Arkansas State University - Indian Yearbook (Jonesboro, AR)

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THE ULTRA-MODERN men ' s dormitory built in 1954 houses 90 men. LE CERCLE FRANCAIS, founded in 1929, is second in age to the Agri Club, founded in 1917 as the Hoof and Horn Club.

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COMMONS BUILDING, built in 1935, housed a barber and beauty shop, snack bar and cafeteria. The upper floors were used for men ' s dormitory space. In 1951 the barber shop and beauty shop became the State Room. prewar years brought many changes DR. W. J. EDENS became president in 1946 and expanded the faculty, administration and curricu- lum greatly before his resignation in 1951. 4 Many new social organizations appeared at ASC during the depression. The Press Club and Le Cercle Francais were formed in 1929. Local sororities and fraternities appeared in 1935, and the Wigwam, still the favorite student gather- ing place, opened in December, 1932, in the Administration Building. The Administration Building was constructed with financial help from the state but student labor helped keep the construction cost down to 16 cents a cubic foot. After the new building was finished the physical plant was valued at over $826,000. Students ' average expenditures during the depression era ranged from $250 to $300 a year, and many students relied on money from the National Guard and campus work for expenses. Surveys made by the HERALD staff showed that 30% of the students had less than $50 when they enroled. The Education Build- ing was built in 1936 and the Engineering Building and Heat Plant along with new steam tunnels, were built in 1938. Four degrees — Bachelor of Art, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Education and Bachelor of Music — were awarded by ASC in 1938. Thirteen de- partments were organized and the physical plant was evaluated at $1,700,000. In 1942 the civilian enrollment decreased sharply, as it did in all schools throughout the nation. Arkansas State then entered into contracts with the United States Army for housing, feeding and instructing over 2,000 enlisted men of the Air Crew Pre-flight and Army Specialized Training Programs. This enabled the College to continue its operation and maintain its plant in an adequate manner. Room and board was raised to $22 a month in 1942. Competitive intercollegiate athletics, abandoned in 1941, were resumed in 1944 under the direction of J. A. Ike Tomlinson, who came to ASC with the military training program. Football was resumed in 1945. Br. Edens faced a tremendous problem when he came to ASC since the en- rollment jumped from 257 in 1945-1946 to 1046 in 1946-1947. This was due to the large number of veterans who entered college after World War II. The faculty was increased from approximately 30 in 1945 to 50 in 1947. Housing for faculty members was provided through the construction of the first houses in the College Circle in 1948.

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Expansion of the college program is reflected in new degrees offered in 1950. In that year the Bachelor of Science in Agri- culture was added. This was followed by the Bachelor of Science in Education in 1952 and the Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1954. A recent development is the addition of the graduate program in 1955. This new offering was largely an effort by ASC to improve the quality and quantity of school teachers and administrators. Since the Master of Science in Education degree has been offered, 38 persons have received the degree. In 1956 Beebe Junior College, a two-year school located 90 miles from Jonesboro, was placed under the ASC Ad- ministration and the program was correlated with the ASC program. Indian Village, a housing development for married students, was opened in 1955. Two modern dormitories, one for women and one for men, were constructed in 1954. Each cost approxi- mately $240,000 and houses 90 students. The Greek Hall, oc- cupied for the first time in 1958, is ultra-modern and is built on a unique pattern. Four wings emulating from the center are each assigned to a fraternity which has its suite in the wing. Air conditioning and a two-way intercom system make this one of the South ' s most modern dormitories. The athletic program has undergone a thorough revamp- ing in the past ten years. Hugh Bones Taylor, famous pass re- ceiver of the Washington Redskins, came in 1958 and coached the Indian football team through the toughest schedule the Tribe has ever faced. Track has been expanded and the basket- ball schedule includes some of the nation ' s finest teams. the modern era . . DR. CARL R. RENG, president 1951 -? has fostered the development of ASC into a school of university capabilities. ASC GRADUATES have grown from a handful to the group below.