From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for June 1, 1988:

• The 570 graduating seniors of Lawrence High School celebrated the conclusion of their local school years with a ceremony inside Allen Fieldhouse. About 30 of the seniors popped open brightly-colored umbrellas early in the commencement in what was termed a “mild-mannered protest” of Principal Brad Tate’s choice to move the ceremony indoors from its planned venue of Memorial Stadium. Tate’s decision, in deference to the National Weather Service forecast of thunderstorms and the evidence of a few raindrops around 4 p.m., had caused the ceremony to be held in the sweltering fieldhouse as it had been the previous two years. This year, one student said, “Our parents are madder than us,” as the crowd of friends and family members sat through the two-hour commencement in stifling conditions, waving their programs for air, as rain failed to materialize outside.
• Rainstorms overall had been few and far between in May 1988, with only 2.19 inches falling during the month. The total was 2.03 inches below average, according to Ed Levy, KU weather observer. Fortunately, Levy said, the area could expect “some good rains in the next 24 to 36 hours.” The dry conditions had been emphasized by above-normal temperatures during the month, with the average high of 82.3 degrees being 4.9 degrees above normal and with two days having reached 90 or above.