KU’S CONCERNED STUDENTS: FUNDING A 50-YEAR LEGACY OF CIVIC MINDEDNESS

one activist in particular was deserving of memorialization.

“Sometimes people didn’t think students had a right to be involved in those kinds of activities,” Gorman said. “And Rusty was the de facto leader, and so we thought that should be recognized.”

As Leffel’s 1973 graduation from KU Law approached, Gorman and Eike decided to honor him with an award — the Rusty Leffel Concerned Student Award. KU Endowment and the university administration were partners in the process, but grassroots efforts saw it to completion.

“I don’t know who came up with the initial idea, but I do remember going around to people’s houses and asking for money,” Eike said.

THE OPENING YEARS OF THE 1970S WERE TUMULTUOUS TIMES AT KU and in the nation.

“It was a tough time. We had Kent State, the Vietnam War and the National Guard on the corners. The Union burned, and the Kansas legislature, I recall, was not very happy with KU students,” said Jeanne Gorman, a KU student during the era.

Gorman and fellow students Casey Eike and Rusty Leffel connected as KU freshmen in these years, and their time as Jayhawks was largely defined by their shared belief in positive action. They saw the troubled times as an opportunity — one for doing good and making a difference.

Rather than agitating toward anarchism as some of the era’s prominent activists did, Eike, Gorman and Leffel — and others at KU focused on using the system and the ideals of higher education to lobby for students to have a greater say in how their university operates.

With flyers, op-eds and conversations with students, KU leaders and state education authorities, these grassroots organizers slowly moved sentiment in their favor. As involved as so many were, Eike and Gorman felt

The award was established with 34 donors, each listed out on a handwritten note.

“When they sent me the card, I cried,” Leffel said. “It’s easy to get someone a tie, but to do something that is a recognition of your ideals, principles and what we were doing together. Wow.”

The fund has continued to grow over the years, and Leffel and his wife, Paula, are among its loyal supporters. Today, the award honors three students annually, and each receives $1,000, compared to the initial $25 award. All students are eligible, regardless of GPA. The greatest consideration is demonstrating a devotion to furthering the ideals of the university and of higher education.

As someone who recognizes the importance of everyone’s contributions, Leffel defers when the subject of an important milestone comes up — in this case, the 50th anniversary of the award’s creation. Despite the award bearing his name, Leffel points to Eike and Gorman as its originators. And, put Leffel in front of the award plaques on the third floor of the Memorial Union, and he’ll tell you story after story about past recipients — even the 2023 recipients he only recently met — but never a word about his own efforts.

BREAKING GROUND: Production of the Bob Dole earthwork at the Dole Institute began in April 2023. The finished piece was a highlight of its landmark event in July.

Earthwork Honors Legendary Leader

HOW DO YOU COMMEMORATE A CENTURY? When the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics began planning a landmark event honoring its 20th anniversary and the 100th birthday of its namesake, staff wanted the celebration to leave a mark on Kansas.

To help accomplish this, the Dole Institute turned to Stan Herd, a Kansas artist best known for his large-scale portraits made from natural materials. The artist’s earthwork portrait of Bob Dole became the focal point of the landmark event. The public experienced the artistic process in action as the piece came to life during the three months Herd and his team worked on the hillside east of the Dole Institute.

“We wanted to honor Senator Dole and the Dole Institute as his living legacy with a landmark tribute that invited the public into the creative process and engaged future generations with the story of a great Kansan,” said Audrey Coleman, director of the Dole Institute of Politics.

The artwork featured an image of a younger Senator Dole looking upward reminiscent of the politician’s campaign photos encircled by more than 1,000 tiles with designs that were created by students across the state.

“The Dole Institute strives to inspire the next generation of leaders,” Coleman said.

“The opportunity to conduct outreach around Kansas was a unique opportunity for us. We couldn’t be more pleased with the results of the submissions of artwork by students across Kansas — from Abilene to Zenda.”

While the earthwork has begun the process of returning to the ground, the mission of the Dole Institute remains more steadfast than ever and invites others to be part of the organization’s next 20 years.

“The Dole Institute is a treasure here at KU and in Kansas,” Coleman said. “Right here in the middle of the country, as we encourage people to find common ground, our programs are building the leadership our democracy needs. We understand the challenges, we have what it takes and we start every day determined to make a difference.

And taking time to celebrate that hard work with stunning publicly engaged art is important too.”

EMILY BECKER

Carry On The Dole Legacy

To be part of the Dole Institute’s future, contact Lynate Pettengill at 785-832-7424 or lpettengill@ kuendowment.org.