Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Fresh-faced Jayhawks wave hello to KU

Students receive lesson on tradition, sports accolades

By Mark Vierthaler

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Whether it's learning how to 'Wave the Wheat', freshening up on the 'Rock Chalk' chant or simply feeling the need to show off your new crimson and blue - students, faculty and administrators all gathered for KU's annual 'Traditions Night.'

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KU Traditions Night 2008

The noise when Bill Self entered Memorial Stadium on Monday was almost deafening.

The theme of Kansas University's Traditions Night was "A great place to be a champion," and the men's basketball coach's appearance drove that point home for the several thousand students.

For the past 24 years, students and community members have gathered to learn about everything from the waving of the wheat to the history of the Jayhawk for the kickoff of Hawk Week.

But Monday was the first Traditions Night appearance of the National Championship-winning coach. His message was succinct.

"Have some pride in your school," he said over raucous cheers. "Because you may be attending the coolest school in the country."

James Carothers, professor of English, presented the history behind KU's alma mater, the Rock Chalk chant and the school's academic legacy.

For Wichita freshman Taleeda Crawford, these traditions are what brought her to KU.

"My high school was known for its pep," she said. "KU reminds me of that."

Chancellor Robert Hemenway's speech acted as an underscore for the evening's celebration of its recent basketball and football accolades.

"What kind of tradition does KU have?" he asked. "Why don't you try a tradition of championships?"

Feature

KU Edition 2008

From artists to inventors, Kansas University is home to all kinds of people. In the past year, the university has opened new buildings and hosted world-renowned speakers. Come inside to learn more about the university on top of Mount Oread

On the street

What is your favorite KU tradition?

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Comments

JayCeph (anonymous) says...

Is this thing open for everyone or just incoming students? What a cool thing to go to and attend. I wish I would've known about it ahead of time...

August 19, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

McGuzzo23 (anonymous) says...

They do it every monday before school starts, and from what I remember as a freshman anyone could just show up if they wanted but it was mainly gauge towards the incoming freshman.

August 19, 2008 at 9:04 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

TXJayhawk92 (anonymous) says...

Traditions Night is great and it's open to anyone. I came to Lawrence in the fall of 1987 without ever setting foot in Kansas until the two days before Hawk Week. Being from Hawaii, I knew nothing about KU except that they offered the degree program I wanted. At Traditions Night on Monday I learned the alma mater, the Rock Chalk Chant, and the story beyond the mascot. I heard Larry Brown talk about the basketball team and I was hooked! I got drawn into the family so quickly that I was at every football game (we lost all but one I think), every basketball game (we won the Big One!), and games of nearly every other sport. I bought all of my family Jayhawk shirts for Christmas and sent a bunch of KU stuff to my friends back in the islands. I've bled blue for the 'Hawks ever since and I think it was Traditions Night (and other events during Hawk Week) that pumped Jayhawk blood into my veins from day one. I encourage everyone to attend sometime.

August 19, 2008 at 12:14 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kutravis (anonymous) says...

Traditions night is pretty awesome but i prefer the ice cream social...

There's really nothing like seeing 1000 new freshman girls in tank tops, chomping down on some ice cream and thinking.....this is where the "freshman 15" begins....along with consuming copious amounts of fermented beverages.

August 19, 2008 at 2:44 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

mike_blur (Mike Blur) says...

Yeah, they had Trad Night in the late 80s when I was matriculating. In that manner, Trad Night is a shibboleth--if you don't know about it, you didn't go to KU.

Travis--"as if" anything is wrong with that!

August 19, 2008 at 7:08 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

FlashyThundercat (anonymous) says...

Tradition of championships ha we had a great year but it also happened to be my senior year so, think about that.

August 21, 2008 at 12:19 a.m. ( | suggest removal )