Maize and blue were shown at oratorical meets, and they may have colored the Kansas crew in rowing competitions in the mid-1880s. But in 1890 when football arrived at KU, a clamor arose for Harvard's crimson to honor Col. John J. McCook, a Harvard man who had given money for KU's athletic field. In 1896, crimson and blue were adopted officially. The university seal KU's first chancellor, Rev. R.W. Oliver, chose the seal in 1866. The story of Moses' vision is from the Bible's third chapter of Exodus.
Fire symbolizes knowledge in many stories and myths.
Moses is thought to represent the humble attitude of the scholar who recognizes the unquenchable nature of the pursuit of truth and knowledge. This site is maintained by University Relations, the public relations office for the University of Kansas Lawrence campus. Copyright 2000, the University of Kansas Office of University Relations. Images and information may be reused with notice of copyright, but not altered.