University of Arkansas Fayetteville - Razorback Yearbook (Fayetteville, AR)

Page 28 text:

Of The State Opened anuani 22,1872, HA ltk n oak (Putnam ( ateii ilt4 Head; oun. (Pn.o|e4L4oTi4 By Alice Peninger Back in 1862, while the boys in gray and the boys in blue were still thumbing their noses at each other across the Mason-Dixon line, President Lincoln signed the Morrill Act donating public land for the establishment of state universities. Two years later, the Arkansas legislature under Gov¬ ernor Murphy accepted the provisions of the na¬ tional act, but congress refused to recognize Re¬ publican Murphy’s administration. It was not until March 27, 1871, that reconstruction govern¬ ment in the state was able to secure approval for the act. With a board of trustees whose first names were forbiddingly puritanical—Elishas and Abra¬ hams and Gustaves—and a catalogue which ad¬ monished students to “walk in the paths of rec¬ titude,” the University was opened at Fayetteville on January 22, 1872. Noah Putnam Gates was president. The first entrance requirements were unlike those of our present day, requiring less than one year of high school work. In the beginning of the institution there were only four instructors and the main part of the curriculum was Latin, Greek, and Mathematics. CCotklritj HA a-ii (PneAculked The clothes worn by the University Eds and Co-Eds of the early days were prescribed by the school authorities. The catalogue of 1880 describ¬ ed the military uniform as, “A neat suit of gray jeans with brass buttons and black trimmings to be worn by all males.” For Spring and Autumn, “females,” were in¬ structed to wear “gray dresses, white aprons, and blue gingham sunbonnets”; for Winter, “black dresses, white aprons, scarlet Zephyr hoods, and black wraps”; in all seasons, “Sailor hats for Sab¬ bath wear.” Such fabrics as silks and satins were not to be tolerated and every girl was advised to equip herself with a “comfortable waterproof, a pair of arctic shoes, and an umbrella.” With the faculty and trustees frowning up¬ on association of the young ladies and the young men, social life of the period would necessarily seem to be somewhat limited. There was no Shulertown, no athletic field, no depot, no thea¬ ter, no movies, no cafe, no restaurants and only one or two places where one could take his girl for a soda—just plain soda water with lemon syrup. Moreover, there was a regulation forbidding the sale of “Ardent Spirits” within three miles of the Arkan.sas Industrial University, ninety-six rules for student conduct, in addition to compul¬ sory prayer meeting and church attendance! Yet, as in any age, even Victorian youth ser¬ ious in its high, celluloid collars and voluminous skirts, found plenty of ways of having a good time. Frequently, dramatic organizations pre¬ sented such heart-rending dramas as “The Lady of Lyons” and “The Two Orphans.” Driving parties, usually downtown, picnics, and winter skating out¬ ings on White river were most thrilling recreation. Almost as soon as the University was estab¬ lished, clubs and Literary societies became a vital part of its organization. From the dignified De- mostheans and Pericleans of the ’80s, the club¬ bing idea rapidly gained popularity, until at the turn of the century, every interest group imag¬ inable was represented in an organization. Sl jkln. (Romeos Among them., were the “Rooster, Pudding and Pie Devourers,” “Mandolin Club,” “Sighing Ro¬ meos,” “The Cunning Clan of Cutters,” and “Fed¬ eration of Fudge Fiends. A more serious poli¬ tical group called “Independent Organization of Reformers” was probably the brain-child of New Dealian forebears. In the absence of fraternity houses, students lived in private homes which they nicknamed “ranches.” Hours were strict, and residents care¬ fully supervised. Student activity tickets more than likely had their beginning in the former “University Chap¬ el Ticket” and the “Bath House Ticket,” the lat¬ ter being good for twenty baths without towels or soap. During the pioneering days of the school, courses were offered in engineering, agriculture, and teacher training, as well as in the liberal arts. The Board was required to establish other colleges when there was sufficient demand. The agricultural experiment station was started in 1887. However, it was not until 32 years after it opened that the University really had more than one college. ( 24 )

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Clinton Futrall n.kan4a4i ' (Pne lcJent iHa4 Sen-aed! Hi4 Institution oConc en. H ' kan «s4ni Otken. (Pnex j Sn. Am.ai .c.a John Clinton Futrall, the distinguished and scholarly looking president of the University of Arkansas, started to college at the age of 15, and he has been in college every since. No other state university president in Am¬ erica, who is now in office, has served his insti¬ tution as long as Presi¬ dent Futrall, why is now in his 26th year as presiding officer of the University of Ar¬ kansas. Born in Jackson, Tennessee, 66 years So, but spending most of his youth in Mari¬ anna, Arkan.sas, Presi¬ dent Futrall began his eaieer at the Univer¬ sity of Arkansas. Af¬ ter spending two years at this University, he ceived the degrees of Bachelor and Master or Arts from the Uni¬ versity of Virginia in 1894. Elected profes¬ sor of Latin at Ar¬ ansas before he was ®ven old enough to Vote, he has been con¬ nected with this insti¬ tution every since. In the 45 years that e has been with the leav ' ’ President Futral has taken only one a st d absence. Two vacations were ' spent as of i!! John Hopkins and at the University versit ' 1899-1900 he studied at the Uni- Bonn and Halle in Germany, and trav- LL D . 0 and Italy. In 1920 he received the 1926 h from Tulane University, and in versit granted the same degree at the Uni- or-sity of New Mexico. rail is p ' i? very often that President Fut- kfe does f upon to interfere in student affairs, arnooth President’s main duty is to has time t troubles. Con.sequently, he always o consider all problems and questions JOHN CLINTON FUTRALL Scholarly President of the University of Arkansas brought to him, either by individual students or student groups, and to make just and unbiased settlements. It is not only necessary that a university president should devote much of his time to think¬ ing about ways of developing his school and of expanding its activities, but it is just as important that he find ways to put his ideas into effect. The extent to which President Futrall has succeeded in this may be clearly seen by a quick examination of the growth of the University since he became its president 26 years ago. The school has shown outstanding growth in curriculum, enroll- ment, staff and equip¬ ment. When Dr. Futrall became the president of Arkansas Univer¬ sity in 1913, the Uni¬ versity had an enroll¬ ment of about 600 stu¬ dents, and one dean. Today nine new build¬ ings, a 11 completed within the last 11 years, a $32,000 stadi¬ um, six deans, a facul¬ ty of 150 members, and an enrollment which nears the 2,500 mark, all give evidence of Dr. Futrall’s pro¬ gressive administra¬ tion. The president’s al¬ ways rapid speech be¬ comes even more hur¬ ried and earnest when he speaks of the Uni¬ versity’s future growth. The University of Arkansas will become larger and larger in the years to come,” he says. “It will have more students, more faculty mem¬ bers, more buildings, more books, and other edu¬ cational equipment.” Although he used to be very fond of hunting and fishing, in late years President Futrall has found little time for these sports. When asked concerning any pet peeves he might harbor, the president replied that naturally the head of a university has many things to irritate him, but he must learn not to become annoyed at trifles. “So,” he smiles, “I have no particular ‘pet peeves’.” ( 23 )

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Since the College of Agri- culture was established in 1905, the development of the various colleges and de¬ partments has been steady. In 1911, the Medical school hich had been operated rom 1879, became a part of the University. Expansion since then has — included the College of En¬ gineering, the Agricultural xtension Service, College of Education, General X ension Service, the Engineering Experiment ation, the Law School, the School of Business ministration, and the Graduate School. The Branch Agri Experiment Stations, which ccame University projects in 1925 are located in arianna, where cotton is grown, in Hope where nuit and truck garden is cultivated, and in i ttgart where rice is raised. Year before last, station for livestock and grazing experimenta- lion was established in Batesville. Since its founding shortly after the middle the nineteenth century, the University has come a long way. The sun-bonneted predecessor the 1939 campus ' ‘slick chick, ' ' would scarce- i ized today. And the naive interest orse and buggy varieties of fun has disappear- ferinoWment w 11 Ui iversity has changed quantitatively as sh Qualitatively. This year, the enrollment and eight per cent increase over last year J a 50 per cent increase over the last five ears. The degrees conferred in 1938 were 398, of fu ere granted the entire first 35 years c University ' s existence. unusually rapid increase in the stu- im mirollment in recent years has come also an Por ant change in the character of enrollment. administrators are generally agreed inst t ' uble for the different classes in an thp higher education to contain about same number of students. 43 13 years ago, the freshman class had about uumh students while the sophomores leav cent, a total for the two classes cliiH - ur the upper classes in- mg the Graduate school. iucrea years, the enrollment has Grad f junior and senior classes and cent until now approximately 45 per e students are upper classmen. cter guificant that this change in the char- e enrollment in the University has been accompanied by the emergence of the University from the ranks of what some satirical writers call fresh water colleges. Hazing is gone from the campus, including even the milder forms of com¬ pelling freshmen to wear silly little green caps and keep off certain walks. The old-fashioned ripla zip la, dip la du collegiate hysteria has gone the way of other an¬ tiquated customs, seemingly indicating a new ma¬ turity of University students. Though the freshman class of the University is much smaller altogether than of former years, yet it is still a large class. This year ' s freshman class is larger than the total student enrollment of any other institution of higher education in Arkansas. The increased enrollment of graduate stu¬ dents is particularly striking. Since most of them teach in the public schools of the state, they at¬ tend the University during the summer. Last year there were over 300 enrolled in summer school. One of the signs of progress for the Univers¬ ity of Arkansas is the marked increase in transfer students here in the last few years. Apparently they are finding out that Arkansas is not such a hick joint after all. Most recent addition to the rolls of transfer students is a Chinese citizen sent here by his government to do graduate work in the field of chemistry. From a small staff of 37 county and home demonstration agents serving 20,000 farm fami¬ lies in 1914, the Agricultural Extension has ex¬ panded to a large staff of workers, providing at least two agents to each county, and giving serv¬ ice to approximately 200,000 farm families. The service is developing rural leaders and en¬ couraging farm people who are being taught to raise their standard of living through in¬ telligent planning. General Extension Service classes are de¬ signed to give Univer¬ sity work to students unable to come to the campus, and to give courses for in-service workers who are not inter¬ ested in credits but need specific information in their field. Short courses, a third activity, are designed to meet the particular needs of occupa¬ tional groups, and this past year ' s program has included a variety of them—for bankers, legisla¬ tors, engineers, and waterworks superintendents. ( 25 )