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

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t which had worked so untiringly on this proposition, hastily sought Mr. W. W. Caruth and induced him to make another offer of one-half interest in an addi- tional 640 acres adjoining the land already offered. This proposal was presented to the commission while it was actually in session, but it was really unneces- sary, for Dallas had already been chosen as the site of the new University. The total offer accepted by the Educational Commission was conservatively esti- mated at $1,000,000. At the next session, begun in April, 191 1, the Commission elected Dr. R. S. Hyer as president; Dr. H. A. Boaz, vice-president; Dr. A. V. Lane, treasurer; and Frank Reedy as bursar. After Texas Wesleyan had first been chosen as the name of the new institution, a motion to reconsider carried and resulted in the selection of the name Southern Methodist University. Administrative offices were set up in the Methodist Publishing House, and by the last of June, plans for Dallas Hall — to be built with the $300,000 cash gift of the citizens of Dallas — were completed. In October, 1911, the State Fair Grounds was the scene of a Methodist rally resulting in subscriptions and pledges equivalent to $1 10,000. The General Board of Education wired from New York City, offering to give $200,000 providing Texas Methodism would raise $500,000 by July 31, 1913. The response was highly gratifying and work on Dallas Hall was begun. The laying of the comer-stone was set for November 16, 1912, but was post- poned to November 28 because of rains. The ceremony was very elaborate and at- tracted a large crowd and extensive publicity. Contrary to the newspaper de- scription of the stone, it does not bear the date November 28, but only Dallas Hall, 1912. Before the year 1912 closed, contracts for two dormitories (one of which was never built) had been let; a charter had been obtained; a seal selected; a board of trustees chosen; and buildings started. September 22, 1915, was a day of great triumph for Dallas and Texas Methodists, for with the official opening the dream was a reality. Arrangements had been made for 300 students, but enrollment day brought 706, a number never . . . equalled, so far as I can learn, by any other institution in its first year, the president ' s report says. Quick adjustments were necessary and the faculty was increased from twenty to thirty- six. Writing of registration day, Goldie Capers Smith said ten years later in the Ex- Students ' Magazine, I was a member of that first freshman class, which put to shame the acres of Johnson grass for very verdancy. That first registration . . . shall I ever forget! The faculty lined up behind a long table, the students sneaking in as if they were being tried for murder; each fresh- man trying to get all the ' crip ' courses possible . . . the girls trying to shirk ' math ' in favor of French and Education. The upperclassmen, with their transfer credits, however, seem to have created the biggest problem.

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m HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY While a sizable portion of the world is concen- trating upon war and forgetting cultural advance- ment, it is comforting to reflect upon an institution, dedicated to young people, celebrating its twenty- fifth anniversary of teaching the arts and the sci- ences. Southern Methodist University first opened its doors, September 22, 1915, when the World War was still only a menace to American peace. The opening of S. M. U. itself was not exactly a peace conclave. The idea was begun at Birmingham, Alabama, in 1906, when the General Conference of Methodism, South, was in session. Although there had been agitation for at least twelve years for moving Southwestern University from Georgetown to either Fort Worth or Dallas, a resolution by a commission was passed declaring the intention to continue that insti- tution at Georgetown. During a conversation with some of the delegates concerning educational problems, R. S. Munger proposed to give $10,000 and forty acres of land for the construction of a university at Dallas. Lack of time and a plethora of other business caused the offer to be relegated to a back-seat and nothing came of the idea for some time. citeacT worn The next general conference at Asheville in 1910 found the Dallas Chamber of Commerce raising funds for the purpose of building a university. When Mr. Munger heard of the plan, he left immediately for Dallas and proposed to donate $25,000 and fifty acres of land upon the condition that $400,000 should be raised. Alex Sanger promised to give one-twentieth of the total amount that was found to be necessary; Mrs. John S. Armstrong proposed to donate 100 acres adjoining Highland Park for a campus; and W. W. Caruth added sixty-eight acres of adjacent property and one-half interest in 722 acres. jBLj ■ In this manner four donors made it possible for Dallas to present her gift to S. M. U. Without their interest and financial aid, the University might easily have gone to near- by Fort Worth, where local business men were fighting to secure the institution for their own community. After annual conferences of five divisions of Texas had enthusi- astically endorsed the plan, the Methodist Educational Commission, composed of twenty elected members, accepted the proposition of the City of Dallas to give 133 acres for a campus, 520 acres for endowment, and $300,000 in cash and bankable notes. Even while this commission was in session, a rumor of unknown origin was circulated on the streets of Dallas that it had been decided to locate the University in Fort Worth, which had also submitted a sizable bid. So persistent did this rumor become that one of the downtown newspapers issued an extra edition stating that it seemed from reliable sources that the Univer- sity would go to Fort Worth. The members of the committee from the Dallas Chamber of Commerce, ♦

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■p In addition to Dallas Hall, the trail-blazers were greeted by Atkins Hall, North Hall, South Hall, and Rankin Hall. Under Vice-President Boaz, The 1912 Endowment Fund, amounting to $279,178, had been raised, and by June 30, 1913, President Hyer had re- ported the successful completion of the campaign for the first million for buildings and other equipment. May 20, 1914, had marked the endorsement of the University by the General Conference of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, South. As of April 30, 1915, the net assets were $2,521,767 in land, buildings, and notes. Such was the optimistic situation in which the initial stu- dent and faculty bodies discovered S. M. U. During this first year Alpha Omicron Pi was founded as the first Greek social organization on the Campus. Harvard Red and Yale Blue were selected by Dr. Hyer as the school colors. The hilltop Library grew to contain 7,000 books. On January 18, the faculty voted for the establishment of the University Church, which was later to become Highland Park Methodist Church. Alpha Theta Phi, the first honorary scholar- ship fraternity, was organized at a faculty meeting, March 18. Annual Senior Recog- nition Day was inaugurated. May 8; the first faculty and senior baseball game ended in an overwhelming victory for the seniors; and the yearly Commencement Play by the Arden Club was initiated by the pr oduction of As You Like It in Arden Forest during Commencement Week. These traditions are still observed each year. At the first commencement exercises on June 13, twenty-three B. A. degrees and seven M. A. degrees were conferred. Composed of the College of Liberal Arts, the School of Theol- ogy, and the School of Music, S. M. U. had already taken an important step in academ- ic development and its reward was membership in the association of Texas Colleges. S. M. U. started on its way to athletic fame during the 1916-1917 semesters when the University became a member of the Southwest Conference and the title Mustangs was chosen for all S. M. U. athletic teams. In the fall, T. A. Abbott became President of the student body, and Kenneth Foree, Jr., looking forward to the day when he would be one of the Editors of The Dallas Morning News, began editing The Campus. The faculty support to the Students ' Self-Governing Association in its efforts to abolish hazing even to the extent of expulsion of the offending student eventually resulted in banishing the practice from the Campus, although there were a few instances which received prompt and severe punishment. In November the first rule for compulsory church attendance was adopted. On November 27, disaster struck in the form of a fire which destroyed South Hall, one of the men ' s residence halls. The World War added the United States to its list of victims on April 5, and on May 7, a resolution was adopted by the S. M. U. faculty in favor of compul- sory military training for all male students for next year. The minutes of May 16 record the first expul- sion of a student for improper conduct. This expulsion Itiaa 1 It ■«i OiMi kfe: pbcEH oiftitni Uinov •esqaia • J