about The History
Namesake
Sellards was opened in 1952 and is 1 of 3 schol halls funded by Joseph R. Pearson and his wife, Gertrude Sellards Pearson. "Gertie," as she is affectionately called at Sellards, was a 1901 KU alumna, and her family is the hall's namesake.
The "Ghost of Gertie" is often lovingly blamed when something strange occurs in the hall.
Traditions
While Sellards is 1 of 12 "Schol Halls" at the University of Kansas, it has its own culture and personality. In addition to several intra-hall traditions, "Sellardites" organize and host one event for the schol hall community each semester.
Tropical Party
Each Fall, Sellards' two Social Chairs, along with their Social Committee, plan the Tropical Party, which includes advertising in the Schol Hall community, decorating, and cleaning up. All Schol Hall residents are invited.
REtro Party
Each Spring, Sellards' two Social Chairs, along with their Social Committee, plan the Retro Party. Guests from the whole Schol Hall community attend, dressed in costumes from a designated decade.
Interational Dinner
The International Dinner is an annual internationally-themed dinner held each February. Residents form four committees and host a dinner for other Sellardites and up to two guests each.
Senior Dinner
The Senior Dinner is an annual dinner held the Sunday before Stop Day. Organized by committees of lower classwomen, the Senior Dinner honors graduating Sellardites. Before the Senior Dinner, Sellardites take pictures at a place, usually on campus, on which they voted at the most recent house meeting. At the Senior Dinner, the Distinguished Resident, New Woman of the Year, Hall Scholarships, and Super Sellardite awards are announced.
Candle lighting
Candle lightings are a fun, longstanding way to notify residents of a major event in a Sellardite's life. First, a Sellardite secretly notifies the President, who then calls a Candle Lighting. Sellardites then meet in the Blue Room where a candle is passed around a circle, starting with the President. Each event corresponds with the number of times the candle passes around the circle–once for graduate school, twice for a promise ring, three times for an engagement, and four times for a pregnancy. On the number that corresponds to her, the lucky Sellardite blows the candle out when she recieves it.
