Susquehanna University - Lanthorn Yearbook (Selinsgrove, PA)

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Historical 5 tci) of squebanna University. HE time has again come to present to our readers a brief account of the record Susquehanna University has made for herself dur- ing the year that has elapsed since the Lanthorn paid you its visit. We note with pleasure that this record has surpassed the expectations of her most sanguine supporters. In the closing paragraph of the historical sketch of the Lanthorn of last year, some of the needs of the institution as they then existed were pointed out. One principal need there mentioned has already been supplied and, as a result, our students are now enjoying the advantages of a new chemical and physical laboratory, amply adapted in all its appointments to our present require- ments. This building is the gift of a liberal-hearted christian lady of our beloved church, who, beside the building as it now stands upon our cam- pus, has contributed more of her means for its completion and better equipment. Work was begun upon this building immediately at the be- ginning of the summer vacation and by the middle of October was ready for occupancy. Beside basement apartments, such as a dark room for photography, etc., there are four apartments: a lecture room used exclu- sively by the professor of the physical sciences, a room fitted up with the latest appliances for the practical study of chemistry, a room for investi- gations in mineralogy, and one set apart entirely as a museum. The rooms formerly occupied for laboratory purposes in the basement of Gustavus Adolphus Hall have been utilized in other directions, the largest one being fitted up with bath-room equipments where begrimed athletes after the foot- ball fray receive refreshing showers and rub them- selves into decency. This equipment, however, has a wider range of use- fulness, as all the students during the whole year make constant use of it. Another improvement that early in the year came our way is the tele- phone. We are now no longer an insolated community, but have become attached to the outside world. We find the phone not only a great convenience but even a necessity and are sure it has come to stay. 10

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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. J. R. Dimm, D. D. Rev. A. N. Warner. M. L. Wagenseller. H. E. Miller. J. L,. Cooper. Geo. C. Wagenseller. STUDENT ' S HOME COMMITTEE . Geo. C. Wagenseller. John L,. Cooper. FINANCE COMMITTEE. J. R. Dimm, D. D. DeWitt Bodine. Ira C. Schoch. COMMITTEE ON VACANCIES IN BOARD. J. H. Weber, D. D. D. K. Ramkv. M. L. Wagenseller. DEGREE COMMITTEE. J. H. Weber, D. D. Rev. M. L. Shindel, A. M. DeWitt Bodine. LIBRARY COMMITTEE. Rev. E. A. Sharrets, A. M. Rev. H. C. Holloway, D. D. Rev. R. G. Bannen.

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During the last few years our students have been laboring under the serious disadvantage of not having free access to the Library. Formerly the apartment used for the Reading Room and the Library had no com- munication and were remote from each other. During the vacation the Library was moved into a suitable room adjoining the Reading Room and the rooms made to communicate. Both rooms are now daily open to the students of all departments and are greatly enjoyed by them. There was activity in still another direction during the last summer vacation. It was found that the campus needed grading and beautifying and that the houses and outbuildings belonging to the university and used by married students preparing for the ministry, needed remodeling and repairs. Accordingly all the outbuildings were rebuilt, the houses re- paired, the campus enlarged and graded, and better adapted to athletic purposes. This brings us to the beginning of the scholastic year. At no time in its history has the school opened so auspiciously. Our enrollment showed an increase of above 33 per cent over any previous opening. The per- sonnel of our students has also been better. There have been fewer of hangers-on than usual. A spirit of satisfaction prevails. The great ma- jority are mightily in earnest and are working with unabated energy. Nor did these students prove themselves only in the class-room and the literary society, but many a respectable score and several brilliant victories on the gridiron have showed our men to be athletes of the true type. In general it may be said that athletics played a more prominent part in gaining recog- nition for our young university during the last year than any other single factor. Our season in foot-ball closed strong, with prospects fairer for ' 98. In base-ball a good deal of very effective work has been done by the man- agement and we have reasons to expect results of an encouraging character in the approaching season. And now a word as to the internal workings of the school whose silent influence will tell on future generations rather than thrust itself upon our present notice. After mature deliberation on the part of the faculty it was determined to remodel and revise, in their entirety, the courses of all the departments of the institution. This was done with utmost care, con- stantly aiming at more rigid entrance requirements and a higher standard of scholarship. With these two objects in view, courses have been es- tablished which have proved exceedingly satisfactory. Instead of the old method of reciting two or three times a week in each branch and carrying five or six branches, thus dissipating his energies, the student now carries but three studies and recites them daily. The aim is not so much to cover 11