Photo by: Andrew Fielding
A DU tradition has reappeared on campus under a faux red leather cover.
The K-book has returned from a six-year-long hiatus as a DU-oriented planner instead of the annual DU yearbook.
Like many DU traditions, the history of the K-book goes back to 1895 when it was first introduced as the yearbook.
It served the same function until 2004 when it was officially retired due to a lack of student interest.
The decorative letter “K” stamped into the soft faux leather binding distinguishes the planner from ordinary day-planners.
While the K-book was handed out to first-year and new transfer students during orientation week, other students can purchase the K-book at the bookstore. According to Jim Francescon, undergraduate student government (USG) president, the K-books will cost approximately $15.
This letter “K” signifies the book’s full name – Kynewisbok (pronounced “ka-new-is-bock”), an Anglo-Saxon word meaning “the royal book of knowledge.”
In short, the unique name can be credited to Ammi Hyde, the same man after whom the Hyde interviews are named, after being approached by a student for a name that would embody the history and traditions of DU for their yearbook. The entire history of the K-book can be found within the first pages.
DU’s K-book planner is the brainchild of Carl Johnson and Kerrie Rueda, director and assistant director of campus activities, respectively, who wanted to reinvigorate campus traditions and history among DU students.
To excite students about the K-book planner, they have decided to make it into a collectible.
“The front section of the K-book will have a different focus each year for four years, and then we will start over and repeat the sequence,” said Rueda. “The idea is that everyone starting with this year’s entering class will be able to collect all four and have a keepsake of their college years.”
While the themes of future K-books are not set in stone, they will continue the concept of DU traditions focusing on the time individual students spent at DU.
The K-book also features a section to place personal photos to keep your own memories, commemorating the planner as a keepsake.
For the first year, the planner is being funded through the USG. According to Francescon, USG hopes to join other student organizations in funding the K-books so next year entering students will again receive the planner at no cost.
Next year, only entering students will receive the planner at no cost. All other students will have to pay a currently undecided subsidized fee.
Without a doubt you’ll see freshmen eagerly scrawling due dates and club meetings into the lengthy columns that provide more than ample room.
“I like how The K-book is a revival of tradition but in a different form than a normal book of traditions,” said Emily Bowman, a first-year student who received the new planner during orientation week.
An in-depth history of traditions, schedule of sports, and even a DU timeline is included in the first several pages.
The durable binding promises to endure an entire year’s worth of use. Certainly it will remain intact for years to come, holding the tales of a pioneer’s journey through campus and a legacy of tradition.
