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

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IM rons — a significant siep towards a democratic regime under President Lee. Another first which the Presi- dent helped to instigate was the Community Course, a concert-lecture artists ' course, resembling in breadth and sheer bigness nothing S. M. U. had ever before sponsored in that field. Seven attractions were pre- sented the first season, ranging from raconteurs and political observers to dancers and a string guartet. Homecoming in early November lived up to every element implied by the term silver anniversary. The Pigskin Revue, the thrilling Texas-S. M. U. game, open houses, and the big-time dance combined to furnish all- round entertainment for exes and students alike. Early 1940, given a vital boost by the dance held in the Gymnasium, augured the opening in May of Fondren Library, another link in the fulfillment of the perfect Quad- rangle. The Editor of The Semi-Weekly Campus escaped ejection from office by the Judiciary Court in February for alleged encroachment upon constitutional rights. Talk started for placing a nickelodeon in the Mustang Corral for dancing at almost all hours. Student politics again caused the usual conjecture and controversy; however, the formal opening of the Fondren Library overshadowed everything else on the Cam- pus during the spring semester. Here was S. M. U. building again, expanding in a twentieth-century mood. Thus, one is afforded a panoramic view of Southern Methodist University life through its first twenty-five years. The going has never been easy nor has it been ex- pected to be a simple matter. Today finds the University holding its own coura- geously. Buildings and improvements represent investments amounting to $3,500,000, and the endowment totals $2,500,000. The libraries contain more than 135,000 catalogued books and pamphlets. The student body has grown from the original number of 706 to 3,988, including the Dallas College and summer school registra- tions. Checking up on enrollment in the different divisions of the University, we find that the Graduate School had nine students the first year and 388 in 1939; the Exten- sion School started with fifty-four students, dropped to seventeen in 1919, and last year boasted 1,538; the Summer School has grown from 214 students in 1918 to 946 in 1939. Vf-1-, The faculty of Southern Methodist University, which is now composed of 150, has come a long way from that first group of thirty-six. It is, however, very interesting to note that, with the single exception of the French Department, which was originally headed by C. F. Zeek, every one of the foreign language de- partments still has the same professor in charge. These teachers are: J. S. Mcintosh, Professor of Latin and Greek; A. D. Schuessler, German; and S. A. My-

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' e new athletic ■fy for ffloint, 587.335. Because astern of account- fen had defeired ' Iscman ' sadminis- s sum, which then ™s raised and the -the Board of i the birth of fieW lwascreatea,the itabhshed,andthe issionol economic ffiipus in a festive IE Rotunda under holastic endeavor. ' ondren of Houston Libr ary, That fall : to the Mustangs. !nt the East in the the Mustang Band sity across the na- ! spring brought a s announced; the ition of Schools of first issued. TO founded. The lededtoffiember- hlightsoftheyear The Snow Maid- comedy field with as embroiled in a •or. d!.lo snO. ut the ten best s in the Dawn. ithed things over Crutchfieldwas :;ollinswasVice- =dited The Ro- TUNDA. S. M. U. branched into the national radio field with student talent helping to spread the fame of the University on a one-time N. B. C. broadcast. rm .i v . rf During the 1937-1938 session, Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Perkins donated funds for the completion of the Ad- ministration Building, which was to bear their name. Other new buildings on the Campus included two fraternity houses, which, added to the five already on Fraternity Row, made the landscape more complete. The Mustang Corral, a recreation room, was opened in the basement of McFarlin Memorial Auditorium, largely through the efforts of the Y. M. C. A. and the Y. W. C. A. It was here that the first campus movies of students in hilltop action were shown. Mock mourning of 1938 lay in the passing of Pikers ' Day, the annual last-fling of the seniors. The student political field was notable for the complete sweep of all major offices by the Progressive Party slate. Early in 1938, President Selecman had been made a Bishop of the Methodist Church with the result that a new leader was sought for the University. In November of the ensumg session. Dr. Umphrey Lee was announced as succes- sor to Dr. Selecman. During the interim, Eugene B. Hawk, Dean of the School of The- ology, acted as President. Sorrow of the students was caused by the deaths of Elzy Dee Jennings, long-time Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and of R. E. L. Saner, donor of annual oratory prizes on the Campus. The independent students were for- mally organized into their first permanent group, known as the Independent Students ' Association. Mortar Board stepped into the sponsorial field when the twelve senior girls presented Gladys Swarthout in recital . . . and showed a profit on the engage- ment. Perkins Hall, which was formally opened in February, was the cause of many oohs and ahs from townspeople seeing the completed structure for the first time. Other spring events of interest were the second consecutive sweep of major offices by the formidable Progressive Party; the proposed exchange of students with South Amer- ican imiversities, postponed at the outbreak of war; on the lighter side, the publication by the active chapter of Sigma Delta Chi on April Fool ' s Day of Mein Kampfus, a satirical four-page newspaper poking fun at dictators, war, and censorship; and on the musical side, the production of the light opera, Robin Hood, as Thomas S. Wil- liams ' initial bow at S. M. U. as producer. The fall semester of 1939 brought with it the festive twenty-fifth celebration of the founding of S. M. U. Dr. Lee was inaugurated, November 6, as the fourth President of the institution, presaging many important changes in Hilltop life. The weekly chapel hours were made non-compulsory. Rumor of a dance on the Campus began circulating in December and be- came a fact in January, 1940, which marked the first legitimate all-school dance ever held in these envi- 2 i efsiJM, W

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j ' ? regime ! ch4ePresi- - ' ifflity Course J lingmbreadth ' ' ' lad ever before factions were pre- ■°ii raconteurs and a string quartet. N up to every Revue, the thrilling ' led to furnish all- 2ium, augured the ■ the perfect Quad- ion from office by onstitutional rights, mcing at almost al itroversy; however, igelseontheCam- on, expanding in a dist University life nor has it been ex- ng its own coura- nting to $3,500,000, nore than 135,1 , from the original er school registra- jniversity, we find inlffltheExten- 1 in 1919, and last 9ntsini918to9 yist University, come a long way is, however, very ngle exception of jnginally headed ign language de- essor in charge. Professor of Wn ,;andS.A. y att, Spanish. Professor J. H. McGinnis of the Enghsh Department holds seniority among the professors by virtue of the fact that, coming in June, 1915, he was the first full professor in the University. Also among the members of that original faculty who remain today are Miss Mary McCord, of the Speech Department; Ellis W. Shuler, Professor of Geology; and Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Todd, of the Music School. Miss Dorothy Amann, who began work with the business office of S. M. U. in October, 1913, serves today as Head Librarian. Mrs. Lucie Gardner came to the campus in 1915 as matron of Atkins Hall, and she continued to hold that position until this year. Included in the seven students to receive Master of Arts degrees at the first commencement exercises were: Umphrey Lee; Robert W. Goodloe, who is now Professor of Christian History in the School of Theology; and Mrs. L. S. Holt, teacher of Spanish. Stanley Patterson, Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds, was a member of the original student body. One of the oldest student organizations, and the first departmental organization, was the Arden Club. The two oldest honorary groups are Alpha Theta Phi, which is petitioning Phi Beta Kappa, and the Square, a women ' s honorary. Of the thirteen national social sororities now on the campus, Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Delta Pi, Delta Delta Delta, and Zeta Tau Alpha were here in 1915. Delta Sigma Phi, Alpha Tau Omega, and Pi Kappa Alpha were the national fraternities to affiliate S. M. U. organi- zations during that first year. Three songs are directly connected with S. M. U. Varsity, attributed to Lewis N. Stuckey and Harrison Baker, both students, and arranged by Professor Todd, has become the University song by common consent. Ode to S. M. U. has been played at every commencement exercise in the history of the University. The words to this song were written by Professor O. W. Wannamaker, and the music was composed by Professor Todd. Peruna, although it has not been used for ceremonial purposes, was made popular by the Mustang bond. S. M. U. does not lay claim to being a full-grown institution of higher learning. No University after only twenty-five years would be so bold as to make such a declaration. It is safe to say that within its comparatively brief quarter of a century, S. M. U. has worked as valiantly and has accomplished as much as any other university placed on the same basis. In addition, S. M. U. is in a section of the United States where pioneering is not unknown, either in the past or the present. Exploration, whether for land or for further knowledge, requires vitality, eagerness and determination. S. M. U. has its share of each quality. The ensuing twenty-five years should be more than interesting to observe; continued progress will better establish Southern Methodist Univer- sity ' s claim to be an outstanding institution of the Southwest.