Simmons College - Microcosm Yearbook (Boston, MA)

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Eleanor Tufts, Prefidefzt The first student organization at Simmons Col- lege was formed in 1902, called the Student Guild. This was the seed of the Student Government of 1949. Every student in the College was automati- cally a member of the Guild, which operated in chapter divisions of twenty-live girls in each chapter. The executive council which directed activities included a president, secretary, treasurer, and four vice-presidents, one from each of the Col- lege's schools. When the Guild joined the Women's lntercol- legiate Association for Student Government in 1907 the problems of extending the branches of self- government were being met by committees such as the Council on Dormitory Government and the Committee on Student Conduct. These committees were without authority and could function only in an advisory capacityg yet they were typical of the methods used by other member colleges in the Association. lt became increasingly apparent that precedents were inadequate, that a progressive system of student government must be developed within the college to meet the needs ofthe students of that college. This was the beginning ofa liberal, inclusive student government at Simmons. By 1912 the College and the number of its clubs had so increased that a complete revision of the Guild's constitution and a redelegation of its authority Our pride and res on- was planned. Chapter division of students was dropped, authority was vested in a Guild Council of the president and vice-president of each class, a graduate representative, presidents of the clubs, the chairmen of the committees on dorm govern- ment and student conduct, and presided over by the senior class president. This Council is, in effect, paralleled by 1949's lnterclub Council. The next year the ild Council passed the ruling that a certain st ard of grades was to be maintained in order Hice in any organiza- tiong and in the 5, Persimmons, the first college magazi 5 -X .F onsored by the Coun- cil. That year the c as further revised, the Council was re Student Government Associationg Stu-G prei nt from then on was all- college elected. 1 By 1923 Student Government looked back on twenty years of progress and gradual extension of authority. The Stu-G constitution provided for council approval of new organization and the authority to grant charters to new, proved groups. Clubs were required to submit their budgets to Stu-G for approval at the beginning of each year and for an audit of accounts at the end ofthe college year. The fundamentals of maintaining a relatively The council meetf to talk it over. F.- Y . sv'

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table to the baseball all More behind the scenes but always ready to help our Simmons girl in a time of need are the members of the staff atLSimmons. A helpful word from a de- partment secretary or a conference with a class assistant smooths the four years along. And when our ski-minded Sally comes back with a broken leg . i h or ankle Tony is always ready to ride her to t e fourth-floor library in the elevator. If there is a movie that has to be shown in the lounge at 4:10 all Simmons girls know that How- ard will be there to see that it is run off on time and if a Christmas party without a Santa Claus looks like a near disaster-joe Fink can supply the mis- sing costume. In s ite of the fact that the average Sally can't P see how her faculty could function without her, the manage to have their annual Christmas party Y for the children of the staff and faculty, and even the faculty wives have formed from the instructors club. But as usual the girls have the last word and at senior-faculty supper in April they announce their ' ' ' A h l favorite professors, fTh1s is the night that t e ma e instructors leave their wives at homej Miss Ina Granarra and Mr. Wylie Sypher were so named by the Class of '49 at a gathering before graduation. Mitt Dmzjeffozz plain and the fatzzfry marches. ROMAIN ROLLAND if ALEXANDER BELL LOUIS BRANDEIS

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sibilit , Stzmfent ovewzmenlp Honor Board and Dorm Council rettle zmztterr of .rtzzderzt dirciplifze. high degree of self-government were quite Well es- tablished, and during the following years Stu-G worked to develop and clarify the purpose of an honor system. At the beginning of Student Guild in 1902 the need for an honor system was recognized, but the problems of its function and authority seemed almost insoluble. By 1906 students were given a trialg the June exams that year were unproctored, and each student signed the statement, 1 have xl . fa .f Q ,. -X3 '-'-Itlv-m1--up-n-1 x ii 1 d 1 Q neither given or received aid. This system ap- parently Worked, but by 1911 a new plan was put into effect in an attempt to overcome the student's indifference and reluctance to report dishonesty. Each course voted on whether or not to accept the honor system for that particular courseg one hun- dred percent affirmative vote was necessary for its acceptance. Until 1931 this approach to a system of honor was used, with minor modifications. ln 1931 in- dividual pledges Were discontinued. Every student admitted to Simmons College was automatically responsible to the Honor System. Signatures on the certificate of admission were not, and are not, required, but the very small number Who have not signed the Honor System's pledge in the past eight- een years is proof of its iustness and its liberality. During the 1930's Stu-G strengthened this new Honor System and adapted it to dormitory as well as class regulations. Women Suffrage Passedi States to Decide issue Million for Endowment Fund