Southern Illinois University - Obelisk Yearbook (Carbondale, IL)

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ffl' Mil By 7952 if had become evidenl lhaf confusion in fhe orienfalion of more fhan one fhousand freshmen was gefling oul of hand. So in fhe fall of 7953 Soulhern's firsf New Sludenf Week leaders were selecled. Here fwo original leaders inslrucf a group of freshmen in fhe complex process of regisfrafion. iifff -,. :.,1-. ,mf 'Fw Following a campus-wide eleclion in 7952, fhe Saluki dog was chosen fhe learn mascot. Before Soulhe-rn's firsl sleek Saluki,King Tul,ccime lo campus, the leams were called the Maroons, a name, some felf,of lilfle dislinclion. 74 7949-7955 Delyle W. Morris succeeded Chesier Lay fo fhe presidency in lime lo slarf lhe 7949 academic year. Dr. Morris came lo Soufhern from a posl as lhe direclor of lhe Speech and Hearing Clinic af Ohio Slale Universify.

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4 Southern celebrated its graduation from a normal university in 7947 and the fact was happily proclaimed by this float in the Homecoming parade. The annual Dunbar Dance was not held in l944 and that was the first year the Homecoming dance was attended by both while and colored students. 7942-7948 With most of the world at war, recruiters from all branches of lhe service came to Southerrfs quiet campus in an effort lo enlist those men who had not yet been subject to the draft. jf- M Thoughts of the war effort were heavy on the hearts of students attending school. News of the terrible battles and losses reaching campus via papers and radio were manifested in many ways, as in this float in 7943. t w fa S NHL hiwnosummwlm Pa. 4. .JP muim . ,,c-mg-3-.LXLQLJIK 13

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In the early 7950's it was imperative that Southern's physical growth proceed as rapidly aspassible to accommodate the 725 percent increase in enrollment from 7950 to 7955. The construction below was part of the Thompson Point dormitory complex. W , so 4 My . 'W' -n 1. V I I ,N 4 Mm , H' uw-aa: .W Il lllll loili L I 'M M I 'I' Delyte Wesley Morris became presicffgnt of Southern Illinois University upon the resignation of President Lay in August, 7948. Beginning with Dr. Morris's administration, SIU entered a period of growth the scope of which has yet to be fully realized. In 7957 the University Training School was opened greatly en- hancing the facilities available for student teachers. That year the OBELISK increased its page size from 7V2 x IOVZ to its present 9 x 72. The following year saw the installation of the AFROTC unit at Southern. In the fall of 7952 the Salulci was chosen as the school mascot, replacing the old title of Maroons, and the 7952 football team went winless through a nine game schedule, scoring only 70 points to its opponents' 354. Work had begun on the Life Science Building, the Agriculture Building which is longer than a football field, and by 7955 the Thompson Point dormitory com- plex which alone covers an area larger than the completed campus of the 793O's. By 7952 the Graduate School had an enrollment of over 400 that year's OBELISK reported. The Vocational Technical Institute was opened also in 7952 to offer a two-year program with associate business and associate technology degrees. The Division of Communications was established in 7953 with two depart- ments, journalism and speech. In 7955 a major revision in division of the curriculum was under- taken when the College of Vocations and Professions was sub- divided and Business Administration became the School of Busi- ness. The Divisions of Communications, Fine Arts, and Rural Studies became schools. In November a doctoral program was approved for SIU by the Board of Trustees. Thus during this seven-year period Southern had advanced from a normal school to a full-fledged university. The schooI's physical plant tripled in six years and enrollment doubled from 7952 to 7955. Now the upward spiral of Southern's growth was well underway and the 7954 OBELISK boasted: Our University: too self-conscious to be smug-too progressive to be modest. In 7952 Southern's compulsory AFROTC program went into effect. With uniforms and drill, installation ofthe program saw the beginning of the Military Ball and election of the first Military Ball Queen.