How to Help
It takes a community to save a building. As friends of Smith Hall, we encourage you to write to Chancellor Girod, Provost Bichelmeyer, University Architect Mark Reiske, and each member of the Kansas Board of Regents.
Write from the heart and make a thoughtful case to persuade KU from moving forward with the planned demolition. Ask them to leave the Department of Religious Studies in Smith Hall and maintain the building's historical use.
A list of decision makers and their email addresses is shown below:
- Chancellor Girod: kuchancellor@ku.edu
- Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Barbara A. Bichelmeyer: provost@ku.edu
- University Architect Mark L. Reiske: dcmmlr@ku.edu
- President Flanders: bflanders@ksbor.org
- Regent Benson: bbenson@pittsburgareachamber.com
- Regent Dicus: JBDKSRegents@gmail.com
- Regent Ice: Carl.Ice@BNSF.com
- Regent Johnston
- Regent Lane: KsRegentCL@gmail.com
- Regent Mendoza: mendoza.diana@usd443.org
- Regent Parasker
- Regent Rolph: regentrolph@gmail.com
- Regent Winter: wwinter@stevensbrand.com
We also encourage you to contact your legislators and let them know that you oppose the demolition of Smith Hall. Tell them that the limited public dollars available for addressing deferred maintenance at our universities should not be spent tearing down buildings that are in good condition -- especially those with historical and artistic significance. Ask them to ensure that the process the Kansas Board of Regents uses to make decisions about demolishing public buildings is transparent, consistent, and gives a meaningful voice to the public.
You can find your legislators here: https://openstates.org/
Learn More
- Report on State University Building Inventory, Space Utilization, and Facilities Condition (KS Board of Regents, January 11, 2021)
- Lawrence Modern - Stop KU's Demolition of Smith Hall
- Lawrence Preservation Alliance - LPA Requests Assistance to Help Save Smith Hall
- Lawrence Times - KU campus demolitions cause concern about preservation
- University Daily Kansan - Students, community react to Smith Hall potential demolition
- Lawrence Times - Smith Hall is an architectural and artistic landmark worth saving
- Lawrence Journal-World - KU's pending demolition list grows
- The Study of Religion on Mount Oread
- Smith Hall video - University of Kansas
