Georgia Southern University - Reflector Yearbook (Statesboro, GA)

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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

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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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REGULATIONS . . . BUSINESS AND MUSIC BUILDING— Erected 1932 Classrooms and Laboratories for Business and Music Students INDUSTRIAL ARTS BUILDING— Erected 1948 Drawing, Graphic Art, and General Shop Classrooms Also among girls ' privileges was walking to the highway before sundown, in groups of two, with one chaperon ahead and one behind. The boys ' restrictions included two nights out a week when they had to return to their dormitories by 1 1 P.M. Saturday and Sun- day could be spent out also, however, any student who wished to visit away from the campus had to provide a written permit from home. They could only leave once a month, including trips home. Gambling, drinking, stealing, etc., could cause a student to be expelled. Since ther e was only one car on the campus in 1930, everybody walked. Organizations in social science, popular science, home economics, and mathematics were connected with those classes. A wo- man ' s athletic association was established and promoted participation from all the co- eds at South Georgia Teachers College. Boxing, tennis, basketball, baseball, track, football, and golf comprised the intercolle- giate sports list; and soccer and volleyball added to make a well-rounded intramural program. At one time Dr. Fielding Russell of Winder, Ga., coached the boxing teams. Practice teachers were first sent out to the county schools in 1933. When Dr. Marvin S. Pittman assumed the presidency of the college in July of 1934, almost as many changes occurred as when the four-year program was instituted. Fourteen new faculty members were ad- ded, including Walter L. Downs, the director of training schools, and Miss Sophie John- son, dean of men, who became known as Aunt Sophie. 12