<P> The chant was first adopted by the university's science club in 1886 . Chemistry professor E.H.S. Bailey and his colleagues were returning by train to Lawrence after a conference . During their travel, they discussed a need of a rousing yell . They came up with "Rah, Rah, Jayhawk, Go KU", repeated three times, which later became "Rock Chalk Jayhawk, KU". </P> <P> By 1889, "Rock Chalk"--a transposition of chalk rock, a type of limestone, that exists in the Cretaceous - age bedrocks of central and western parts of the state as well as on Mount Oread, where the University is located, which is similar to the coccolith - bearing chalk of the white cliffs of Dover--later replaced the two "rahs ." Those responsible for the change are unknown, with Bailey himself crediting the geology department, and others an English professor . </P> <P> Kansas troops have used it in the Philippine - American War in 1899, the Boxer Rebellion, and World War II . In the 1911 Border War football game, over 1,000 fans gathered in downtown Lawrence to listen to a "broadcast" of the game by telegraph and participated in cheers including the Rock Chalk . </P> <P> In the 1920 Summer Olympics, Albert I of Belgium asked for a typical American college yell, and gathered athletes replied with the chant . </P>

Where did the rock chalk chant come from