Ohio University - Athena Yearbook (Athens, OH)

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faculty . . . This really didn ' t present as much of a hardship as it seems because in 1850 Athens was a stronghold of that saver of mankind — temperance. Keeping with this, in 1854 the citizens of Athens voted to outlaw the sale of liquor within the town. The Athens Messenger hailed this move claiming there is no surer way of avoiding the vices so common to College Life which have forever blighted the ten thousand brilliant in- tellects, then by taking and sustaining the pledge of Total Abstinence from all that can intoxicate. But Ohio University ' s history is not totally one of restrictiveness. In 1 873, University officials shocked and out- raged the townspeople by admitting a woman to its student body. Howev- er, they did not totally commit them- selves to the idea of equality. For the first year she was enrolled on the campus, Margaret Boyd was every- where listed and referred to as M. Boyd in an attempt to conceal her sexual identity. Miss Boyd not only integrated Ohio University, she was also the first to break through the coeducational prejudices of colleges throughout the country. This was not the only time the townspeople were outraged by the ac- tivities of the University. Town-gown relations today are enviable compared to back in 1843 when University President McCuffey was allegedly stoned by the citizens of Athens for taking an active part in the struggle for reevaluation of University-owned lands in hopes of raising the taxes on them. Before too long after the University was unveiled students began to have a bit of leisure time on their hands and began to look around for more rewarding ways to occupy their time than just studying. In 1841, that seem- ingly undying fixture on college cam- puses, the Creek organization came to life in Athens. The first fraternity, Beta Theta Pi, was established at Ohio University in 1841; their first sister organization came into being in 1876, Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. But even then, such organizations were composed of only a small portion of the campus popula- tion. To counter the activities and in- fluence of the Greeks, in 1904 a unique counter-organization was es- tablished — the Barbarians. The group ' s somewhat unusual nomenclature stems from the histori- cal fact that in the days of ancient Greece, the inhabitants of that proud and justly proud nation were want to refer to all who were not of their own blood as Barbarians. A strictly social group, the Barbarians grew in size of both members and activities and pop- ularity. Although many of the Greeks complained they were dedicated to poking fun at the traditions and honors of the Greek system, accord- ing to club reports, they really just wanted to have a good time without the financial and time responsibilities of the fraternities and sororities. As their charter states, their purpose was to bring about harmony and unity, and develop a close bond of fellowship among the students. But they were forced to bow under pressure from both the Greeks and University officials who thought the group undistinguished and the group disbanded, discarding its rough and low title. The group later got back together under conditions much more to the University ' s liking, with the distin- guished title of The Ohio University Union. Along with the advent of the Greeks, another leisure activity came to the fore, athletics. In the late 1800 ' s, during its formative years, the athletic department never had any outstanding (winning) teams. But an effort to remedy this situation and also to bring athletics under closer super- vision was undertaken in 1909 when two committees, the Finance Com- mittee and the Athletic Committee, each composed of five faculty members, were entrusted with the awesome responsibility of having full control of all athletics and of the extra dollar each student and faculty member pays for athletics at the beginning of each term. And that was even before the dawn of inter- collegiate athletics! The Greatest Star of All. Jimmy Osmond — Our Boy.

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' Athens had always been a stronghold of temperance . . thing in a student ' s life. The discipli- nary records of the time reveal that, in effect, a student who got gloriously drunk was usually let off with a repri- mand, while one who whispered in chapel and was unashamed or made a noise like a reprobate in the halls without manifesting any penitence was often sent home in disgrace. Percentagewise, there was a great deal many more expullsions in the early days of the University, possibly in an attempt to protect its fledging repu- tation. A person could be sent packing for reasons ranging from inattentiveness to tardiness ' to laziness to, heaven forbid, missing a lecture. Participating in activities outside the University was also an unhealthy activity as witnessed by the two faculty members fired in 1840 for attending a political meeting and the unfortunate student who was canned for enrolling in a dance studio. Censorship was enforced quite heavily back then. A student was for- bidden to have any lavcivious, impi- ous or irreligious book or ballad nor sing or repeat verses of like charac- ter. Other offenses for which a student could be called on the rug for included lying, profaneness, drunk- eness, theft, uncleanliness or playing at unlawful games. There was special attention given to the drinking habits of Ohio University students since according to the rule book no students shall go to a Tav- ern, Alehouse, Beerhouse or any place of like kind for the purpose of enter- tainment or amusement without spe- cial permission from someone of the

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F. H. Hough, A. B. Jamestown, O. Student at Wilberforce two years, Wil- berforce Base-ball and Basket-ball Teams. HENNIE This son of Ham was pursuing his education at Wilberforce, when the class of ' 09 sent for him to come and relieve the monotony of our color scheme. From the exterior Henny is a decided brunette; but on closer examination you find that he is white inside. He hasn ' t decided yet, whether he ' ll be a Baptist preacher, or an end-man in a minstrel show. Going on the theory that a man is guilty until proven innocent, we presume that he ' d steal a water melon if he got half a chance, and speakin ' of chicken, O Lord ! William Thomas Morgan, Ph. B. Maynard, O. Athenian Lit., Eng. Club, German Club, History Club, Inter-Soc. Debate, Alternate on Inter-collegiate Debate, Sec. Y. M. C. A. PEE-WEE This little hero comes from Maynard, Ohio, which place is connected with the United States by a stage coach. From childhood Pee-wee was the victim of spasmodic insanity, and at the age of twenty was probated to the Athens State Hospital, but landed in Ohio University by mistake. He has been here ever since, and finally the authorities have allowed him to graduate, not knowing of any other way to get rid of him.