KU News Release

Aug. 10, 2007
Contact: Shanda Hurla, Traditions Night, (785) 864-2834; Heidie Grove, New Student Orientation, (785) 864-4270; or Katie Moyer, KU Alumni Association, (785) 864-4760.

Video, performances to highlight KU Traditions Night program

LAWRENCE — New students at the University of Kansas will get acquainted with the songs, stories and spirit unique to their school at Traditions Night at 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 13, in Memorial Stadium.

Traditions Night, nationally recognized for the way it orients KU students to campus culture, is part of annual Hawk Week activities held before the fall semester starts. Classes at KU begin Thursday, Aug. 16.

In recent years, about 5,000 new and returning students as well as faculty, staff and members of the Lawrence community have attended Traditions Night. There is no admittance charge. Because of construction in progress near Memorial Stadium, organizers have asked attendees to enter at the north stadium gates off 11th Street.

Program events change every year. This year’s main program, expected to last about an hour, does not include the torch ceremony as in years past. Michael Chavez, Topeka junior, will emcee Traditions Night, which will include performances by the Marching Jayhawk Band directed by David Clemmer.

For the first time this year, music and dance performances will be featured in a 7:30 p.m. pre-show, highlighting KU students in Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia men’s music fraternity choir, National Pan-Hellenic Council Step Show and Rock Chalk Dancers.

Traditions Night’s main program will commence at 8 p.m. with a video, also new this year, to be shown on the stadium's video board. In it, KU administrators, faculty, staff and students will describe their favorite KU traditions.

Later, Chancellor Robert Hemenway will welcome the attendees and speak briefly. Jim Carothers, professor of English, will explain KU’s history and traditions.

Ellen Stolle, Prairie Village senior and president of the Student Alumni Association, will be chant leader and teach song and chant traditions, assisted by the Marching Jayhawks and the KU Spirit Squad.

To conclude the program, Inspirational Gospel Voices in its first Traditions Night performance will sing the Alma Mater and Rock Chalk Chant. Founded in 1976 as part of the Black Student Union, the musical performance ministry group is the only gospel choir at KU.

Also, just before the band’s final song, New Student Orientation will give away free Hawk Week T-shirts.

For additional information, visit the Hawk Week Web site.

Students scheduled to speak at Traditions Night are listed below by hometowns, majors, levels in school, parents’ names, high schools and role.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Prairie Village 66208
Ellen Stolle, senior in biochemistry and genetics, biology and Spanish, daughter of Calvin and Susan Stolle; Shawnee Mission East High School; Student Alumni Association president.

SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Topeka 66615
Michael Chavez, junior in communication studies, son of Romualdo and Susan Chavez; Hayden High School; emcee.

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