Louisiana State University - Gumbo Yearbook (Baton Rouge, LA)

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G irls dorm group Evangrlme students entering every year. A new library was built in 1958. The stadium was completed. LSU entered the 60 ' s with an increasing enrollment and new energy as it entered one of the most stable and productive years in its history. Student life during the time of Huey Long to today was studded with many traditions and changing atti- tudes. One of the most favorite sto- ries is the one of the day Stacie Stormy Laurence, a New Orleans stripper, came on campus (March 4, 1948). She arrived on campus at noon and started her dance before the Huey P. Long Field House as thirty students looked on. By the time of her second dance, a crowd of 1,000 students had gathered and trouble occurred. The students, enraged by her show (rumor says she was for Tulane), stormed the stripper throwing her into the lake, turned over her van and destroyed all the band equipment as the band members fled. Student Body President Gillis Long tried to quiet the crowd, but the mob prevailed.

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Huey P. Long Field House ears passed after the death of Huey Long with LSU in the foreground as one of the finest institutions of the time. During the depression years, the building pro- gram was under way costing almost twice that of the cost of the original University plant. The years to come would prove to be difficult for the University. They were times of trou- ble and war that would test the strength of the Ole War Skule. Trouble hit LSU in the late sum- mer of 1939; to such a degree, the fine reputation that LSU worked so hard to obtain almost crumbled. In that year, scandals were uncovered that ranged from embezzlement by such University officials as President James M. Smith to the near loss of accredita- tion of the school. The scandals uncovered were many. Four university officials and several political figures were con- victed of charges including embezzle- ment, forgery, and the use of the mail to defraud. The finances of the Uni- versity were in total disarray because of interventions by politicians into the use of them. The Board of Super- visors was uncovered to be under political influence instead of being a neutral body that went between the University and the State. Federal funds, mainly financing the National Freshman at rcgtstr: Youth Administrations program of student aid, were misappropriated. The school almost lost its accredita- tion which it received in 1928, but was put on probation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Second- ary Schools until all the scandals were cleared up. To head this job, Paul M. Hebert, dean of Administration (today the dean of the Law School), was picked as the acting president of the Univer- sity. Colonel Troy H. Middleton, for- mer commandant of cadets and soon to be president of LSU, was appointed vice-president and comptroller to completely reorganize the Universi- ty ' s business office. There two men with the help of others cleared up the trouble at LSU, and the University was taken off probation in December of 1941. By this time, LSU was gearing up for the war effort. In June of 1941, the School of Medicine had put all their classes on a year- ' round basis along with the University, so that stu- dents could finish in three years instead of four. Courses were added to prepare the students for the war effort. Some of the courses were: metallurgy, machine shop practices, chemistry of powder and explosives, radio techniques, airplane engine mechanics, and aircraft welding. A flying school and chemical warfare school were established also. The war ended and the University returned to matter concerning itself. General Troy H. Middleton, now a World War II hero, took over as pres- ident of the University in 1951. Under the decade of his leadership, the Uni- versity expanded into the system it is today. Branches had already been established in Monroe and Shreve- port. During this time, branches were open in New Orleans, Eunice, and Alexandria. At the Baton Rouge cam- pus, the enrollment had reached over twelve hundred with more and more Gbmneaceneni exercises 22 Nostalgia

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1 1 1 1 ! iTTTI i HI I IKII I The State Police spirited Stormy to a substation for her own safety. Stu- dents numbering now 2,000 sur- rounded the station and chanted. After the long ordeal the State Police got Stormy on a private plane and flew her back to New Orleans. Traditions prevailed such as Fresh- man Day with a king and queen and a day solely for freshmen. Students paired off for the day with the Fresh- man banner waving from the flag pole. LSI) met its heyday in sports when it won the national title in football in 1958. Track and boxing were top sports at the school also giving LSU a name in college sports that matched its academic reputation. 24 Nostalgia