Northwest Missouri State University - Tower Yearbook (Maryville, MO)

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=—— = — —== | vw he “| O W LE 12 Mike He came, as do all tramps, out of the gray mysterious past closed to every- body but himself. He looked the situation over, and, contrary to all of the set rules of trampdom, he decided to settle down. He fell into the company of M. S. Boase, secretary to the President of the College, and through the kindness of Mr. Boase, or rather through the workings of his doggy instincts which directed him to follow where he was not intended to follow, he was introduced to the college. He liked college life and the students liked him, so he soon became to be recognized as an integral and indispensable part of the institution. Every morning as constantly as the sun, and much more so than the students and professors, would he report for the morning classes. Every evening he would choose the particular instructor with whom he wished to pass the evening, and to that lucky instructor’s home would he proceed as the guest of honor. Much to the delight of those involved, and possibly to the chagrin of others, he had his favorites, namely, Mr. Boase, the Dean of Faculty, the President, Mr. Ricken- brode and Mr. Hawkins. Tf the day was warm, he would spénd his time on the campus, chasing rabbits, digging for ground squirrels and superintending the work about’ the grounds. He was, in fact, the only being (for dogs are beings), who ever dared to dispute the authority of Mr. Brink. He would dig holes in the tulip beds and in the soft turf of the campus, and the holes would be filled in and new flowers planted. If the day was cold and blustery, he would visit the various classes. He behaved with profound dignity, occupying the place of honor under the instructor’s desk, like Buddha under a canopy, a little fuzzy, dirty gray Buddha, with wistful brown eyes that spoke of a sagacity far beyond the scope of human understanding. And the games! Of course he was there, with his green and white blanket with the white “M” on either side. What matter if he did drink out of the water pail on the sidelines? What matter if he did walk across the court? He was Lord-High-Chancellor, and he knew it. The Agriculture Class was spraying trees with lead arsenate. The day was warm and Mike had been chasing an impudent rabbit. The white spray resembled milk—and he was so thirsty! The efforts of the students and of the veterinary were of no avail. A little box bearing the inscription, “For the Love of Mike,” was placed in the hall. Pennies, nickels, dimes, and a few quarters, and possibly a half dollar or two rained into the box. Today, near the east entrance of the Administration Building, unheeded and unnoticed by the present generation of preoccupied college students, is the little marble block. “MIKE To the Memory of our Dog Died, May 15, 1917.” i = 1926 ww —— — = [22]

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During all of these years there was a steady growth of the school, both in the faculty and in the student body. Whereas the first summer school numbered some three hundred students, the last few summers have averaged from twelve to fifteen hundred students. The attendance during the regular school year has increased from two hundred to nine hundred. There were about one hundred and seve nty-five students in school, during the regular school year of 1906-1907. As the years passed, this number steadily increased. In the year 1916 the attendance figures were noticeably increased. Again in 1920 and 1921 the school experienced a sudden growth. During the past five years, the increase in the number of students has been remarkable, and at present time the enrollment averages between eight and nine hundred students for the regular school year. The first faculty consisted of fifteen members. The present faculty consists of about sixty members, not counting the student assistants. The growth of the college was accompanied by a development of the “extra- curricular” activities. Almost with the beginning of the school, there came the student organizations. The Y. M. C. A. and the Y. W. C. A. were among the first organizations to be established. Certain literary societies were in existence as early as 1907. From then on the organizations grew and developed. Some were discontinued while others were formed to replace them. As the needs of the student body changed, the organizations changed. The changes have, for the most part, been constructive, and now the college has a number of different organizations all working for the best interests of the students. Athletics in the college have experienced a steady growth. The first sports were baseball, tennis and basketball. Football commenced in 1908 and continued for several years. After it had been discontinued, it was not taken up again until 1917. Since 1917 the football team has developed, often against overwhelming difficulties, and today it may rightly be said that the Bearcats are second to none in the state. The Bearcats have always been strong in basketball, and for several years have had one of the strongest teams in the state. About 1915 the college adopted a new policy as to the development of the campus. Previous to that time, only the more permanent and consequently the slower growing trees had been planted on the campus. As a result, the campus was a rather barren piece of land, covered with small trees. Since then, the faster growing trees have been planted extensivly on the campus. These trees which are now of a fair size, along with the large pines already on the campus, and the extensive flower beds and shrubbery, have made the campus one of the beauty spots of Northwest Missouri. An effort is being made to have on the campus at least one representative of every type of tree that will grow in this climate. In the fall of 1918 a Student Army Training Corps unit was established at the college. The fourth floor was converted into barracks, and men began to prepare for the great game of war. The S. A. T. C. never had an opportunity to function to any great extent, for in November the Armistice was signed and the corps was disbanded. In the spring of 1921 the State Legislature appropriated $200,000 to be spent on a women’s dormitory. The building was completed in 1923. Then in 1924, $125,000 was released for a new gymnasium. The gymnasium was completed in the summer of 1925 and it is now serving the needs of the student body. The school is at present adding an implement house to the group of farm buildings. So the campus is continually growing and improving. But the growth has not, by any means, been entirely material. With the great increase in the student body and the expansion of the building program, there has been a marked growth in the standards of the school. The school is continually improving its standards, and this, above all, is the correct measure of the school’s growth. For no school is bigger than its standards.

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