University of Arkansas Fayetteville - Razorback Yearbook (Fayetteville, AR)

Page 33 text:

DEAN cr WCHCN TT IS difficult for those of us who have grown A accustomed to the presence of women on our campuses to realize how recent the influx of women to colleges and universities has been. A half century takes us back to the days when a college girl was a curiosity, and twenty-five years covers the period of tremendous growth in the numbers of women seek¬ ing higher education. In the year 1889-90 there were enrolled in colleges and universities in the United States 20,874 women. In 1927-28 this number had increased to 356,137. These years have also seen a decided change in the type of woman found at college. In the early days girls sought such schools as opened their doors to them, Vassar and Oberlin first, either because of intellectual interests or because circumstances forced them to earn their living as teachers. As time passed, it became increasingly popular for girls to go to college, and because it was the fashion, large numbers of them enrolled under an impetus which was neither intellectual nor financial, but social. Thus it came about that on every campus, side by side with the serious-minded girls who are eager for knowledge, we find a considerable percentage of the butterfly type who interpret college life in terms of dances, dates, and dinners. It was with the introduction of the social program into the college community that the need arose for guidance and direction, and so the office of the Dean of Women evolved. Another interesting feature of the increased numbers of women students is the fact that twenty-five percent of these 356,137 college girls are earning all or a part of their expenses. This brings to the Dean’s office the administrative duty of placing and supervising the sell-helping girl. The Dean of Women also serves on numerous committees and is ex-officio a member of many of the women’s organizations upon the campus. In addition to social and administrative duties, most of deans of women prefer to establish intellectual contacts with both men and women students by way of the class¬ room, and so a limited number of teaching hours is added to her program. Perhaps the most satis¬ factory hours of a Dean’s day are those devoted to personal conferences with students. These discus¬ sions cover a wide range of subjects and invariably lead to a better understanding and readier co-opera¬ tion on the part of all concerned. To be of service to both men and women stu¬ dents along any of the above lines is the purpose of the Dean of Women of the University of Arkansas. Dean Martha Reid Page 37

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Dean G. E. Ripley DEAN Cf MEN TN PLANNING for the future, with conditions - • of the present, it is a good idea to look back over the past which was then the present and see how well the plans then drawn for the future have been realized with that future now the present. The old order does change, and if it can be shown that the “New” is better than the “Old” then progress has been made. Many upperclassmen have told me that student conduct “on the campus” is much better than it was when they were freshmen. They say it does not seem like the same campus. Many things have helped to bring about these better conditions. 1 shall mention some things which I feel have played no small part in this better campus life. We now have a working student government, especially when it comes to questions of student social activities. The “indefinite” Cadet Club of the past has given way to the “definite” Social Committee. This social committee of the “present” is helping make student government a success and its good work promises much for the plans of the future. Upperclassmen talk to me about improved study life of the campus as well as about the improved student conduct of the campus, and this improvement in study life has been noticed by those in charge of the University library. The Men’s Dormitory Council, “The Gumboots” as they are called, is doing its part in making student government a fact and not a theory, and the condi¬ tions in the men’s dormitories have become so satisfactory that there is now a waiting list. The Arkansas Boosters’ Club has been of great value and influence in moulding student sentiment of the lower classes as the Club has stood for wholesome clean fun and high sports¬ manship. The work of the Vigilance Committee this year was very successful, and was marked with college rank instead of high school rank. The Vigilance Committee of the future would do well to study the work of this committee in the handling of fresh¬ men problems. The students have made pro gress in student government and if they will read carefully the opening paragraph, present plans for the future will result in success of student government at the University of Arkansas Page 36

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STUDENT SENATE Porter Grace OFFICERS Porter Grace. President Flournoy Price .... Vice-President Hal Douglas. Secretary Warren Wood. Treasurer MEMBERS A. B. Smith Joe Walker Clarence Geis Jim Kane Stits Hays Wear Schoonover Hollis Buckelew Billy Merrick Moody Pearson Max Bishop Joe Knott Simpson Wilbourn Paul Cooper Robert Catlett T HE Student Senate, representing all classes and colleges of the University, which was a mere recommending body of students, has gradually been granted more authority and has been recognized by the Governing Board of the University, the University Senate. All petitions pertaining to student affairs, advanced by the Student Senate, were immediately approved by this Board in favor of the students. Thus, contrary to precedent, student government is being recognized and appreciated by the faculty. Although it is still in its infancy, it should progress rapidly in the next few years. The Association is a member of the Midwest Student Conference and of the National Student Federation of America, and is represented annually at both conferences. All student affairs, social functions, and elections are under the direct super¬ vision and control of the Student Senate. Top row — Smith, Douglas, Cooper, Hays, Buckelew, Wood, Pearson Bottom row — Price, Geis, Catlett, Schoonover, Knott, Bishop, Kane Page 38