University of California Los Angeles - Bruin Life / Southern Campus Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

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i lllfi t ocience When, in the course of Botany, Physics, Zoology and similar studies, it becomes necessary to attend classes, one must needs enter the Science Build- ing. This edifice graces a prominent position in the center of the campus. Here the student wrestles with unsolvable problems in Physics, unspellable names in Zoology and Botany, inexplicable phenomena in Bacteriology and similar activity in like phases of scientific study. Besides the faculty and stu- dents which engage in the search for scientific knowledge, this building houses many other strange creatures, live or otherwise. Scattered here and there are cages, cupboards and cabinets containing live birds, chipmunks, rattlesnakes, and other reptiles; great varieties of stuffed birds, animals and fish; pickled snakes, toads, lizards and bones and skeletons of animals, some thousands of years old. Hence, the Science Building is an attractive feature of the Southern Branch, its collection of natural specimens interesting not only the students engaged in work therein, but others as well. The Science of the Military in the So uthern Branch first received its birth in this building. The fact that the personnel of the military department was first stationed among the bones of weird, prehistoric animals has caused no small wonder to the students. The Colonel and his staff first planned the activities of the Military Department in a section of the Science Building. Later, however, the executive section of our War Department saw fit to leave the portals of this edifice and sought more palatial quarters elsewhere. Even now, however, the clerical division occupies a part of the building, and the hum of typewriters and the click of heels announces that in this quarter there is much activity. The building itself, however, is a very modest affair, although it takes up a very prominent position on the campus, and is of the same simple architecture as the adjoining buildings. ■ 19

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ome :.conormcs Since both have as a partial objective the production of virell organized and beautiful homes, the Home Economics and the Industrial Arts courses are appropriately housed under one roof. The lower floor, devoted to the Industrial Arts classes, is a place of suggestive sounds and odors. An anvil chorus effect from down the hall announces that students of the metal classes are vigorously vk orking on ham- mered copper trays or lamp shades. The smell of clean paste leads us to the bookbinding department, where students learn to make anything from an unassuming desk blotter to an efficient looking leather vanity case. There is very little theory work in the Industrial Arts courses. The weaving classes handle the looms, large and small, w hile rugs and towels on display bespeak their usefulness. Upstairs in the Home Economics Department the needle and the cooking apron are the distinguishing insignia. Here, too, the work is of a most practical nature, as the shining gas range and spotless white shelves in the cooking room testify. So also, do the sturdy dresses for children and the jars of fruit which line the exhibition cases in the halls. The value of the course lies in the fact that the Home Economics grad- uate is triply equipped. She can apply her knowledge for her own benefit in her own home; she can teach the work to others; she is capable of planning or purchasing for a large institution. The Industrial Arts student can teach, or work directly in the designing or manufacturing end of the craft itself. Home Economics and Industrial Arts courses, in short, supply the demand for beauty and economy in the necessary things of life. 18

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Mech anic Arts Tucked away at the far north end of the campus is a low flat structure known as the Mechanic Arts Building. Small as it is, it is the scene of con- tinuous activity. This building serves as the teaching ground for courses touching the trades. Here the buzzing of saws denotes the shops in wood- work, the belching of flame and smoke from large hot chimneys indicates the forge and foundry, and the grinding and whirl of machinery marks the pres- ence of the machine shops. In a large room, around tall tables, sit men learning the art of mechanical drafting. The halls serve as a sort of museum where everything mechanical, from a needle to a battleship hangs on the walls or rest in velvet-lined display cases. The Mechanic Arts Building is the headquarters of the Federal Board of Vocational Training at the Southern Branch. Here, under the direction of Mr. Mansfield, the injured World War veteran makes his plans, receives his instruc- tions, learns his trade, and gets his pay which is all sufficient. The Federal Men accept this structure as their home, and, as a result, the place hums with industrious activity. At the entrance of this building where the men collect at all times, for the sake of recreation and amusement, there has been erected a volley-ball court. During the noon hours, these shell-shocked, gassed and wounded ex-soldiers spend an exciting and happy time in their sport. As for the building of the Mechanic Arts itself, nothing can be said in favor of its beauty of architectural design. It is a low-squatting structure, wooden, with simple, ungraceful lines. The exterior sides, toward the track field and the Men ' s Gym is quite dirty, with piles of scrap iron and broken, rusted machinery laying about. The old adage as regards the deceit of appearances holds true in respect to this building, for unattractive as it is externally, as a place of utility, no other building on the campus surpasses it. 20