Gustavus Adolphus College - Gustavian Yearbook (St Peter, MN)

Page 19 text:

Solid Foundation sion for drinking occurred in the first year, and smoking was forbidden because of the fire risk. Weed chewing by the stu- dents was too common to he forbidden, although the fact that it was an issue provides evidence that it was not looked upon with approval by the elders of the institution. During recitation hours the student was required to be either in class or in his room studying. Also the bell in the old main tower marked study hours between 7:00 and 10:00, and the student was required to be in his room. Lights out at 10:30 was eventually removed as burning the midnight oil became more frequent. Midnight pranks too were also per- petrated by sleepless students. The bell would occasionally ring at an obnoxious hour, and pieces of furniture were known to be seen tumbling down stairs during atmospheric disturbances. The culprits in these little affairs were caught, however, and suspended. The old biology laboratory in Old Main. The Gustavus Faculty of 1886-87. Professor Wahlstrom, the dormitory's namesake, is pictured with her Latin class of 1881.

Page 18 text:

The Gustavus Adolphus school family solemnly posed for this picture in 1878. Ancient Scholars Built Compared to the students of today, our predecessors in the 1878 version of academia led a dull, regimented life: to quote the 1912 Annual, A typical student room, furnished at a cost of approximately twenty dollars, contained table, bookshelf, stove, woodbox, bed, commode and chairs. Com- pared to the bright, sunny rooms in Sorenson Hall or in Wahlstrom of today, life upstairs in Old Main amongst wood boxes and commodes lacks a certain amount of advantage- ous atmosphere to academic pursuit. The 1878 student arose at 5:30 a.m. and ate breakfast at 7:00. His school day began with the call to devotions, con- ducted alternately in Swedish and English by the teachers. Recitations were held from 9:00 to 4:30 except on Saturday and Sunday. On these days, religious exercises were con- ducted by the students at breakfast and in the evenings. The students, for the most part, were earnest Christians, but the other element existed even then. A case of suspen- An 1889 English history class was photographed with their instructor, Professor J. S. Carlson. 1 14 ,

Page 20 text:

A CADEMIC From Old Main to the new Vickner Language Hall Gustavus has pro- gressed. Even with few material facilities Gusta- vus has always sought to maintain the highest standards. During the past four years a vast building program has grown into many new buildings which have increased the aca- demic facilities of the col- lege. It is now possible for each department to have special equipment and of- fices with which to make new academic achieve- ments.