University of South Carolina Columbia - Garnet and Black Yearbook (Columbia, SC)

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painful process. The Trustees felt the R.O.T.C. program on campus was inconsistent with the traditions of the University so they ended it in 1921. Who needed a military organi- zation after the war to end all wars had been fought? Because of the stalemate USC had seemingly come to, President Currell was pressured into resignation in 1921. His successor, W. D. Melton attempted to ameliorate conditions by following an education for all pol- icy. Melton went to the legislature without the usual apologetic plea for funds. He simply demanded the money - and he got it - s4o6,ooo, almost double the appropriation of the year before. Melton saw the dwin- dling student body rise from 621 in 1921 to 1,419 in 1925 - partly from his efforts and partly from the devel- opment of high schools in the state. The fall of cotton prices instigated an early depression in S.C. and the legislature's generosity soon ceased. The atmosphere was one of hostil- ity toward women students until two co-eds were graduated from the Law School in 1918. When the female scholars proved their capabilities they became an accepted and sought after part of the University. Wade Hamp- ton, the first womenis dorm, was built after the influential passage of the 19th amendment. President D. M. Douglas was brought in after the death of Melton with a salary higher than that of the Governor's so the Trustees were forced to lower it. Douglas urged the establishment of Wardlaw College of Education and University High School for the practice teachers. The Depression hit USC hard in 1932 with appropriations cut 29 per cent, special scholarships discontin- ued, tuition raised and salaries slashed. Aid, however, came in 1934 under Roosevelt's New Deal. Scholar- ships were reinstated. Sims, Preston and McKissick Library were built. The first natatorium was con- structed at this time but the students referred to it as the swimming pool. With the departure of the Depres- sion went the social snobbery associ- ated with the Columbia institution. Social life was carefree as the stock market began to rise. USC men and women had cars, cigarettes, jazz and bowling to occupy spare time. The impending war in Europe seemed far away. In 1940, 2,000 students were enrolled, a figure that was cut in half by 1943. When World War II started an intensive Naval program began with classes being held year-round. After four years and 140 USC alumni had been killed in battle, the war ended. 1947 brought forth hundreds of veterans seeking education tmder the G.I. Bill. With 4,700 students USC was pressed for space and classes were being held in attics and basements. Under President Donald S. Russell, the extensive construction program as we know it today was begun. The Russell House Student Center, built in 1955, bears his name. The past two decades have brought more changes to the University than any before. In january 1958, eleven Allen University students threatened legal means to gain acceptance to USC after they were refused. Blacks were not admitted until the fall of 1965. By 1970 only 6 per cent of the student body consisted of black stu- dents and the election of Harry Walker, a black man, to the presi- dency of the student body in 1971 made national television. The apathy prevalent in the '50's gave way to involvement of the '60's. Protest against the playing of Dixie', at games became a major issue. Whether or not to sell beer on cam- pus was also a point of contention. A survey showed that 10 per cent of the 1969 co-eds went to class bra-less and the student Health Center refused to dispense birth control pills. Students gathered for a relatively peaceful Vietnam Moratorium in 1969, but the Kent State deaths evoked a more vio- lent protest in 1970. A boycott of classes was urged and angry students took over the Russell House. Police and troops were called in and the pro- test was quelled and classes remained open. The past few years have brought a new look to the campus with the con- struction of the Coliseum, the sta- dium, a new nursing center, a new law the health center, the BA building, center and new libraries, to name a few. The resignation of Thomas jones in january 1974 came as a shock to many. He left to devote his full time and thought to the teaching-learning processf' Contro- versy over the real reason still remains. jones came to USC in 1962 when there was a student body of 7,695 on six campuses. He helped it grow to 26,342 on nine campuses and was named 1966 South Carolinian of the Year by WIS Radio and Televi- sion. March of 1974 came with streakers across campus. This new fad rivaled the goldfish eating, telephone booth stuffing and panty raids of the past. And even though the number of streakers reached a phenomenal 508 on a torchlit night, one seriously doubts the excitement caused by nude runners ever equaled that of the 1800's turkey thievery. President Gilzber Green in 1933. I -' . vu ir 21

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The History Behind USC Ccont.J ll t is doubtful if there is a college in the state that takes as little interest in athletics as we do . . .', stated a cam- pus publication, the Carolinian, in an effort to raise a USC football team. The fact that all other colleges were making headway in the sport spurred Carolina into quickly assembling a team of students as well as non-stu- dents. USC's first football team had no coach and no name other than the College Boysf' Their debut game, played against the 'iMountain Boys of Furman in 1891, resulted in a disas- terous 44-0 loss. But it was a beginning and soon the players had a trainer Cat 319500 for three monthsj who shipped them into shape as a team that came to be known as the Game Cocksi' and don- ned the colors of garnet and black. Clemson College was in the process of forming a team at the same time and soon fiery challenges were being tossed between the motmtains and the midlands. The two teams were brought together at the Elmwood fairgrounds on Nov. 12, 1896, where Carolina was the victor at 12-6. Fast asleep in the dorm. 20 The Trustees were extremely opposed to the illegitimate use of athletics as an advertising medium for educational institutions. For a while they refused to grant aid to the pro- gram, restricted the team to games within Columbia, and contemplated banning rooting and cheering. USC baseball was born in this era, also. The Gamecork newspaper, first edi- ted by Robert Gonzales in 1908, adopted its name from the team - which was not a very notable name- sake at the time considering the team was on a year-to-year losing streak. A well-wishing professor remarked, May the Gamecock survive longer than any chicken Iive been able to keep on the campus? The Gamer and Black yearbook was first published in 1899 and the first issues, consisting of sketches, stories, poems and a few photographs are worth a trip to the South Caroliniana Library to have a good laugh over. Although enrollment at the Uni- versity was nearing 500, regulations in the early 1900's did not relax. An effort to abolish compulsory church attendance was ignored and the fac- ulty forbade the students to dance such immoral dances as the one- step at the Christmas Ball of 1913. Teaching the theories of Evolution was also discouraged. Winthrop College, which seemed to have the financial blessings of the Legislature, and Clemson College, growing wealthy from the fertilizer tax, were expanding and far outdoing USC in academics. The University was still being forced to beg for reno- vation money with little hope for much-needed new buildings. In 1909, the new President Samuel C. Mitchell, coming to USC and see- ing the rundown conditions, began traveling around the state beating the bushes for moral and financial support of the University. Mitchell's efforts were almost in vain as Cole- man Blease was elected to the Gover- norship of the state. Blease, in order to gain votes of the many illiterat' farmers and textile workers, spoke against Mitchell and his expensive, aristocratic university, as well as President lVIitchell's support of pro- hibition, child labor laws, compulsory school attendance for children and allocations for instruction of black school teachers. Blease continued his attack on the , L 171 1919. University when he was running for re-election. Mitchell, who could gain no support except that of students and faculty and who was weary of political attacks, accepted a position at another university. In 1915 he left USC to its backwardness and legisla- tive manipulation. Efforts to elevate the standards were further hindered by an agricul- tural depression, the. slow start of public high school and the First World War. Students were still expected to heat and furnish their own rooms. Under the administration of Wil- liam Currell, R.O.T.C. became man- datory for all male sophomores and freshmen. However, USC began los- ing a substantial portion of its faculty and students to the war. The student body of well over 500 in 1916 fell to 200 by 1918 and after the draft law called men between the ages of 18 and 45 to service, President Currell Copposed to the use of students in the militaryj resigned. Would the 'Uni- versity once more be forced to close its doors in defeat? Some were afraid the answer would be yes. emorial trees were planted along Green and Pickens streets, several monuments were raised and the 28 war dead from USC soon rested in the dusty annals of history along with other men from other wars. - With little legislative cooperation and lack of funds, staff and students, the return to normalcy of the Uni- versity proved to be a very slow'and

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Vs- - ., J - t -,,1.! iw jf-3.-5, U- '.'1 1 .ijt if?- f-K ,er- if gf- Hl...,ig:',-, V. ' . P 5 . '-11 ' - , . kk-'J -....,..s.-- COEDUCATIO : WOME GAIN THEIR PLACE By Karen Petit From long skirts to blue jeans, long hair to short - it finally happened. Women invaded the collegiate class- room. And both the USC campus and women themselves have undergone a metamorphosis to accommodate the change. Coeducation on USC's campus has a varied and interesting heritage. While the first two college organiza- tions on campus, the Clariosophic and Euphradian societies, loved and admired the ladies, in the early 1800's, there was the obvious distinction that the female sex had her own role to fulfill - a kitchen engineer, bottle washer, and nursery attendant with little involvement in public affairs. Although the Clariosophics decided in 1810 that women were less intellectual than men, the Euphradi- ans reaffirmed the fact 50 years later with the conclusion that the minds of the sexes were not equal. The Clario- sophics were so advanced in thinking that in 1810 they decided women should not participate in government and Euphradians denied women a place in a society outside the home. By 1830 the Euphradians had announced that enjoying the female company was not compatible with the 22 student's collegiate duties. Also, waltzing with one's arm around a lady's waist was indecent. While girls frequently attended chapel on the South Carolina College campus, they were denied entrance into the school's social halls. Had they been allowed within the inner sanctums of the male campus domain, they would have heard great oratorical debates on their honor and virtue as well as the sanctity of her marriage contract. For nearly six dec- ades both societies debated whether or not seduction should be punished by death. While many males did not favor this extreme measure, neither society wanted to be quoted as favor- ing the punishment. And in 1811 Clariosophic debates were highlighted by Is Highway Robbery or Seduction the Greater Crime? Highway rob- bery won by one vote. While the societies frowned upon divorce and felt the woman should die if necessary to preserve her honor, both Clariosophic and Euphradians were unwilling to demand capital punishment for men who violated it. Although black women attended the Normal School at the University during Reconstruction, it was not until 1895 that coeducation was finally instituted. In 1893 Gov. Ben Tillman announced that coeducation of the female mind at SCC was a mat- ter of justice and common sense as well as a way to increase student enrollment. Because of faculty and Trustees disapproval, Tillman made appeal directly to the legislature rather than the Board of Trustees who had authority to admit women but declined to do so. While conservatives favored educa- tion of girls at Winthrop and private colleges, Tillman was ahead of most in advocating coeducation. Although The State endorsed Tillman, it was the Charleston News and Courier which favored coeducation if not in the com- pany of men - our people still believe in the manly men and wom- anly women, and whether right or wrong, the impression prevails that coeducation after a certain age tends to modify these distinctive qualities which should be the pride of each sex. Because of Tillman's influence, the legislature approved the 1895 appropriations bill directing the trus- tees to admit qualified women to the campus but not below the junior class. Agreeing to allow women to enroll in