Back to basics: guide to the University

By Steph Schneider

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Imagine sitting at your first KU basketball game. You’re a freshman wearing your Rock Chalk shirt among the crazy crowd in the student section, and then you realize you have no idea what Rock Chalk even means, yet here you are singing about it.

Buried in the mix of orientation, syllabi and finding classes, there are some important things incoming freshmen should know that may fall through the cracks. Here is an explanation of five things to know about the University and Lawrence.

1. Allen Fieldhouse

Named in honor of F.C. “Phog” Allen, basketball coach at the University for 39 years, Allen Fieldhouse remains one of the greatest places in America to watch a college basketball game. According to the Fieldhouse media guide, Allen Fieldhouse has seating for 16,300 fans and 4,000 of those seats are reserved for students. Allen Fieldhouse has led attendance numbers in the Big 12 Conference for the past 22 years.

Josh McCullough, St. Louis senior, said he had attended every home basketball game that classes hadn’t prevented him from going to.

“I’ve been in camping groups. I’ve been in the front row with my chest painted,” McCullough said. “There’s nothing better than going to a game at the Fieldhouse.”

Incoming freshmen visit Allen Fieldhouse because of its tradition and to show school spirit, McCullough said.

“It’s a place for friends to go and celebrate together,” McCullough said. “It’s also a great place to meet new people in the stands before the game starts.” In Allen Fieldhouse, incoming freshmen will find themselves singing the Rock Chalk chant while surrounded by those very words printed on T-shirts, hats and banners.

2. Rock Chalk Chant

The chant can confuse opponents, students, parents and faculty. What exactly does Rock Chalk mean?

The Rock Chalk chant, according to the University’s Web site, evolved from a cheer that chemistry professor E.H.S Bailey created for the science club in 1886. Theodore Roosevelt even pronounced it the greatest college chant he’d ever heard. The cheer was originally “Rah, Rah, Jayhawk, KU” repeated three times. The “rah’s” were then replaced with “Rock Chalk,” which is a variation of chalk rock, named for the limestone outcropping on Mount Oread. Mount Oread is the hill on which campus was built.

When incoming freshman are not cheering on the Jayhawks, they may be among the crowd of students gathered on the steps of Wescoe Beach, outside Wescoe Hall. The history behind Wescoe Beach dates back to the ’60s when Chancellor W. Clarke Wescoe petitioned for a central building that would unite all academic departments.

3. Wescoe Beach

This sandless and waterless beach is a great people-watching spot in the middle of Jayhawk Boulevard. It was initially planned to be a 25-story parking garage, but because of a lack of funds and Wescoe’s petition it was made into the building it is now. Wescoe Hall holds about 60 classrooms and lecture halls.

Students gather on Wescoe Beach to relax between classes, eat lunch, study for a test or talk with friends. Student groups set up booths there because of the constant traffic. But if students are looking for an off-campus hangout, Massachusetts Street should be the first stop.

4. Massachusetts Street

One of the most unique places in Lawrence is Massachusetts Street. This pedestrian-friendly area attracts students because of its artsy shops, reasonably priced restaurants and small-town feel. There is metered and free parking, giving shoppers and browsers the leniency to hit up almost everything on the street.

Shops tend to do back-to-school sales and specials, attracting a lot of students who are looking to save.

But getting to Massachusetts Street may be tricky and sometimes dangerous for incoming freshman because of the one-way streets.

5. One-Way Streets

Turning north onto Tennessee Street when traffic is one way may be an experience incoming freshman tell as a horror story in years to come. From 6th Street, Tennessee and Kentucky Streets can be one-way disasters for new students. Knowing this can ensure students will get where they are going faster, and it will get them there in one piece.

Lucy Robertson, Nichols Hills, Okla., senior, said that in the first two weeks of her freshman year she turned onto Tennessee Street the wrong way.

“I should have gone one more street east to Kentucky,” Robertson said. “I didn’t even notice for about 10 seconds, until I saw a car coming straight at me.” Turning onto a one-way forced Robertson to turn around, go the right way, and laugh.

“I promised myself not to ever tell anyone,” Robertson said.

Making the transition to college life will be easier if incoming students remember that Allen Fieldhouse is a spot to celebrate KU traditions with friends, Rock Chalk actually came from a limestone outcropping, Wescoe Beach has no water or sand, and when going to Massachusetts street for lunch, watch out for one-way streets.

— — Edited by Adam Schoof

Comments

dielorelei (anonymous) says...

if only wescoe were a parking garage...

August 3, 2009 at 12:44 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

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