Thursday, February 28, 2008
Steve Hawley, the astronaut who brought the Jayhawk spirit into space three times, toured Kansas Wednesday before announcing he would return to Mount Oread to teach physics and astronomy.
Hawley, a KU alumnus and three-time space explorer, thanked Chancellor Hemenway for giving him the privilege of teaching at his alma mater, but students argued that they were the lucky ones.
Astronaut Steve Hawley speaks to a group of KU students yesterday afternoon at the Dole Institute of Politics. Chancellor Robert Hemenway announced yesterday that Hawley will teach an introduction to astronomy class next fall.
“The aerospace engineering people are drooling over him because they are mad they don’t get him,” Mark Stockham, Manhattan senior in physics, said.
Stockham, who returns to the University in the fall, is hoping to get into one of Hawley’s classes.
Hawley said that he never thought his dream to fly in space would come true, especially three times.
“And now I can’t believe that my second dream, to come home to KU, is also coming true.”
Hawley will continue to work with NASA through May before he takes up his University responsibilities next fall.
“I could stay with NASA,” Hawley said, “but then I wouldn’t get the chance to work at KU.”
Hawley said that he wanted to start a second career, and because he is getting on in years, now was the obvious time to do it.
Chancellor Hemenway said that when he met Hawley about five years ago, they started bouncing around the idea that he might come back to teach.
“We really hit it off. He is a very stimulating person to be around,” Hemenway said.
Hemenway said he approached the provosts to try to identify the funds to get him here, but didn’t have a hard time doing it.
“Anyone that meets Steve realizes what an addition he will be to the University.”
Rodrigo Duque, Gardner senior, said that he came to see Hawley because he was one of his idols. He even had a piece of a space shuttle Hawley had flown in and a special pen to get Hawley’s autograph.
“I have been a real fan of space flight since I was a kid,” Duque said. “It is very hard and challenging, but really fun.”
Duque is majoring in aerospace engineering and is sad that Hawley will not be in his department.
Chancellor Hemenway said that they gave Hawley the opportunity to choose which department he wanted to work in and he felt most connected to the astronomy and physics department.
Hawley graduated from the University in 1973 from the astronomy and physics program. He will get to work with his old teacher, Steve Shawl, professor of astronomy and physics, for one semester before Shawl retires from the department.
Karen Ohmes, Hutchinson sophomore minoring in astronomy, said she got to meet Hawley when she worked at the cosmosphere.
pullquote
“Anyone that meets Steve realizes what an addition he will be to the University.”
—Robert Hemenway, chancellor
“He is a big deal. He really brings something to the department that no else can,” Ohmes said. “I hope that I get to take his class.”
Michael Murray, assistant professor in astronomy and engineering, said he thought the department would be much stronger when Hawley came.
“I am very pleased to have him,” Murray said. “He really attracts smart students.”
Hawley, who is from Salina, said he grew up idolizing Joe Engle, a 1955 KU graduate and astronaut, who grew up in Chapman.
“I used to drive through Chapman and see his sign that said ‘Chapman, Home of Joe Engle,’” Hawley said. “Well now, I joke with Joe because I have four signs in Salina and he still only has two,”
Hawley said that everything just sort of fell into place to get him to come here. He said his parents are thinking about moving to Lawrence and his brother is in Nebraska, so it really is a homecoming for him.
— Edited by Jared Duncan
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