were doing things we’d ever that KU Core, required of all undergradu- stage, he good-naturedly chastises students done before,” Graham says. “We were all ates, includes six areas of emphasis: for lackluster responses to questions posed being asked to do new things, right? What • critical thinking and quantitative by Treadwell and Crawford-Parker: How that gave me the freedom to do, and I literacy many of you are from towns smaller than think gave all of us the freedom to do, was • communication Lawrence? How many are from big cities? to begin to share openly about who we are, • breadth of knowledge Who wants a job? where we are from and what we did well, • culture and diversity “I know you’re not being forthcoming,” and we tackled new tasks together. • social responsibility and ethics Graham says. “You need to be from this “I hope it underscores for you that it’s • and integration and creativity. moment forward.” vitally important that you be willing to She also emphasizes that freshmen Graham, g’09, o ers a telling anecdote share who you are, where you are from, should enroll in 15 to 17 credit hours in about the rst time he le his small the experiences that you’ve had, because their rst semester—a full course load hometown in upstate New York and they matter. Because they do count outside provides structure that helps new students traveled to an Outward Bound course in of where you’re from. ey do count in succeed, Crawford-Parker says—and Oregon. He had been successful in high this room. ey do count at the University complete 30 credits aer spring semester school, participating in sports, theatre, of Kansas.”
24 | KANSAS ALUMNI ay One of Semester One. As with Dorientation, students arrive promptly, settle in, and are ready to begin. It is room 4033 Wescoe, where Graham is ready to begin his third semester teaching “Univer- sity 101: Sport, University & You.” e two-credit-hour course is part of a network of small, discussion-based classes created by the professional schools, University Honors Program and the O ce of First-Year Experience, all designed to connect students with faculty and peers in their rst semester. (See sidebar, p. 27) As with the other rst-year seminars and UNIV 101 learning communities, enrollment in Sport, University & You is capped at 19. Graham introduces himself then promptly announces that the students have 30 seconds to pair o. “Everybody take a visual image of what Howard Graham (l-r), Sarah Crawford-Parker and Katie Treadwell say researched and tested the room looks like right now and let’s try strategies can help freshmen and transfer students succeed, including encouraging enrollment in to make it look like that before we leave one small class; making peer mentors available; giving young students opportunities to learn and today,” he says. “Now, let’s destroy it. Move practice basic skills such as how to share their work with classmates; and setting high expectations. things. Move around.” ey do as told, and Graham tells them to introduce themselves to their partner delightfully, comes collegiate sports’ two minutes of one-on-one discussion, the and then discuss the course’s rst ques- context in American history: students begin to share the bene ts of tions: When was the rst intercollegiate e few early American universities sports. sporting contest and what sport was it? were generally socially conservative Family bonding. Leadership. Respect. “You have two minutes.” spaces led by dictatorial faculty and Perseverance. Life skills. Dedication. Aer precisely two minutes of shy, administrators. But as teenagers whose Patience. erapeutic exercise. Coaches as barely audible discussion, Graham asks for families fought in the American Revolu- father gures for a young man reared by a responses. He tells students to introduce tion began entering U.S. colleges in the single mother. themselves to the class—although in most early 19th century, they brought with Question No. 3 challenges students to cases he beats them to it, announcing their them a spirit of rebellion and love for discuss what they learned about teamwork names even as he calls on them, proving freedom. ey began to organize activities by playing or watching sports, and again he’d already memorized the roster—and re ecting their own interests—literary the responses are revealing. Sacri ce. then share their answers, which tend to be clubs, student government, fraternities, Responsibility. Communication. wildly inaccurate but oer good insight even class ghts. “Forget sports for a second,” Graham into how much they have yet to learn “ ose activities begin to develop into says as the class session nears its conclu- about a topic for which they presumably collegiate sports,” Graham says, “which sion. “ e goal is that each one of you is have a passion. begin to get their legs in the 1850s and going to nd what you want here and get Graham oers a hint. begin to mature aer the Civil War. By the on that pathway toward a degree and an “ is is something to know: College 1880s, tens of thousands of people are education.” sports have been commercial from day showing up at the Polo Grounds in New He reminds them that they heard at one,” he says, explaining that the rst York City to watch Princeton and Yale or orientation about how a degree is the intercollegiate sporting event was orga- Harvard and Yale play a football game on University’s o cial recognition of com- nized by a railroad magnate hoping to anksgiving Day.” pleted studies in a speci c eld, while deliver athletes and alumni from Harvard e semester is seven minutes old. education is broader than classrooms. and Yale to a vacation destination he was Graham tells the freshmen to nd new “We want both for you, but for you to eager to promote. discussion partners and talk about the get those things you’re going to have to It was rowing, Graham reveals aer roles sport has played in their lives. Now communicate, you’re going to have to further discussion, at Lake Winnipesau- the discussion is louder and more ani- persevere, you’re going to have to build kee, New Hampshire, in 1852. And then, mated. e room swells with energy. Aer relationships. You’re going to have to do
ISSUE 6, 2016 | 25 everything that we talked about today. winning Between the World and Me, a Howard Graham and peer mentor Alex Barbour Socialize. Lead. You’re going to have to passionate examination of race in the (center, l-r) welcomed freshmen to Sports, have respect, you’re going to have to play. United States. University & You on the first day of fall classes, And maybe sports is going to play a role in e book is di cult and challenging. It Aug. 22 in Wescoe Hall. your lives here.” can open up new perspectives to old issues and, for many, illuminate aspects of the ook One: KU Common Book. black experience few white Americans had got at orientation?’ and build from there.” B KU launched its O ce of First-Year ever considered. Nothing about Between In his book, written as a letter to his Experience in 2012, reorganizing and the World and Me is easy reading, and, for 15-year-old son a er a grand jury declined expanding a longtime o ce called New freshmen entering in fall 2016, it is the to indict the Ferguson, Missouri, police Student Orientation. As outlined by rst book of their KU careers. ey each o cer who shot and killed Michael Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little and the received a copy at orientation and were Brown, Coates describes the epiphany of University’s Bold Aspirations plan, KU told to read it before returning in August. his years at Howard University, especially needed to improve graduation rates and “You’re going to read the book not only the uno cial social and intellectual freshman-to-sophomore retention, and it because it’s going to prepare you to be part interactions that he called e Mecca. created the O ce of First-Year Experience of our community, to join the conversation “Notice that the university, much as he to help reach those goals. we are having on campus about how we admires it, is not itself e Mecca,” David e new o ce chose as its mission have become a more equitable and Roediger, Foundation Distinguished motto, “To help students discover, engage inclusive space,” Graham says at orienta- Professor of American Studies and and belong,” which had been suggested by tion, “but also because it’s going to help History, writes in the KU Common Book a KU Medical Center faculty member. prepare you for classes. ere are more readers’ guide. “Instead the relationships “He said it’s almost like an evolutionary than 150 sections of classes that will use built by those there—supporting, loving, pathway,” Crawford-Parker says. “If we can the book in some capacity in the fall.” and challenging each other—engage his do more to drive that passion, that Campus enthusiasm for KU Common imagination and de ne how e Mecca intellectual curiosity, that connection to Book is almost certainly the most visible works. faculty, and do all of that early, then we public aspect of new expectations for “What are the challenges of building a know that students will engage at higher rst-year experiences. Katie Treadwell, for mecca here without relying entirely on the levels and we’ll know that they’ll feel a instance, notes that not only does it university to do it for us?” sense of belonging. We are deeply com- introduce students to college-level critical KU Common Book, as with the rest of mited to that work.” thinking and intellectual development, but the O ce of First-Year Experience’s One of the O ce of First-Year Experi- the shared reading experience also opens programming and philosophy, is, in a ence’s rst splashy debuts was KU doors to conversation. word, intentional. No longer is it good Common Book, designed to connect “When you go to a class for the rst enough to presume that 18-year-olds in freshmen and others in the campus time or you show up in your residence hall the rst steps of adulthood can navigate community through shared reading and and you don’t know anyone, it can be very their own ways through a big, compli- discussion of a single book. For 2016, the awkward to know how to start a conversa- cated, confusing place like KU. We need to KU Common Book committee chose tion,” she says. “So I’ve seen students start recognize their strengths and weaknesses, Ta-Nehisi Coates’ National Book Award- with a simple ‘Did you read that book we their dreams and desires.
26 | KANSAS ALUMNI To those who recoil at the idea of early career planning, for instance, Crawford- Parker suggests they stop thinking about it as job training unworthy of a great university, where learning should happen for learning’s sake, and instead see it as acknowledgement of students’ most basic desires: good jobs and happy families. “If they’re thinking about it when they come in and we don’t talk about it until they’re a junior,” Crawford-Parker says, “we’re going to lose them.” At her presentation during provost interviews, then-dean of business Neeli Bendapudi, PhD’95, now provost and executive vice chancellor, said that if freshman retention rates improved from 80 to 90 percent, many of KU’s budget shortfalls would evaporate immediately. Not only are early departures a drain on the University’s resources, but they also destroy personal nances, leaving students deeply in debt with nothing to show for it, their dreams shattered and personal the lives of students. It can be amazing,” do to make sure as many of our students as momentum halted. Crawford-Parker says. “It is heartbreaking possible have that experience?” Yes, the money is important, but so are to see students come here and not thrive. First-year experience to last-year the people. We are really driven by this idea of how success. It all starts on Day One, and it’s “We see the di erence that KU makes in transformative KU can be. What can we not an accident. It is intentional.
Small classes, big results or fall 2016, there are 29 requirements, are seminars halls. Students in Graham’s are worth a combined six F“first-year seminars” intended to introduce UNIVsection live in Oliver Hall; credit hours101 and count toward taught by faculty experts students to KU with others include “Life Through a KU Core and other graduation across a variety of academic discussions in academic and Lens,” a photography course requirements. disciplines, including African career planning, information for Hashinger Hall residents; a “Specific to University 101, I & African-American studies, literacy, financial and personal women’s health program, always tell my students that anthropology, business, visual wellness, time management, “Breathe Easy,” for Corbin the goal is not to be art, economics, classics, academic support services women; and “Be the Change,” successful in that class, but to geology, German, art history, and KU Common Book. a civic and social use that class to be successful journalism, sociology and Within the UNIV 101 responsibility course for in college,” Katie Treadwell linguistics. The first-year structure are “learning Ellsworth students. says. “It’s hard to make friends seminars are three credit communities,” including both Nonresidential learning in a new environment. Not hours and count toward two residential and nonresidential communities, open to all that it can’t happen in one of KU Core requirements as well options. freshmen, combine two the Budig lecture halls, but it’s as the general education Howard Graham’s Sport, 100-level courses from hard. I’ve seen my students requirement. University & You is one of dierent disciplines— get to know each other; they University 101 courses, seven residential courses, journalism and anthropology, may not be best friends, but which are two credit hours each oered only to freshman for example, or history with they really connect.” and count toward elective residents of specific residence film and media studies—and —C.L.
ISSUE 6, 2016 | 27 28 | KANSAS ALUMNI In the GrO ve
ven when he was a boy in Milwau- Acoustic Sounds, Salina’s masterful music purveyor, kee, Marc Sheforgen, now chief operating o cer at an inuential was vinyl before vinyl was cool E audiophile enterprise called Acoustic Sounds Inc., had the blues. He hasn’t shaken them yet, and anticipates nity to see any live music in Salina.” because that’s who he is and what he does. he never will. A few months into the job, he heard First he plays Little Hatch, a Kansas City “I was de nitely an outlier from my about a local record company called bluesman who was the rst artist recorded friends, but I was drawn to traditional Acoustic Sounds that was preparing for its in Kassem’s acoustically sublime Blue blues,” Sheforgen says, a slight Wisconsin second-annual two-day blues festival, Heaven Studios, and from the rst note accent still avoring his voice despite Blues Masters at the Crossroads, to be of “Baby Please Don’t Go,” the sound is living in Salina for 17 years. “My dad staged at Acoustic Sounds’ recording and otherworldly, as rich as if the late, great listened to blues-based rock, so maybe performance venue, Blue Heaven Studios. Little Hatch were playing live in this that’s where the seed was planted, but for Intrigued, Sheforgen headed out to write very room. some reason I just really took to it.” about the upcoming concert and stumbled en, Dean Martin, like you’ve never Sheforgen, j’99, listened to every blues into his second startling discovery: Blue heard him. “I Don’t Know Why (I Just album and read every blues book he could Heaven Studios was hiding in plain sight, Do)” is full, rich, lush. Close your eyes and nd. He attended shows in Milwaukee and inside an old brick church near the sensation is that Dino must be here, sneaked into clubs in Chicago. When he downtown. giving us a candlelight concert on a small graduated high school, Sheforgen took o He entered the sanctuary and saw some stage 3 feet away. Kassem, it quickly on a bike ride, looping 30,000 miles activity in a control room that had been becomes apparent, is telling his story, his clockwise around the perimeter of the built at the back of the main hall. ere company’s story, the best way he knows United States, and returned ready to head he found Chad Kassem, owner and how. With heavenly, pristine music. en o to college. founder of Acoustic Sounds, watching a comes “Peace in the Valley,” and, yes, Elvis He chose KU, where he had once visited DVD from a recent recording session. Presley has entered the building. Wisconsin friends attending school, “Wow, Honeyboy Edwards!” Kassem’s visitors are at a loss for words, majored in journalism, and landed his rst Sheforgen’s exclamation won Kassem’s until eventually Kassem agrees to tell a job aer graduation at the Salina Journal, attention: “You know who Honeyboy is?” bit of the story about how a former where he had completed a summer A connection formed. en a friend- newspaper reporter with a bad case of the internship. He was happy for the work, ship. And, in January 2001, a job o er. blues came to be his right-hand man at but dreaded being so far from anything Nearly two decades later, Kassem stands Acoustic Sounds. remotely resembling a blues scene. in front of a turntable in his cluttered “I thought I’d be living o my CD o ce deep inside Acoustic Sounds’ collection,” Sheforgen says. “I thought warehouse-district headquarters, north of by Chris Lazzarino obviously there’s going to be no opportu- downtown Salina. He is playing music, Photographs by Steve Puppe
ISSUE 6, 2016 | 29 “Somebody said, ‘Oh, there’s this guy at music, but the driving force is 21st-cen- “ thought I’d be living o the Journal, he’s really into blues.’ I’m like, tury business-speak: vertical integration. yeah, OK, he knows B.B. King so he knows Kassem was 21 when he le Louisiana my CD collection. I his blues, whatever. Well, bring him over, in 1984 for the foreign plains of faraway thought obviously there’s you know?” Kansas, at the urging of a judge who I Kassem is from Lafayette, Louisiana, hoped to shock Kassem into sobriety. He going to be no opportunity to and lost none of his native accent. Equally kicked his addictions in Salina—all except see any live music in Salina.” distinctive is a Cajun cadence that seems the music, and, like Sheforgen a decade distinctly improbable for a central Kansas and a half later, Kassem was surprised by —Marc Sheforgen entrepreneur. what he found. “So Marc came over. He was real As CDs launched their brief but customers. Employees still boast that most enthusiastic. He was blown away with overwhelming dictatorship of recorded collectors would wilt if they beheld the what we were doing, and, you know, he music, Kassem discovered troves of piles of Acoustic Sounds’ rejected records. named o some names that kind of vintage vinyl looking for a good home. By 1988, Kassem told Bloomberg impressed me, so I knew he knew a good Stocks that might have been picked over in Businessweek magazine earlier this year, deal about the blues. I made friends with New Orleans were there for the taking, he was doing $100,000 a month in sales, him. I saw what he’s capable of. He said and, with a few buy-sell-trade ads placed and was itching to start making his own one of his dreams was to write liner notes in newsletters and magazines catering to records, both by recording disappearing for blues albums, which is why he went to music lovers, Kassem’s secondhand record generations of blues masters and reissuing KU for journalism school. Which is really business, Acoustic Sounds, was on its way. underappreciated classic recordings in a interesting, that he was able to do that.” He bought more than he sold, and variety of genres. Glancing over his eyeglasses at Shefor- abandoned his over owing apartment for With $10,000 in his pocket, he walked gen, Kassem adds dryly, “Actually, he a ranch-style house. at, too, became into the New York City o ces of Vanguard could do some more of that if he wanted. swamped by vinyl treasures. When Records and announced that he wanted to We’ve got 10 more records ...” 18-wheelers started delivering pallets of purchase vinyl-record reissue rights to a 1 albums, Kassem honored his neighbors’ selection of titles in the Vanguard catalog. 2 requests to take the party elsewhere. His Analogue Productions, Acoustic 3 operation grew into a eet of warehouses Sounds’ high-quality reissue label, 4 and an expanding roster of employees, was born. or all its retro hipster cred, earned now numbering more than 100. “We like to consider ourselves,” Shefor- from decades of selling and manufac- Alongside his company’s rapid growth, gen says of Acoustic Sounds’ primacy in Fturing much of the best-quality vinyl Kassem focused on building a reputation the vinyl scene, “country before country in the world, Acoustic Sounds is aggres- for unwavering quality. If a record wasn’t was cool.” sively modern in its approach to business. good enough for his personal collection, rough the 1990s, Analogue Produc- Foundational principles are all about the then it wasn’t good enough for his tions reissued a relatively mild stream of
master discs directly from also contracts with every major Acoustic Sounds Inc. original master tapes, packaged label and most independents to within faithful recreations of the manufacture those labels’ own Acoustic Sounds: A mail- mothership” for its related originals, including artwork, high-quality vinyl reissues. order business founded in the subsidiaries. photographs, even type fonts. “Passion is the big ingredient 1980s by Louisiana native Chad Blue Heaven Studios: A Analogue Productions here that makes all of this go,” Kassem, Acoustic Sounds sells recording studio built into an Originals: Original recordings, says Chief Operating Ocer previously owned LPs and acoustically pristine church made in Blue Heaven Studios, Marc Sheforgen. “None of newly reissued vinyl classics to constructed in the mid-1920s. It of disappearing generations of these avenues that we’ve gone audiophiles worldwide, as well is also the site of an annual blues masters. down were pursued because as high-end stereo equipment, two-day blues festival, Blues Quality Record Pressings: we thought they made good accessories, “Super HiRez” Masters at the Crossroads. The vinyl LP manufacturing business sense. All of them downloads, and, most recently, Analogue Productions: plant that produces Analogue were pursued because reel-to-reel tapes. Acoustic Touted as the only reissue label Productions’ reissues and we thought, ‘That would be Sounds also serves as “the in the world trusted to cut LP APO’s original recordings. QRP cool.’” —C.L.
30 | KANSAS ALUMNI Marc Sheforgen in Blue Heaven Studios, an acoustically perfect 1920s church still outfitted with its original pews and stained-glass windows.
ISSUE 6, 2016 | 31 Stampers are good for about 500 pressings—at least for Acoustic Sounds’ exacting standards—then must be replaced; the mothers are good for about 100 stampers, at which point the lacquer master must be retrieved and sent back through the plating process. Quality control engineers listen to random samplings of records coming o the presses, and they have the authority to halt a run and discard newly minted discs. “ ey have a powerful and sometimes controversial job,” Sheforgen says. “ e press operator obviously wants to press the record. He doesn’t want to hear from these guys that it’s time to shut it down or that you’ve got a problem.” e jewels of the Acoustic Sounds catalog are its gorgeous reissues, released under its Analogue Productions label, with original jackets and labels re-created by the company’s designers. While the visuals are stunning, it’s the audio that ultimately Acoustic Sounds founder Chad Kassem, in a secure room filled with his most-treasured makes for a great record. And for that, recordings. The pristine collection is so authoritative that Kassem and others test the quality Analogue Productions enjoys unrivaled of newly produced LPs by comparing their sound with these originals. access. “We get the original analog masters, and nobody else does,” Sheforgen says. “I mostly jazz and blues, contracting with a 1 mean, nobody.” plant in California to manufacture its vinyl 2 While other reissue houses create their albums. When vinyl boomed a decade 3 lacquer masters from tape copies or later, the plant shoved small-batch ressing PVC pellets into vinyl discs super-high-resolution digital les supplied pressings aside for massive orders from encoded with beautiful music is an by the label, Analogue Productions’ reissue industry giants eager to rush their hits Pimmensely di cult task. For starters, albums are mastered only from the original onto vinyl, so Kassem decided to start record presses are no longer manufac- half-inch analog production tapes. Armed making his own. tured, so old machines must be found, guards escort the priceless masters from Quality Record Pressings, launched in purchased, shipped and refurbished, all at record companies’ secure vaults to nearby 2011 in a 23,000-square-foot former food great expense. Much of the space in the mastering facilities, usually in New York processing plant across the street from QRP production plant is reserved for City or Los Angeles, and mastering Acoustic Sounds’ headquarters, now rusted old machines slowly being trans- engineers hired by Acoustic Sounds will presses all of the Analogue Productions formed by technicians and highly skilled then lathe new lacquer masters. e reissues. classic-car restorers and mechanics. original tapes return to their owners and QRP also manufactures high-quality e rst production step is in the the lacquer masters are shipped to Salina. albums for all of the major labels and plating room, where lacquer master “It’s a huge, huge advantage for us,” many independents, thanks in large part discs—shipped overnight to Salina as soon Sheforgen says. “Each generation away to John McDermott, catalog manager for as they are made for Acoustic Sounds by from the master su ers some loss in sound the Jimi Hendrix estate, who jumped in the record company that owns the quality. Negligible or otherwise, each time with Kassem even before the record music—are sprayed with silver nitrate, to you go to the next generation you leave a presses were in place. make them electronically conductive, then little something behind. To get the actual “ e Hendrix estate was just starting to dipped in a nickel solution. e resulting rst-generation master is the ultimate.” put all that stu on vinyl,” Sheforgen says, metal plates—one for each side of a e roster of artists represented in “and when we were rst getting going, he record—become the “mothers,” which are Analogue Productions’ reissue catolog— was really the rst big client who just put a then used to create the stamper plates that let alone the music—is enough to make a lot of blind faith in us.” press music grooves into heated vinyl. music fan’s heart race: the Doors, the
32 | KANSAS ALUMNI Beach Boys, Elvis Presley, Dean Martin, Seals, a legendary blues guitarist who, at Norah Jones, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Dave 62, was a grim exhibit of the hard toll Brubeck, Muddy Waters, Son House, exacted by the life and travels of a Steppenwolf, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, bluesman. Ray Charles, Gregg Allman, the Cowboy “ e contract was for 50 minutes. His Junkies, Harry Belafonte, Sam Cooke. son, who was managing him, whispered to Lyle Lovett will likely soon join the me, ‘I don’t know if Dad can do 50 lineup, thanks to his recent visit to minutes,’ and I said, ‘No, of course, Acoustic Sounds while in Salina for a show whatever he can do, that will be great,’” at the immaculately restored Stiefel Sheforgen recalls. “I was, quite frankly, not eatre. “Why isn’t my product on this anticipating a very good performance. He high-quality reissue?” Sheforgen recalls was on his last leg, quite literally. And he Lovett commenting. “And now,” Sheforgen got up on the stage, and again I’m think- adds, “that’s going to happen.” ing, ‘Boy, we shouldn’t have booked him. 1 is is going to be a letdown, he’s not 2 going to be strong enough to do a very 3 good show, and he’s not even going to DAVID CLOUSTON DAVID 4 make it the full time allotted.” he heavy, broken down, one-legged It was October 2004, and blues enthusi- old man needed more than a half asts from North America, Europe and Asia Thour to negotiate a short ight of were about to be rewarded for their stairs from the basement green room to thousands of miles of travel to attend Blues the sanctuary concert hall. As he was Masters at the Crossroads: Son Seals, the trying his best to help this old man, Marc heavy, broken down, one-legged old man, Sheforgen fought back a sinking feeling roared into an hour-and-a-half of tearful, that it had been a mistake to book Son soulful, haunting blues, a power train
At the Quality Record Pressings plant (left, from top), new stampers nearly ready to mount a vinyl record press; a Southern Machine & Tool Corp. press that will be restored and eventually put in service at QRP; Herman Stewart tending a tub of vinyl PVC pellets; and quality control inspector Jamie Newell listening for pops, tics and other imperfections. QRP’s top-of-the-line presses are high-speed green Alphas (above), manufactured in Sweden by Toolex.
ISSUE 6, 2016 | 33 The 19th-annual Blues Masters at the Crossroads, Oct. 21-22, featured (left) Cedric Watson and Desiree Champagne, Diunna Greenleaf (above, from top), Elvin Bishop and Blues Masters photographs by Acoustic Sounds/David Clouston Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes.
34 | KANSAS ALUMNI Blues Masters A 22-minute film about the 2011 Blues Masters at the Crossroads Festival is available at kualumni.org/ blues.
ripping into that old sanctuary with the gospel as he knew it. “I still don’t know where the hell he summoned this from,” Sheforgen says, “but he did, and it was unbelievable.” Two months and four days later, diabetes claimed Son Seals. Blues Masters at the Crossroads, in Salina, Kansas, was the nal performance of his life, a church of the blues his nal sanctuary. “It was as if he knew,” Sheforgen says. “His performance that night was … incredible.” at magic Son Seals made for his At Acoustic Sounds’ distribution warehouse—from which albums and equipment are shipped audience typi es a primary aspect of worldwide to individual customers, retail shops and wholesale outlets—workers walk at least music: It is a shared experience, at many nuanced levels. At least it’s supposed to be. 6 miles a day while navigating long rows of shelves festooned with creative signage fashioned As Chad Kassem and Marc Sheforgen from discarded LPs and jackets. see it, CDs were the rst volley in the disconcerting march toward music that is digitially compressed and compromised generation that grew up with no cover art, “We’re for anything better than a CD,” and shipped in ugly plastic cases or nothing to be held tangibly, nothing to Kassem says. “Major labels really ...” directly into electronica—computers, collect physically. ey can sit and behold He pauses to soak in a Dino ri , then phones, iPods—o ering zero tactile the artwork, they can assemble their continues, “... you know, really sold people experience. collection however they may be into, and on perfect sound, but it was a lie, you “We’re not the music police, and we they can show o their collection and know? Pulled the wool over everybody’s don’t try to tell somebody that their way of share their music with their friends. eyes. We’re not crying about the death of listening to music should be put down,” “If they grew up with the iPod or music CD. We love the LPs.” Sheforgen says. “But for the audiophile, on their phone, these are all things they’ve I don’t know why I love you like I do / I which is our end customer, it makes a never experienced. It’s much more social don’t know why, I just do / I don’t know why great deal of di erence. at warmth and and ritualistic.” you thrill me like you do / I don’t know why, the air and the detail that cutting from the With his reissued Dean Martin album you just do original source a ords is a big deal.” spinning on a VPI turntable out tted with “You’re right there,” Sheforgen says of Sheforgen acknowledges that vinyl’s a $10,000 Koetsu cartridge, delivering that the concert-like experience. “You can resurgence is, at least in part, a byproduct unmistakable voice through a pair of almost smell his breath.” of the retro movement. But even if kids high-end Vandersteen speakers, Kassem “Ain’t nothing wrong with this,” Kassem buy a turntable to be trendy, they’ll likely uses the moment to explain why passion declares. “It’s as close as you’re gonna discover aspects of the experience lost matters. get.” with CDs and MP3 players. e music usually sounds better, but there’s more to it than the tunes. ere’s a record jacket with More online cover art. Liner notes. Even the printed Acoustic Sounds’ entire catalog of music, equipment and merchandise can be found at label on the album itself is worthy of acousticsounds.com. For more information about record pressing, including videos, attention. visit qualityrecordpressings.com. “ ere’s this natural correction for a
ISSUE 6, 2016 | 35 ook of Days Charley Kempthorne teaches that personal journals can transform lives. His own 10-million-word opus is exhibit A.
by Steven Hill
he leaned on his journal. It served as crutch and crowbar—a lever to nudge his own careening world a little closer to plumb. COURTESY CHARLEY KEMPTHORNE “It saved my life, it really did,” he says. “And it saves it now. Every day.” Bearded, his long, silver hair drawn back in a ponytail, Kempthorne, d’64, g’66, is genial and easygoing, with the wry laugh and mischievous air of a born raconteur. He’s fond of a joke—even when it’s on harley Kempthorne is 18, a tall, River bridge, opens the trunk and drops him—and he speaks of his own troubles lanky Kansas boy with an the balls in the river. with self-deprecation more than drama. ornery streak wider than a “So they’re down there,” he says. “But Stu happens, he seems to shrug. combine swath. they didn’t leave my mind.” And yet, stu can weigh on a man. Over CHe’s drinking with buddies in a bowling Sixty years later, they still haven’t. At 78, the course of eight decades, there have alley in Norman, Oklahoma, where he’s Kempthorne is 10 million words into a been a lot of bowling balls in Charley stationed. It’s 1956 and he’s a seaman third personal journal that he began keeping on Kempthorne’s trunk: A happy childhood class: Having grown up near the Fort Riley Feb. 24, 1964, just a few months before he squandered, failed marriages, doubtful home of the U.S. Army’s Big Red One, graduated from KU with a B.A. in English. career decisions. Writing about his regrets Charley, naturally, has chosen to join the His aim at the start was literary—“I have and missteps has redeemed it for him. Navy. decided to be a writer,” ran the rst entry. “One of the reasons for writing is to free In the parking lot—“three sheets to the “I will it, thus: I am a writer.” yourself, to get it out of you,” says Kemp- wind”—he snatches two bowling balls “I was gonna be better than Faulkner,” thorne, a self-described “therapy junkie.” from a stranger’s car and throws them in he says. But along the way, Kempthorne’s Freud called psychoanalysis the talking the trunk of his 1950 Buick Special. focus shi ed. Instead of writing an epic cure. Journaling is the writing cure. “Custom balls,” he remembers ruefully. saga, he encountered writer’s block of epic “When I have a bad night and the “What a dumb, terrible thing to do.” proportions. He put his education on hold, demons all come out and shriek and I can’t Tumbling around back there with the sacri ced his marriage—his pregnant wife sleep, I get up and write,” he says. “I’m the jack and spare, they begin to haunt him. and their young son, he was convinced, happiest man in the world when I write.” He carries them around for weeks, were keeping him from becoming the Childhood memories of farm life. paralyzed. “I did not know what to do with Great American Novelist—and nearly Dreams. ings his kids said. Family those damn bowling balls,” Kempthorne su ered a nervous breakdown at 24. A photos and stories. Regrets. When the recalls. “If I took them back, I’d be subject yearlong stint at e Men- blocked novelist turned to his journal, to arrest, and I didn’t have the courage ninger Clinic in Topeka inspiration was suddenly everywhere. for that.” and decades of psycho- “It’s as if God walked in, knocked on Driving back to base from Manhattan therapy helped. But the door ... and said, ‘Do one night at 2 a.m., he stops on the Kaw more than anything, this, you dope. Stop
36 | KANSAS ALUMNI trying to write e Sound and the Fury.’” at shelves lled by Plutarch, Shakespeare, they’ve come up with. e stories focus on Getting all the stories out, Kempthorne Ovid. en a book on the bottom shelf small moments from childhood, everyday came to believe, is his main mission in life. catches the eye: Our Life, by Mom and happenings that feature mothers, fathers, at meant not only pouring his memo- Dad. siblings, friends. Each passage is “one of ries and reections into a personal journal “You’re gonna reach right past Shake- the thousand little moments that changed for the past half-century and counting, but speare, as wonderful as he is, and read that your life forever,” as Kempthorne puts it, also encouraging others to do the same. book,” Kempthorne says. “All of us would. which is exactly what he’s a er. e e workshops he runs as part of e It doesn’t matter how lumpishly it’s information can’t be unearthed by Google, LifeStory Institute, which he and his wife, written; it’s still Mom and Dad.” he tells them. “It only exists because you June, founded in 1991, along with two Next Kempthorne reads aloud two wrote it.” He waits a beat to let that sink in. books, Narrative Journaling and For All passages he wrote. e rst is a just-the- “Isn’t that amazing?” Time: A Complete Guide to Writing Your facts summing up of his father’s life that A er the workshop ends and the Family History, teach people how to use a sounds like an obituary. e second is a participants depart, with encouragement narrative journal to come to terms with scene at the family dinner table, when his from Kempthorne to start their own their lives, preserve their memories, and father, a doctor, interrupts his meal to writing group at the library, to support and create family histories to pass down to make a terse diagnosis for a patient with a inspire one another to continue journal- their children and grandchildren. It’s a minor problem, then good-naturedly ing, he brings up a passage shared by professional quest that grew from a endures teasing from his family when he Rebecca Spaight, an 84-year-old El Dorado personal passion. sits back down to eat. ere’s dialogue, woman who came to “learn how to write “I just plain love stories,” Kempthorne description, action. Life. down the life I’ve been through” so she can says. “It’s a cause. It’s why I’m alive.” “ e summary conveys the most pass some of it on to her granddaughter, information,” Kempthorne says. “But it’s who recently asked what things were like public information. You can probably get when she was a kid. t the Bradford Memorial Library in it o the internet. But in the scene you see Spaight wrote of a joke she and her sister AEl Dorado in September, two dozen the man, that he had a sense of humor and played on their father, meowing from their heads bend to their task: drawing a oor allowed himself to be teased, even by his bedroom while he turned the house upside plan of the house they grew up in. As children.” down looking for a stray cat. Not War and instructed, they annotate their rough Write life scenes, not obituaries, Peace nor Remembrance of ings Past, but sketches with any detail that comes to Kempthorne urges his students. worthwhile nonetheless, Kempthorne says. mind: the rocking chair where Grandpa A few minutes later they share what “ at was her life, and there’s something sat, the kitchen table where milk froze in the pitcher on winter mornings, the worn rug by the hearth where the dog dozed. “ e most important thing about this PUPPE STEVE exercise is not the drawing, it’s those little tags of information you put on there,” June says. “Memory tags, we call ’em,” Charley adds. is LifeStory Institute workshop is not about genealogy, Kempthorne tells his audience of mostly elderly folks, 90 percent of them women. “We pick up where genealogy leaves o . We’re writing coaches. We travel the country teaching older people how to write their life story. Even if you aren’t curious about it, your kids will be.” To drive home his point, Kempthorne mentions an article written in 1992 by Chicago Tribune columnist Bob Greene. Explaining the appeal of the “memoir movement,” Greene asked readers to LifeStory Institute founder Charley Kempthorne on campus this fall, and toasting life with imagine themselves in a bookstore, gazing a high school buddy in 1953.
ISSUE 6, 2016 | 37 a technique he had yet to learn. with luminous paint so he could type in “When I rst started, I wanted to teach the dark. A ernoons and Saturdays he them all to write like Lillian Hellman or worked at a printing shop on Houston Emily Dickinson,” he recalls with a Street in Manhattan. e man who ran it chuckle. “And the more I went in with had worked and drank with Ernest
TARO YAMASAKI/ANY GIVEN DAY YAMASAKI/ANY TARO examples of great writing, the less they Hemingway at the Kansas City Star, and wrote. he regaled young Charley with tales of “Now and then they’d write something World War I. “It was just the two of us in about their Uncle Elmer or their kids, and the shop,” Kempthorne recalls, “and if he I began to sense that this was what they wanted to lean on the feedboard of the were willing to write and it was pretty press and tell me a story, why, he did.” damn good. If you’re any good at all you’re Aboard ship in the Navy, the insomniac Kempthorne with his star student, Jessie Lee open to them teaching you, and that’s what would hit the co ee locker in the wee Brown Foveaux, in 1997. they did. ese old ladies taught me not hours and sit on the fantail listening to old only about writing and what’s worth sailors spin yarns until dawn. writing, but how to live. It’s helped me into “You know the quote by Muriel Rukey- my old age.” ser?” he asks. “‘ e world is made of about that that is precious. Not necessarily stories, not atoms.’ at really makes sense to everyone in the world—although it’s to me.” surprising the currency stories like that ost mornings, Kempthorne rises Kempthorne’s talk is peppered with have. Best-sellers are made of that kind of Mearly, makes co ee and heads literary references. Rukeyser. Hemingway. stu .” straight for his computer. ere, in a John Donne. Lillian Hellman. Emily Kempthorne knows what he’s talking document titled “My Journal,” on page Dickinson. William Sta ord. André Gide. about. In 1976, while working as a GED 20,000 or so, the blinking cursor awaits. Samuel Pepys. A er bouncing around coach at the Manhattan Adult Learning “Stories are the most valuable thing in from the military to college to work and Center, he grew bored sitting around his life,” says June. She and Charley met on back, he earned two KU degrees and waiting for clients to drop in and wrote a May Day, 1973, and have been together attended the Iowa Writers’ Workshop; proposal to teach senior citizens to write ever since. Coming from “dour German” then he turned his back on that academic their life stories. e center director liked stock, as she puts it, June was awed by his pedigree and a tenure-track university the idea, and Kempthorne got funding to talk. “Stories just ow out of his mouth. It’s teaching job to try to make a go as a launch what he believes was the country’s in his genes, I think.” farmer. rst reminiscence-writing workshop. Kempthorne grew up on farms in It’s another of the regrets that piled up in In his rst class was a 78-year-old Kansas and Indiana in a family that valued a life of chances taken. He has worked Manhattan grandmother named Jessie Lee writers, storytelling, the word. By 11, he’d through it all in the pages of his journal, Brown Foveaux. With Kempthorne’s begun to think he could be a writer that long book of days that sprawls across encouragement and guidance, writing in himself. With his share of wheat money, he 15 feet of shelf space in a Manhattan pencil on a Big Chief tablet in class and at bought a typewriter and dabbed the keys storage unit. Kempthorne used to print a home at her kitchen table, she chronicled her idyllic, turn-of-the-century childhood and her marriage to an abusive alcoholic that produced eight children and a world PUPPE STEVE of hurt. Twenty years later, Foveaux became a media star when her homespun memoir, Any Given Day, set o a bidding war among New York publishers, earning her a $1 million advance at 98. People magazine dubbed it “ e Sale of the Century,” and Kempthorne gained renown as her writing coach. When CBS News’ Harry Smith interviewed him in 1997, asking what he did to get Jessie writing, Kempthorne quipped, “Well, I just gave her a pencil.” But in 1976, that modest approach was June and Charley Kempthorne
38 | KANSAS ALUMNI “When I have a bad night into the main event. “ at was a real fear The Love of Words for me. Still is sometimes.” and the demons all come For decades, he says, suicide or “just love journaling so much I sometimes out and shriek and I can’t going stark raving mad” were both Ithink I live to write it. sleep, I get up and write. options. “I lived on the edge of a terrible I met a lady in one of my workshops series of possibilities, and I knew writing in San Diego. She was an airline I’m the happiest man in eased that. So it served its purpose there. stewardess, used a laptop computer the world when I write.” It was a lifeline.” and as soon as she got everyone rough the hundreds of journaling strapped into their seats she’d retreat —Charley Kempthorne workshops he conducted with June over somewhere aft and click on Journal the past 25 years, he has encountered and, as she called it, “process the day.” among the neophytes and newbies a few She wrote several thousand words month’s worth of new writing, on single- obsessives like himself. ere was the lady a day, sometimes more. That’s a lot spaced, double-sided pages, to store in in Long Beach, California, who showed up of writing. three-ring binders, but he stopped doing with a grocery cart lled with stu she’d In a way that might not be such a that in 2015, when he and June moved written, one in Minneapolis who threw stretch—living to write a journal. We from Manhattan to Olympia, Washington, open a double-wide closet to reveal shelves all contribute in our way. I’m not a man to live near their son, Rip. e couple packed with shoeboxes full of note- of action, though I would like to think I returned to Kansas this fall to move a crammed index cards. am. I’m a man who thinks, and writes, few more possessions, but the journal He’s also heard the excuses: My life isn’t about acting. I think about my life. As I stayed put. interesting enough. Nobody cares. I can’t record my life and what happens to it “In a way it’s a huge millstone around think what to write, where to begin. every day I necessarily think about it. Is my neck, because I have to edit it,” says Just jump in, in media res, Kempthorne that of any use to the world? It is of use Kempthorne. He occasionally polishes up tells the doubters, channeling Aristotle. to me, if only therapeutically. It will I journal passages to freelance or to publish He quotes William Sta ord, c’37, g’46, hope be of some value to my family. It in LifeStory Magazine, and he self-pub- the National Book Award-winning poet relaxes me. It’s my bowling, golf and lished a novel, Gary’s Luck, in 2007; he laureate, who, asked what he did when prayer, and a hot bath too. estimates that he has material for three writer’s block struck, said, “I just lower A hundred years ago people kept more novels and a non ction book. But my standards and keep on writing.” journals, probably proportionate to the most of the 50-year chronicle remains “What makes me just bleed at night, is literate population, much more than private—and it will stay that way unless he I think these folks, all of them, can do they do now. Partly it was necessity. gets around to expurgating the parts he this,” Kempthorne says. “It’s so empower- And they recorded weather, the price deems personal or potentially hurtful to ing for them to remember.” of oats, when the cow freshened, stu others. But selecting and editing even a Jessie Foveaux is the exemplar of what like that. Who else was going to do it? fraction of the 10 million words—a writing one’s life story can lead to, he says, I don’t write down what I ate for ooding river of words that’s nowhere and it’s not the million bucks. “ e real breakfast or what the weather is doing near cresting—would take time. It would validation comes when a grandchild reads outside. Mostly I write little narratives be like bailing the ocean with a teaspoon. it and says, ‘ at was my grandma.’” of a few hundred words or less, and as I And it keeps on raining. ere was a time, as a kid, when believe that in narrative there is more “Maybe I could edit 10,000 words a day Charley Kempthorne had a feeling. He truth than in any other form of if I worked eight hours a day,” he muses. couldn’t have explained it then, not in writing—save perhaps poetry—what “But at the same time I’m writing. I’m 78 words, but a er years of psychoanalysis I write can be of value if I do it well. and I’m just zooming; I’m writing more and page a er page of journaling, he can I confess also that I write some now than I ever have in my life—I’m describe it precisely. essays, or first drafts of essay, and I writing 3,000 words or more a day. I’ll “I felt in order to justify my life I had to grumble, self-analyze and whine. never nish.” do something extraordinary,” he explains. But into every journal a little rain Finishing is not the point. Persevering “ at was the operative word: something must fall. —Charley Kempthorne is. extraordinary. And the only thing I had “I knew early on this stu was keeping was writing.” me from going crazy,” Kempthorne says of Tired of being a wannabe writer, the undertaking that began as a kind of Kempthorne found a way to start. Ten For more information on e LifeStory warm-up act to the writing life (“I thought million words later, he hasn’t stopped, a Institute, visit thelifestoryinstitute.com or every great writer kept a journal, and I was man with a mission to create a world—a facebook.com/ eLifeStoryInstitute. going to be a great writer”) but morphed life—made of stories.
ISSUE 6, 2016 | 39 Association Presidents Club members Greg, b’76, and Debby Ek, assoc.; Greg also serves on the Association’s national Board of Directors. e Eks worked closely with stable owners David, e’75, b’75, and Janet Lusk Mur n, d’75, and Danielle Laerty Hoover, c’07, assistant director of Wichita DAN STOREY (3) STOREY DAN programs, to ensure the Roundup’s success. “It’s wonderful to see so many Wichita alumni and friends come out each year to enjoy the Jayhawk Roundup,” says Hoover. “Our volunteers and sta devote countless hours to make it a truly special event.”
Helpful ’Hawks Students make KU connections A grand old time with help from alumni mentors ourteen sophomore students at Wichita Jayhawks toast their alma mater under the big top FWichita North High School made valuable KU connections Sept. 20, when early 400 alumni and friends lled the main room. Alumni also they were introduced to alumni who will Ngathered Oct. 15 at Mur n Stables hammed it up with Baby Jay at the photo serve as mentors for the next three years. for the Alumni Association’s annual booth and took advantage of an array of e group is part of the University’s new Jayhawk Roundup, the Wichita Network’s circus-worthy props and gadgets to add initiative, a product of the Oce of largest fundraising event. e theme for extra air to their photos. A er a scrump- Admissions’ existing Helpful Alumni this year’s celebration was “ e Greatest tious barbecue dinner, special guests Bill Working for KU (HAWK) program, to School on Earth,” and partygoers reveled Self, the KU men’s basketball coach, and help underrepresented and minority as festive decorations, including a giant Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little took students make a smooth transition from Jayhawk cannonball and ying trapeze, the stage and thanked the crowd for their high school to college. e program was transformed the sprawling stables into a support of the University and its pro- launched this spring in Wichita. lively circus for the evening. grams. As the evening rolled on, the Participating students and their parents anks to unseasonably warm tempera- sounds of Blue Eyed Soul lled the stables, attended the induction ceremony, which tures, many Jayhawks spilled outside and and Jayhawks kicked up their heels on the was held at KU’s School of Medicine in pitched games of bean bag toss, while dance oor. Wichita and included appearances by others mingled inside the stables and bid Chairing this year’s event were Keon Stowers, c’15, a former KU football on more than 130 silent auction items that player who works for the Oce of Admissions; Nate omas, KU’s vice provost for diversity and equity; and Baby Jay, who was on hand to take pictures with the students and their mentors. Event chairs Greg and Debby Ek welcomed Kim Madsen Beeler, c’93, j’93, g’99, who Wichita alumni and friends to the annual coordinates the HAWK program and has Jayhawk Roundup, where guests celebrated worked with alumni for years recruiting “The Greatest School on Earth” with coach Bill prospective students to KU, oversees the Self and Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little. new Mentor Leadership Development Murfin Stables became a vibrant carnival for program. She teamed up with Danielle the evening, thanks to circus-inspired Laerty Hoover, c’07, the Alumni Associa- decorations and festivities. tion’s assistant director of Wichita pro-
40 | KANSAS ALUMNI A NOTE FROM HEATH the fact that KU’s growth occurred with by data analytics. Certainly other schools higher admissions standards, which took use these methods, but their tools aren’t Jayhawks celebrate eect this fall. fueled by the strong Jayhawk brand. KU’s fall enrollment gains Our freshman class includes 465 more I am proud of the role your Alumni students than the next-largest university in Association and our national Board of hope you are as proud as I am of the Kansas, and many of our peers and Directors played in developing the Jayhawk IUniversity’s enrollment success since neighbors are experiencing significant Generations Scholarship for out-of-state 2012! KU has experienced five straight enrollment declines. The University also students from KU families. We also years of freshman class continues to expand market strengthened our commitment by growth, and the 2016 class of share nationally. This dedicating sta members to provide highly
4,233 freshmen is the most STOREY DAN success can be attributed personalized legacy recruitment in academically talented class to the University’s partnership with KU Admissions. Since and the fourth-largest in KU leadership and these eorts began in 2009, undergraduate history. In addition, the KU commitment to launching a legacy students have grown from 15 student body is the most competitive, four-year, percent to 23 percent of KU enrollment! diverse in history. Increasing renewable scholarship Alumni are among the best, most eective enrollment while also model; an expanded KU recruiters we have, and your assistance will increasing quality and Admissions team that continue to add value to the KU degree. diversity in one of the least includes full-time sta Rock Chalk to more students and future populated states in the members in key regions; alumni! country is a dicult feat to and a highly sophisticated —Heath Peterson, d’04, g’09 achieve. Equally impressive is Peterson recruitment strategy driven KU Alumni Association president
grams, to enlist area Jayhawks as mentors. signed up to be mentors, and other board North High School next year and eventually “ ese alumni are so passionate about members o ered to host events for the include other schools in the area. KU, and they have told us for years they students or help with their community “ is year we have 14 mentees, next year want to help,” Beeler says. “ ey want to service projects. we’ll have another class, and we’ll just keep make a di erence and recruit great On Oct. 8, 11 students and ve mentors building,” she says. “ e goal is to help students.” traveled to Mount Oread for a discussion students transition from high school to Students must have a GPA of at least 2.5 panel with current KU students, followed college and, hopefully, to KU. But also we and complete an application and essay to by tailgating festivities at the Adams want to engage our alumni, because they’re be considered for the program. ose who Alumni Center and the KU-TCU football so important in recruitment. If we can get are accepted are assigned mentors, who game at Memorial Stadium. Janet Lusk the alumni engaged and to help with will coordinate opportunities for the Mur n, d’75, a member of the Alumni recruiting, it’s a win-win for both of us.” students to shadow working professionals Association’s national Board in various elds, participate in volunteer of Directors, donated her activities in the community and develop football suite and tickets to skills to be successful in the workforce, the students, who enjoyed including learning how to ll out job the game with Neeli HOOVER DANIELLE applications, dress appropriately for Bendapudi, PhD’95, KU’s interviews and create a résumé. In provost and executive vice addition, the students will visit KU and chancellor. participate in sports events, campus tours “One of the biggest and discussion panels with current initiatives on our board is University students. to give back to the commu- Hoover presented the opportunity to nity,” says Hoover. “ at’s a alumni on the Wichita Network board and big passion for all of our was overwhelmed by their enthusiastic board members. And it’s response. Five board members, Jim right in line with this Students in the HAWK Mentor Leadership Development Spencer, c’82; Andy Ek, b’05, g’11; initiative.” program enjoyed prime seats at the Oct. 8 KU-TCU football Monique Garcia Pope, c’96; Anna Ritchie, Beeler hopes to expand game, where they cheered on the Jayhawks with Provost and c’05, j’05; and Bob Nugent, c’77, l’80, the program at Wichita Executive Vice Chancellor Neeli Bendapudi.
ISSUE 6, 2016 | 41 Association Life Members
e Association thanks these Jayhawks, who began their Life memberships Sept. 1 through Oct. 31. For information, visit kualumni.org or call 800-584-2957. The KU Black Alumni Network Bryce A. Abbott Samuel J. Davis Mark C. Adams Jr. Gabriella R. DiMarco Martin K. & Shari Feist Jill Evans Donelan Mike and Joyce Shinn Albrecht Karen Vineyard Dummermuth Jerey N. Allen Robert L. Duren Jennifer Ryther Allen Justin D. Elkouri Zachary M. Altschuler Matthew C. & Cassandra Leaders Mark A. Amick Elwell William J. Anderson & Joseph Amy Bainum Emmett and W. Rogers Jennifer Neil Farmer Michael C. Andrews Michael J. Farris Anthony C. Anyansi Kathryn E. Favrow Innovators Renee D. Augustine Anne Fischer Girish C. Ballolla Joseph B. Flannery Karen Cranston Barney Tom Flood Award Kevin A. Barone Amanda Davis Ford Alex M. Beck Dale W. Fox III Ashley L. Benes Lindsay E. Frank he KU Black Alumni Network is proud to Emily A. Beran Cliord D. Franklin honor African-American alumni who have Judith McGuire Beran Joseph R. Fuentes Tdistinguished themselves and made a Hayley Fry Bhatia Lisa M. Gargano dierence through demonstrated leadership Ramkumar Bommireddipalli Frederick A. Gayles and/or innovation to the University, their William & Ashlee Brosh Jon W. Gilchrist profession or society at large. The project Brandtonies Danielle K. Golon acknowledges the contributions of individuals Hayden O. Brauer Amy Boomer Goyer who have made their mark in varied ways and John R. Burris Marjo J. Grabowski highlights in photographs and text the accom- James G. S. Caprio Troy W. Greisen plishments of our honorees. Max A. Carr Dustin J. Grorud Wade P. Carr James P. Halpin Recipients are selected from nominations James C. Charles Bradley A. & Janean Hanson submitted to the KU Black Alumni Network Ching-Wei W. Chen Jarred H. Harrington Mike and Joyce Shinn Leaders and Innovators Courtney L. Chilcoat Elizabeth L. Harrison Award Committee. Kimberly Martin Clapp Jonathan J. & Alexandra James G. Clarke Hoover Hayes The committee will accept nominations Ted P. Clemons Caleb J. Hays for the 2017 awards through Daniel F. & Audrey McKanna Samantha R. Hickman Feb. 17, 2017. Coleman Layatalati Hill Makayla E. Coles Sarah E. Hoppe To nominate an individual, please complete Brian J. & Leah Cummings Scott A. Huerter the nomination form online at Collins David T. & Angela N. kualumni.org/kublackalumni. Timothy P. & Hunter G. Cook Hutzenbuhler Kristen M. Cowan Joseph Jancsics William K. & Pamela A. Tyler E. Jaspan Cowan Roy A. Jensen Courtney L. Craine Nathaniel P. Jones & Taylor A. Chad Cundi Teague Amy M. Dauer Charles D. Karlen Shane A. Davidson Katelyn L. Kasper
42 | KANSAS ALUMNI The KU Alumni Association app puts KU in the palm of your hand!
• Join or renew/upgrade your membership • Receive breaking news notifications and watch live-stream broadcasts • Refer a prospective student The KU Alumni Association app is for all alumni, friends and fans of Plus these members-only features the University of Kansas. Rock Chalk! Find an alumni mentor Network with Jayhawks Receive special discounts Read Kansas Alumni magazine Visit your app store to download. Use your digital membership card
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Erin M. Kearney Timothy A. & Cynthia Fraley Ludovic C. Planche Sam Sul & Anh-Nguyet T. Thomas E. & Elizabeth McFerrin Claudia G. Reeder Nguyen Newcomer Kelamis Vincent A. McKamie Julie Dinges Rider Andrew R. Tate & Sarah E. Brandon D. Keller Katherine J. McMahon Abigail L. Rimel Luby Daniel J. Khoury Nathan R. Miller Marissa L. Rittof Charles L. & Becky G. Taylor Carol A. Kleweno Paula B. Minor M. Ellen Robb Sarah M. Taylor Amanda McQuin Kluener Sara A. Minor Hilary E. Roberts Alexander C. Teney James J. Kocen Maria Mitchem Edward L. Rose Jr. Chantz P. Thomas Jarred F. & Katherine Sutphen Jacqueline S. Mocnik-Boyd Stacie Weninger Rowland Jake & Julia Chasen Kramer James M. Moore Marcus L. Scarbrough Thompson Paige Protzmann Lanz Andrew P. Monshizadeh Justin E. Schneweis Patrick H. & Patricia L. Nathan E. Lavid Stephanie Mount Tony T. Se Thompson Mary E. Lawson Natalie Demster Nelson Amanda Lutton Sedlick Kathleen Schafer Tressler Londonne Corder Less Karl W. Neuenschwander Adam M. & Abbey Sorem Linda J. Uhl Stephanie R. Lewis Andrew J. & Sheryl Grith Shaull Jerey R. Van Blarcom Pei-Ling Lin & William M. Nolan Andrea B. Shores Charles J. & Christine Walters Rittase Brad J. & Tiany J. Noller Patrick Simon VanBlarcum Nathaniel W. Lohmann Dane & Amy K. Ogden L. Darby Smith Brian C. Wasko Brian & Amanda London Kurt E. Ohlendorf Sarah J. Smith Max J. & Katie Hennier Zachary E. London Rebecca M. Olson Tiany Stanwood Wasserstrom Mark G. Long Matthew C. & Amy C. Patrick D. Steen Meghan E. Watson Erik H. Lund Paquette James M. Stiles & Laurie L. Joe L. & Pamela Coleman Michael A. Mahoney Christopher R. Patrick Hornberger Whitaker Paul D. Maxwell Aaron G. & Rachel Berry Benjamin E. & Amy Innes Johannah M. White Kenneth R. & Courtney Eblen Payne Stone Daniel C. Woods McCain Jenifer Boyer Peacock Larry L. Strahan Keith M. Woodward Sheila D. Pedigo Diane E. Wyatt
ISSUE 6, 2016 | 43 2015-’16 Annual Report
l increased sta resources dedicated to recruiting STEVE PUPPE STEVE children of alumni in partnership with KU Admissions. Legacy students retain, graduate, volunteer, join and give back to KU at much higher rates than other students.
l began implementing new programs and technology to better engage millennials and all Jayhawks. Notably, we launched a new mobile app on Commencement weekend, providing a new way for Jayhawks to connect.
l appointed a task force to develop a plan to modernize the Adams Alumni Center. We have a tremendous opportu- nity to tell our story in a high-tech, interactive and meaning- ful way that includes KU history, traditions, achievements, service, philanthropy and the power of the worldwide Dear Association Members, Jayhawk Network! We hope to create a welcoming experi- ence that strengthens alumni pride and shows prospective he KU Alumni Association and its more than 42,000 students what it means to be a Jayhawk! Tmembers exist to strengthen KU. Thank you for your continued support and loyalty during the 2015-’16 fiscal year, Since 1883, members of your alumni association have built which will be remembered as a year of transition that laid an one of the most influential, dedicated and powerful alumni important foundation for the next evolution of your alumni networks in the world. We are proud of the partnership association. Specifically, we: we have with KU, Kansas Athletics and KU Endowment to advance the University of Kansas. l introduced the Association’s new brand messages, including our core values of Pride, Tradition and Connection, Rock Chalk Jayhawk! and the five ways the Association creates impact for KU: We Advocate, Communicate, Recruit, Serve and Unite. Heath Peterson, d’04, g’09 Rick Putnam, c’77, l’80 l completed an internal reorganization to align sta with President National Chair, 2015-’16 strategic priorities and enhance and build resources through continued growth of the Presidents Club, membership and new business development eorts.
l established a plan to invest heavily in members of the Student Alumni Association, our future alumni. In partner- ship with KU Endowment, we are providing four-year gift memberships to all incoming freshmen. The objectives behind this investment are to help students make important career connections through alumni, better educate and train future volunteer leaders, and help students understand Heath Peterson the responsibilities we all have as Jayhawks to ensure KU with Robin and remains great! It’s critical that we build a strong bond with Rick Putnam students before they walk down The Hill and spread out around the globe.
44 | KANSAS ALUMNI HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR Digital Media
1,590 broadcast emails reached combined total recipients of { Legacy Scholarships } 11,442,972
150 Freshman Jayhawk Generations Scholars from 30 states 148,071 email addresses for 402 Total undergraduate Jayhawk Generations Scholars alumni and friends 4,443 Legacy undergraduates (23.1 percent of the 19,243 population) ur broadcast of the McCollum Hall implosion drew 2,400 live cademically qualifying out-of-state students from KU families receive O viewers and 15,000 page views on Apartial tuition waivers ranging from $19,968 to $50,368 over four years. Nov. 25, setting a one-day record for Among the 150 freshman Jayhawk Generations Scholars, 116 received the website trac. largest award. Since the Jayhawk Generations Scholarship began in 2009 and the Alumni DAN STOREY DAN Association added a legacy relations sta member in 2012, 884 KU legacy students have benefited from the scholarship, and enrollment of legacy under- graduate students has steadily increased:
3,337 (15.8 percent) in 2009 McCollum 4,443 (23.1 percent) in 2016 On Feb. 26, we partnered with the Langston Hughes Center, Kansas Athlet- The Association added another legacy relations sta ics and the KU School of Business to member in 2016 to expand recruitment eorts nationally. live-stream The Power of Sport: A Conversation on Business, Race and Sports. The timely event featured a keynote address by Dave Zirin, sports 11,474 Fans on Facebook editor for The Nation, and panel inter- Social 22,997 LinkedIn group members views with former KU student-athletes Wayne Simien, c’05; Ernie Shelby, f’59; 12,483 Twitter followers media and Lisa Braddy, ’92. Hundreds of alumni 3,418 Instagram followers from across the country tuned in live or watched the archived video on our website. The success of these live- Professional Honors streamed events, along with investments in our broadcast capability, set the stage he Association won seven awards Year: “The Man With Wings on His for the Association to deliver more live Tin the fall 2015 eight-state regional Feet,” Issue No. 6, 2014, and platinum online events in partnership with the competition sponsored by the Council honors as one of the 10 best articles in University. for Advancement and Support of the nation. Education (CASE). • Gold, Magazine Editorial Design: The KU Alumni The awards honored programming, "For A Song," Issue No. 2, 2015 Association app writing and design: • Silver, Magazine Editorial Design: launched on May 15 and "Face to Face," Issue No. 5, 2014 was downloaded 2,313 • Silver, Alumni Relations Programs: KU • Gold, Magazine Cover Design: “Story times from Commence- Online Alumni Networking Series Lines: Readers, Writers, Teachers,” Issue ment to June 30, with • Bronze, Alumni Relations Programs: No. 4, 2014 more than 190,000 KU Veterans Alumni Network • Gold, Invitation Design: Jayhawk sessions. • Gold, Magazine, Best Articles of the Roundup, "’Hawks Ahoy," 2014.
ISSUE 6, 2016 | 45 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR FINANCES Alumni Networks Revenues—$6,184,241 Adams 50,000 guests, 886 events 14% Alumni 20% at 1266 Oread 114 Total 6% Center Avenue 23 in Kansas 11% 16% 59 national 10% 7 international 16% 7% 5 anity 280 events I Membership Dues I Sales & I Royalties Commissions 35,000 attendees I Contributions, I External Grants 16 online networking programs unrestricted I University Support Volunteers I Contributions, I Investment Income 27 National Board of Directors 309 online networking restricted participants 49 Kansas City Network 22 Student Alumni Operating Expenses—$5,841,725 42 Wichita Network Association events 131 Kansas Networks 6% 8,965 Student Alumni 147 National Networks 58% Association attendees 19% 32 International Networks 145 Kansas Honors Program 10% 41 Student Alumni Leadership Board Kansas Honors 7% 11 Homecoming Program 1,613 Jayhawks for I Sta I Printing & Postage Higher Education I Occupancy, I Events & 36 Insurance & Hospitality Gold Medal Club 19 KHP events Depreciation I Other Reunion Committee
42 Anity Networks 3,579 KHP students Operating Expense Eciency honored Total KU Alumni Association Volunteers 4% 132,004 KHP students honored 12% since 1971 2,299 84%
The Association is a careful steward of resources, with 84 percent of funding going directly to programming. Highly e cient charities spend 75 percent or more of expenses on programming.* You can be confident that your investment in the Alumni Association is being put to good use! I Programming I Management & { *charitynavigator.org } I Membership & General Fundraising
46 | KANSAS ALUMNI FINANCES MEMBERSHIP AND ALUMNI RECORDS
s of June 30, 2016, the Alumni in Kansas AAssociation included 42,357 members—reflecting continued growth in Life, Life Jayhawk Society and Student memberships.
Membership 10,207 Annual Regular 19,242 Life Regular (including 845 new Life members) 6,267 New Graduate Members 1,061 Future Jayhawks 2,737 Annual Jayhawk Society 1,431 Life Jayhawk Society 1,412 Student Alumni
Total Members: 42,357 I Less than 100 I 100-249 I 250-499 I 500-999 I 1,000-4,999 I 5,000 + I 40,000 + Five Alumni Records sta members made more than 98,000 updates to constituent records during FY 2016. Alumni in the U.S.
Total Alumni Overall: 353,307 Total Alumni in United States, Military & U.S. Territories: 347,737 U.S. Degree-holders: 224,845 Kansas Alumni: 177,233 Kansas Degree-holders: 96,717 International Alumni: 5,570 International Degree-holders: 3,335
Donors 451 Presidents Club members donated annual gifts of $1,000 or more.
Alumni Records I Less than 1,000 I 2,000-2,999 I 5,000-9,999 I 100,000 + I 1,000-1,999 I 3,000-4,999 I 10,000 + Total constituent database: 431,045
ISSUE 6, 2016 | 47 Class Notes by Heather Biele
George, p’51, and Carol Fusco champion, a seven-time Missouri Women’s Nedra Bonds, c’70, is an artist, 51 Sheldon, d’65, live in San Antonio. Amateur champion and an eight-time 70 civic activist and educator whose ey have several grandchildren who Kansas City Women’s Match Play cham- quilts have appeared in several exhibitions attend KU. pion. Karen lives in Overland Park. worldwide. She recently was featured in a Marilynn Smith, d’51, was inducted in BBC article. the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame in October. John DiLoreto, c’64, was one of Wayne London, a’70, retired from She is one of the founding members of the 64 5,000 runners in May to nish the Populous Inc., where he was a principal, LPGA and served as its president from Great Wall half-marathon in China. He senior architect and senior project 1958 to ’60. Marilynn makes her home in lives in Bellevue, Washington. manager specializing in professional Goodyear, Arizona. Frank Kirk, b’64, l’67, was inducted in sports venues. He lives in Shawnee with the Kansas Golf Hall of Fame. He was his wife, Peggy. James Nelson, c’52, m’59, is a president of the Kansas City Golf Associa- 52 retired physician. He worked at the tion from 1972 to ’73, and began the Stew Etherington, s’71, recently sold University of California-Irvine School of Greater Kansas City Junior Golf program 71 his real estate business in Abilene Medicine and the VA Long Beach Health- in the early 1990s. Frank retired as vice a er 45 years of ownership. care System. He lives in Redondo Beach, president at Merrill Lynch and lives in Norman Mueller, c’71, lives in Denver, California. Prairie Village with his wife, Nancy, assoc. Ron Koger, g’64, EdD’75, is special Jean Anderson Allen, f’53, is a assistant to the president at Kennesaw School Codes Letters that follow names indicate the school from which alumni earned retired teacher and artist. She has State University in Kennesaw, Georgia. 53 degrees. Numbers show their class years. lived in Paci c Palisades, California, for more than 50 years. Kay Orth Kendall, c’67, wrote Rainy a School of Architecture, 67 Day Women, which was published Design and Planning Bud Kent, d’56, retired as dean of last year by Stairway Press and won best b School of Business 56 the School of Performing Arts at mystery and best book at the Killer c College of Liberal Arts Oakland University in Rochester, Nashville Conference in August. It is the and Sciences d School of Education Michigan. second book in her Austin Starr Series. e School of Engineering f School of Fine Arts A. Drue Jennings, d’68, l’72, is g Master’s Degree 57 68 retired senior counsel at Polsinelli h School of Health Professions MARRIED in Kansas City and former chairman and j School of Journalism Janis Hartell Click, c’57, to Fred CEO of Kansas City Power & Light. In l School of Law Lipscomb, July 9 in Greensboro, North August, a professorship in medical m School of Medicine Carolina. ey live in Colfax. oncology at KU Medical Center was n School of Nursing established in his name with gi s from the p School of Pharmacy Philip Anschutz, b’61, received the Hall Family Foundation and the Sunder- PharmD School of Pharmacy 61 2016 Distinguished German-Ameri- land Family Fund. He lives in Leawood. s School of Social Welfare u School of Music can of the Year Award in October from the AUD Doctor of Audiology Gregory Lauver, German-American Heritage Foundation c’69, is a physician DE Doctor of Engineering of the USA. He is CEO and chairman of 69 at Medical Consulting Services in DMA Doctor of Musical Arts the Anschutz Foundation in Denver, Mesa, Arizona, where he lives. DNP Doctor of Nursing Practice where he makes his home. Stephen Rodd, c’69, is an attorney and DPT Doctor of Physical Therapy Karen Schull MacGee, d’61, n’82, was partner at Abbey, Spanier, Rodd & Abrams EdD Doctor of Education inducted in the Kansas Golf Hall of Fame. in New York City, where he makes his OTD Doctor of Occupational She’s a ve-time Kansas Women’s Amateur home. Therapy Ronald Yates, j’69, wrote e Improbable PhD Doctor of Philosophy Journeys of Billy Battles, which was SJD Doctor of Juridical Science published in May. It is the second book in (no letter) Former student assoc Associate member of the his Finding Billy Battles trilogy. He lives in Alumni Association Murrieta, California.
48 | KANSAS ALUMNI Looking for a unique holiday gift idea? The KU Alumni Association has membership packages for all ages! Recent Grad Half-Price Life Membership* For 2011-2016 graduates • $500 single/$750 joint A 12-month installment plan is available. There’s no better way to stay connected to the Hill and fellow Jayhawks. Recent Grad Annual Membership* Give a For 2011-2016 graduates • $25 single/$30 joint Take advantage of great networking opportunities through events and activities that put you in touch gift membership with fellow Jayhawks. and receive a ceramic Future Jayhawks Annual Membership KU holiday ornament! For ages 0-18 • $15 per child for members, $20 per child for non-members (Third in a series of seven) Your Jayhawk-in-training will receive a special birthday card from Baby Jay and a gift from the Alumni Association with each annual renewal. Start a true-blue tradition today!
Other Gift Ideas The purchase of a gift membership by Dec. 30 automatically enters you Annual Membership • $55 single/$65 joint and the recipient in the Jayhawk Society • $100 single/$150 joint Premium level of annual membership and serves as your “Path to Life” membership Life Membership • $1,000 single/$1,500 joint Strengthen your alma mater and receive communications about happenings on the Hill. A 12-month installment plan is available for a Life Membership.
To find out more, *Recent grad rates are available for the first five years after completion of the most recent KU degree. visit kualumni/membermania To review all membership levels and benefits, please visit kualumni.org/join
To purchase a gift membership, visit kualumni.org/maniagift or call 800-584-2957 ISSUE 4, 2011 | 1 Class Notes
where he’s an attorney at Haddon, at Viracor-IBT Laboratories in Lee’s John Borak, c’77, lives in Cary, Morgan and Foreman. He was recently Summit, Missouri. 77 Illinois, where he’s an engineering elected to the board of directors of the manager at Continental AG. National Association of Criminal Jim Doepke, d’74, known to many Fred Kay, b’77, is senior vice president of Defense Lawyers. 74 baseball fans as “Mr. Trumpet,” has development at StreetLights Residential in reached the halfway mark in his quest to Atlanta. He lives in Alpharetta, Georgia. Craig Martin, e’72, was elected play the national anthem in every major 72 chairman of Hill International’s league ballpark across the country. He will Tom Flanagan Jr., s’78, s’79, is board of directors in October. He retired return to Lawrence Jan. 21 to perform 78 interim executive director at as president and CEO of Jacobs Engineer- KU’s alma mater and the national anthem Diamond Healthcare. He lives in Kansas ing Group Inc. in 2014. Craig makes his at the KU-Texas men’s basketball game. City. home in Pasadena, California. Hal Reed, l’74, retired as manager of Greg Klipp, c’78, is regional manager at Patrick Williams, c’72, wrote Getting planned giving at the University of Transworld Systems in Lake Forest, Naked: On Being Emotionally Transparent Connecticut Foundation. He’s currently an Illinois, where he’s worked for 35 years. He at the Right Time, the Right Place, and with independent consultant in nonpro t and his wife, Katie, live in Lincolnshire the Right Person, which was published in fundraising and splits his time between and celebrated their 35th wedding July by Balboa Press. He lives in Palm South Windsor, Connecticut, and Delray anniversary this year. Coast, Florida, where he’s a psychologist Beach, Florida. Jagan Mohan, m’78, was named a 2016 and life coach. Top Doctor in Chicago. He’s a neurologist Russ Hutchins, g’76, lives in at Chicago Neurology. Michael Mehl, c’73, is Kinnear Chair 76 Lawrence, where he’s a lecturer at David Peterson, d’78, retired a er 33 73 in the department of physics at the KU’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, William Morton, b’76, is a shareholder Maryland. at RPA CPAs in Fairway. He lives in Marilyn Smith, c’73, is a senior scientist Overland Park.
50 | KANSAS ALUMNI years with the U.S. Department of Lawrence Journal-World for more than 35 James McCarten, b’79, was named 2017 Veterans A airs as deputy director of the years. Lawyer of the Year in litigation and Technology Acquisition Center in Austin, Stephen Grin, c’79, l’83, wrote Broken controversy by Best Lawyers in America. Texas. He makes his home in Leander with Trust: Dysfunctional Government and He’s a partner at Burr & Forman in his wife, Dawn. Constitutional Reform, which was pub- Atlanta. Jerry Seib, j’78, is executive Washington lished in July by University Press of Stephen Salanski, c’79, was elected 2016 editor and chief commentator at e Wall Kansas. president of the Kansas City Medical Street Journal in Washington, D.C., where James Keen, d’79, is an accountant for Society. He’s a physician at Research he has worked for nearly four decades. the Town of Carefree in Arizona. Medical Center and directs the Research Heyoung Lee McBride, c’79, g’81, m’85, Family Medicine residency program. Gary Bedore, j’79, joined the Kansas is medical director of radiation oncology 79 City Star in August to cover KU at Lovelace Health System in Albuquer- Kay Gilbert Kohn, ’81, lives in basketball. He was a sports reporter at the que, New Mexico, where she lives. 81 Manhattan Beach, California, with
PROFILE by Ronnie Wachter STEVE PUPPE STEVE ‘Mud Hut’ design and professional sta , they inspires Gambian architect would o er health care for n a metropolitan area with modern children, prenatal checkups Iamenities, a car ran into Bakary Suso’s and a birthing room for sister while she played soccer in the street. pregnant women, and She recovered, but the event set the disease control for all. In direction of her brother’s life. A native of the evenings, the same the West African nation of e Gambia, buildings would convert Suso started searching for solutions to into town halls, with the problems that begin in his homeland’s spaces becoming class- cities but worsen in its rural areas. rooms and meeting sites. His solution was inspired by his KU Suso grew up with Bakary Suso envisions crews of KU architecture students and architecture studio, and he believes it technology in a suburb of could meet a wide spectrum of e the capital, Banjul, but says alumni teaching Gambians to build mud-block clinics and town Gambia’s needs. he learned how far his halls with materials found beneath their feet. “You have the government and the nation could go when that people, ghting for the same space,” says car hit his sister. She Suso, g’15. “ ose are the moments I live wouldn’t have been playing in the street if former Broadcasting Hall, built in 1942 for: solving the problems we face. at is she’d had a proper soccer eld nearby; she with “compressed earth” blocks that can be the beauty of public-interest design.” received adequate medical attention, but fabricated anywhere. Public-interest design is a blend of Suso started thinking about countrymen “Imagine how it snows and rains here,” architecture and community planning; who had to walk for days to nd a doctor. Suso says. “I can’t see how it won’t work in Suso learned it during his ve years in the “ at gave me the passion to help Africa.” School of Architecture, Design & Plan- Africa, and the world, through architec- Compressed earth blocks are cheaper ning’s master’s program. It is also the focus ture,” he says. than concrete and stay cooler in heat, and of his foundation, Kinitiative, and the With 3,000 dalasi (about $80) in his making them is simple. clinics and community centers he plans to pocket, Suso in 2001 joined his brother in “ e hut made me see the possibilities build around his homeland. Lawrence and worked his way into and proof that compressd blocks can be e Kinitiative “trekking stations” architecture school. Behind Marvin Hall, beautiful, sustainable and last the test of would be one-story, six-room medical he found what would become the key to t i m e .” centers built in e Gambia’s rural villages. his construction dream: “ e Mud Hut.” —Wachter is a reporter for the Chicago Equipped with solar power, water ltering e formal name is Marvin Studios, the Tribune and a freelance writer in Chicago.
ISSUE 6, 2016 | 51 Special thanks to our benefactors, volunteers and sponsors
Fugate Enterprises Kurt & Elaine Level Decorations Committee
Je & Polly Gentry Richard D. Smith Chris Jeter, chair Jim Burgess, set design Jayhawk Benefactor Ed & Helen Healy Kurt & Sue Watson $5,000 IMA Financial Group, Ken & DeAnn White Inc. Wichita Network Board KU Athletics Andy Nolan, president Dave & Janet Murfin Jayhawk Landmen True Blue • $250 Kevin & Lisa Carroll Security 1st Title Martin Pringle Law Firm MV Purchasing, LLC John T. Stewart III & Contributors Linda Stewart UMB Bank Darlene Ferguson Waste Connections Event Sponsors Jayhawk Patron BBQ provided by $2,500 University Friends Security 1st Title Hinkle Law Firm LLC $1,000 Murfin Drilling Co. Inc. A. Scott & Carol Ritchie KU Endowment Jayhawk Roundup Chairs Standard Beverage KU School of Business Greg & Debby Ek Corp. Crimson & Blue KU School of Free State Brewing Co. $1,500 Medicine-Wichita Sponsorship Xclusive Event Services Black Hills Energy Greg Ek, chair KU School of Pharmacy Waste Connections Bob & Martha Buford Oce of the Provost Citizens Bank of Kansas Auction Committee Debby Ek, chair CrossFirst Bank Roundup Host • $500 Brian Docking Steve & Gena Dillard Greg & Debby Ek Randall Elam Emprise Bank Je Kennedy & Patti Foulston Siefkin LLP Gorham her husband, Roger. ey will celebrate education for the Dublin school district in Jean makes her home in Olathe. their rst wedding anniversary in California. She makes her home in Gregg Schlein, ’85, is a network engi- December. Brentwood, California. neer at Sprint in Overland Park. He lives Lawrence Leibson, b’84, is director of in Olathe. Patrick McManus, b’82, is a national Sun Life Financial in Kansas City. He lives Richard Watson, m’85, was named a 82 account manager at Procter & in Overland Park. distinguished alumnus of Circle High Gamble. He and his wife, Vicki, make their Gary Smith, j’84, lives in Lawrence, School in Towanda. He’s chief science home in Geneva, Illinois. where he’s a global street photographer o cer at Revalesio Corp. in Tacoma, and owns East Village PhotoArts. His Washington, where he makes his home. Christopher Keary, c’83, is KU’s latest book, Goma: e Poetry of Everyday 83 director of public safety and chief of Life on the Streets of the Most Miserable Patrick Blanchard, c’87, m’91, is a police. He lives in Lawrence. Place on Earth, is a collection of essays and 87 family physician at Baptist Medical Andrea Warren, g’83, made the 2016 photos taken during a three-week excur- Group in Navarre, Florida. He makes his Kansas Notable Book List. She wrote e sion to Goma in the Democratic Republic home in Milton. Boy Who Became Bu alo Bill: Growing Up of Congo. Jennifer Neil Farmer, f’87, is co-owner Billy Cody in Bleeding Kansas, which was and design principal at F5designBUILD in published in November 2015 by Two Jean Fulghum Peat, j’85, directs Fort Worth, Texas, where she makes her Lions. 85 stewardship and donor communica- home with her son, Samuel. Holly Zane, c’83, l’86, is a senior tions at the University of Missouri-Kansas Stephen Johnson, f’87, made the 2016 employee relations specialist in the City Foundation. She recently received the Kansas Notable Book List. He wrote department of human resources at KU. rst place PRISM Award from the Kansas Alphabet School, which was published in She commutes from Topeka. City chapter of the Public Relations September 2015 by Simon and Schuster. Society of America for a publication she Matthew Meyers, b’87, g’92, lives in Bryce Burkett-Custodio, d’84, d’85, produced while serving as director of Greenville, North Carolina, where he’s 84 retired as director of secondary communication at KU’s Cancer Center. chief administrative o cer at the Eastern
ISSUE 6, 2016 | 53 Class Notes
Area Health Education Center. Bridget Huerter Richards, j’87, is senior vice president of advancement services at Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation in Aurora, Colorado.
Bryan Becker, m’88, is vice presi- 88 dent of integrated care and a member of the o ce of the chief medical o cer at DaVita Kidney Care in Vernon Hills, Illinois.
Michael Bedell, b’89, g’91, is dean 89 of the College of Business and Management at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, which under his leadership recently received AACSB accreditation. He lives in Mundelein, Illinois. Laura Kirk, c’89, is an actress and lmmaker who appears in the recently released movie “American Honey.” She’s also a lecturer in lm and media studies at KU. Michael Phillips, c’89, is a senior technical architect at Coastal Cloud in Palm Coast, Florida. Richard Thomas, c’89, is chief of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research records management sta at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in Silver Spring, Maryland. He and Yvonne Pasley Thomas, c’88, live in Gaithersburg, where she’s a consulting teacher for the Montgomery County school district.
Steven Soper, PhD’90, is a Founda- 90 tion Distinguished Professor in the department of chemistry at KU.
Sean Jackson, e’91, directs customer 91 relations at Northrop Grumman. He lives in Melbourne, Florida. Craig Prater, c’91, f’91, is vice president of product management at FourthWall Media in Dulles, Virginia.
54 | KANSAS ALUMNI Dana DeMoss Bowman, d’92, g’01, Inc. in Durham, North Carolina. He lives president of the editorial board at the 92 made the 2016 Kansas Notable in Raleigh with Beth Orser Foley, c’92. Kansas City Star. She recently was a White Book List. She wrote Bottled: A Mom’s Joan Klausner, d’92, g’96, makes her House correspondent for e Wall Street Guide to Early Recovery, which was home in Austin, Texas, where she’s a real Journal and covered Hillary Clinton’s published in September 2015 by Central estate broker at Kuper Sothebys Interna- campaign for the presidency. Colleen Recovery Press. tional Realty. received a Pulitzer Prize in 2010 for her Greg Burger, PharmD’92, received the work in editorial writing at the Dallas 2016 Kansas Pharmacists Association Eric Nelson, j’93, is assistant Morning News. Champion in Pharmacy Award in Septem- 93 managing editor of digital news at ber. He coordinates medication safety at the Kansas City Star. He recently led Scott Collin, j’94, is vice president Stormont-Vail Health in Topeka. digital content for the U.S. Chamber of 94 and chief creative o cer at In u- William Foley III, e’92, a’93, is vice Commerce in Washington, D.C. His wife, ent50 in Washington, D.C. He makes his president of brand management at Cree Colleen McCain Nelson, j’97, is vice home in Reston, Virginia.
PROFILE by Chris Lazzarino
Be happy where you are, the 1998 season but continued advises hall of fame coach to serve East eld as director of BOB FLICKNER COURTESY athletics until 2005. He t rst he feared it might have been a remains at the school as a Amistake to turn down a job oer not full-time instructor of health, only to coach for an NCAA Div. II tness and wellness. program, St. Leo University in Florida, but “I knew,” Owens says, “that to work for Ted Owens. Bob Flickner did whatever Bobby chose to do just that in 1996, choosing instead to he was going to be successful.” remain at East eld College in Mesquite, Flickner grew up in Pretty Texas, where he had been men’s basketball Prairie, south of Hutchinson. coach since 1975. Shooting hoops in the “It’s probably what we should do,” driveway and listening to KU Flickner, g’74, recalls thinking about the basketball games on the radio When KU won its 12th-consecutive Big 12 men’s basketball prospect of rejoining Owens, then St. Leo’s were family traditions. His title, coach Bob Flickner called coach Bill Self and teased, new athletics director, for whom he had rst taste of coaching came “Congratulations! You finally tied Eastfield College.” been a graduate assistant coach for two courtesy of his high school seasons at KU. “We prayed and talked coach, who organized a about it, but my son was just out of high service project that sent school, my daughter was in high school, players out to coach in elementary schools, Flickner coached one season at Andover and we were part of a community. So we and Flickner coached the JV team aer his High School, then accepted a job oer did not go to Florida with coach Owens. playing days were done at his undergradu- from a new community college near “And, the next year we won the national ate alma mater, Bethel College. Dallas. He has been at East eld ever since. championship at East eld, so we were When he decided to devote himself to “It’s not always about having a bigger, thankful that we stayed.” coaching college basketball, Flickner came more prestigious job,” Flickner says, noting In Flickner’s 23 seasons as head coach, to KU for a master’s degree and to learn that his son, Blake, b’98, also found his East eld won 423 games, 12 consecutive under Owens and assistant coach Sam niche at a smaller school, Dallas Baptist Metro Conference titles and the 1997 Miranda. His timing could not have been University, where he is in his 12th season National Junior College Athletic Associa- better: Owens’ 1974 KU team went 23-7 as men’s basketball coach. “It’s serving tion Div. III national tournament. and made it to the Final Four. where you are supposed to be that’s Flickner, a 2016 inductee in the NCJAA “ at put coaching and basketball at a important. Make the best of the day you’re Men’s Basketball Coaches Association Hall dierent level,” Flickner says. “My time at given today. Make the best of the job that of Fame, retired from coaching following Kansas was a dream come true.” you have now.”
ISSUE 6, 2016 | 55 Class Notes
Kristi Klepper Ernsting, j’94, g’00, is a Arizona. She lives in Phoenix. at Missouri Western State University in St. public relations consultant at Compass Bodo Doose, g’98, is a chartered Joseph, Missouri. She and her husband, Communications. She lives in Overland alternative investment analyst at Talanx Grant, live in Wathena with their three Park with Andrew, j’88, a brand communi- Asset Management in Cologne, Germany. children. cations principal at DLR Group, and their Andrew George, b’98, directs new Mark Peterson, c’01, is a quality sons, Jake and Drew. business development at Dynamic assurance analyst at Quest Diagnostics in Sponsorships. He lives in Charlotte, North Lenexa. He lives in Shawnee with his wife, Jerry Cross, e’95, lives in Frisco, Carolina, with his wife, Jennifer. AmandaRey. 95 Texas, where he manages construc- Lesli Humphries, j’98, makes her home Bill Yanek, l’01, is CEO of the Profes- tion quality control at Flatiron/Dragados. in Austin, Texas, where she works for sional Retail Store Maintenance Stephen Martino, c’95, j’96, is senior KTBC Fox 7. Association. vice president and chief compliance o cer at MGM Resorts International in Las BORN TO: Phil Buttell, l’02, g’02, has been Vegas, where he makes his home. Krista Engelmann Dorgan, c’98, 02 named a 2016 NextGen Leader by Matthew Michaelis, b’95, is vice PharmD’02, and her husband, Christo- Kansas City Business Journal. He’s the chairman at Emprise Bank in Wichita, pher, son, Charles, May 31 in Chicago, chief operating o cer at Centerpoint where he lives with his wife, Nancy. where he joins a sister, Mackenzie, 2. Medical Center in Independence, Missouri. BORN TO: Gerald Holland, f’99, is vice Mylea Charvat, c’02, is a clinical Jerey, h’95, ’97, and Nicole Rostock 99 president of marketing at Sporting neuroscientist and CEO and founder of Conrick, j’96, g’04, daughter, Catherine, KC. He lives in Overland Park. Savonix in San Francisco, where she makes Feb. 3 in Seattle, where Je rey directs Blair Williamson, b’99, works at the her home. analytics at Razor sh, and Nicole is a University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora. Emily Donnelli Sallee, g’02, PhD’08, is global alliance director at Adobe. associate vice president for faculty a airs Jared Stone, c’00, lives in Wood- at Park University in Parkville, Missouri. Dan Rooney, c’96, g’97, a retired 00 land Hills, California, where he’s a 96 U.S. Navy major, lives in Tulsa, writer at Warner Brothers/MacMillan. Sarah Donahue, d’03, is a parent Oklahoma, with his wife, Jacqueline. He 03 liaison and events coordinator at St. wrote A Patriot’s Calling: Living Life MARRIED John’s Episcopal School in Dallas, where Between Fear and Faith, which was Spencer Cullor, b’00, and Sarah Brac- she lives. published in 2012 by Yorkshire Publishing. ciano, d’06, DPT’09, Sept. 17 in Lawrence. John Paul Schroeppel, c’03, m’07, joined Dan also founded Folds of Honor, a ey make their home in Lenexa, where the International Association of Health- nonpro t organization that provides he owns a real estate investment company, care Professionals and will be included in scholarships to families of fallen and and she’s an information services educator e Leading Physicians of the World. He’s disabled veterans. at St. Luke’s Health System in Kansas City. an orthopedic surgeon and assistant professor at KU Medical Center. Heather Bunker, c’97, lives in BORN TO: Julie Kaelter Schwarz, c’03, is a speech- 97 Lawrence, where she’s a branch Robert, b’00, and Kristin Vanderhagen language pathologist in the Olathe school manager at Manpower. Bishop, c’02, son, Banks, July 19 in Prairie district. She and her husband, Brooks, live Terrance Campbell, l’97, was nominated Village, where he joins a brother, Van, 4. in Olathe with their four sons, Austin, by President Obama to serve as a judge on Bob is a senior manager at Cerner and Haydn, Charlie and Samual, who just the U.S. District Court in Kansas. He’s an Kristin is a client executive at Oracle turned 1. attorney with Barber Emerson in Corporation. Lawrence. Daniel Gaston, c’04, is director of Christina Dankenbring Driggs, b’97, Travis Abicht, c’01, m’05, is a 04 BKD in Kansas City. He lives in g’04, is chief nancial o cer at Phillips 01 physician at the University of Kansas Overland Park. County Health Systems in Phillipsburg, Hospital. He lives in Prairie Village with Jessica Harry Gaughan, c’04, AUD’16, is where she makes her home. Elise Schnose Abicht, m’10, and their two an audiologist at Topeka Ear Nose & children, Owen and Hyde. roat. She commutes from Lawrence. Kylie Fincham Julie Crain, PhD’01, is principal at ACS 98 Cook, c’98, is a Athens High School Academy in Athens, BORN TO: senior property Greece. Melaney Feaster King, b’04, and manager at Plaza Amy Simpson Foley, g’01, is tness Thomas, c’05, daughter, Samantha, April 5 Companies in Peoria, center coordinator and adjunct instructor in Overland Park, where she joins a sister,
56 | KANSAS ALUMNI
Class Notes
Lily, 4. Melaney is a controller at Favorite project manager at MMGY Global. for the U.S. District Court in Kansas City. Healthcare Sta ng, and omas is a Hayes Thompson, c’06, is a channel She lives in Shawnee. claims representative at Farmers Insurance manager at LockPath Inc. He lives in John Rosenberg, c’07, g’09, is a visiting Group. Mount Juliet, Tennessee, with his wife, assistant professor of history at Brown Maigan, and their three children. University in Providence, Rhode Island. Tyson Scott, c’05, is a broker at All 05 Risks in Austin, Texas. He lives in BORN TO: Jheri Bermudez, c’08, coordinates Round Rock. Theresa Montano Forth, j’06, ’08, and 08 community outreach at Grantham her husband, Chuck, daughter, Seeley, May University in Lenexa. She lives in Kansas Karen Butler-Clary, c’06, g’08, is a 5 in Cortez, Colorado, where she joins a City. 06 metadata technician at the Univer- sister, Siah, 2. eresa owns Pepperhead Derek Fine, c’08, makes his home in sity of Denver. She resides in Highlands Restaurant, which just celebrated its Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he’s a commercial Ranch, Colorado, with Chadd, e’03, g’06, seventh year in Cortez. insurance and bonding agent at Rich & PhD’10, and their two children. Jamin Dreasher Landavazo, c’06, g’08, Cartmill Inc. Lauren Erickson, c’06, j’06, lives in and Matthew, e’07, son, Andrew, July 10 Ellie Lloyd Heath, b’08, g’09, manages Lawrence, where she’s interim director of in Overland Park. Jamin is assistant accounting at Grandstand Glassware & Marketing Communications at KU. director at the Kansas Museums Associa- Apparel in Lawrence, where she lives. Jeremy Huls, c’06, is a U.S. Navy tion, and Matt is an aviation systems and Rachel Smith Karwas, j’08, lives in lieutenant commander and a combat human factors engineer at Garmin. ey Houston, where she’s assistant director of systems information o cer on the USS make their home in Olathe. alumni regional Dwight D. Eisenhower. outreach at the Jason, c’06, l’09, g’09, g’14, and Jackie Kelsey Gerber, c’07, g’12, lives in Association of Rice Romero, g’13, live in Westwood with their 07 Chicago, where she’s associate Alumni. daughter, Vale, who just turned 1. Jason is director of nancial aid at Loyola Kyle Kitson, c’08, an attorney at Husch Blackwell in Kansas University. l’13, is an attorney at City, and Jackie is a senior interactive Whitney Novak, j’07, l’14, is a law clerk Seyferth Blumenthal
58 | KANSAS ALUMNI & Harris in Kansas City. He makes his of admissions at Franklin University Stacy Bain, ’10, makes her home in home in Mission. Switzerland. His husband, Joseph Day, 10 Hutchinson, where she coordinates Andrew Monshizadeh, e’08, g’12, is an e’10, is a planning engineer at California career development at Hutchinson iOS developer at Facebook. He and his Resources Corporation in Los Angeles. Community College. wife, Tremaine, live in Hoboken, New Lindsey Yankey, f’09, made the 2016 Danielle Golon, c’10, g’13, is a contrac- Jersey. Kansas Notable Book List. She wrote Sun tor and science communications specialist and Moon, which was published in April for the U.S. Geological Survey in Sioux Kyle Carter, j’09, chairs the board 2015 by Simply Read Books. Falls, South Dakota, where she lives. 09 of directors of Rocky Mountain Carrah Haley, c’10, g’12, ’15, is senior CARES in Denver, where he lives. MARRIED director of student-athlete development Sarah Jarvis, e’09, lives in Houston, Katelin Karlin, n’09, to Blake May, June and leadership at Kansas Athletics. She where she’s an engineer at MEI 4 in Kansas City, where they live. She’s a makes her home in Lawrence. Technologies. clinical practice consultant at United Victoria Vossler, EdD’10, is a special- Nathan Mack, c’09, is associate director Healthcare. education administrator for the Blue
PROFILE by Steven Hill
Macro focus on social work White’s upbringing in southeastern Ohio coal country, the granddaughter of a brings fulfillment, honors coal miner and United Mine Workers of o help the little guy, believes Kim America union member, instilled an TWhite, it pays to focus on the big a nity for the underdog. Dinner talk KIM WHITE COURTESY picture. revolved around politics. “We had lots of White, s’05, works to shape policy at the conversations about working people, what state level in West Virginia, where she’s an working people need to be successful and assistant professor of social work at what gets in the way of that.” Marshall University in Huntington. Her e reason so many social problems eorts to bring attention to issues like prove intractable is that policy interven- childhood poverty, drug addiction and tions tend to be short-term solutions, mental health care access led to her White believes. “We’re not really as a recognition as the 2016 West Virginia society in the habit of getting to the root of Social Worker of the Year by the state the problem,” she says. “Social work strives chapter of the National Association of to uncover the root of the problem.” Social Work and Woman of the Year by She enrolled in the School of Social the Marshall Women’s Center. Welfare’s master’s program a er a two-year While most people think of caseworkers stint at a Kansas high school—where she “Let’s get back to our macro roots” is the counseling individuals or families when taught literature with a social justice rallying cry of West Virginia Social Worker of they think of social work, White says the emphasis—proved unful lling. At KU, the Year Kim White. “We as social workers eld actually operates on three levels: White says, she found her tribe. really need to be thinking about policy.” micro (individual), mezzo (organizational) “In class we were talking about issues I and macro (policy). cared about,” she says. “ ere was a more “What drew me to social work is the empathetic perspective, a willingness to macro-level practice, the policy,” she says. try to understand what is happening legislators and other stakeholders on the “Part of our code of ethics is that we work rather than reactive, gut responses to value of placing social workers in public for social justice, to break down barriers to controversial social issues.” schools. people being successful, whatever those In West Virginia, she successfully “I decided to look into social work barriers might be. We have to understand advocated for Medicaid changes that because the values very closely mirror my the political process, how to advocate improve access to mental health care, personal values,” she says. “It makes within the political system and how to opposed a proposal to drug test welfare coming to work very easy and something analyze policy.” recipients, and is working to educate I enjoy and feel ful lled in doing.”
ISSUE 6, 2016 | 59 Class Notes
Kansas City. She lives in Olathe. Travis Richardson, d’12, manages marketing at Nextgengolf in Boston. He lives in Malden, Massachusetts. Taylor Teague, c’12, lives in Dallas, where she’s the Texas regional representa- tive for KU O ce of Admissions.
MARRIED Allison Cade, c’12, to Ryan Barkley, July 16 in Weston, Missouri. ey live in Parkville, where she’s a relationship manager at AlphaGraphics.
Jenna Domann, c’13, is a physical 13 therapist at Medical University of South Carolina Hospital in Charleston. She lives in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Matthew Gorney, g’13, l’13, is an associate attorney at Monnat & Spurrier in Wichita, where he makes his home. Ryan Hallenbeck, g’13, is regional vice president of oncology services for Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute at HCA Midwest Health in Kansas City. Owen Huisenga, g’13, manages virtual design and construction at Tocci Building Companies in Woburn, Massachusetts, where he makes his home. Valley school district. She lives in Olathe. Wesley, c’11, and Sara Exon Kimmel, Margaret Hull-Tietz, c’13, j’13, directs c’11, celebrated their rst wedding operations for KU so ball. She played for MARRIED anniversary in July. ey live in Andover. the University from 2010 to ’13 and earned Matthew Enriquez, c’10, to Ashley Brenna Long Malmberg, c’11, j’11, is a All-America honors. Maggie and her Brosius, Aug. 12 in Moline, Illinois. Matt is writer and editor at Houzz in Palo Alto, husband, Kevin, d’11, live in Lawrence. an attorney in Minneapolis, where they California. She makes her home in Allison Wegren Metzger, g’13, lives in make their home. Redwood City. Duluth, Minnesota, where she’s an artist at Alyse Smith, c’10, and Donald Sykes, Samantha Sink, g’11, is a transit Midnight Oil Studio & Workshop. Her c’11, Aug. 20 in Vail, Colorado. Donald is development planner at Hampton Roads exhibition, “Common reads,” a collabo- a senior RMD and bene ciary consultant Transit in Hampton, Virginia. She lives in ration with Catherine Spencer Reinhart, at Empower Retirement in Overland Park. Norfolk with her wife, Darcy, assoc. g’12, debuted in October at the Design on ey live in Olathe. Main in Ames, Iowa. Rachel Bunner, c’12, g’16, lives in Tyler Rockers, d’13, lives in Lawrence, BORN TO: 12 Reston, Virginia, where she works in where he’s assistant vice president at the James III, c’10, ’14, and Alyssa Aude accounting at Ernst & Young. University National Bank. Bernard, c’10, son, James IV, July 27 in Nathan Cadman, c’12, is a mechanic at Meredith Schroeder, c’13, earned her Lenexa. Alyssa works at American Fleetwood Mower and Rental in Lawrence, master’s degree in counseling psychology Century Investments, where she’s corpo- where he lives with his partner, Heidi, and art therapy at Adler University in Chicago, rate governance counsel. their son, Alexander, who just turned 1. where she makes her home. Christopher Hempel, b’12, makes his Brandon Woodard, c’13, ’15, is a Elizabeth Olson Hogan, c’11, is a home in Dallas, where he’s a product development o cer for the College of 11 registered nurse at Shawnee Mission coordinator at ISN So ware Corporation. Liberal Arts & Sciences at KU Medical Center in Overland Park. She and Javon Plantt, c’12, is a laboratory Endowment. Ryan, e’07, live in Olathe. associate at Catalent Pharma Solutions in Sarah Worrel, c’13, is a peer tutor at
60 | KANSAS ALUMNI
Class Notes
Johnson County Community College in 23 in Lawrence. ey make their home in scheduling assistant at the University of Overland Park. She makes her home in Idaho Falls, Idaho, where she’s a Title I Missouri-Kansas City. She lives in Olathe. Gardner. paraprofessional at Linden Park Elemen- Melanie Brewer, l’16, is an asset tary School. manager at Travois in Kansas City. Brian Hanson, g’14, PhD’15, is a Katherine Malotte, l’15, to Clinton Daniel Buteyn, c’16, lives in St. Paul, 14 senior policy associate at the Center Chlumsky, June 18 in Frankfort. She’s an Minnesota, where he’s a publishing for Rural A airs in Lyons, Nebraska. associate at Joseph, Hollander and Cra in specialist at West Academic. Craig Jackson, g’14, is a senior develop- Wichita, where they live. Tanner Buzick, c’16, is a sports data ment o cer in the W.P. Carey School of product specialist at Sportvision in Business at Arizona State University in Diana Arroyo, h’16, is a revenue cycle Fremont, California. He makes his home Tempe. He lives in Scottsdale. 16 intern at Cerner in Kansas City, in San Francisco. where she makes her home. Kellye Carrico, b’16, is an administrative Sara Hettenbach, c’15, was selected Nicholas Baker, e’16, lives in Houston, assistant at Moss Adams in Overland Park. 15 as a 2016 Knowles Science Teaching where he’s an engineer at Curtain Wall Colby Cooper, b’16, is a business Fellow. She teaches biology at Washburn Design and Consulting Inc. development specialist at Payless Shoe- Rural High School in Topeka. Angela Bass, d’16, lives in Source in Topeka. He com- Andrew Logan, l’15, is an attorney at Omaha, Nebraska, where she’s mutes from Lawrence. Logan Logan & Watson in Prairie Village. the state regional representative Amanda Boyle Dawson, He and his wife, Erica, live in Kansas City. for KU O ce of Admissions. PhD’16, is an assistant profes- Sri Uppalapati, m’15, is a psychiatrist at Arijit Basu, g’16, is a so ware sor of speech and theatre at Lakeland Health in St. Joseph, Michigan. developer at DST Systems Inc. in Brescia University in Owens- Kansas City, where he makes his boro, Kentucky, where she MARRIED home. makes her home with her Emily Doyle, c’15, to Jacob Luetzow, July Morgan Baumann, c’16, is a husband, Ryan.
62 | KANSAS ALUMNI Rebecca Dickman, g’16, is a curator at nurse at the University of Kansas Hospital. Jordan Hopper, c’16, is a care facilitator the Amana Heritage Society in Amana, She lives in Lenexa. at KidsTLC in Olathe. Iowa. She lives in Cedar Rapids. Will Greenwood, e’16, lives in Burke, Anthony Howcroft, c’16, is a consultant Jennifer Dominguez, g’16, lives in Virginia, where he’s an application at Cerner in Kansas City. He lives in Lubbock, Texas, where she’s a compliance engineer at Honeywell Aerospace. Overland Park. coordinator for Texas Tech University Aaron Gunkel, b’16, lives in Kansas City, Mary Jaeger, g’16, and her husband, Athletics. where he’s a consultant at Cerner. Jon, live in Olathe, where she’s public Casey Dworzynski, g’16, is a residence Lauren Hall, g’16, is executive director works director for the City of Olathe. hall coordinator at Iowa State University in of HealthEd Connect in Independence, Caleb Johnson, e’16, is a project Ames. He lives in Robins, Iowa. Missouri. She lives in Lee’s Summit with engineer at Apex Engineers Inc. in Kansas Haleigh Engel, n’16, lives in Olathe, her partner, Deborah Bigogno. City. He makes his home in Lawrence. where she’s a registered nurse at the Molly Hayes, c’16, lives in Nehalem, Karina Johnson, c’16, is a dog training University of Kansas Hospital. Oregon, where she manages inventory at and behavior specialist at Beyond the Dog Abigail Greene, n’16, is a registered Oregon Coast Cannabis. in Kansas City. She lives in Lenexa.
PROFILE by Chris Lazzarino
Surprise! Olathe principal weeks. I’m thinking our hailed as one of the best school is somehow going to be in the spotlight and I want he Stranger, as he’s come to be known it to shine. I want everything Taround Brougham Elementary to be perfect, but it’s hard to AWARDS MILKEN EDUCATOR COURTESY School, arrived promptly at 9:45 a.m. on a make it perfect when you Wednesday in late September. e Olathe really weren’t sure what was school’s communications director had going on.” been told he was an architectural photog- When Milken Family rapher sent to document recent Foundation chairman Lowell renovations. Milken told the Oct. 7 “I wasn’t even needing to be part of it, assembly that he was there to from what I understood,” recalls principal announce Conklin as the Until her name was called, Stephanie Conklin thought any Stephanie Conklin, g’07. When e latest recipient of the number of educators might be in line for the Milken Award: Stranger arrived, he presented himself for prestigious Milken Educator “It’s a reflection of my school community, no doubt about it.” a meeting with the principal. It happened Award—a $25,000 award to be Wacky Wednesday, and Conklin was hailed by Teacher magazine in the spirit with pig tails, a duck call, as “the Oscars of Teaching”— ridiculous clothes, mismatched shoes. the room erupted in applause, and percent of second-graders were reading at e Stranger began asking questions Conklin suddenly realized: She had the expected pro ciency level; last year, while o ering almost nothing in return. planned her own surprise party. 100 percent reached the goal. What’s your parking situation? Parking Conklin, principal at Brougham since While focused on preparing Brougham’s situation? How many architects are coming? 2010, was honored for her innovative students to excel as lifelong learners, Actually, e Stranger explained, he was approach to using modern testing and Conklin also cherishes the daily delights of there to discuss the Oct. 7 event. What assessment tools, small-group instruction, hugs and laughs. Late on Oct. 7, a second- Oct. 7 event? e one with Commissioner and collaborative planning and teaching grade parent called to ask about Mrs. of Education Randy Watson. e assembly among all teachers to reach goals set for Conklin’s “milk and cookies” award. will begin at 10 a.m. What assembly? every student. “ at’s just hilarious, but you know “It was the most bizarre conversation “My biggest vision was to create a highly what? I’m proud that he was listening I’ve ever had,” Conklin says with a laugh. collaborative culture, working together to enough to remember ‘Milken,’ but ‘milk “He’s telling me we’ll need VIP seating, meet students’ needs,” she says. “It’s not and cookies’ is what he told his mom. at there’s going to be media here, and I’m in ‘my’ students; it’s ‘our’ students.” stu happens all the time and it brings so total shock. I literally did not sleep for two When Conklin arrived, for example, 79 much joy to your day.”
ISSUE 6, 2016 | 63 Class Notes
Park, where she makes her home. Blaine Ragsdale, c’16, resides in Lenexa, where he’s a clinical trial assistant at Jayhawk Address Labels Quintiles. Trenton Rogers, l’16, is a project coordinator at Travois in Kansas City. Mercedes Ho man Ryan, m’16, and her husband, Jacob, live in Bel Aire with their son, Liam, who just turned 1. (Actual size) Jonny Salzetti, e’16, is a construction Address labels feature the Jayhawk and engineer and project manager at CB&I. He measure approximately 2 inches wide by 1/2 lives in Scottsdale, Arizona. inch high, and allow three lines of text. Sara Heckman Schafer, g’16, is an education program consultant in math- To order, visit kualumni.org/shop ematics at the Kansas State Department of or call 1-800-584-2957 Education in Topeka, where she makes her home with her husband, Andrew. Tyler Steiner, e’16, is a senior IT support technician at KU. He lives in Lenexa. Caleb Stewart, d’16, is a teacher in Salina, where he lives with his wife, Lacie. Association Members receive special pricing Meagan Stice, j’16, makes her home in 156 labels: Non-member $9 | Member $8 | Presidents Club $7 Kansas City, where she’s a learning 312 labels: Non-member $14 | Member $13 | Presidents Club $12 consultant at Cerner. 520 labels: Non-member $20 | Member $19 | Presidents Club $18 Caroline Swanson, g’16, is a speech- language pathologist at Kansas City Kansas Public Schools. She commutes from Lawrence. Jason Kane, b’16, lives in Overland health educator at Jackson County Health Danny Tush, PhD’16, lives in Lawrence, Park, where he’s a nancial planning Department in Kansas City, where she where he’s a chemist for the U.S. Geologi- associate at Align Financial Partners. makes her home. cal Survey. Philip Kaul, u’16, is a band director at Anthony Navarro, PharmD’16, is a Tyler Wagsta , b’16, is an account Perry-Lecompton school district. He lives pharmacist at Kroger in Wichita. executive at Comcast AdDelivery. He in Lawrence. Caylor Norris, b’16, is a governance, risk makes his home in Castle Rock, Colorado. Aubrey Hefley Kovisto, d’16, teaches in and compliance solutions architect at Ariel Wilhite, b’16, is a client service Kansas City Kansas public schools. She EMC. He lives in Lawrence. operations specialist at State Street in makes her home in Roeland Park with her Kirby Okerberg, b’16, makes his home Kansas City. husband, Joshua. in Overland Park, where he’s in service Je rey Kraus, e’16, lives in New York and sales at American Care Equipment. UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY City, where he’s a so ware engineer at Jacob Parish, b’16, directs international Craig Freeman made the 2016 Kansas Bloomberg. development at Premier Construction Notable Book List. He co-authored Kansas Timothy Kuhlman, g’16, teaches at Services. He lives in Kansas City. Wild owers and Weeds, which was Lawrence High School. He and his wife, Cedric Phillips, b’16, is a manufacturing published in March 2015 by University Amy, live in Lenexa. and warehouse senior associate at PepsiCo Press of Kansas. Craig is a senior scientist Anne Lewis, b’16, lives in Wichita, in Burnsville, Minnesota. at KU’s Bridwell Research Laboratory in where she’s a contract analyst at Koch Taylor Plummer, g’16, is an assistant Lawrence. Supply and Trading. planner at Olsson Associates. She and her Roy Jensen in October was elected vice Madeline Martin, j’16, coordinates husband, Cohen, live in Gilbert, Arizona. president/president-elect of the Associa- product marketing at Go Local Interactive Thomas Plummer, c’16, works at tion of American Cancer Institutes. He in Overland Park. Convergex, where he’s in strategic plan- directs the University of Kansas Cancer Brogan Moroney, b’16, is a eld engi- ning and business development. He lives Center, which earned National Cancer neer at Milender White Construction Co. in Chicago. Institute designation in 2012 and has in Arvada, Colorado. He lives in Denver. Amy Putman, d’16, teaches English in applied for comprehensive center Christi Nance, g’16, is a community the Blue Valley school district in Overland designation.
64 | KANSAS ALUMNI Congratulations and a special thank you to the following individuals and groups who helped make the week a success:
HOMECOMING SUPPORTERS Jordan Hildenbrand (winner) Kappa Alpha Theta/Delta Chi/ A SPECIAL THANKS TO: Richard and Judy Billings – Billings Travis Kesinger Zeta Beta Tau Bob Sanner Spirit of 1912 Award, 2016 Award Sean Murray KU Marching Jayhawks Etc. Shop Recipient, Linda Ellis Sims Abdoulie Njai (winner) KU Marching Jayhawks Alumni Band Event Judges Jennifer Alderdice – Jennifer Alderdice Rajvi Shah KU Spirit Squad Halftime Presentation – Dr. Tammara Award Winner, Sarah Pickert Kevin Tenny Lawrence Police Department Durham NPHC/Kappa Delta/Alpha Tau Omega Hot Box Cookies STEERING COMMITTEE PARADE PARTICIPANTS Sigma Alpha Epsilon/Alpha Delta Pi/ Hy-Vee Market Grille Jacey Krehbiel, Adviser Grand Marshal – Bob Davis Delta Lambda Phi Jayhawk Jingles Judges – Catherine Katie Gerard, Director Grand Marshal – Kyle Clemons Sigma Delta Tau/Alpha Gamma Delta/ Carmichael, Linda Ellis Sims, Bryan Andrade Alpha Chi Omega/Delta Tau Delta/Beta Phi Gamma Delta/Lambda Chi Alpha LaRisa Chambers Emma Berger Sigma Psi Sigma Kappa/Pi Kappa Alpha/ Juice Stop Annie Foster Beakers Multicultural Greek Council Lawrence and Topeka Corvette Clubs Tobi Imam Beta Upsilon Chi/Omega Phi Alpha Stepping Stones Preschool Lawrence Police Department Kara Kahn Black Student Union Student Union Activities Paisano’s Nellie Kassebaum Crown Toyota, Volkswagen The Big Event Parade Emcees - Curtis Marsh and Kai McClure Delta Delta Delta/Theta Chi/Alpha Truity Credit Union John Holt Bailee Myers Kappa Lambda Uncle Noah’s Ark-Ed Everitt Living Trust Parade Judges –Dr. Don and Kay Brada Mitch Nolan Delta Gamma/Sigma Nu/Triangle University Daily Kansan and Dr. Cindy and Craig Penzler Hannah Wilson Engineering Student Council Pep Rally Emcee - Brian Hanni Gamma Phi Beta/Pi Kappa Phi/Tau OVERALL WINNERS Pita Pit EX.C.E.L. FINALISTS Kappa Epsilon/Alpha Sigma Phi Greek Life: Sigma Alpha Epsilon/Alpha Richard and Judy Billings Stephonn Alcorn Gateway Highsteppers Drill Team Delta Pi/Delta Lambda Phi Scott Simpson BreShawna Briggs Hilltop Child Development Center Student Life: Omega Phi Alpha/Beta Stitch On Needlework Katie Gerard International Student Services Upsilon Chi The Mad Greek Elizabeth Gray Jayhawk Motor Sports
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ISSUE 4, 2011 | 1
In Memory where he owned Black’s Law O ce and served an eight-year term as Pratt County attorney. He is survived by his wife, Janet McKinney Black, ’63; three sons; a Elaine Slothower Small, f’37, 101, associate professor of French at the daughter; two brothers, James, m’73, and 30sJune 24 in Billings, Montana. She University of Houston. She participated in William, m’73; a sister; and seven was an artist and art instructor. Survivors several plays at the Lawrence Community grandchildren. include a daughter, a son, ve grandchil- eatre and in 2010, she received the Marilyn Sue Bogner, c’59, g’68, PhD’75, dren and ve great- theatre’s Lifetime Achievement Award. 79, Aug. 19 in Bethesda, Maryland. She grandchildren. Robert McClintick, b’49, 91, Aug. 28 in founded the Institute for the Study of Helen Cronkite St. John, 103, July 16 in Indian Wells, California. He had a 40-year Human Error. A son, a daughter and two St. Joseph, Missouri, where she was a career with Farmers Insurance Group. grandsons survive. retired teacher. She is survived by a Surviving are his wife, Laurene, two Helen Boring, c’54, g’69, 83, July 19 in daughter, Kay Cronkite Barnes, d’60; two daughters, a stepdaughter, ve grandchil- West Covina, California, where she was a grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. dren, two stepgrandsons and two retired high school teacher. great-grandchildren. Ralph Bowman, b’50, 90, Aug. 19 in Calvin Bibens, e’49, 91, Aug. 8 in James Shields Jr., m’43, 97, July 19 in Spring eld, Missouri. He was a CPA and 40s St. Joseph, Missouri, where he Lawrence, where he was a retired family city treasurer in Ponca City, Oklahoma, for co-founded and chaired Midland Steel practitioner. He also served as the Butler nearly 30 years. Survivors include his wife, Company. He is survived by his wife, Mary County coroner. Survivors include two Retha, and a brother. Ann; three sons, one of whom is Conrad, daughters, Nancy Shields Nowlin, c’70, Emalene Gooch Correll, c’52, g’63, 85, j’77; a sister, Frances Bibens Moore, c’54; m’74, and Suzanne, d’76; three sons, two of July 30 in Lawrence. She worked for the and ve grandchildren. whom are omas, m’74, and Joseph, c’85; Kansas Legislative Research Department Paul Ferguson, e’49, 93, July 29 in Tulsa, a brother; eight grandchildren; and two in Topeka for more than 40 years. A Oklahoma, where he was a retired great-grandchildren. memorial has been established with KU electrical engineer. Survivors include a Janet Taylor Tanner, f’48, 89, June 23 in Endowment. A daughter, Kathleen, c’86, daughter, a stepson, a stepdaughter, a Rio Verde, Arizona. She was an art survives. brother, two granddaughters, a great- instructor and later became art director of Benjamin Craig Jr., ’51, 87, Aug. 5 in grandson, six step-grandchildren and children’s education at the Nelson-Atkins Overland Park, where he was president of three step-great-grandchildren. Museum of Art in Kansas City. Surviving Metcalf Bank and retired as chairman Harry Johnson, d’43, 94, July 31 in are a son, Edward, c’72; a daughter, Lori emeritus. Two daughters, two grand- Mission, where he was an insurance agent. Tanner Zedaker, f’82; and two grandsons. daughters and two great-granddaughters A memorial has been established with KU Jack Van Horn, b’48, 91, July 17 in Las survive. Endowment. He is survived by two Vegas. He worked at Gulf Oil Corporation Robert Dare, b’52, 88, Aug. 29 in daughters, Marcia Johnson Suiter, ’67, and for nearly 20 years before becoming a Win eld, where he had a 30-year career in Nancy Johnson Batchelder, c’74; two sons, business manager at several colleges. His sales at Jostens. Survivors include a son, one of whom is Todd, c’75; nine grandchil- wife, Lucille, a son and a grandson survive. William, c’82, b’83; a daughter, Jean Dare dren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Robert “Ribby” Woodbury, ’44, 92, Hughes, ’84; and six grandchildren. Ruth Kemper Larson, ’42, 94, May 2 in Aug. 10 in Prairie Village. He owned Marcia Jane Fox Davis, c’55, 82, July 16 Council Grove, where she and her Woodbury Construction Company and in San Diego, where she taught kindergar- husband owned Council Grove Florists Midwest Motor Inns. He is survived by ten for 28 years. A daughter and grand- and Greenhouse. A son, a daughter, two two sons, Robert Jr., c’67, and David, c’74, daughter survive. sisters and a granddaughter survive. l’77; two daughters, Susan, c’82, and John Eulich, b’51, 86, Sept. 3 in Dallas, Virginia Stephenson Lashley, c’45, 91, Patricia Woodbury Miller, g’86, ’07; three where he was a real estate developer and June 22 in San Diego. She was a professor stepsons, one of whom is Garland owned the Vantage Companies. He is and chaired the business division at Landrith III, c’71, g’73; 10 grandchildren; survived by his wife, Virginia Walsh Glendale Community College in Glendale, and 13 great-grandchildren. Eulich, c’51; four daughters; and nine California. She also was a 70-year member grandchildren. of the Daughters of the American Revolu- Robert Allison, c’59, 80, Aug. 14 Charles Royce Fugate Sr., e’58, 80, July tion. Two sons, three daughters, a brother, 50s in Olathe. He was a real estate 22 in West Plains, Missouri. He had a eight grandchildren and three step-grand- agent. Surviving are his wife, Ruth Olson 38-year career with the Missouri Depart- children survive. Allison, d’58; a son, John, d’87; a daughter; ment of Transportation and later became a Jane Woord Malin, c’45, g’47, 90, Aug. and four grandchildren. city administrator. His wife, Rita, and a 4 in Lawrence, where she was a retired John Black, c’59, 79, Aug. 20 in Pratt, son survive.
68 | KANSAS ALUMNI Harold Gascoigne, e’57, 82, July 21 in Hampton Kelley, ’56; a daughter, Kirsten are his wife, Jeaninne Willis Schroff, n’54; a San Luis Obispo, California, where he was Kelley Reecy, h’84; two sons, one of whom son; three daughters; three brothers, two a retired professor of mechanical engi- is Jeffrey, c’85, g’87; a sister, Mavis Kelley of whom are Charles, c’54, m’57, and neering. A memorial has been established Clark, ’59; a brother, Larry, d’59; 11 James, p’66; nine grandchildren; and a with KU Endowment. Two daughters, a grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; great-granddaughter. son and five grandchildren survive. and three great-grandchildren. Theodore Sexton Jr., c’56, l’62, 81, Aug. Nancy Wilkinson Hawley, c’50, 87, Aug. Patricia Lewis King, d’55, 84, June 19 in 18 in Leavenworth. He was an attorney. 5 in Kansas City. She was a community Wichita, where she was a teacher. Two Helen Kittle Slaymaker, c’51, 87, July 20 volunteer and tutor. Three daughters, daughters and two brothers survive. in Rogers, Arkansas. She taught kindergar- seven grandchildren and two great-grand- Ronald Lowe, b’52, 87, Aug. 11 in ten in Overland Park for 32 years. A son, children survive. Prairie Village. He managed distribution at three granddaughters and two great- John Hoerath, c’55, 83, Aug. 30 in H.D. Lee Company for several years before granddaughters survive. Boulder, Colorado, where he was a retired becoming a real estate agent. A memorial Margery “Marty” Waddell Smith, ’52, dentist. A son survives. has been established with KU Endowment. 85, Aug. 27 in Lawrence, where she served William Hoffman, p’55, 84, Aug. 8 in A daughter, Laurel Lowe Barnes, g’83, l’83, on several community boards and was a Topeka. He owned Hoffman Pharmacy in survives. member of P.E.O. Sisterhood. She is Westmoreland. Surviving are his wife, Thomas Murphy, c’52, 88, Aug. 31 in survived by two sons; two daughters; a Trudie Foltz Hoffman, p’83; four daugh- Peabody, Massachusetts, where he was a sister, Harriet Waddell Hawkins, c’49; and ters, Jean Hoffman Bramwell, ’82, Kay consulting chemical engineer. A memorial six grandchildren. Hoffman Tomasu, p’84, Mary, h’86, and has been established with KU Endowment. Charlene Smith Teare, n’55, g’84, 86, Nancy Hoffman Vanderpool, p’03; two He is survived by his wife, Neva; two Sept. 8 in WaKeeney. She was a nursing sons, one of whom is William “Skip” daughters, one of whom is Neva, f’85; instructor at KU and several area colleges. Hoffman Jr., b’89; and 15 grandchildren. three sons, two of whom are John, c’87, A memorial has been established with KU Helen Ward Hogan, d’50, 88, Sept. 17 in and Thomas, j’05; and 10 grandchildren. Endowment. Surviving are a daughter, Prairie Village, where she was an organist Vernon Osborn, c’59, 84, Aug. 12 in Marijo Teare Rooney, c’82; a son, Thomas, and served on several church committees. Salina, where he was a dentist and chaired j’86; and three grandchildren. She is survived by two daughters, Nancy several local organizations. Surviving are Jimmie Underwood, c’51, 87, Aug. 13 in Hogan Koons, d’77, and Sallie Hogan his wife, Sara Hahn Osborn, d’58; three Lawrence, where he was a dentist. He is Wandling, c’80, s’89; and three sons, two of whom are John, ’83, and survived by his wife, Jeanne; three sons, grandchildren. Thomas, ’87; and five grandchildren. one of whom is Jeffrey, d’84; a daughter, Douglas Huffman, e’50, 89, July 14 in Richard Reinking, b’57, 83, July 11 in De Jane Underwood O’Connor, ’86; a sister; Orland Park, Illinois, where he retired Soto. He worked at Prudential Financial nine grandchildren; and three great- from the TeleType Co. He is survived by for more than 50 years. He is survived by grandchildren. his wife, Dorothy; and a sister, Phyllis his wife, Wanda; a daughter, Angela, s’07; a Tom Van Sickle, c’59, 79, July 3 in Huffman Sears, d’58. stepson; a stepdaughter; two sisters; a Olathe. He was an attorney and served Elizabeth McKie Jackson, c’52, 85, July brother; four grandchildren; and four several years in the Kansas Legislature 7 in Torrance, California, where she was a great-grandchildren. before becoming state treasurer in 1972. lab technologist for more than 40 years. Jacquelyn Herriott Roberts, ’50, 86, He is survived by a daughter, three sons, Survivors include her husband, Stanley, a Aug. 17 in Lenoir City, Tennessee, where two stepsons, a brother, five grandchildren daughter, two sons, eight grandchildren she was a freelance writer and founded a and two step-grandsons. and six great-grandchildren. Knoxville community newspaper. Survi- Mary Lauterbach Wagner, d’58, 80, Earl Allen Kelley, d’54, 83, Aug. 13 in vors include her husband, Ronald, d’50; Aug. 27 in San Antonio, where she was a Lawrence, where he worked for Caterpillar two daughters; three sons; 11 grandchil- psychotherapist. Surviving are a son; three Tractor Company for more than 40 years. dren; and 10 great-grandchildren. daughters; a sister, Martha, ’66; 12 He played basketball for KU and was a Fred Schmitz, b’52, 85, July 31 in grandchildren; and a great-grandson. member of 1952 national championship Overland Park, where he was a retired Ted Wiedeman, b’51, 87, Sept. 27 in team. He became a gold-medal Olympian salesman. He is survived by four sons, Kansas City, where he was president of and in 1984, he was inducted in the U.S. three of whom are Mark, c’76, Neal, ’83, the family business, Reeves-Wiedeman Olympic Hall of Fame. He also was and Edward, a’93; two daughters, one of Co. He is survived by four sons, Ted, c’76, inducted in the Kansas Athletics Hall of whom is Alice Schmitz Unger, c’87; and Reeves, a’79, a’82, Kurt, b’83, and Richard, Fame and the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame five grandchildren. b’86; two daughters, Alison Wiedeman in 2008 and 2013, respectively. A memo- Carle Schroff, c’52, m’59, 86, July 7 in Ward, d’80, and Amy Wiedeman rial has been established with KU Endow- Springfield, Missouri, where he was a Thompson, d’89, g’97; a sister, Mary ment. He is survived by his wife, Barbara family practitioner for 35 years. Surviving Wiedeman Rogler, c’56; 21 grandchildren;
ISSUE 6, 2016 | 69 In Memory and three great-grandchildren. teacher and also worked at the St. Louis two grandsons. Donald Williams, c’56, m’60, 81, May County Library. Surviving are a daughter; Stephen Powell, c’68, 71, July 29 in 20 in Newport Beach, California, where he a son; and a brother, Warren, e’58. Longwood, Florida, where he owned Grass was a urologist. He also founded URO Ronald Leslie, b’62, l’65, 75, Aug. 12 in Roots Lawn Service and Gator Mower Investments. He is survived by his wife, Goodland. He was an attorney in Hutchin- Parts. Surviving are his wife, Beverly Nancy; four sons; two daughters; a sister, son for more than 40 years and also served Dreier Powell, d’68; a son; a daughter; two Laura Williams Midgley, ’64; a brother; as a municipal court judge in several sisters; and four grandchildren. and six grandchildren. nearby cities. He was elected Mayor of David Rayl, m’69, 72, Aug. 6 in Ports- Roxy Yowell, d’55, g’62, 84, Aug. 17 in Hutchinson in 1992. A son, Brian, c’90, mouth, Virginia, where he was a retired Overland Park. She taught Spanish and ’97, survives. U.S. Navy ight surgeon. Survivors include French for 40 years and served on the Philip Lorton, c’63, l’65, 75, Aug. 11 in his wife, Peggy, assoc.; and two sisters. board of the Kansas National Education Kansas City, where he was an attorney. James Rose Sr., c’62, 79, Aug. 29 in Association. Surviving are his wife, Kathryn, four sons, Lawrence, where he was a real estate agent two sisters and 13 grandchildren. and property manager. A son, James, c’03, Cathy Beck Ambler, d’69, g’90, Judy Gray McEachen, c’61, d’63, 77, g’08, survives. 60sPhD’96, 69, July 27 in Quincy, Aug. 8 in Kansas City. She taught speech Linda Compton Ross, d’60, EdD’72, 78, Illinois, where she was a historic preserva- and English at Shawnee Mission North Aug. 2 in Mission. She worked at the tion consultant. Surviving are her hus- High School in Overland Park. A memo- Kansas State School for the Blind. Survi- band, Allen, c’68; two daughters, one of rial has been established with KU Endow- vors include a son; and a sister, Betty whom is Katie, f’96, l’04; a brother, ment. She is survived by her husband, Compton Bulkley, f’49, g’75. William “Rick,” c’77, m’83; and two Richard, b’55; two sons, one of whom is Donald “Doug” Shade, b’61, 80, Aug. 7 grandsons. Neil, j’95; and four grandchildren. in Baldwin City. He worked at Burnett George Axelrad, PhD’60, 86, March 14 Jane Pollock Meinershagen, f’68, 70, Instruments in Lawrence and also owned in Oakland Gardens, New York. He was Aug. 13 in Lake Tapawingo, Missouri. She two Baskin-Robbins stores and Bum Steer professor emeritus at Queens College of taught art and photography for 30 years at Barbeque. He is survived by his wife, Ruby the City University of New York. Blue Springs High School. Survivors Sterlin Shade, d’59; two sons, Mark, ’87, Dwight Burnell Cavender, a’62, 78, June include her husband, Glenn “Bill,” ’68; two and Steve, c’91; a daughter, Susan Shade 17 in Stockton, Missouri, where he was a sons, one of whom is Kevan, c’99; and Klopfenstein, j’88, g’90; a sister; a brother; retired U.S. Air Force colonel. He later three granddaughters. and seven grandchildren. managed water resources for San Ber- Donald Metzger, e’63, 75, June 22 in Vernon Swearingen Jr., e’63, 75, Aug. nardino County in California. Surviving Alma, Michigan. He was a chemical 25 in Lemesa, Texas. He co-founded VHL are three daughters, one of whom is engineer at PPG Industries. Surviving are Corporation and later was vice president Kimberly Cavender Ayars, a’99; and eight two sons; two daughters; a brother, James, at Electro Scienti c Industries. He and his grandchildren. e’60; and 11 grandchildren. wife also owned Storyquilts. Surviving are David Hougland, a’67, 72, Dec. 6, 2015, Ronald Mihordin Sr., m’64, 77, Feb. 26 his wife, Betty; four daughters; two sisters, in Portland, Oregon, where he was an in Sacramento, California, where he was a one of whom is Lynn Swearingen Weaver, artist and retired architect and project forensic psychiatrist for the State of d’66; eight grandchildren; and a great- manager. He is survived by his wife, Pat California. His wife, Leslie; a son, Ronald, grandson. Braun Hougland, f’68; a son; a daughter; a e’00; and two granddaughters survive. Levi Tarr, e’65, g’67, 73, July 12 in brother; and a granddaughter. Margaret Jones Mistler-Welsh, c’64, Plano, Texas, where he was a retired Christine Crawford Hyde, c’69, h’69, 68, 73, Sept. 3 in Oceanside, California. She so ware engineer. Survivors include his June 23 in Olathe, where she was a worked for the Kansas City Royals and wife, Anne; two sons; two stepdaughters; a physical therapist. She is survived by her was a volunteer in her community. brother, Terry, e’67; and two grand- husband, Robert, ’67; four daughters, one Survivors include her husband, David, a children. of whom is Laura Hyde Ismert, g’03; a son, daughter, a son, a stepdaughter, a sister, Eric, DPT’15; her mother; a brother; a three grandchildren and two step- Lawrence Knupp, j’75, 74, Sept. 7 sister; and 17 grandchildren. grandchildren. 70sin Lodi, Wisconsin. He published Lance Johnson, c’60, 77, July 17 in Maurice Penner, c’67, g’69, PhD’74, 70, the Ellinwood Leader newspaper in Wymore, Nebraska. He managed Johnson Aug. 15 in Emeryville, California, where Ellinwood and later retired as a professor Lumber Company in Fremont and chaired he was a retired professor of public of computer science at DeVry University the Dodge County Republican Party. A administration at the University of San in Kansas City. A son, Justin, j’99, and two brother, Charles, b’62, survives. Francisco. He is survived by his wife, grandchildren survive. Sibyl Rickenberg Kerr, c’62, 77, Aug. 14 Susan Myers Penner, ’78; a son; two Thomas Marshall, e’78, 60, Aug. 1 in in Washington, Missouri. She was a brothers, one of whom is Ronald, c’74; and Laytonsville, Maryland. He was a property
70 | KANSAS ALUMNI developer. Surviving are a daughter; four for 15 years. Surviving are his wife, Jill great-grandchildren. sisters, three of whom are Monica Mar- Redfern Ice, n’86; three daughters, one of Maryjane “MJ” Mclendon, PhD’91, 59, shall Vaughn, j’83, Marian, ’87, and whom is Erin, c’15; his mother, Sue Aug. 12 in Lawrence, where she was Cecilia, ’88; and a brother, John, ’84. Harper Ice, d’56; and two sisters, Laura, assistant professor of American literature Patricia Mullen McPherson, d’70, 67, d’80, and Nancy Ice Schlup, d’83. and literature of the Holocaust. Surviving July 8 in Topeka, where she taught art. She are her partner, Betty Campbell, c’82, is survived by her husband, Bruce, b’71; a Stan Buckley Jr., c’91, 48, Aug. 5 PhD’91; and two stepsons. son, Scott, c’10; her mother; and two 90s in Overland Park. He was a school Kay Lynne Mekemson Myers, s’89, 74, sisters, Margaret, d’75, and Barbara, n’76. psychologist and administrator. Survivors July 25 in Kansas City, where she was John Morris, c’72, l’74, 66, Sept. 2 in include two daughters; his parents, director of social welfare at the Edwards Kansas City, where he was an attorney, Stanley, s’82, and Myrna; and a sister, Campus. In 1993, she received KU’s investment broker and property manager. Michelle, j’87, c‘88. Outstanding Social Work Alumni Award Survivors include a daughter; a brother, Eric Knudtson, c’92, m’96, 46, July 29 in for her service at a Kansas City homeless Joe, b’61; and a sister. Oklahoma City, where he was a physician shelter. She is survived by her husband, John Roberts, j’77, 61, Aug. 20 in and associate professor at the University of Charles; two sons, one of whom is Charles Newtown, Pennsylvania, where he worked Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. He is Jr., j’94; and two brothers. in advertising. He is survived by his wife, survived by his wife, Julie Peters Knudt- Norman Paige, 87, Aug. 25 in Mission Teresa Arnold Roberts, j’81; two sons; a son, c’93, g’98; two daughters; his father; Hills, where he was retired professor of daughter; a sister, Kay Roberts Findlay, two sisters, one of whom is Pamela vocal performance and an internationally h’81; and a brother, David, assoc. Knudtson Persons, h’84; and a brother, known opera singer. His wife, Inci Bashar, Gary Schemm, c’72, 65, Aug. 7 in John, c’89, m’93. a daughter, a sister and two granddaugh- Shawnee, where he was a computer ters survive. progammer and systems analyst. A UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY Jeremy Struemph, c’03, b’04, 36, Aug. memorial has been established with KU Robert Brown, assoc., 82, July 23 in 17 in Houston. He coached KU rowing for Endowment. A brother, David, j’75, Charleston, South Carolina. He was more than 10 years and later was a ight survives. professor emeritus in the department of instructor at iFLY Indoor Skydiving in mathematics and served as associate chair Kansas City. His wife, Briana, his father Alan Bailey, c’87, 55, Aug. 12 in for 22 years. A memorial has been and two sisters survive. 80sReno, Nevada. He was a geother- established with KU Endowment. Surviv- mal engineer. A memorial has been ing are his wife, Sharon Burton Brown, ’73; ASSOCIATES established with KU Endowment. Two two sons, one of whom is Bill, ’91; and ve Patsy Dare, assoc., 81, Feb. 24 in sisters survive. granddaughters. Wellington. Surviving are a son, William, John Buzbee, c’89, j’89, 50, Sept. 15 in George Kellas, 78, July 19 in Lawrence, c’82, b’83; a daughter, Jean Dare Hughes, Washington, D.C., where he was a foreign where he was professor emeritus of ’84; and six grandchildren. service ocer and worked at several U.S. experimental psychology. His wife, Judi, William Koehn, assoc., 89, Sept. 4 in embassies and consulates in the Middle and two sisters survive. Topeka, where he founded Medical Arts East and in the U.S. Department of State’s Shane Lopez, g’97, PhD’99, 46, July 23 Pharmacy. He is survived by his wife, Bureau of Near Eastern Aairs. Surviving in Lawrence. He was a professor of Cherrie, assoc.; a son, Bradley, b’80; and are his wife, Sally Stre Buzbee, j’88; two counseling psychology at KU before three grandchildren. daughters; his parents; and two brothers, becoming senior scientist and research Patricia McConachie, assoc., 70, Aug. William, j’80, g’84, and Jim, b’82, g’84. director of the Cli on Strengths Institute 20 in Wichita. Surviving are her husband, David Filkins, c’81, 61, July 9 in Freder- at Gallup. He is survived by his wife, Alli Kirk, b’67; a daughter, Allison McCo- ick, Maryland, where he had a 32-year Rose, j’96, g’10; a son; his father; a brother; nachie Grace, b’98; a son, Parker, c’03; a career with the federal government. and a sister. sister; a brother; and two grandchildren. Survivors include his wife, Denise Brink- Joseph McGuire, 91, Aug. 29 in Aliso Drolette Wiedeman, assoc., 86, Aug. 27 meyer Filkins, c’81; and two daughters, Viejo, California. He was a professor and in Kansas City, where she served on Elizabeth, d’11, g’13, and Gwendolyn, ’15. administrator at several universities, several committees and boards. She is Bryan Hilgardner, e’85, 53, July 13 in including KU, where he served as dean survived by four sons, Ted, c’76, Reeves, Crowley, Texas. He is survived by his wife, of the School of Business from 1963 a’79, a’82, Kurt, b’83, and Richard, b’86; Sue Ricketts Hilgardner, p’85; a son; a to ’68. Survivors include two sons, one two daughters, Alison Wiedeman Ward, daughter; and his mother. of whom is Larry, c’70, g’74, l’75; two d’80, and Amy Wiedeman ompson, Evan Ice, e’86, l’93, 52, Aug. 5 in daughters, Karen McGuire Evans, b’71, d’89, g’97; a sister, Mary Wiedeman Lawrence, where he was an attorney and and Eileen McGuire Graham-Klotz, Rogler, c’56; 21 grandchildren; and three served as the Douglas County counselor d’74; nine grandchildren; and ve great-grandchildren.
ISSUE 6, 2016 | 71 Rock Chalk Review
Washburn University. When Averill shared Young’s rst poem anonymously with the
STEVE PUPPE STEVE class, the young writer was hooked. “It wasn’t the acclaim but the anonymous thrill that prepared me for the unmade labor yet secret joy that can make up a poem,” he recalled. Years later, Young has written or edited 14 books of poetry and prose, received a Guggenheim Fellowship and a National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship in Poetry. is year he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He soon will direct the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture of the New York Public Library a er teaching at Emory University in Atlanta, where he was the Charles Howard Candler professor poems that evoked laughter, gasps, sighs of creative writing and English and the A poet’s life and loud applause. In verse he shared the curator of the Raymond Danowski Poetry story of his youth baseball team—“We Library. Scholar oers lyrical tribute were our own Negro League”—who played Young rst encountered an archive the to KU ties past and present in blue jeans and endured a miserable summer a er his freshman year at losing streak until one day, when they Harvard, when he was home in Topeka evin Young, the ninth scholar since somehow snapped the streak “... giving and needed a job. Averill came to his K2008 to deliver KU’s Bill Tuttle goose eggs to kids in golden sleeves and rescue, hiring him to sort through the Distinguished Lecture in American tall, corn-yellow socks, their new cleats papers and unpublished work of the late Studies, shouldered a unique burden as he aimed at our shins.” Edgar Wolfe, c’28, g’50, KU professor of prepared for his Oct. 13 presentation in In junior high, Young took a poetry English and an author and poet who had the Kansas Union. Tuttle, professor class from Tom Averill, c’71, g’74, writer- taught Averill. As he read the words of his emeritus of Amerian Studies, is Young’s in-residence and professor of English at mentor’s mentor, Young “discovered not father-in-law. “What an honor and daunting chal- lenge. I can’t mess this one up,” Young confessed in Woodru Auditorium amid PUPPE STEVE reassuring laughter from the audience. “I This year’s Tuttle actually wrote two talks.” lecture was a family He chose the more personal of the two, reunion for Kevin “Uninhabited: Race, Reading and the Young (above) and his Archives,” a re ection on moving from in-laws, Bill Tuttle, Syracuse, New York, to Topeka with his assoc., professor family as a h-grader; falling in love with emeritus of American books; becoming a poet, thanks in part to studies, and Kathryn the tutelage of two KU mentors; and understanding the power of archives, Nemeth Tuttle, g’72, which are part of his life’s work. PhD’96, who retired Young did not mess up. He enthralled, after a 26-year KU weaving wordplay and wonder throughout career in student his poignant recollections, punctuated by success.
72 | KANSAS ALUMNI just the ups and downs of a writer’s life and religion. Initially, I found myself but the unmediated joy of the archive. ... thinking, “Here we go again ...” Instead, I For me, it was a way to discover a life— was mesmerized by Martin’s description of A Doubter’s Guide Wolfe’s as well as what might be mine.” his toilet-paper epiphany, when his to God Young studied with Nobel Prize- reading of Barbara Kingsolver’s e winning poet Seamus Heaney and Poisonwood Bible opens his eyes to the by Roger Martin immersed himself in archives at Harvard bounty and privilege he and other citizens Woodley Press, (where he met Kate Tuttle Young, c’92, of the developed world enjoy throughout $20 now a columnist for the Boston Globe). our lives, right down to the “fat roll of He continued his studies at Stanford and toilet paper” in our air-conditioned Brown. As director of the Schomburg bathrooms. He sets his epiphany in the Center, he vows to continue the welcom- context of scientists’ study of the brain, accepts his individualism. He experiences ing tradition that distinguishes modern beginning with his visit to a brain bank, God, even while arming the adage that a archival study from years past. “ ere where he watches the director slice into a “congregation is a synonym for con ict.” used to be a sense that ‘We’ve got this great specimen. e scientist explains that those He nds in church a place where he can stu . Don’t you dare disturb it,’ the archive who study the brain become obsessed by it continue to doubt and be a person of faith. as a kind of wall, to now, ‘We have this not only because of its quanti able A Doubter’s Guide to God helps the great stu , please come and use it,’” processes but also because “the brain is the reader discern the holy with intellectual he says. only tissue in creation that has a sense of integrity. It is a book to read and appreci- Young’s father-in-law, Tuttle, says he was mortality and a vision of God.” ate as you discover yourself through elated when the selection committee ere is disorder in Martin’s non- Martin’s sharing of his own journey, an invited Young to KU. “Kevin is incredibly sequential storytelling, and acknowledging invitation to possibly be surprised at how bright, incredibly gracious and deeply the disorder in his life helps him nd God. you can also uncover new questions and thoughtful,” says Tuttle, who especially His father was emotionally distant, and make armations in your life, as he did. A praises Young’s award-winning Book of this and other aspects of his early years willingness to listen to Martin and to your Hours, poems that honor Young’s late contribute to anger and depression. He own faith journey, regardless of your own father, Paul, and the birth of Mack, Tuttle’s begins to draw away from the church in acknowledgment of a God or not, is a grandson, now 10. adolescence, and when he starts college he prerequisite. If you are willing to travel Next year’s 10th Tuttle lecture will becomes a “humanistic-agnostic.” with Martin, you will understand how prompt another family reunion: Tuttle A recurring and integral aspect of “faith” can become a verb. himself will deliver the lecture to mark 50 Martin’s journey is the complexity of his — ad Holcombe years since he began teaching at KU. relationships, including failed marriages. Holcombe is the retired campus minister —Jennifer Jackson Sanner Looking back, he can better understand of Ecumenical Campus Ministries, the dynamics and critique himself. is which he led for 22 years at KU. critique is related to a period in his life when he used drugs to self-medicate and The search practiced extensive dream-journaling, meditation and contemplative prayer. Under pressure Book plots road map Searching for God in such a morass of one man’s journey to faith increases his need for a “guide.” Research illuminates dire straits In addition to citing the nuances of faced by newspaper journalists f Roger Martin’s spiritual autobiography scienti c studies—in the vivid, plainspo- Icould be written as an equation, it ken prose that echoes his award-winning ayo s, cutbacks, disillusionment, would read something like this: Doubt magazine—Martin also embarks on Lmarginalization, ridicule and now God = Discover God (maybe). serious biblical study, exploring the many even physical threats: e story of journal- Martin, g’73, edited Explore, a nation- ways Jesus is interpreted. Jesus becomes ism in the 21st century is not a happy one. ally acclaimed KU research magazine, real for Martin in a way that is congruent “Journalists are under siege, in a lot of and wrote commentaries on science topics with his choice to join a faith community. capacities,” says Scott Reinardy, associate for Kansas Public Radio. His book, A He chooses Peace Mennonite Church in professor of journalism and associate dean Doubter’s Guide to God, traces his own Lawrence, a church that is part of a for graduate studies and faculty develop- scholarly study and search for answers to religious heritage that speaks to Martin in ment. “It’s this downward spiral that I’m questions of faith. a unique way. Instead of having his not sure we’ve seen the bottom of, In the chapter “Your Brain on God,” identity compromised in this congrega- unfortunately.” Martin re ects on the relation of science tion, he discovers a community that Reinardy, who worked for 15 years as a
ISSUE 6, 2016 | 73 Rock Chalk Review newspaper reporter, spent more than a decade surveying thousands of journalists Scott Reinardy shared and interviewing hundreds of others, PUPPE STEVE results of his research resulting in the book Journalism’s Lost with executives and Generation: e Un-doing of U.S. Newspa- managers at every per Newsrooms, a critical analysis of job newspaper he visited. pressures and career disappointments None responded. “How endured by America’s journalists. much pain do you have Reinardy began his study as newspapers to be in to want to make were teetering toward the rst wave of change? That’s what it multimedia news dissemination, which really comes down to.” has since morphed into digital and social He adds, “This is going media. en came the Great Recession of 2008, and the tenuous state of traditional to get worse, according journalism plunged into an abyss. to the evidence.” “It’s this perfect storm of industry disaster, to some degree,” Reinardy says. During newsroom interviews, Reinardy di erent. ere are still going to be As he contemplated the structure of his encountered veteran journalists—the opportunities to do investigative report- latest book, a seamless narrative of how so-called lucky ones who had managed to ing, but they’re going to come in di erent America’s natural abundance and now hold onto their jobs—reduced to tears. packages. What does that mean for the scarcity shape our society and our outlook Four months of newsroom interviews future of newspapers? Well, that’s a model on our place on the planet, Worster, Hall were so taxing that Reinardy’s wife that they’ll have to gure out.” Distinguished Professor of American eventually asked him whether he might —Chris Lazzarino History Emeritus, struck upon the notion need to seek counseling. His response: of opening with imagery of Jay Gatsby “Quite possibly.” gazing upon a green light shimmering in Reinardy points out that marginaliza- the mist over Long Island Sound. tion of journalists’ plight is, in part, their Limits of the land e narrator of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s e own doing. Journalists are trained to tell Great Gatsby, Nick Carraway, understands others’ stories, not their own, and so nd Worster explores the dynamics that the light, playing so magically upon little sympathy outside of their own orbit. of American bounty, scarcity Gatsby’s visions of the splendor of his “We go into journalism to o er a voice idyllic world, is merely a navigation aid at to the voiceless. In this case the journalists onald Worster’s stature among the the end of a boat dock. Worster uses are the ones who are voiceless, and maybe Dworld’s most respected environmen- Gatsby’s awestruck innocence and, later, as a researcher, with the evidence, I can tal historians is unquestioned. With Carraway’s assessment of the reality of provide some of that voice.” Shrinking the Earth: e Rise & Decline of their arti cially lush environment, to Despite the grim working conditions he American Abundance—which stands examine centuries of naïve rapture at found in newsrooms, Reinardy is optimis- alongside such previous hallmarks as A North America’s seemingly boundless tic for the next generation, students he and River Running West: e Life of John bounty and its attendant exploitation and his colleagues are training at the William Wesley Powell, and A Passion for Nature: depredation. Allen White School of Journalism and e Life of John Muir—Worster, c’63, g’64, Citing a Gatsby passage that ruminates Mass Communications. also cements his standing as a ne, precise on the “transitory enchanted moment” Like their forebears, today’s young and courageous writer of the rst order. when man came “face to face for the last journalists are “committed to telling good time in history with something commen- stories and to providing accurate informa- surate to his capacity for wonder,” Worster tion,” he says. ey are comfortable in the Shrinking the Earth: comments, “How strange that those fast-paced environment of social media, The Rise & Decline of melancholy words came out of the and, if they are lucky enough to nd American Abundance fabulous Jazz Age of the 1920s, the birth newsrooms lled with veterans willing to years of the consumer society, when teach the exacting standards upon which by Donald Worster Americans seemed sure of getting rich, independent journalism is built, they can Oxford University when capitalism was in its heyday.” build respectable and productive careers. Press, $27.95 Within Shrinking the Earth, Worster “ ere are jobs available,” Reinardy says. de ly weaves concise histories of, among “ e new journalism is going to look many other topics, exploration, rebellion,
74 | KANSAS ALUMNI economics, philosophy, politics, industrial Earth is the only known world capable of being ‘Human.’ For centuries we have and agricultural revolutions, astronomy, supporting life. We might visit other celebrated ourselves as an exceptional global nance, geography, climate change, worlds, yes, but settle? No. Our future is species, separate from and free to transform and warnings heeded and ignored. here, a fact no amount of wishful, brilliant the natural world around us. Now that view Bookending the startling opening is an and creative thinking can alter. seems illusory and self-destructive. We are equally imaginative and nely tuned “Above all,” Worster writes, “the recent less important than we thought.” closing, for which Worster turns to Carl fact-based discoveries of our miniscule As did Sagan, we, too, must now concede Sagan. “With manifest disappointment,” place in the cosmos and the ongoing that such melancholy words cannot be seen Worster notes, the enthusiastic astronomer environmental crisis on our little planet as strange. ey are our unfortunate was eventually forced to concede that seem likely to diminish the importance of reality. —Chris Lazzarino
Nights at the museum RYAN WAGGONER RYAN Renovated Spencer opens to big crowds, including students
about 3,000 visitors filled the airy new spaces during the public opening, Oct. 15-16, and RYAN WAGGONER RYAN nearly 800 faculty and sta attended the Oct. 5 Colleague Preview. Turns out patrons and faculty spaces for classes and residence at the Spencer. were not the only art lovers independent study. Museum ocials hope the who missed their museum: After the celebrations, energy of the fall festivities Thanks in part to social media curators readied third-floor will continue for the dramatic fter 18 months, the buzz generated by the galleries for their first show. debut show. ASpencer Museum of Art museum’s Student Advisory “Temporal Turn: Art & “Every opening event unveiled its transformation Board, about 1,200 students Speculation in Contemporary exceeded our expectations and [“The Big Reveal,” issue No. 5] attended their Oct. 6 preview. Asia,” which runs through the museum was full of smiles with events that attracted They were especially March 12, “explores a rich and satisfaction,” says Saralyn about 6,000 visitors. enthralled by the Stephen H. mosaic of ideas about time and Reece Hardy, c’76, g’94, Along with smaller openings Goddard Study Center and the history from contemporary Marilyn Stokstad Director of for benefactors and the Jack & Lavon Brosseau Center artists across Asia.” The the Spencer. “For all of us, it is museum’s friends organization, for Learning, two redesigned exhibition features 26 the charged encounter between international artists, including art and people that gives our four who completed work meaning.” installations as artists in —Chris Lazzarino COURTESY SPENCER MUSEUM OF ART SPENCER MUSEUM COURTESY
One and One #35, by Timo Nasseri (left), and The New Book of Mountains and Seas 1, by Qiu Anxiong, are among the works by contemporary Asian artists featured in “Temporal Turn,” the first exhibition since the renovated Spencer Museum of Art opened to enthusiastic crowds.
ISSUE 6, 2016 | 75 Glorious to View photograph by Steve Puppe
Fall foliage creates a canopy of color in Marvin Grove, the University’s tranquil green space that spans from Memorial Drive to Memorial Stadium. The grove’s roots date back to March 29, 1878, when Chancellor James Marvin suspended classes for all KU faculty, sta and students to participate in the first tree-planting festivities on campus.
76 | KANSAS ALUMNI
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