Contact: Mary Ryan, New Student Orientation director, or Josh Burdette , Hawk Week coordinator, (785) 864-4270.
LAWRENCE - Casey David Green, a University of Kansas freshman from Lawrence with a long KU tradition in his family, will represent the freshman class of 2000 in a Traditions Night torch passing ceremony at 8 p.m. tonight, Aug. 21, in KU's Memorial Stadium.
Approximately 2,000 students, guests and faculty will watch the ceremonial passing of the torch of knowledge at the twilight conclusion of Traditions Night, a Hawk Week program. Hawk Week is a series of orientation activities for students before classes begin on Aug. 24.
Green, son of Tom and Patti Gillispie Green, 914 Summerfield Place, Lawrence, is a fourth-generation Jayhawk. In a ritual symbolizing the passing of knowledge, Green will receive the torch from upperclassmen.
Presidents of two senior honor societies lead the processional of student representatives in the torch passing ceremony. Starting at the fire grate below the Memorial Campanile, the honor society presidents will run toward the stadium, with the torch being passed from senior to junior to sophomore to the freshman representative, Green, waiting in Memorial Stadium.
The torch bearers are:
- Kimberly M. Fuchs, senior, Omicron Delta Kappa president; daughter of Margo Fuchs, 8912 W. 71st, Merriam.
- Eric T. Rush, senior, Mortar Board president; son of Thomas Rush, 5642 S.W. 17th Terrace, Topeka.
- Jayme R. Uden, senior class representative; son of Mr. and Mrs. Lanny Uden, 10811 W. 96th Place, Overland Park.
- Vincent L. Edwards, junior class representative; son of Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Edwards, 121 N. Gordon, Wichita.
- Sarah Zaragoza, sophomore class representative; daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Rubin Zaragoza, 3311 W. 127th St., Leawood.
Decades ago, in ceremonies similar to today's Traditions Night, a torch was carried annually from the Mortar Board Fire Basket at North College, KU's first building, to the Rock Chalk Cairn, a stone heap created through efforts of Omicron Delta Kappa members. The original fire basket is located on a commemorative plot near Gertrude Sellards Pearson and Corbin residence halls, the site of the Old North College. The cairn or fire grate sits near the flagpole between Memorial Stadium and the campanile.
KU staff reintroduced the torch passing ceremony in the 1980s as part of the Traditions Night program. The program introduces some university history, KU's alma mater and a stadium cheer known as "waving the wheat."
Before the torch passing ceremony begins, tonight's program will include brief remarks from KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway; Jack Wright, professor of theatre; James Carothers, professor of English; Ben Walker, student body president; Bob Frederick, athletic director; Stanley Redwine, track coach; and Jennifer Sanner, Alumni Association.
CASEY DAVID GREEN is a Lawrence Free State High School graduate and a $1,000 Coca-Cola Merit Scholarship recipient. He is a Lewis Hall resident and plans to major in sports management.
Green's mother is a 1980 KU medical technology graduate; his father attended KU in 1966. His paternal grandmother, Sara Underwood Green of Baldwin, attended KU in 1945, and his paternal great-grandfather, the late William V. Underwood, attended KU in 1917.
Green's maternal grandfather, the late James W. Gillispie, was a 1942 KU pharmacy graduate. The pharmacy at KU's Watkins Health Center is named for Mr. Gillispie, who in addition to working in the student health center pharmacy for many years was also the public address announcer at Allen Fieldhouse and Memorial Stadium from 1966 to 1982 and was a Kansas Relays course clerk. He died in 1983.
Ten of Green's aunts and uncles and two cousins also attended or graduated from KU. Five of Green's cousins are fellow KU students, including freshman Sara M. Gillispie of Overland Park.