Courtesy photo Kansas State University archives
NICHOLS HALL, 50 YEARS LATER
a Collegian special edition FIFTY YEARS AGO on Dec. 13, an arsonist
set a fire that would change the course of K-State history. Amidst an era of anti-Vietnam sentiment, several arson attempts had occurred on campus. Pouring gasoline on tables they had set up against the front of Nichols Hall, the arsonist put ablaze the castle-esque campus cornerstone gymnasium. It would be over a decade before the building would be rebuilt. But from that disastrous tragedy came a new era in Kansas State’s University: ...a fledgling women’s basketball team was invigorated with the passion and strength that comes only
through the adversity and hardship of losing one’s home. ...a storied campus radio station overcame the loss of their studios to continue on their tradition of success and become one of the best college radio stations in the country. ...and a marching band that had lost everything found solace and spirit in a jazzy, handwritten number its director had found in his personal files at home. That song, “The Wabash Cannonball,” is now as inseparable from the Pride of K-State as it is from the university. Now, a half-century later, Kansas State University
With Few Leads
faces a new challenge — the temporary loss of its central library. But just as those hardy K-Staters demonstrated in that time of hardship 50 years ago, so too we believe in the resiliency of the campus community not only to rebound from the damage to Hale Library but to come together and become a stronger K-State. The following stories are the combined efforts of Collegian staffers covering a campus tragedy 50 years ago and Collegian staffers providing the modern context of that fire. The Collegian is proud to present FROM THE ASHES — NICHOLS HALL, 50 YEARS LATER.
December 13, 1968 — Nichols Hall burns
Officials Continue Questioning Editor’s note: This story first appeared on the cover of the Dec. 16, 1968, Collegian, the first full issue of the paper following the Nichols Hall fire. Investigation of the fire which destroyed Nichols gymnasium continues today while the University is placed on special night guard to prevent further arson attempts. ROTC and Pershing Rifles members were placed on special guard Friday after the blaze, President James A. McCain said. Arthur Ramey, state fire marshal, and KBI agents are pursuing interviews with students and faculty in the Traffic and Security office, Anderson hall. The questioning has produced few leads and “no good suspects,” Ramey said. “We’ve been working since right after the fire started and worked straight
friday, december 7, 2 0 1 8
through until midnight Saturday,” Jack Williams, KBI agent in charge of the investigation, said. “WE HAVE talked to a lot of people and have a lot more to talk to,” Williams said Sunday. “Students here are all real fine people and have been real helpful. Of course, if anybody has seen anything or does know anything, they can call us at the campus patrol office,” Williams said. Anyone who has any information concerning the fire or sees anything suspicious on campus should contact the Traffic and Security office at 532-6731. RAMEY AND Lloyd Davies, deputy fire marshal, questioned students about rumors being circulated at the fire scene and after a student-faculty meeting Thursday night called a “Free for All.” A mention of burning
the University was made at the meeting. Ramey said they considered a statement made Thursday night as “significant” in the investigation. Williams said Sunday six investigators, two fire marshals and four KBI agents were working on the case. He requested persons who took pictures of the crowd, not the building, at the fire scene Friday should check with KBI agents about looking at the film for possible leads. NO INJURIES were reported after the blaze. A fence was placed around the gymnasium to prevent persons from entering the building or being injured by falling rubble. Investigation officials denied rumors circulating during the weekend that two persons had been taken into custody for questioning
vol. 124, issue 44
about the fire. Luther Leavengood, head of the music department who was in Philadelphia, Pa., at the time of the fire, Sunday said it would be impossible to estimate the department’s loss immediately. MUSIC PROFESSORS reported that approximately $500,000 was lost in personal effects and equipment, including irreplaceable sheet music and instruments. The music department lost approximately $130,000 in the auditorium fire nearly four years ago. McCain estimated the building was built at a cost of $162,000 in 1911 and added that no estimate had been made of replacement costs. AFTER THE fire, Collegian staff members worked through the night preparing a special four-page edition of the Collegian.
© 2018 collegian media group
02
friday, december 7, 2018
Last student in Nichols Hall before it burned says he knows who started the fire RACHEL HOGAN THE COLLEGIAN
The night of Dec. 13, 1968 was frigid, the temperatures dipping down to 15 degrees. Nichols Hall offered respite from the cold as it burned down to the ground. The cause of the fire was ruled as arson in protest of the Vietnam War, but a culprit was never arrested or charged. However, the last student inside Nichols on the night of the fire said he knows who is responsible and that the fire was not a war protest. Ed Klimek, who was the program director at KSDBFM in 1968, said the Kansas State campus was rife with political tensions at the time, derived from both the war and the civil rights movement. “There were some grim times where you had a lot of this [racial] unrest on campus, and it was a dangerous time,” Klimek, now the vice president of business development at Kansas State Bank, said. During this time, Klimek said numerous fires were set on and around campus. He said he recalled the steeple of Anderson Hall being torched and the local country club set aflame twice. On the day of the fire, Klimek said there was a tense confrontation between a journalism faculty member, F. Virginia Howe, and a student during which a threat was communicated. “The person involved was a challenge and created many tense situations within the radio television department,” Klimek said via email following the interview. “A threat was made to the department head … as to the exact words of those threats I cannot recall.” Klimek said he believes he knows who is responsible for the fire, but declined to give a name. “I can’t prove it,” Klimek said. “The [Kansas Bureau of Investigation] couldn’t prove it. No one could actually see what happened, and no one could actually be a witness to anything. It never was—no one was ever arrested. I think I know for sure, but also I don’t want to say that name and indict somebody for something that maybe I’m wrong about. But I don’t think I’m wrong.”
IT STARTED AS A SPARK On the day of the fire, Klimek attended a doubleheader basketball game in Ahearn Field House. Afterward, Klimek walked over to Nichols to visit KSDB on the third floor. He found a pile of wood planks burning outside Nichols’s front door. Klimek said it seemed as though someone had spread gasoline over the planks before setting them on fire. The campus fire department, which was made up of students, arrived shortly after Klimek. The Manhattan Fire Department arrived about five minutes later. Duane Beichley, who was a broadcasting student at the time, assisted the firemen in connecting their hose to a fire hydrant. “Once the water was turned on there was only a trickle of water coming out the nozzle,” Beichley wrote in a 2007 email to a former K-Stater magazine editor. “I thought that the equipment must be faulty, but I was later to learn that the actual problem was insufficient water pressure.” Soon enough, the flames spread to the wooden front door of Nichols. On the other side of the door lay the gymnasium, and above that a varnished balcony that doubled as a running track. When the flames breached the front door, Klimek recalled, it took a mere five seconds for the fire to race around the track, encircling it in a ring of fire. “When that happened, it was obvious that there was no saving the building,” Klimek said.
THE LAST K-STATER IN NICHOLS HALL
In the moment the flames spread to the front door of Nichols, Klimek remembered there would be a student in the KSDB studios, DJ-ing. “There’s gonna be a DJ up there. He’s gonna get burnt alive,” Klimek said before running into the burning building followed by two firemen. But that DJ, Michael Leathers, had already left the building. After calling the campus fire department at the start of the fire, Beichley bolted upstairs to the studio to alert Leathers. “After he gave the cursory,
Archive photo from the 1969 Royal Purple
Seemingly unaware of the danger of flaming branches falling nearby, students draw close to Nichols Hall. ‘Due to circumstances beyond our control, KSDB-FM is going off the air!,’ we both began our exit,” Beichley wrote in the 2007 email. “By this time, the entire stairwell was filled with smoke. We could barely see our hand in front of our face. We had to count the stair landings to figure out if we had arrived to the first floor where we could safely exit the building.” Upon realizing the building was empty, Klimek and the two firemen began their exit as well. Klimek could feel the heat from the fire on the other side of the stairwell wall. Besides the two firemen who chased after him, Klimek was the last person to stand in Nichols before it burned to the ground.
‘AN AMAZING SIGHT’
News of the incident spread across campus. An estimated 1,500 students gathered to watch the flames, which were now out of control, consume the building. “If anyone could call a fire something of beauty, that was it,” Klimek said. “The flames were just immense ... There was no way to control it at that time. You could have all the fire trucks in Kansas there, and you couldn’t control it. It was just well beyond
that.” Firefighters struggled to battle the flames due to low water pressure, wind and freezing temperatures. According to the 1969 edition of the Royal Purple yearbook, water from fire hoses froze immediately upon coming in contact with the ground. As the fire burned, the floors inside Nichols could be heard crashing down upon each other. Each crash drew cheers from the crowd of hundreds. Although Klimek described the fire as “an amazing sight,” it carried a somber meaning for him and his classmates in the radio-TV department. Inside, all of KSDB’s equipment was being destroyed, including a new radio transmitter valued at $27,000. The Royal Purple also reported the music department suffered significant losses as well—$500,000 in instruments and sheet music. “Everything we had was burning up,” Klimek said. “It was kind of a solemn occasion. All our equipment, a lot of our work for studies … They’re gone. Everything was gone.”
AS THE FIRE DIED
The fire burned throughout the night and smoldered
DISPLAY ADS.................................785-370-6351 advertising@kstatecollegian.com CLASSIFIED ADS.............................785-370-6355 classifieds@kstatecollegian.com NEWSROOM..................................785-370-6356 news@kstatecollegian.com DELIVERY......................................785-370-6350 delivery@kstatecollegian.com
EDITORIAL BOARD Rafael Garcia Editor-in-chief
Dené Dryden Managing editor Rachel Hogan Deputy managing editor Kyle Hampel Community co-editor Olivia Rogers Community co-editor
Friday
Kaylie McLaughlin News editor
Molly Hackett Assistant sports editor
Leah Zimmerli Assistant news editor
Monica Diaz Social media editor Karaline Schreiner Assistant
Katelin Woods Culture editor
Olivia Bergmeier Photography editor
Macy Davis Assistant culture editor
Logan Wassall Multimedia editor
Jarrett Whitson Sports editor
for days afterward, leaving only a shell behind. The following days and weeks were rickety. “Life went on with the studies, but obviously it was a pretty disjointed time for several years for the department,” Klimek said. The departments that called Nichols home had to find new classrooms, meeting and storage spaces. Five trailers from Washburn University became the music department’s new classrooms, and KMAN radio opened up some of its studio space for KSDB. Broadcasters statewide donated equipment and the station was back on the air two months later in February. While Nichols’s departments redistributed themselves across campus, the building itself remained in ruins for years, except for the two swimming pools in the basement, which were untouched by the fire. The pools remained in use until the Natatorium was built in 1970 despite the burned building that stood above them. A decade later, in 1979, university president Duane Acker announced the plan to destroy the remains of Nichols. This led to a student campaign known as “The Castle
Crusade.” The campaign involved what 1979 student body president Greg Musil called “peaceful, but passionate and prideful” protests. “There was already a group crusading for the reconstruction of Nichols, so that group became active,” Musil said in an email to the Collegian in 2013. “In the span of a few hours, hundreds of students gathered around the south entrance to Anderson Hall to object to any razing of Nichols.” Students traveled to the state governor’s office to protest. The legislature allocated funds to K-State for rebuilding Nichols in 1981, and construction began in 1983. The building eventually reopened 17 years after the fire destroyed it. Klimek said he is “really happy” that Nichols still stands on the K-State campus. “I think it’s a true K-State story because, not only was there a tragedy, but the students came to rescue the building,” Klimek said. “They took on the university president, then they took on the governor and the state legislature and they won. It’s really neat to see a student movement like that.”
CORRECTIONS The cover story, photo and headline on Wednesday’s issue of the Collegian incorrectly identified the Union Program Council as the organization that hosted Cats, Coloring and Cameras. Peer Advocates for Mental Wellness and Success and Counseling Services organized Tuesday’s event, in coordination with the Purple Power Animal Welfare Society and UPC. The article also incorrectly stated that UPC has hosted the Pet Away Stress events in the past. Pet Away Stress events are organized by PAWS and Counseling Services, in coordination with the Purple Power Animal Welfare Society. UPC has never played a role in those events. The Collegian regrets the errors. If you see something that should be corrected or clarified, call editor-in-chief Rafael Garcia at 785-370-6356 or email news@kstatecollegian.com.
The Collegian, a student newspaper at Kansas State University, is published by Collegian Media Group. It is published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during the school year and on Wednesdays during the summer. Periodical postage is paid at Manhattan, KS. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 828 Mid-Campus Drive South, Kedzie 103, Manhattan, KS 66506-7167. First copy free, additional copies 25 cents. [USPS 291 020] © Collegian Media Group, 2018
Gabby Farris Design chief
37°F 22°F
Intervals of clouds and sunshine.
Saturday
Sunday
38°F 21°F
41°F 25°F
Grab your copy of at Radina’s
03
friday, december 7, 2018
FROM THE FIRE TO THE FIELD The birth of The Wabash Cannonball DENE DRYDEN
THE COLLEGIAN
It’s hard to imagine a Kansas State football, basketball or volleyball game without “The Wabash Cannonball.” K-State’s second fight song is a staple of the game day experience, complete with the clapping, the bobbing and the chanting. Though it seems like a timeless Wildcat tradition, “The Wabash Cannonball’s” popularity came over a century after the university was founded. The Wabash rose from the ashes, so to speak, on Friday, Dec. 13, 1968, when Nichols Hall caught fire and burned. It is often said that “The Wabash Cannonball” was the only surviving piece of sheet music from the Nichols Hall fire. Did it survive? Yes. But did it survive the fire? Technically, no. “Historians know that people have different versions of what was saved, what was not saved, but the fact of the matter is ‘Wabash Cannonball’ was the one [the band director] had in his briefcase, that was not destroyed by the fire,” Frank Tracz, director of bands, said. “So that part of it is true.” Tim Lindemuth, former editor of K-Stater magazine, recalled his Feb. 3, 1983 article for In View, K-State’s faculty and staff newspaper, that detailed the Wabash’s origins. Lindemuth spoke with Phil Hewett, K-State’s band director who debuted “The Wabash Cannonball” after the fire. Lindemuth said the fire destroyed all of Hewett’s files in Nichols. “Most of our band instruments and all of our sheet music was destroyed,” Hewett said in Lindemuth’s article. “We were in basketball season, and there was a game the following Tuesday. The only sheet music I had was what was filed at my home.” Hewett made copies of the handwritten sheet music he found. Equipped with some borrowed instruments from Manhattan High School, the K-State pep band played as usual at the basketball game on Dec. 16, 1968.
The crowd’s reaction was “50-50” for the first performance of the Wabash, Hewett told Lindemuth. Since then, “The Wabash Cannonball” has become an iconic part of K-State’s game day traditions and the Pride of Wildcat Land’s culture. “It is part of the culture of the marching band — you couldn’t have the K-State band without Wabash Cannonball,” Tracz said. “There’s an identity that has been given to both because of that tune’s popularity, no question.”
THE WABASH’S EVOLUTION
The song as K-Staters know it today gets its moniker from the midwestern Wabash Cannonball train line, which ran along the Wabash Railroad in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The original song by J. A. Roff, titled “The Great Rock Island Route,” was recorded on sheet music in 1882. Several versions of the song and its chorus were remade throughout the 20th century. Roy Acuff recorded one of the most popular versions in 1936, which sold more than 10 million physical copies worldwide, according to The Ballad Index. The version Hewett had, according to Lindemuth’s story, was arranged by Joel Leach. What K-State’s marching band plays now, however, is not the exact same “Wabash Cannonball” that Hewett’s pep band played 50 years ago. Tracz said there are some parts of “The Wabash Cannon-
ball” that are challenging to play. “Now as the years go on, we have rearranged this to fit our band, to fit instruments, to fit the needs, to fit the talent level of bands,” Tracz said. The Wabash is so intertwined with the marching band’s culture that even its members have a role in shaping what the Wabash sounds like. “The interesting thing too is that the students in the band have claimed ownership of this piece, so they will redo things to make it work,” Tracz said. “Our job and my job is to just make sure it’s musically correct and satisfying. It’s theirs, it’s theirs—they own it, and they do what they want to it, as long as it’s within the parameters of the quality of what we want the band to sound like on the field.” Marching band members are also responsible for the dance moves that are associated with the Wabash. Lindemuth said the arrangement Hewett had of “The Wabash Cannonball” directed woodwind players not to play the first half of the song. “The students in the section wanted to get into the action, so Hewett let them devise their own antics,” Lindemuth wrote in 1983. “When performed on the football field, the bandsmen sometimes weave single file in and out of the other players. When seated at basketball games they wave their arms overhead like waves of grain.” Tracz said when he came to K-State in 1993, there was not much movement when “The Wabash Cannonball” played. However, woodwind players—clarinetists, specifically—were responsible for the main dance move during “The Wabash Cannonball.” “I do recall the clarinets start-
Alex Todd | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
Dec. 13 marks the 50th anniversary of the 1968 fire that destroyed Nichols Hall.
Meg Shearer | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
The student section participates in the Wabash before the game against the University of Oklahoma in Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Oct. 21, 2017. ing that forward and backwards thing,” Tracz said. “And then that spread through the band and then it spread into the students, and everybody took off on this. “Now the arms are involved and the stopping and back-andforth and going up again — it has evolved and developed into something that’s unique,” Tracz continued. “It gets different every year; it’s kind of fun to watch. It’s
what it’s supposed to be. It’s college kid fun.” “The Wabash Cannonball” is not exclusive to K-State’s game day experience; the song is also associated with the bands at Indiana State University, Purdue University, Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas Tech University and the University of Texas. “Big football programs and band programs ... they have a
number of tunes that are well-recognized and people identify with it,” Tracz said. “Wabash is one of those. It’s one of those that has not only a catchy melody, but a good tempo, nice beat to it, everything about it is an attractive listening feature. You combine that with excitement and football and you start to … marry the two together with touchdowns and kick-offs and exciting points in a game.”
Need beer? Check us out!
25 Years of Experience!
7845 E US Hwy 24 Manhattan, KS 66502 785-776-3337
785-539-4500 2307 Tuttle Creek Blvd.
04
friday, december 7, 2018
Historical blazes give K-State a fiery history BAILEY BRITTON THE COLLEGIAN
From the beginning, Kansas State has extensive experience with battling blazes. The most recent fire in Hale Library overshadows some of the more interesting campus fires. The first recorded fire occurred in May 1882 in Anderson Hall. The seventh volume of the Kansas State Industrialist reported that “on Saturday of last week, one of the workmen on the new building kindled a fire on some piece of slate in the second story in an idiotic attempt to warm his fingers.” A hole was burned in some second story floor boards. The workman’s name was not reported. According to a Collegian article “During fire prevention week, Kansas State recalls past fires” dated Oct. 8, 1948, the president’s house was struck by lightning in 1895 and subsequently caught fire. It was a “total loss.” Holtz Hall burned on May 31, 1900. It had previously housed the chemistry department and women’s gymnasium. Denison was built to replace Holtz, but it burned down in 1934. The Manhattan Mercury reported on Aug. 4, 1934
that students stood outside the building attempting to “identify chemicals based on the colors of the flames.” Willard Hall was constructed after Denison burned down to house the chemistry and physics departments. The campus did not see another fire for 31 years, until K-State’s auditorium, nicknamed the Barn, burned Jan. 15, 1965. At 1:20 in the morning, night watchman Frank Beard reported the fire, a Collegian article reports. A dozen campus and city firefighters fought the flames. Arson was later determined to be the cause of the late night blaze. The interior was mostly constructed of wood which led to a fast moving fire. Originally, it was thought Beard was the arsonist. On Jan. 19, 1964, the Collegian reported two students had been arrested for arson. Larry D. Sayler and William F. Shaw were convicted of the crime. The Nichols Hall fire occurred Friday, Dec. 13, 1968. The fire destroyed radio station equipment, sheet music, instruments and two gymnasiums within the building. The fire was set by an arsonist who stacked wooden tables by the main doors, poured gasoline on
Courtesy Photo Kansas State University archives
K-State’s auditorium building burns in the morning hours of Jan. 14, 1965. them and set them ablaze. They were never caught. The stone walls were the only remaining part of the building. University president Duane Acker wanted to raze
the building a decade later, but student protests resulted in a movement to revitalize the building instead. Construction began in 1983. Anderson Hall once
KSDB continued to share music after Nichols Hall fire with help of local station ANGELA SAWYER THE COLLEGIAN
KSDB 91.9-FM has been operating successfully from its original home in Nichols Hall until 1968, when the building was destroyed by a fire set by an arsonist. The effect on the studio was devastating, with the loss of records, music and studio spaces taking its toll on the college radio station. “We have lost all the records of that time period, physical and paper,” said James Copeland, graduate student in mass communications and operations manager for KSDB. “Pretty much all of the equipment and everything was a total loss, so we have nothing that dates back to that time period.” KSDB was able to continue broadcasting after the fire with the help of another local radio station, but it wasn’t until the
completion of McCain Auditorium that KSDB found a permanent home. KSDB helps students who plan to go into radio or other types of broadcasting by providing real-world experience in producing programming. “It has all the things that help us build our broadcasting skills,” said Andre Carthen, graduate student in mass communications and station manager for KSDB. “Especially since this is a part of the of the A.Q. Miller School this really is an invaluable experience.” The station plays a variety of music including alternative rock, hip-hop and jazz. Local music is also featured on KSDB through the classroom series, where live bands perform in the studio. KSBD also expands beyond music by producing radio shows, radio drams and news coverage. Trace Salzbrenner, junior in mass communication and production director for KSDB also hosts his own show, the 808,
where he plays new electronic and hip-hop music. “I have always been a fan of trying to figure out what songs should I show other people and hearing people who have listened to my show come up to me and say I listen to this artist now because you showed me is one of the greatest feelings,” Salzbrenner said. While KSDB was affected by the fire, they’ve moved and grown beyond where they started at Nichols in 1949. That includes a strong slate of programming. “We’ve got a lot a lot of programming working and rolling out, our big 70th anniversary is coming up definitely something is always happening at KSDB,” Copeland said. KSDB broadcasts at 91.9 on the FM dial and can be heard in and around Manhattan. It can also be streamed online at ksdbfm.org.
Archive photo from the 1969 Royal Purple
AT KSRH radio, amateurs learn the basics of broadcasting while providing entertainment to hall residents.
again was in flames Aug. 20, 1993 when the south tower was struck by lightning. K-State senior Craig Goodman alerted the campus police who then called the Manhattan Fire Department. Damage to Anderson was estimated to cost $1.25 million. On March 2, 2018, Wefald Hall was evacuated when a fire started just after 4:30 a.m. Most of the damage in the building was caused by water damage and the fire
was extinguished by an internal suppression system. About 25 students were relocated. May 22 of this year marks the most recent fire on campus with a fire starting atop Hale Library during roofing construction. Major damage came from water and smoke as the fire only broke through in the Great Room. The first floor of the Hale may be reopened as soon as fall of 2019.
The start of K-State women’s basketball, 50 years in the making JULIA JORNS
THE COLLEGIAN
Today, Nichols Hall houses the communication studies department, the Kansas State debate team and the Mark A. Chapman Theatre. Fifty years ago, this was not the case. Nichols Hall, then known as Nichols Gym, was home to the women’s basketball team. When it was built in 1911, Nichols Hall was built as a gymnasium with a basketball court and swimming pools. The first Kansas State women’s intercollegiate basketball team had their inaugural season in 1968. Mary Stamey, a member of the 1968 team, walked into Nicholas Hall where she saw a sign about basketball tryouts. As a junior majoring in physical education, Stamey did not know what would come from that tryout. Stamey was a senior during the first full season, when the program switched from a six-member team format to a five-member one. Currently resident of Manhattan, Stamey said she had never played on a basketball team before K-State. There’s a lot of life lessons that come from being on a team, Stamey said. “Getting along with your neighbors and teammates and learning to work together were some of those life lessons,” Stamey said.
“Looking back,” Stamey continued, “we never thought of ourselves as starting anything.” After the fire, the head men’s basketball coach, Cotton Fitzsimmons, was very supportive of the women’s team and let them practice in Ahearn Field House. The women’s team had to show up early in the morning and later in the day to practice since they couldn’t practice at the same time as the men’s team. They used the equipment from the men’s team; this was at a time when the basketballs were the same size for men and women. The women would show up to games already in their uniforms and used the locker room space only for games. The Wildcats finished their first season under head coach Judy Akers with an 11-3 record overall. That year, they reached their first postseason tournament, the National Women’s Invitational Tournament. They lost the Amarillo, Texas, tournament, but the players learned from the experience. “We lost in that tournament, but we didn’t care,” Stamey said. “We got to play against really good teams and see how they played.” K-State was the first team in Kansas to be invited to an out-of-state tournament.
LETTER: What it was like to see Nichols Hall burn down 50 years ago This letter to the editor was written by David Kromm, retired Kansas State professor of geography. If you would like to write a letter to the Collegian, send us an email at letters@kstatecollegian.com or visit kstatecollegian.com/contact. 1968 is remembered as a momentous year because of the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy, the Tet Offensive in Vietnam, the passing of the Civil Rights Acts, the Soviet Union’s invasion of Czechoslovakia, ending the Prague Spring and many other major events. Much happened at Kansas State as well, most importantly the destruction of Nichols Hall by fire on Dec. 13, 1968. K-State’s castle was built as a venue for basketball games, physical education and military science. Fifty years ago, Nichols was home to the Department of Music, which meant it housed valuable sheet music and instruments. I was a young assistant professor in the geography
department, and we occupied the second floor of Thompson Hall, sharing some classrooms with geology on the first floor. My office was in the southwest corner of Thompson, with my windows looking out over Anderson Avenue to the south and Nichols Hall to the west. I admired Nichols every day out of my east-facing office window. It was a beautiful building to behold. Dec. 13 was a cold night, and before 2 a.m., my home phone rang. I was told to come quickly because Nichols was on fire and burning pieces were flying onto the roof of Thompson. I should come and take valuable items out of my office. Once there, I joined a group of geographers and geologists putting out miniature roof fires and watching the flaming inferno. I took most of the important teaching and research papers I kept in my office to my home, where many of them stayed until I retired in 2002.
In April of this year, Hale Library looked back half a century with the exhibit “Best of Times, Worst of Times: K-State in 1968.” On May 12, 2018, an accidental fire led to significant smoke and water damage in the library. Fortunately, the exhibit was saved by archivist Cliff
Hight and others on the library staff. It could be part of remembering K-State in 2068. I have vivid memories of that cold December night 50 years ago. I think of it every time I hear “The Wabash Cannonball.” P.S. Thank you, Coach
Serving Manhattan and surrounding areas with great design, guaranteed quality craftsmanship, and helpful service since 1986.
Weekdays: 9:00am to 7:00pm
Hours: Saturdays: 9:00am to 5:00pm Closed Sundays
Phone: 785-776-4910
Bill Snyder, for all you have done for K-State. David Kromm is a retired Kansas State professor emeritus of geography. The views and opinions expressed in this
letter are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Collegian. Please send comments to opinion@kstatecollegian.com.
Real Options. Real Help.
Real Hope.
• Free Pregnancy Testing • Free Adoption facilitation • Free Maternity & Baby Items • Post Abortion help • Parent Education • Professional Counseling Services
Pregnancy Testing Center 1445 Anderson •˚539-3338 Mon-Fri (9am - 5pm) • www.ptcKansas.com
05
friday, december 7, 2018
With students gone, campus custodians use winter break to their advantage GRACE MORRISON THE COLLEGIAN
During winter break, when students travel near and far to spend quality time and recharge, campus is seemingly lifeless. Despite the drastic contrast in activity seen about campus, a team of custodial specialists remain hard at work to prepare for students to return. John Lehmer, custodial specialist for the Danforth Chapel, All Faiths Chapel and Thompson Hall, said winter break is used for a lot of deep cleaning. Classroom floors are mopped, and carpets are cleaned. Tile flooring, as well as All Faiths’ stage, is buffed. Bathrooms are sanitized, and surfaces are dusted. “When the kids are not here, it’s easier just to deep clean the whole place,” Lehmer said. “We go from one end to the other, and
work our way in.” The custodial job also has its intricacies. If an event is going on during Lehmer’s usual vacuuming time, for instance, then he has to plan ahead and reschedule that specific job. Lehmer said that aspect is probably what’s hardest about his job. “Every day’s different, so it’s not a humdrum job,” he said. “I mean ... the students decide what we do everyday by the activities you’re doing. ... I have to plan around what you guys are doing.” Another important aspect of the job is ordering supplies. “If I run out of things to clean [with] I get in trouble,” Lehmer said. The best thing about Lehmer’s job is the people, he said. Lehmer has developed friendships with professors and relationships with students. He said most students are very respectful of his
What the Hale is going on with the library? A December update JILLIAN HEADRICK THE COLLEGIAN
On May 22, around 4 p.m., the sound of sirens wailed as fire trucks raced over to Hale Library. As the fire spread on the roof, everyone inside the building fled outside to safety. After the crew and specialists inspected the smoke-filled building, they determined that most of the damage was a side effect from the heavy smoke and water from putting out the fire. “Most of the first floor will open fall 2019 — the rest of the building, with the possible exception of the 1927 wing, will open fall 2020,” Lori Goetsch, dean of libraries, said.
Goetsch also said the building’s recovery phase has ended and has been emptied of all unsalvageable materials and has been cleaned thoroughly. As for the future of the library, Goetsch said students can expect a lot of changes. “Students can expect more and improved study spaces, collaborative group study rooms, spaces for distinct collections like juvenile literature and art/ music, a cafe and seminar/ instruction rooms,” Goetsch said. “The biggest positive is that we get to rethink individual and group study space and offer new services like the Innovation Lab. The negative, of course, is that this happened in the first place. Now we need to look at it as an opportunity.”
work and even come around to say “thank you.” Elizabeth Dongoski, one of the custodial specialists for Putnam Hall, agreed with Lehmer on this aspect; she said she enjoys getting to know students. Dongoski said it is nice to know that her work makes for “one less thing [students] have to think about and worry about.” Dongoski’s winter break routine consists of deep cleaning all the rooms and bathrooms in the residence hall, taking out all trash, mopping, vacuuming and cleaning the flooring. Any big projects, like painting the walls or replacing light fixtures, typically get completed during this time, either by maintenance or custodial staff. “It’s nice to know that I’m making it a little less hard for you guys to be in college,” Dongoski said.
‘The most wasteful time of the year’: How to reduce waste during the holiday season EMMA SNYDER
THE COLLEGIAN
The holiday season is in full swing and winter festivities are well underway. Between holiday shopping, gift exchanges and festive parties, the environment isn’t the first thing on our minds. While the holiday season is “the most wonderful time of the year,” it isn’t wonderful for the environment. You can follow simple steps to reduce your carbon footprint during the holiday season. Recycling is one of the easiest steps you can take to reduce waste. “People don’t realize that all the wrapping paper and cardboard boxes they use during the holidays can be recycled,” Bill Spiegel, Kansas State’s recycling supervisor, said. Students and faculty are encouraged to use the KSU Recycling Center, an on-campus facility with the mission to educate students about the benefits of recycling in an effort to reduce reusable or
Eric Reagan Gray Eric Reagan Gray, age 22, was born in Manhattan on December 16, 1995, and died Friday November 30, 2018. He is the son of Kirk and Christine Gray of Manhattan. Eric was a Master’s Student in the Chemical Engineering Department at Kansas State University. Eric attended Manhattan Catholic School, Amanda Arnold Elementary, and Susan B. Anthony Middle School and graduated from Manhattan High School in 2014. In fall of 2014, Eric began his undergraduate studies in Chemical Engineering from Kansas State University and was involved in numerous extra-curricular activities and clubs through the university and engineering department. Eric graduated Summa Cum Laude in May of 2018 and started his post-graduate studies in the fall of 2018. Eric is survived by his parents,
Housing/Real Estate
Rent-Apt. Unfurnished MANHATTAN CITY Ordinance 4814 assures every person equal opportunity in housing without distinction on account of race, sex, familial status, military status, disability, religion, age, color, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation or gender identity. Violations should be reported to the Director of Human Resources at City Hall, 785-5872440.
Roommate Wanted
Other Services
Other Services
FEMALE ROOMMATE needed. The Gramercy two-bedroom, two bathroooms. Fully furnished. Must be okay with dogs. Walking distance from Bramlage. Pool and gym in complex. Clubhouse with study rooms. Rent $509 per month plus utilities. Serious prospects willing to take $50 off rent each month. Call or text 913548-3334.
ARE YOU BEHIND $10k OR MORE ON YOUR TAXES? Stop wage & bank levies, liens & audits, unfiled tax returns, payroll issues, & resolve tax debt FAST. Call 855462-2769
OXYGEN - Anytime. Anywhere. No tanks to refill. No deliveries. The All-New Inogen One G4 is only 2.8 pounds! FAA approved! FREE info kit: 844-359-3973
Service Directory
Other Services Rent-Condos & Townhouses THREE-BEDROOM, three-bath, one car garage. Beautiful, mustsee. Some utilities, pets considered. $900/month. Call or text 785-340-5490.
Kirk and Christine Gray of Manhattan; his twin brother, Adam of Los Angeles, his brother Evan of Seattle, and his sister Alicia Threadgill and her husband Daniel and their children, Caleb, Kinstyn, Reagan, and Riley, of Irmo, South Carolina. He is also survived by his grandmother,
A PLACE FOR MOM has helped over a million families find senior living. Our trusted local advisors help solutions to your unique needs at NO COST TO YOU! CALL 855973-9062
DISH TV – BEST DEAL EVER! Free Voice Remote & DVR Included! www.dish.com Referral Code VCD0019117934
DONATE YOUR CAR TO CHARITY. Receive maximum value of write off for your taxes. Running or not! All conditions accepted. Free pickup. Call for details. 844268-9386
NEED A paper edited? I hold a Bachelor’s in Legal Studies, willing to edit your paper. An affordable rate applies. Call 785-383-6783.
John Chapple | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
An empty view of All Faiths Chapel during cleaning. John Lehmer primarily works in DanforthChapel, All Faiths Chapel and Thompson Hall.
1
Sandra Adams of San Antonio, Texas. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Robert and Evelyn Gray of Jamestown, Kansas and William W. Frizell Jr. of Sun City West, Arizona. Services will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 612 Poyntz Avenue in Manhattan on Monday, December 10, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Troy Bowers officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations should be made to the Eric R. Gray Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the KS State Bank in Manhattan. Contributions may also be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502. For more detailed obituary information and to leave an online condolence for the family please visit the funeral home website at www.ymlfuneralhome.com.
Other Services
WERE YOU an INDUSTRIAL or CONSTRUCTION TRADESMAN and recently diagnosed with LUNG CANCER? You and your family may be entitled to a SIGNIFICANT CASH SAVE ON YOUR MEDI- AWARD. Call 866-409CARE SUPPLE- 2142 for your risk free MENT! FREE consultation. QUOTES from top providers. Excellent coverage. Call for a no obligation quote to see how much you can save! 855-587-1299
VIAGRA AND CIALIS USERS! There’s a cheaper alternative than high drugstore prices! 50 Pills SPECIAL $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed. CALL NOW! 855-850-3904
renewable wastes from entering landfills when disposing of recyclable goods and materials. In place of traditional, incandescent holiday lights, try using LED lights as a more energy-efficient alternative. Spiegel said old, non-working Christmas lights can also be recycled for metal. Shopping for gifts can also be made friendlier for the environment. Gerry Snyder, instructional technologist in the Office of Mediated Education and faculty advisor for Students for Environmental Action, advises shoppers to use reusable bags when shopping to avoid wasting more plastic. There are still ways to remain conscious of the environment while shopping online, too. “Christmas generates more waste than any other holiday,” Snyder said. “When ordering online, just be aware when buying gifts and avoid those that have single-use packaging. Make sure the cardboard box that the gift is shipped in is recycled.” While mostly unintentional, food
Find a Job! Help Wanted Section
Jump Street Shuttle llc LocaL & RegionaL TRanspoRTaTion
www.jumpstreetshuttle.com
785-236-1721
Employment/Careers
Help Wanted THE COLLEGIAN cannot verify the financial potential of advertisements in the Employment/ Opportunities classifications. Readers are advised to approach any such business opportunity with reasonable caution. The Collegian urges our readers to contact the Better Business Bureau, 501 SE Jefferson, Topeka, KS 66607-1190. 785-2320454. CONOCO BRANDED Hop-N-Skip convenience store accepting applications for parttime cashier. Apply at 2233 Tuttle Creek Blvd. Manhattan, KS.
Need a roommate?
Find one here.
waste also tends to increase during the holiday season. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, six million turkeys, roughly a $293 million value, were thrown away in 2016. Plan ahead and only buy exactly what is needed to avoid being left with an excess amount of leftovers during the holidays. Start with smaller portions and then go back for a second helping later if you’re not full. This prevents the uneaten food on the plate from going straight into the garbage bin when you realize your eyes were too big for your stomach. “Extra or uneaten food can be donated during the holiday season, as well as throughout the year to reduce waste,” Spiegel said. The environment normally is not at the top of anyone’s list during the holidays, but taking a few extra steps to reduce waste can lessen the negative impact. “More awareness of your environmental impact makes the job of reducing waste a whole lot easier and overall more effective, especially during the holidays,” Spiegel said.
Religion Directory
St. Isidore’s Catholic Student Center Saturday Vigil Mass Saturday 5 p.m.
Sunday Mass 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 4:00 p.m., and 5:30pm
Daily Mass Tuesday-Thursday 9:10 p.m. Friday 12:10 p.m. Chaplains: Fr. Gale Hammerschmidt Fr. Ryan McCandless 711 Denison 539-7496
GOT STUFF?
785 370 6355
SELL
IT HERE
Worship Service at 8:30 & 11:30 a.m. Adult and Children Bible Hour Classes
Offered at 10:00 a.m. 785.776.0424 www.gracebchurch.org 2901 Dickens Ave. (2 blks. E. of Seth Child)
06
friday, december 7, 2018
Hogan, McLaughlin named spring Collegian co-editors-in-chief BAILEY BRITTON THE COLLEGIAN
The Collegian will have new leadership after the Collegian Media Group Board of Directors appointed Kaylie McLaughlin, sophomore, and Rachel Hogan, junior, as coeditors-in-chief for the spring semester on Thursday afternoon. “I found out at about 1 p.m.,” McLaughlin said. “I came downstairs after my interview. I was working in the newsroom and one of the board members pulled me out of the room and told me I had the job.” Hogan and McLaughlin
have worked together for three semesters. When McLaughlin began working at the Collegian, Hogan was the news editor, the position currently held by McLaughlin. The two have worked closely since. Steve Wolgast, advisor to the Collegian and director of Collegian Media Group, is excited to see what the pair can do for the paper. “We had three candidates apply this year,” Wolgast said. “Everyone on the board is free to give their feelings and opinions about the students who applied. There is a large interview process where all members are able to ask whatever questions they may have and the board decided that the best
fit for the future are these two women.” The board was impressed by the plan of action that McLaughlin and Hogan proposed, Wolgast said. “They presented a strong plan on what they wanted to do in the newsroom next semester,” Wolgast said. “They have lots of plans to improve the newsroom itself and to expand coverage of campus. The board was also impressed on how they plan to implement their plans.” Hogan will focus more on the administrative side of the job, McLaughlin said. This includes payroll and finances. McLaughlin will be focused on the creative aspects of the job.
The two plan to focus their energy on the digital aspects of the Collegian, McLaughlin said. “Some of the big things we are planning are a social media overhaul and making more of our content digital focused,” she said. “We want to do this because that is where the market is. Be prepared to see more digital stories and videos.” Hogan said she wanted to apply for the job because she saw it as an opportunity to push herself and think more critically about the news. “I’m excited to work with Kaylie to move things forward,” Hogan said. “The Collegian is special in that it
serves a really niche community. I don’t think I’ll ever get the opportunity again in my journalistic career to serve such a group of people that shares a common interest in K-State.” Wolgast will work with the two to help them set goals, make changes and lead the news staff. He said that he will also help them adjust to the position as it can be difficult for staff to adapt to a new leadership style at the beginning. Current editor-in-chief Rafael Garcia, senior in mass communications, will also help Hogan and McLaughlin adjust to the position. McLaughlin said that Garcia, among others, has mentored her since she began
working at the Collegian her freshman year. “I think there has been some mentorship since I have gotten to know them,” Garcia said. “The great thing about this is that I will still be there if they need guidance. I won’t tell them what to do, but if they come to me I will help them out.” In the spring, Garcia said he hopes to be either the news or investigation editor. He said he is excited to see the new energy and perspectives to the editor-in-chief position. “I don’t expect a lot of changes because they are already an integral part of the staff,” Garcia said.
Co-author of ‘Take It From Me’ reflects on interaction with Bill Snyder PETER LOGANBILL THE COLLEGIAN
Last year, Jefferson Knapp, owner of Kraken Books, wrote a short children’s book in collaboration with Bill Snyder called “Take It From Me.” The book centered around Snyder’s 16 goals for success. Knapp wrote a long Facebook post on Tuesday recalling the event and reflecting on his interaction with Snyder. “I’m a children’s author and Coach is unquestionably a figure that children should look up to and learn from,” Knapp said in the post. “I was told that he always responds when you write him and I checked the mailbox every day praying for something from him.” Shortly after, Snyder responded to Knapp, saying they would be in contact once the season was over. Knapp immediately got his proposal together and sent it once the Wildcats won the Texas Bowl. Just a few days later, Knapp heard that Snyder had cancer, and gave up on the book. He now only wanted Snyder to heal; however,
Knapp received a letter apologizing for a late response and phone call from Snyder a few months later. “On the phone, he was so apologetic,” Knapp told the Collegian last year. “I remember thinking ‘why are you apologizing? I think you’ve got a legitimate excuse, and plus, you’re Bill Snyder.’” Knapp ended up having a meeting in Snyder’s office, who loved the manuscript and illustrations. He had Snyder end the book with his famous slanted writing. “‘So if you paid attention to these things, please keep them close to your chest,’” Knapp wrote in the post. “‘I leave with you my heart, my time and my gratitude, and my 16 Goals for Success.’ He perfectly added, ‘With love and best wishes for a wonderful and successful life. – Bill Snyder’. The only image I could think of for the last page was Coach hugging Willie. Willie represents us all and this book is a love letter to us.” The book includes illustrations with significant parts of the Bill Snyder Family Stadium, including the statue of Snyder and the marching
band. “I knew this would be what you call a ‘collector’s item’ for anybody who loves K-State,” Knapp said. “I think it’s going to help preserve him, I needed to help with that in any way. He was interested in reaching a younger audience with his 16 goals. This was a tool to help kid that might not be interested in sports.” Knapp’s family had attended the meeting with Snyder, and when it was over the coach had looked at Knapp’s four-year-old daughter and said, “You’re not leaving without giving me another hug.” “This past Sunday, when I heard the news that Coach stepped down, I felt sick to my stomach,” Knapp wrote in the post. “I know he made the decision best for him and K-State, but there’s a huge part of me that wants to tell him, ‘You’re not leaving without giving us another hug…another smile… another kiss blown to the crowd.’” “Take It from Me” can be ordered at billsnydersbook. com or purchased at the K-State Super Store.
Courtesy photo by Jefferson Knapp
THANK YOU FOR 30 YEARS OF COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP THE FRATERNITY OF PHI GAMMA DELTA
Courtesy photo Sara Carpenter | NORTH TEXAS DAILY
North Texas head coach Seth Littrell high fives fans after a victory over Rice on Oct. 27.
Who is Seth Littrell? A look at Snyder’s possible successor JARRETT WHITSON THE COLLEGIAN
Upon legendary head coach Bill Snyder’s retirement Sunday, K-State Athletics is in search of a new leader for its football team. Seth Littrell has been one of the most talked-about people as a potential replacement for Snyder. Littrell comes from the University of North Texas, where he was the head coach for the last three seasons. During the 2016 season, Littrell’s inaugural season at the school, the Mean Green were 5-8, and finished 9-5 in 2017. They lost a bowl game both seasons. With an overall record of 23-16, including a 9-3 mark this season and a pending bowl game, Littrell has turned around a team that was just 1-11 the season before his arrival. Before he settled down in Denton, Texas, Littrell made various assistant coaching stops along the way. His experience includes time on staff with the University of North Carolina (2014-15) Indiana University (2012-13), the University of Arizona (2009-11), Texas Tech
University (2005-08) and the University of Kansas (2002-04). While at UNC, Littrell served as the assistant head coach for offense and tight ends coach. Under Littrell’s control, the Tar Heel offense set several records and high marks. During the 2014 season, they set school records of most passing yards, most passing touchdowns and most first downs. In 2015, they were one of 11 teams to average 200-plus yards rushing (229.7) and 250plus yards passing (266.0). Quarterback Marquise Williams finished his career under Littrell as the record holder for career touchdowns with 90. During the 2013 season at Indiana, the Hoosiers were ninth in the nation averaging 508.5 yards of total offense per game. In 2011, Littrell’s Arizona offense averaged 370.8 passing yards per game, third in the country, and 465.2 yards of offense, 15th in the country. Current Washington State University head coach Mike Leach is one of the top offense minds in college football. Littrell coached at Texas Tech under Leach for four seasons, which is a good backdrop
for his offensive successes mentioned above. Littrell was a graduate assistant at KU for three seasons, including the 2003 Tangerine Bowl season. Throughout his career, Littrell has been responsible for the development of several NFL draft picks. At Arizona, he oversaw the college careers of two Super Bowl champions in tight end Rob Gronkowski (2010 draft) and quarterback Nick Foles, along with wide receiver Juron Criner (both 2012 draft). Two Hoosiers made it to the NFL under Littrell’s tutelage, as tight end Ted Bolser and wide receiver Cody Latimer were both selected in the 2014 NFL Draft. As for his playing career, Littrell played for the Oklahoma Sooners from 1997-2000 and was a letter winner each of those seasons. During the 1999 season, he rushed for 231 yards and scored eight total touchdowns, accumulating 715 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns in his career. Littrell was also a captain of the Sooners’ 2000 National Championship team.