Northeastern University - Cauldron Yearbook (Boston, MA)

Page 24 text:

Northeastern fifty years ago Remember the things about Northeastern that struck you as a fresh- man, the seemingly Impersonal nature of a large urban institution, the cost of tuition and the realization that your first co-op job probably wouldn ' t make you a millionaire. Well Northeastern wasn ' t always the institution it is today. Try to imagine what if would have been like in the early days of this century. In 1900, when Northeastern was just the Evening Institute for Young Men of the Boston YMCA, tuition was only $5 a year and that included a YMCA membership. Twelve years later tuition had risen to the astronomi- cal price of $100 a year, still including the YMCA membership. Rooms at the Y were available at a cost of from $3.50 to $5 per week. Co-op began at Northeastern in 1909, three years after it had been developed at the University of Cincinnati (no, Northeastern didn ' t invent co-op, they ' d just like you to think they did). The first companies to participate were the Boston and Maine Railroad, the Boston Consolidated Gas Company and the Boston Elevated Railway Company. Eight students were enrolled in the program the first year. Students earned from $5 to $6 a week on a pay scale of 10 cents per hour the first year. In their fourth year students could earn up to 16 cents per hour. Going to college in the early twentieth century was a little different than it is today. A typical school day in 1914 began at 9 a.m. and ended at 2:30 p.m. with a 30 minute lunch break. Students were not permitted to leave the building without permission except at lunchtime. A close check was made on student abscences. The university enforced a no cut system. Students who were failing courses were warned, chased down and re- quired to report to the department for extra help. In the thirties consumption of alcoholic beverages was almost a sin. Drinking at university functions was once grounds for severe disciplinary action. Rules of conduct were set by the administration, with no input from faculty or students.

Page 23 text:

Annua; freshmen edition only the beg,,

Page 25 text:

During the thirties freshmen were forced to wear a small black and red ;ap, denoting their inferior status in the eyes of upperclassmen. Most reshmen, being innocent creatures, faithfully wore the caps, but there vere always a few troublemakers who would rise the wrath of sophomores ather then wear a beanie. If detected, the offender would be summoned before a student court ind usually ordered to scrape the gum off of various staircases. The 3unishment was rarely served because no sophomore was interested ;nough to waste his time supervising the culprit. non-academic high point at Northeastern was the annual freshman- ;ophomore rush, launcned in 1919. On a designated day freshmen and sophomores met in combat on the Fenway. The activity was climaxed by a 3ole rush, with one class gathered round a 12-foot greased pole, on top of vhich flew the class colors. The other class had to try and storm the pole ind reach the colors. The Rush continued until 1932 when the Student Council voted to abandon it because it had outlived its usefulness. The increasing size of the classes involved and the increasing number of abrasions, contusions and other mishaps, and the increasing tendency of both classes to relieve at least a few of their opponents of their clothing, played a part in the Council ' s decision. Freshmen no longer have to wear beanies or climb up a greased pole, but the first year of college does have its trials and moments of initiation as lowly freshmen begin their ascent to tne top of the mountain that holds the reward and glory of being a senior. Just as being a student has changed over the past 84 years, people change too. The person who walks into Northeastern as a freshman is never the same as the person who leaves it half a decade later.