Day Three Hundred and Thirty-Seven: Blowing Off Some Steam

3:44 p.m., KU campus:


3:45 p.m., KU campus:


For almost a century a steam whistle has marked the end of class periods on the University of Kansas campus in Lawrence.

Though the whistle is not the same piece of machinery that first excused students from classrooms in 1912, the tradition of the whistle has remained a constant on campus for the last ninety-seven years - despite a few temporary setbacks.

In 2003 the pressure (literally) got to the whistle and it blew its top right off. It was replaced shortly thereafter. But five years later in 2008 the University - in an effort to save money - discontinued the practice of blowing the whistle every hour (every half-hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays).

Many students and residents were upset with what looked like a stingy end to a century's old tradition, until a local donor spotted KU $3000 annually to bring the whistle back to life.

Come check out KU's steam whistle atop the Facility Operations building across from Watson Library. Just be careful not to get swept up in the streams of students that will pour out of the buildings once it blows!