University of Nebraska Kearney - Blue and Gold Yearbook (Kearney, NE)

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College women are offered friendship, guidance, and entertainment at league meetings which this year have included programs on books, styles, manners, de- fense, music, mothers and religion. All of the meetings were coordinated with the theme, The Girls They Left Behind;'' their aim, to increase the intelligence, maturity and usefulness of those remaining. The women's council gave special at- tention to the incoming freshmen girls at a reception in Case Hall lounge which allevi- ated timerity, homesickness, and other typ- ical symptoms of new students. Women's League activities are gov- erned by a council of fourteen representing classes and residents under the supervision of Miss Ruth Kelly, acting Dean of Women. This group organizes the programs, grants loans, and discusses desired campus be- havior and customs at informal meetings. The January meeting emphasized es- pecially the war theme, as Mrs. H. M. Wor- lock was the principal speaker. Mrs. Alta Bergquist, Juanita Jillson, and Dorothy Campbell also spoke using topics of edu- cation, democracy and the present national emergency. Attendance was made compulsory for the second semester meetings as the coun- cil worked on a program for greater unity in their aims. Helen Claire Disbrow served as presi- dent the first semester, and Charlene Han- sen led the council the second semester. Despite changes in this group through- out the year, the girls they left behind are doing what they can in war-time to make life happier for those at home and at camp. lUe Qisuli Jl jjt feelUnA First Row: Miss Kelly, V. Bailey, N. Ciochon, J. Ducring, C. Hansen. Second Row: M. High, M. Hollingsworth, L. Huffstiitter, A. Kennedy, N. McBride. Third Row: T. McCoy. M. Refshuuge. J. Taylor, M. Wendell. F. Williams. Page 20

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In October, Jim Ranz, president, and Bob Chesnut attended the regional confer- ence of the National Student Federation of America at Lincoln. At this convention, Kearney was selected as the site for next year's convention, and Bob Chesnut was elected regional chairman. Returning from the convention Ranz commented, Our council compared favor- ably with others represented there. We have more actual power with regard to stu- dent affairs than probably any other coun- cil at the convention. Jim Ranz, Bob Chesnut, Marie Ref- shauge, and Dr. Mary Morse, sponsor, at- tended the national conference of the NSFA in Minneapolis over the Christmas holidays. Here the representatives realized that our council has much power, but others have more in the actual administration of student affairs. The governing organization worked for some time on a new election system to in- sure more adequate representation on the council, and students adopted the council- proposed plan of proportional representa- tion by an overwhelming majority. The re- sults of the annual spring election were sub- stantially the same as previous years, how- ever, as five Phi Taus, two Sigmas, two Juanitas, one Zeta, one Cal and one barb were elected. The council selected Virginia Henline, Melvin Orth and Ralph Nelson to serve on the campus war committee, and this com- mittee organized various activities to aid the war effort. Student Council meetings were held each Wednesday in the YWCA room, and usually the discussion was spirited. The re- sponsibility of governing student affairs was spotlighted on this single body, and as there could be little buck-passing, most of the members took an active interest in the is- sues, realizing that their position was one of responsibility to the students, not just an honorary title. The general tone of discus- sion and action was conservative, as sev- eral members had a tendency to be passive conformists. Panel discussion on what college students can do to help win the war is presented at convo by the council. Speakers arc Mr. Welch, Jim Ran . Bert Gibbons, Virginia Hcnlinc, Marie Refshauge and Mr. Larson. Student government worries arc forgotten, as mem- bers and guests have a dinner party. Officers Mel Orth, Jim Ran , and the council sec- retary, Marie Refshauge, outline plans. Page 19

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policial Ipsi Men Fir t Row: Mr. Nicholas, B. AI water, D. Brown, G. Gruber. Second Row: R. Jester, G. Kotsiopoulos, D. Marshall, R. Nelson. Third Row: L. McCullough, J. Pilkington, D. Patton, H. Ritter, V. Smithey. Male enrollment decreased this year with the army and defense jobs increasing in national significance, but the role of the Men's Council on the campus became more important as the council tried to help college men in their adjustments to the war. After the attack on Pearl Harbor and the entrance of the United States into the war, the morale of the men slumped to a low ebb, as those students saw their preparation for a future of peace was to be of no immediate advantage to them. Realizing an immediate need, the coun- cil arranged a progarm concerned with the war and directly with morale, with Dean W. L. Nicholas analyzing the proper stand for the men to take. As they saw their situation clarified, knowing that there is a more im- mediate duty to fulfill in order that their preparation for peace need not be wasted, the men stepped back more energetically into their college life of study, classes and training. Men were interested in the armed ser- vices of the country, but they did not know of the opportunities available to them, so the council arranged a program particularly to meet that need. Ensign Townley of the Navy Recruiting Station at Omaha, and Ma- jor Davis from headquarters, Seventh Corps Area, explained the background of the navy and the army, and pointed out those places where college-trained men could best serve. They also emphasized the advisability of getting all of the college training possible before becoming a member of the armed forces. As a result of this meeting and of the individual conference following, NSTC men were much better informed of their future participation in the war, and were able to make better use of their college training. The members of the group represent the men in their class organizations, religious groups, and in-town and out-of-town resi- dents. The council itself felt the war directly, as Max Ingram, vice president, was drafted late in the first semester, and James Lapp, treasurer, left school early in the year for a defense job. This spring the traditional Men's League picnic was held at Harmon Park, and sup- plying all with food and entertainment, the Men's Council felt their duties for the year completed. Officers of the organization were Ralph Nelson, president; Wayne Smithey, vice president; Lloyd McCullough, secretary; and Gerald Gruber, treasurer. Page 21