Georgia Southern University - Reflector Yearbook (Statesboro, GA)

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PUBLICATIONS . . . ALUAANI BUILDING— Erected 1932 Public Relations Office and Student Publications HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATIONAL BUILDING— Erected 1955 Athletic Offices and Classrooms ,0 The first school newspaper printed at the Normal School was called THE TORCH and was issued monthly, but with the advent of co-educational standards, the name was changed to THE GEORGE-ANNE and was published weekly. The later name was de- rived from a combination of George (sym- bolizing the male student) and Anne (repre- senting the female), both stemming from Georgian. Both high school and college basketball were sponsored by the physical education department at the time. Games were played in the new gymnasium— the Alumni Build- ing. The Student Council went into effect as a method of student government, which deliberated on all discipline problems. In 1928 Georgia Normal School was ad- mitted into the American Association of Teachers ' Colleges. The administration, headed by Guy H. Wells, decided that the college was attract- ing enough students at the end of the 1928 term to justify a four-year course. Since they had already applied for such a grant, they proceeded to get four seniors ready for graduation from a four-year institution. On graduation day in 1929, the right to grant degrees was offered, but none too soon. Those four seniors were waiting in the wings of the auditorium to receive their diplomas when word was received that Georgia Normal School was officially South Georgia Teachers College. The high school curriculum was immedi- ately dropped from the school ' s program and students were trained to teach in sec- ondary schools.

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EXPANSION . . . A revival of the building program brought in a new gymnasium and a dining hall. The gymnasium, which was built from contributions made by graduates of the in- stitution, was hence given the name Alumni Building. From the state, appro- priations were finally granted with which to construct an auditorium. A $15,000 heating system was installed for these new buildings and for the dormitories and the administra- tion building erected at the founding of the college. At the time of the completion of the dining hall, the President of Georgia Normal School made his home on the third floor of that building. Three hundred students were enrolled at this new teachers college by 1926, justify- ing an increase in the amount of subjects and fields listed in the curriculum. Entrance to the school was determined either by ex- amination or by certificate. New courses added to the curriculum and those for which two-year certificates were issued included library science, physical education, industrial arts, home economics, expression, business, and music. A two-year course for elementary teach- ers was the main attraction. Two literary societies, a Y.W.C.A. home economics club, Latin club, a glee club, and several social organizations were established so that the students interested in grouping with kindred souls could do so. THE REFLECTOR, published by the senior class, had its beginning in 1926 and in- cluded photographs and drawings of stu- dents and buildings. EAST HALL-Erected 1907 Freshman Women ' s Dormitory ANDERSON HALL-Erected 1932 Married Students ' Apartments and Dining Hall

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ACHIEVEMENT . . . The four-year rating was admitted to the American Association of Teachers Col- leges in 1931. Enrollment after the addi- tion of two years ' work increased to 371 . The faculty numbered 26. The Board of Regents took over the op- eration of the college in 1932. A new training school in which 150 stu- dents could be accommodated, four new tennis courts, an amphitheater, and a nine hole golf course were constructed in the following years. Other face-lifting changes were the addition of two rooms to the ad- ministration building, the paving of the cam- pus roads, acquisition of new dining hall- kitchen equipment, and the refurnishing of the dormitories. Lake Wells was completed in 1931, as well as a student constructed swimming pool. The library, located on the second floor of the administration building, received a donation of 2,000 volumes to add to the 6,000 which were already on hand. This collection, from the library of Dr. Lucien Lamar Knight, contained various volumes of historical and religious value. Social regulations were somewhat less restricted than at the time of the school ' s founding. Girls still wore the uniforms, as they had for 25 years. Those whose mothers had given special permission to the house matron could have two dates each month— on Sunday nights. These dates consisted of an evening church service and a one and a half hour auditorium date— chaperoned. The church bus provided transportation for all dates. CHEMISTRY BUILDING— Erected 1936 Laboratory and Classrooms BIOLOGY BUILDING— Erected 1947 Laboratory and Classrooms