Bluffton University - Ista Yearbook (Bluffton, OH)

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N GIRL'S BASKETBALL IN 1916 marsum in the form of a 12 page monthly magazine, later changed to a bi-weekly newspaper. A few months later, in 1915, the first Ista was published. Using subscriptions, Lincoln Hall was completed in 1923. The chapel organ was built by a donation, 1917, followed by the donation of the library, the building and many volumes, to the college in 1930. With the resignation of Dr. Mosiman, Rev. A. S. Rosenberger was chosen president, who resigned after more than three years due to ill health. He was replaced by our current president, Dr. Lloyd L. Ramseyer, an alumnus of the class of '24. Having been president-emeritus for over five years, Dr. Mosiman died January 24, 1940 after a lingering illness of many months. The athletic history of the college dates back almost as far as the history of the institution itself, having been represented by athletic teams ever since the days of the Central Mennonite College, though not having a coach and athletic director until 1917. . Football developed first, requiring many days to go -and come to the various games. Rules and tactics were negligible, with the coach and non-enrolled players often found engaged in the fray. The war stopped the game, to be reorganized ten years later in a post-season Seventeen

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Sixteen l N. E. BYERS Q through the efforts of 'Dr. Mosiman, with a faculty increase of six members to now have a staff of 14. Several new departments started at this time including the art department, agriculture division and a depart- ment of violin and wind instrumentation added to the former vocal and piano music training. With the winter of 1911 came the traditional Music Course series and the college orchestra. Faculty members at this time who are still teaching on the Bluffton campus included Professor Hauenstein and Mrs. Mann, Professor Byers, Dr. Smith and Professor Berky. . During the summer of 1913 the conferences of Mennonites finally agreed to cooperate in setting up a liberal arts college and a seminary to train Mennonite ministers, which had never before 'been possible. The result was the Bluffton college of 1914 granting A. B. degrees, and a final separation of the seminary into the Witmarsum Seminary in 1921, discontinued later in 1931. In a precarious financial period the present Science Hall, Ropp Hall and -the heating plant were completed in 1915 through large donations and subscriptions. Considerable credit must be given to Dean Byers for his efforts in the re-organization work of these years, as well as the establishment on the Bluffton campus of the two Y groups, the Student Senate and the Student Volunteer band. The Alma Mater was written by Prof. I-Iirschler, to the music by Louella Geiger, a student at that time. The first Press club was formed under the direction of Dr. Smith, as well as the Wit-

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Eighfewz MISS VIOLA WELTY--MAY QUEEN IN 1915 game with Toledo, the conference winners of that year, to result in a victory, 14-0, for Bluffton, its only unbeaten, untied, unscored-upon season. Dr. Ramseyer, our current president, was the star tackle of that game. 9 Baseball came simultaneously with football, the first teams being pick-up squads against nearby towns. The only qualification was the possession of the equipment, which naturally produced a wide variety of colors and styles. Basketball came with 1908, the first games being played in the attic of an old feed barn on Cherry street until the fall of 1916 brought the construction of the gym by the students. The minor sports, field, track and tennis all came later, starting about 1921, with tennis being a more recent venture. Heidelberg was the first track meet, gotten up on the spur of the moment, without previous experience by the Bluffton squad, to finish in a Bluffton win. Music was one of the first subjects taught by the college, so naturally the development of the department saw the beginning of the Christmas rendition of the Messiah to its present 28th success. 1909 saw the start of the choral society, and shortly following this time came the founding of a symphony orchestra on the campus. The Men's Glee club was organized in 1914, to suffer in public appearances for want of dress suits, to expand in 1917 into a Women'-s group also. During the prosperity years, one summer saw the Men's group touring coast-to-coast.