Florida Southern College - Interlachen Yearbook (Lakeland, FL)

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And That ' s The Way It Was The 1986-87 school year at Florida Southern College was a prosperous year for both the student body and faculty, however, what really interested much of the student body was finding out various facts of trivia regarding FSC. In 1914, the social life on campus dif- fered greatly from 1986. Social life on campus between women and men stu- dents was mostly restricted to a few ' so- cial trunks ' a year. The socials always oc- curred on a Saturday evening after sup- per and lasted for one hour. They were always announced by the President. Word would invariably precede his an- nouncement, and the boys would man- age to have pre-arranged dates. A date meant that the couples were free to walk together the full length of the veranda of the girl ' s dorm and sit on the girl ' s trunk that had been moved from her room and to her place on the veranda. If only the 1987 students could have attended FSC in 1926. The cost of room, board, and tuition in 1926 was $450. The amount increased to $501 in 1927 and remained there until 1933 when it dropped to $426. Fees were not raised again unto 1940 when the total reached $540, and in 1955 it reached the figure of $1,000. Student life had undergone marked changes throughout the years, with the introduction of fraternities and sororities perhaps being the most significant factor. These social organizations were permit- ted for the first time in the history of the college in the autumn of 1925, and soon became an integral part of student life. The Honor Walk and Founder ' s Week were started by one of FSC ' s former presi- dents, Dr. Ludd M. Spivey. The Honor Walk was dedicated on March 31, 1931, and included the names of one outstand- ing graduate from a graduating class since the founding of the college. One name was added annually ever since, the selection originally being made by the faculty of the senior deemed ' most likely to succeed ' . Mostly academic ability was important, but other attributes were also important. This special recognition was often extended to student presidents of campus organizations. The Honor Walk, located on the north side of Joseph-Reyn- olds dormitory for women, gave eloquent testimony, name by name, to a long line of high achievers. Dr. Spivey started the annual Founder ' s Day Celebration, which continued to offer an opportunity for the entire institution to celebrate the ongoing life of the college. The celebration included naming an Hon- orary Chancellor each successive year. The first person chosen for this honor was John S. Taylor, a resident of Largo, Flor- ida, named in 1934. In the early years at Lakeland, there were annual pre-Easter services orga- nized by President Spivey, with meetings each morning which all faculty and stu- dents were expected to attend. They last- ed for one week and were conducted by the President. Usually a forum followed Girls were expected to drop their books im- mediately when spoken to by any male student. the presentations, allowing time for ques- tion and answer. A queen, called Miss Southern , was chosen by the student body each spring since 1938. One of the universal college traditions of the day was ' Rat Court ' for freshmen, and the rules by which it governed. In ear- ly editions of the Southern, students pub- lished a long list of current ' rat rules ' . These rules controlled most of the life of freshmen for their first two weeks of col- lege. Florida Southern freshmen had to wear the rat cap everyday. They had to know all of the faculty and senior class by name. Girls were expected to drop their books immediately when spoken to by any male student. Freshmen were to open door for all faculty and upperclassmen. Some verson of ' Rat Court ' continued through 1970, when the student govern- ment declared it was no longer serving any good use. Finally, there was the tradition of the bell. One printed version of the tradition went back to January 1927, when four Beta Mu fraternity men and one Pi Kappa member were reportly traveling back to Florida Southern from a basketball game held in south Georgia. They brought the 900 lb. bell back with them in their Model- T Ford. Since that time the bell has had a way of floating from place to place, as a resulting of a continuing difference of opinion over ownership. As the story goes, the bell spent some time buried in the campus orange groves, possibly from 1938 until 1945. More recently Southern campus bell mythology has it that it no longer ' floats ' from place to place since it was last seen some time ago sinking into the peaceful depths of Lake Hollings- worth. Also very important to the organization of campus life was the official student re- presentative committee called the Col- lege Union, founded in 1952. Its originally stated purpose was to Coordinate the broad scope of student activities. It be- came a member of the National Associ- ation of College Unions its first year. Varsity sports began to set new re- cords and expand programs during this time. In earlier years football had been a popular sport, but it was a costly sport and was dropped in 1934. Baseball was brought back as a varsity sport in 1948 after an absence of 24 years. With inter- collegiate football abolished, one of the finest intramural sports programs in the country was developed by William R. Bat- tle who came to head the athletic depart- ment in 1935. Fraternities and sororities prospered and several national chapters replaced the earlier groups. The college colors were changed to red and white (from blue and white) in 1937. When we stop and think that the 1986-87 school year was so harsh on us, we can always recall the activities of the day so many years back, and consider ourselves lucky. — Amy L. Dudman

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Joseph Reynolds Hall in its younger years . . . F.S.C students enjoy the gardens outside JR be- fore the addition of the lobby we know today Orange Groves cover F.S.C. . . . The groves on the hills overlooking Lake Hollmgsworth have diminish- ed over the years to make way for an increasing number of FS.C buildings. :23