Meet the President - Rockhurst University

Readers RespondNew TraditionsI have always extolled to my wifeand daughters the merits of a Jesuiteducation. As my daughters nearedhigh school age, I regretted that therewere no Jesuit schools available inour area, Marin County, just northof San Francisco. Then, in 1993,St. Ignatius, the Jesuit high school inSan Francisco, opened its enrollmentto girls, and one of my daughters wasadmitted to the school. St. Ignatiushad been an all-male school for morethan 150 years, and it was a pleasureto watch my daughter set new traditionsfor that school. I am sure thatthe first women admitted to RockhurstCollege had the same enjoyment, butI regret that Rockhurst High Schoolhas not yet changed.Thanks for reminding meabout Frieda.Robert Kuchem, ’61My wife and I enjoyed the cover ofthe fall 2005 Rockhurst magazine.We wish college students today stilldressed that nicely!James Buche, ’57Women PioneersI was just finishing my secondyear of college (one at CreightonUniversity and one at the Universityof Nebraska at Omaha) when my parentsattended a college fair with mybrothers at St. Albert High School inCouncil Bluffs, Iowa. My dad broughthome a brochure from Rockhurst andsuggested that I apply to be one ofthe first women to attend and live oncampus. We visited the campus and Iwas immediately taken by its intimatesize and also by the fact that I wouldnot be in classes with 300 – 400 studentseach. Like Jan Holland Stacy’sfather, my father did point out to methe ratio of men to women and toldme to make careful choices.We women were definitely pioneersat Rockhurst and I am happyto say that we enjoyed every minuteof it. When we first arrived, we wereadvised that there were nine men oncampus for every woman enrolled.I am sure that Fr. Freeman wasoverwhelmed by so many of us butseemed to take us in stride unless wechallenged him in class. We certainlyhad our favorite instructors, andFr. Freeman, Fr. Blumeyer andFr. Wheeler were at the top of the listfor most of us.Karen Knudsen Trame ’72Cover StoryI was shown a copy of theRockhurst magazine front cover andmy friend asked me if I ever went toRockhurst, since I actually graduatedfrom Saint Louis University in 1970.I said that I had attended summerschool and she then showed me thepicture! It took me back some yearsand I can tell you that the Rockhurstguys were extremely polite and treatedwe few women like royalty.I graduated from Bishop MiegeHigh School in 1966. My father,Frank Dugan, attended RockhurstHigh School and later Notre Damebefore his death in 1949. Many ofmy cousins and their children haveattended Rockhurst (Reardons andDugans). I now live in Colorado withmy husband, Bert, who runs his ownarchitectural firm and my three children,Shannon, Ryan and BrendanChisholm. Yes, I am the girl on thefront cover, Patty Dugan. My marriedname is Chisholm and I am a specialeducation teacher in Black Hawk, Colo.The man standing next to me inthe picture is Melvin Lavery, who alsoattended Bishop Miege and was goingto Rockhurst at the time. He was twoyears ahead of me in school.Patty Dugan Chisholmeditors note: Mel Lavery, ’68, is amember of the Rockhurst UniversityRegents and is director of private realestate at Hallmark Cards Inc. He’spictured on page 9 of the fall 2005issue, on the right and wearing awhite shirt and dark slacks.Speaking of Firsts…Along the course of time, a groupof girls headed by Jan Schultehenrich,’74, asked me to help them form aclub bowling team. Although notsanctioned by the NAIA, the girls’team joined the MO-KAN conferenceand it was the first women’s intercollegiatesport at Rockhurst College(then). After four years of captainingthe team, Jan received a varsity sportsletter “R,” the first woman to achievethat goal.Joseph Rydzel, Ph.D.Professor Emeritus of History(Rockhurst College, 1947-85)RockhuRst4spRinG 2006 1