JAYHAWK FAITHFUL
KU’S CONCERNED STUDENTS: FUNDING A 50-YEAR LEGACY OF CIVIC MINDEDNESS
FRIENDS FOR A HALF CENTURY: Rusty Leffel, Casey Eike (on screen) and Jeanne Gorman reminisce about their days of responsible activism on campus. Eike and Gorman spearheaded the founding of the Rusty Leffel Concerned Student Award in 1973.
THE OPENING YEARS OF THE 1970S WERE TUMULTUOUS TIMES AT KU and in the nation.
“It was a tough time. We had Kent State, the Vietnam War and the National Guard on the corners. The Union burned, and the Kansas legislature, I recall, was not very happy with KU students,” said Jeanne Gorman, a KU student during the era. Gorman and fellow students Casey Eike and Rusty Leffel connected as KU freshmen in these years, and their time as Jayhawks was largely defined by their shared belief in positive action. They saw the troubled times as an opportunity — one for doing good and making a difference. Rather than agitating toward anarchism as some of the era’s prominent activists did, Eike, Gorman and Leffel — and others at KU focused on using the system and the ideals of higher education to lobby for students to have a greater say in how their university operates. With flyers, op-eds and conversations with students, KU leaders and state education authorities, these grassroots organizers slowly moved sentiment in their favor. As involved as so many were, Eike and Gorman felt 24 KU
| Fall 2023
one activist in particular was deserving of memorialization. “Sometimes people didn’t think students had a right to be involved in those kinds of activities,” Gorman said. “And Rusty was the de facto leader, and so we thought that should be recognized.” As Leffel’s 1973 graduation from KU Law approached, Gorman and Eike decided to honor him with an award — the Rusty Leffel Concerned Student Award. KU Endowment and the university administration were partners in the process, but grassroots efforts saw it to completion. “I don’t know who came up with the initial idea, but I do remember going around to people’s houses and asking for money,” Eike said. The award was established with 34 donors, each listed out on a handwritten note. “When they sent me the card, I cried,” Leffel said. “It’s easy to get someone a tie, but to do something that is a recognition of your ideals, principles and what we were doing together. Wow.” The fund has continued to grow over the years, and Leffel and his wife, Paula, are among its loyal supporters. Today, the award honors three students annually, and each receives $1,000, compared to the initial $25 award. All students are eligible, regardless of GPA. The greatest consideration is demonstrating a devotion to furthering the ideals of the university and of higher education. As someone who recognizes the importance of everyone’s contributions, Leffel defers when the subject of an important milestone comes up — in this case, the 50th anniversary of the award’s creation. Despite the award bearing his name, Leffel points to Eike and Gorman as its originators. And, put Leffel in front of the award plaques on the third floor of the Memorial Union, and he’ll tell you story after story about past recipients — even the 2023 recipients he only recently met — but never a word about his own efforts. HAINES EASON
