In “Four Years in Retrospect” Joady Cates
wrote that more than 300 seniors were expected to graduate on June 24,
1945. Some undoubtedly began after 1941, taking advantage of KU’s
war program that enabled entering freshmen to complete a degree program
in two and a half years. The fast-track degree program was established
to allow male students to complete degrees before entering military service.
Cates noted that Don Alderson, business senior and vice
president of the 1945 senior class, officiated as president following
the February graduation of the elected president, Joanne Johnson. Beverly
Bohan, Carol Stuart, Don Cousins and Elizabeth Baker prepared the class
history – glamorized and orchestrated by Professor Allen Crafton.
“The beginning was back in 1941 when everyone
hummed and whistled the ‘Chattanooga Choo-Choo,’ and waded
through the year’s first snow to hear Charlie Spivak at the Freshman
Frolic. KU beat Kansas State that year and students gave way to rebellion
when the Monday following the victory was not designated as a holiday
– the first of two memorable riots. Later that fall the Jayhawkers
suffered bitter reverses at the hands of MU at the Homecoming game. Midweeks
averaged about 250 stags.
“Pearl Harbor – December 7th and a new atmosphere
invaded the campus. The Sophomore Hop was dedicated to the men leaving
school to go to the service; the Coed Volunteers Corps was organized;
and the smallest graduating class in six years left KU that spring.
“When the class of ’45 returned to campus
as sophomores, they found machinists mates occupying the west wing of
Ad [Strong Hall] and the Union ballroom a mess hall. Name bands Jan Savitt
and Jack Teagarden were supplemented with two new Hill bands, Johnnie
Pope and Danny Bachman. Homecoming decorations were ruled out and Nebraska
dealt us a low blow with a 14-7 victory.
“Irate students sat out a strike in front of the
Chancellor’s office in Ad in a lusty complaint over the disappearance
of their Christmas holidays in ’42. That spring saw two combinations;
socially – Danny Bachman’s and Johnnie Pope’s bands
became one; politically – the Men’s Student Council and
the Women’s Self-Governing Association joined to form the first
All Student Council. Gas rationing complicated the shoe rationing situation
and students scaled the Hill on foot.
“KU was recruited into the accelerated Navy schedule
in the fall of ’43 when the first five-week session was offered.
The blue and khaki atmosphere pervaded the campus with the daily, ‘Hup,
two, three, four,’ of the ASTP, ASTRP, electricians mates, and
Navy V-5 cadets installed in the organized houses throughout the year.
The foot-dragging 'Club-foot Cutie' hit the news and 'terrorized' the
female population before he was subdued and brought to justice. The
first woman dance manager and the first senior class president were
in keeping with the leap year-war year theme.
“Summer school rated a full semester last year.
Another short session and the fall semester began for the second time
in November. The Navy’s V-12 upheld the military side of the KU
scene after the departure of the Army, Electricians Mates, and the V-5
cadets. Varsity dances featured Don Cousins and his Navy band and a
new queen was invented for the University War Bond dance. Though defeated
by Kansas State and MU, KU broke a 48-year jinx and marched on to victory
over Nebraska at the Homecoming game.
“The deaths of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt
and columnist Ernie Pyle within a week of each other left the nation in
a state of saddened bewilderment. The magnitude of the war caused a decline
in social events with students hung on the words of the nearest radio
commentator of news of V-E day [victory in Europe]. It arrived May 8th
and with it the transfer of attention back to KU and the forthcoming V-S
day [victory for seniors?] . . . for the senior victory has at least arrived.
“The seniors have given to the University plans
and half the money for a grove of crab trees to bloom each year at graduation
time near Potter Lake. It will be part of the post-war picnic grounds
previously planned by the classes of ’43 and ’44. The gift
committee headed by Robert Buechel, initiated the dedication of the crab
trees to members of the class of ’45 who have been killed in action.
Their names will be inscribed on a bronze plaque to be placed in the center
of the flowering grove.
“Now packing up their memories and discarding
their caps and gowns, lecture notes and lists of axioms, seniors leave
their 'bobby socks' and KU stickers to the underclassmen and begin again
at the beginning.”
