Interview with Evans L. Shuff, November 9, 1976

Partial Transcript: Mr. Shuff when did you first enroll at the University of Kentucky?

Segment Synopsis: Evans Shuff is introduced. He discusses why he chose to attend the University of Kentucky and why he chose to major in engineering. He talks about the rules that were imposed upon freshmen students by the upperclassmen and the punishments the student would face if they broke the rules. He talks about some of the other trouble caused by UK students in town, including an incident which resulted in the injury of several police officers, and a missing student who was rumored to have been murdered.

Keywords: Arrested; Corduroy; Dormitories; Engineering; Friends; Halloween; Impressions; Injuries; James K. Patterson; Missing student; Murder; Mustaches; Police; Pranks; Rules; Size; Streetcars; Willis Smith; Winslow Street

Subjects: Campus violence; College administrators; College choice; College environment; College freshmen; College majors; College presidents; College seniors; College students--Conduct of life.; Universities and colleges--Administration.; Universities and colleges--Public relations; University towns

Partial Transcript: What was your major field of interest at the university?

Segment Synopsis: Shuff gives his opinions on the quality of the engineering program at the University of Kentucky. He talks about the demand for engineering students and the ease of finding jobs after graduation. He talks about increased enrollment at UK which resulted in overcrowded living conditions.

Keywords: Adequate; Carrier Corporation; Comparisons; Dormitories; Employment; Engineering program; Enrollment; Graduates; Industries; Innovative; Inspection trips; Jobs; Mechanical Hall; Mechanical engineering; Overcrowding; Publicity; Quality of education; Technical schools; Washington D.C.

Subjects: College attendance; College environment; College facilities.; College majors; College students--Conduct of life.; Universities and colleges--Evaluation; Universities and colleges--Ratings and rankings.; University of Kentucky. College of Engineering; University of Kentucky. College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering

Partial Transcript: Do you recall who some of your best or favorite professors were? Both, uh, in the engineering department or in the university in general.

Segment Synopsis: Shuff talks about some of his favorite professors, including Dean Anderson and "Dope" Wilson. He talks about his relationships with his professors. He discusses why he was given the nickname "Soda" by his classmates.

Keywords: "Dope" Wilson; "Soda"; Credit; Dean F. Paul Anderson; Distance; Electrical engineering; Favorite professors; Financial problems; Interest; Joe Shelby; Nicknames; Relationships

Subjects: College environment; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; College teachers--Rating of.; College teachers--Social conditions; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.

Partial Transcript: James K. Patterson was president of the university while you were a student there.

Segment Synopsis: Shuff discusses university president Herman Donovan. He talks about his reputation as a strict disciplinarian. He talks about the faculty's opinions of Donovan. He discusses whether there were many strict regulations placed on students during his time at the university.

Keywords: Contact; Discipline; Informants; James K. Patterson; Regulations; Respect; Spies; Strict

Subjects: College administrators--Rating of; College presidents; Educators; Universities and colleges--Administration.; Universities and colleges--Faculty.

Partial Transcript: Were you a member of, of a, uh, fraternity or social club while you were at the university?

Segment Synopsis: Shuff talks about the attitudes towards fraternities on campus during his time as a student. He talks about taking dance classes downtown, and talks about a local hangout where students could gamble. He talks about the "Red Light District" in Lexington and a well-known madam, Belle Brezing.

Keywords: "No breaks"; Attitudes; Belle Brezing; Dance classes; Dresses; Fraternities; Gambling; Hangouts; Limestone Street (Lexington, Ky.); Main Street (Lexington, Ky.); Mrs. Tandy; Pledging; Red light district; Social events; Social life; Social organizations

Subjects: College environment; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; Greek letter societies.; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University towns

Partial Transcript: Do you recall some of the other activities connected with freshman hazing?

Segment Synopsis: Shuff talks more about the upperclassmen hazing the underclassmen. He talks about how the faculty and the local people of Lexington felt about these activities.

Keywords: Attitudes; Corduroy; Criticism; Dick Webb; Hazing; Misbehavior; Mustaches; Reputation; Rowdyism; Shaving; Townspeople; Underclassman

Subjects: Campus violence; College environment; College freshmen; College seniors; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; Universities and colleges--Public relations; University towns

Partial Transcript: One, one thing we had, uh, they, they abandoned later on, had what they called, uh, Freshman-Sophomore, uh, Rush--

Segment Synopsis: Shuff talks about an activity called the Freshman-Sophomore Flag Rush during which the two classes of students would place a flag atop a telephone pole and attempt to capture the other team's flag. He talks about some of the ways the teams attempted to capture the flags or prevent the other team from winning. He talks about the activity being abolished soon after it was begun, and was replaced with the Freshman-Sophomore Tug-of-War.

Keywords: Buell Armory; Dangerous; E.F. Worthington; Freshman-Sophomore Flag Rush; Freshman-Sophomore Tug-of-War; Ice skating; Stunts; Telephone poles; Telephone wires

Subjects: College environment; College freshmen; College sophomores; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; Universities and colleges--Safety measures.

Partial Transcript: Every generation of college students seems to have acquired a kind of a label.

Segment Synopsis: Shuff talks about the interest in athletics on campus during his time as a student. He says basketball was not yet popular, and the emphasis was on football and baseball. He talks about the women's basketball team and the number of students that would attend their games. He talks about whether there were any female professors at the time.

Keywords: Alumni Gym; Assistant professors; Athletics; Attendance; Baseball teams; Basketball team; Centre College; Football teams; Generations; Mathematics; Politics; Pre-WWI; Records; Spectators; Support; University of Michigan; Women's athletics; Women's basketball team; World War I

Subjects: College environment; College facilities.; College sports for women; College sports.; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; College teachers--Social conditions; Educators; Sex discrimination in higher education.; Sexism in higher education; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; Women in education--Kentucky--Lexington; Women in higher education.; Women--Education (Higher)

Partial Transcript: Could you talk a bit about the, the various literary societies on campus such as the Patterson, the Union Literary Society, I think the girls had one or two also.

Segment Synopsis: Shuff talks about the Patterson Literary Society, a debate team on campus. He talks about several student newspapers on campus. He talks about president Patterson and his brother, Walter, and their nicknames.

Keywords: "Idea" newspaper; Athletics; Brothers; Campus publications; Contests; Debate team; Debates; James K. Patterson; Literary societies; Mechanical Electrical Engineering Record; Men; Nicknames; Patterson Literary Society; Preparatory schools; Public speaking; Reputations; Student government; Support; Walter Patterson; Yearbook

Subjects: College administrators; College environment; College presidents; College publications; College student newspapers and periodicals; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; Universities and colleges--Administration.; Universities and colleges--Periodicals.

Partial Transcript: During your first years at the university it was known as the Agriculture and Mechanical College of Kentucky.

Segment Synopsis: Shuff talks about why the school's name changed from "Agriculture and Mechanical College of Kentucky" to "State University at Lexington", and why Transylvania University's name also changed. He talks about university president James Patterson retiring, his replacement Judge Henry S. Barker, and Patterson's continued involvement with the university. He describes some of the buildings that were on campus during his time as a student.

Keywords: "The Grumbler"; Administration Building; Agriculture and Mechanical College of Kentucky; Announcements; Approval; Board of trustees; Class Days; Diplomas; Dormitories; Henry S. Barker; James K. Patterson; Kentucky University; Name changes; Patterson Hall; Politics; Power plants; President's Home; Relief; Renamed; Retirement; Retiring; Scholarships; Scotland; Scott County (Ky.); Seniors; State University at Lexington; Transylvania University

Subjects: Campus planning.; College administrators--Rating of; College administrators--Selection and appointment.; College buildings.; College environment; College facilities.; College presidents; College presidents--Dwellings; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; Universities and colleges--Administration.; Universities and colleges--Faculty.

Partial Transcript: It's often said that a college education and experiences change a person greatly.

Segment Synopsis: Shuff talks about how his college experiences changed his life. He talks about what he would change about his college experiences. He talks about whether he has continued his relationship with the university since his graduation. He talks about the various jobs he has held over the years. He briefly talks about a current issue with the UK football team. The interview is concluded.

Keywords: Active; Athletic Association; Brothers; Changes; Coaches; College education; College experiences; Dale Carnegie courses; Drugs; Economic depressions; Engineering; Football players; Georgetown College; Harvard University; Jobs; Literary societies; Public speaking; Relationships; Requirements; Self-confidence; South; Working

Subjects: College graduates; College sports.; College students--Conduct of life.; Universities and colleges--Alumni and alumnae.; Universities and colleges--Curricula.