Southern Methodist University - Rotunda Yearbook (University Park, TX)

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When told that Southern Methodist University had de- cided to establish a school of law, Dean Pound of the Harvard Law School remarked that Dal- las was the best unoccupied field in the United States. And so it has proven to be. Established in 1925, the Law SchooPs enroll- ment has grown from 20 to nearly 80, its faculty from two to four, and its library from nothing to more than i3,ooo. From the first, it maintained high standards for entrance and for graduation. This quickly brought recognition from the two great accrediting agencies in this country. In 1927, at the end of its second year, it was put on the approved list of the American Bar Association, and two years later it was awarded membership in the Association of American Law Schools. a . f SCHOOL OF LAW At the time of the establishing of the Southern Methodist University School of Law in I925, there was a tendency in the field of legal relations toward a breaking away from old established methods of study and the instituting of new angles of analysis. Since the school was free from ham- pering traditions, it was able to take advantage of the best principles of both the old and new sys- tems. It oEers to its students a thoroughly sound and at the same time a modern and progressive course of study. From the beginning the School of Law has maintained the high standards of the Council on Legal Education of the American Bar Association, and in its second year it was placed on the ttapproved listh of this group. Later, it was admitted to membership in the Association of American Law Schools. Graduates are admitted to the Texas bar without examination and already feel the prestige of a degree from the school despite its extreme youth. Evidence of its adoption of modern methods may be found in the moot court Clubs of the Law School. These clubs were begun last year as an experiment and are being developed more fully this year. The entire school is divided into four groups or clubs. Certain legal problems are chosen and each club holds its eliminations. Finalists from each Club meet to determine the winner of an award offered by Arthur A. Everts. Each trial session is presided over by a prominent member of the Dallas bar or bench. The faculty of the Law School are all experienced and successful teachers. Four of them hold the S. J. D. degree, the highest law degree awarded in this country. Many of them contribute to current legal periodicals and, in addition, have published results of their research in book form. One of the distinct advantages of Southern Nlethodist University Law School is its small classes with close personal contact between the student and instructor. This intimate relation is encouraged by frequent conferences between the individual and teacher. The faculty gives a reception for new students in the fall and social relations thus established are continued at the annual banquet of the Law Students Association later. a 19 e

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Methodism has centered its eHorts to provide an adequately trained ministry in the western area of the church in the School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, The cur- riculum 0f the school makes it possible for the young minister to follow out the lines of study offered by the best seminaries of America. Ninety per cent of the students have their Mastefs de- gree. As a graduate school, em- phasis is placed upon a thorough mastery of the course of Study. However, it is never out of the thinking of the faculty that the men are being trained for a practical, spiritual ministry. The more than one thousand alumni and ex-students 0f the institution in the various conferences and mission fields of the church are rendering a type of service that reflects credit upon work being done in the School of Theology. MM SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY With the establishing of Southern Methodist University in 1915, the School of Theology bee gan its work as an integral part of the University. It is recognized in Methodism as the oHicial Theological School west of the Mississippi River. Its curriculum has been expanded so as to offer the young ministers a course of studies in keeping With the best seminaries of America. Ninety per cent of the students have their MasterTs degree. As a graduate school, emphasis is placed upon a thorough mastery of the course of study. However, it is never out of the thinking of the faculty that the men are being trained for a practical, spiritual ministry. T here is a close personal touch be- tween the teachers and the students. The more than one thousand alumni and eX-students of the institution in the various conferences and mission helds of the Church are rendering a type of serv- ice that reflects credit upon the Work being done in the School of Theology. A limited number of scholarships are open to young ministers Who hold a Bachelor of Arts de- gree from a college of recognized standing, and Who are in need of financial aid for pursuing courses leading to the degree of Bachelor of Divinity. In addition to these scholarships, loans With- out interest, While the men are in school, are made to students desiring help. Most of the men are able to meet a part or all of their financial needs by work for the University or in the community. Special dormitories have been erected for married students. The school year is divided into four terms of twelve weeks each. The summer quarter, which begins in June, is divided into two terms. New, as well as old, students may complete a full quare teris work in required courses for the Bachelor of Divinity degree during the summer. Dr. Eugene B. Hawk assumed the position of Dean of the School of Theology this year. He holds a B. D. from Vanderbilt and an honorary D. D. from S. 1V1. U. Outstanding among ime provements Which he has made is the establishing of a social room in the Theology Building for the future ministers. There has been a need in the school for a long time for a place Where the stu- dents and their professors could have fellowship and a definite social program could be carried out. is 18e

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At the present time many people are longing for stability, or a return to normalcy. Such longing is futile. The stream of life flows ever onward accord- ing to laws of nature. Every now and then its swirling un- dermines our foundations, and suddenly we find our whole scheme of life tumbling about us. We are now emerging from such a catastrophe. How will the Engineer fare in the new order of things under the New Deal? It is safe to say that a group whose work is founded on truth and scientific laws will be- come more useful, and will be quickly adjusted to the new or- der. The Engineer will be busy translating scientific discovery into new and useful products, and constructing a new and bet- ter world in which to live, MW SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING The cooperative educational system of engineering was brought before the engineering world in 1900 by Herman Snyder, a German student of engineering at Lehigh University, who found it de- sirable to study the theories of engineering and at the same time engage in practical work in the field. This plan of instruction has been adopted by many progressive schools of engineering through- out the United States. The idea of establishing this system in the Southwest was originated by the Dallas Technical Club. Because of the advantages oHered by Dallas as an engineering center, the plan was submitted to the Board of Trustees of Southern Methodist University which organized the present School of Engineering in 192 5. The cooperative method of instruction was adopted With the aid of the Dallas Technical Club in obtaining positions for the students. The original freshman class was limited to one hundred and twenty. Additional students were added as the school expanded to accommodate them. The engineering building was constructed in 1928, forming one of the most modern and best equipped engineering structures in the Southwest. The growth and development of the school is a tribute to Dean E. H. Flath, Who came to S. M. U. from Georgia Tech to administer the coopera- tive plan of instruction. N umerous advantages accrue to the student pursuing a course of cooperative engineering instruc- tion. Practical experience is provided in the industries under actual commercial conditions. This CXe perience is carefully coordinated With thorough theoretical training in the class room. This practical experience stimulates interest in instruction and also brings out the limitations Which practice imposes upon theory. The practical work creates an understanding of, and sympathy with, the problems of labor. Wages received by the cooperative students for their work pay part of their expenses and en- able them to learn the value of the dollar. Because of limitations imposed upon such a system of teaching by recent economic conditions, the system has been temporarily supplemented by other methods of instruction. s 20 e