About us | Division leadership | President’s welcome
Jayhawk Boulevard from the west.
The first time I saw Jayhawk Boulevard, I thought: “I belong here. This is where I want to be.” Its powerful attraction was almost instant.
Regardless of when we attended the University of Kansas, most of us appreciate the beauty of Mount Oread. Its landscapes and landmarks are the background music that shaped our college lives.
As I travel, I hear from alumni all over the nation who have fond memories of this place. Strolling to Watson Library as the campanile bells tolled. Resting between classes at Potter Lake. Passing through the campanile at commencement.
What most alumni don’t know is that the campus we know and love was largely built by philanthropy. In fact, two-thirds of campus buildings and 85 percent of the land were funded by private donors.
Landmarks like the campanile, the Chi Omega Fountain and the football stadium, as well as recent additions like the Malott and Docking Family gateways, would not exist if not for generous donors. Ditto for Danforth Chapel, whose restoration was funded by donors. Previous generations of the Malott family also left a gift of beauty here. Chancellor Deane Malott’s wife, Eleanor, spearheaded the planting of flowering trees and shrubs throughout campus in the 1940s.
And then there are the less visible ways donors have stepped up. Recently, two students came to my office to ask for help with the restoration of Potter Lake. They had the passion but lacked the resources to make it happen. Thankfully, an alumni couple funded a study to assess what’s needed.
Recently, KU planners unveiled a campus heritage plan funded by the Getty Foundation. It offers broad guidelines to protect the beauty and historical significance of this place. It comes down to making choices. What is precious to us today that we want to preserve? What has been lost that we want to bring back?
We know KU can’t be frozen in time; it will need to adapt to changing needs. What this plan provides is a foundation for decision-making.
People with foresight many years ago gave us a framework — the distinctive red tile roofs, the grand boulevard, the architecture that evokes a sense of history. And my personal favorite: the landscapes and trees that treat us to their spectacular colors and provide peaceful respite.
Where do we go from here? Much depends on how much we cherish this small corner of the world and what legacy we want to leave. Many of the plan’s recommendations will require support from all of us who love KU.
It’s up to us now. It’s our choice, our time.
Dale Seuferling, President
KU Endowment