University of Massachusetts Amherst - Index Yearbook (Amherst, MA)

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mmu HOUSE This year the cloistered halls of Knowlton House took on a new atmosphere, for girls finally moved Into their new dorm. Among the changes that took place, the most out- standing additions were the new drapes and the pastel furniture for the center and the rec room. A sound-proofed telephone booth, towel racks, curtain rods, and hooks on the walls were also added to give the dorm that homey look. At the beginning of the year, the girls of Knowlton, under the guidance of Bettino hlollls and Mary Lowry, organized a variety show of local talent. The proceeds from the show and the dance which followed it were donated to the house for the purpose of buying a radlo-vlctrola. It wos this enthusiastic start which intro- duced a very successful year for Knowlton. with the increased enrollment of freshmen women, the co-eds took over another dormitory, Knowlton House . . . The dorms were social centers and study ha well as the traditional networks of bedroor Here wos the first place to meet new friends- friends to be remembered long after four yea of collge . . .

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Every co-ed was trying to moke her seventy avei age . . . however, there were many opportunitit for relaxation from the old grind . . . LEWIS HALL Up on the hill in Lewis Hall, a dorm exclusively for freshman girls, there was an atmosphere of intense, scholarly endeavor during the early weeks of first semester. Every co-ed was trying to moke her seventy overage by Dean ' s Satur- day, and thus be free of the seven o ' clock curfew. During the week-ends, however, there were many opportunities for relaxation from the old grind and for participation in the gale social life of the campus. The girls in Lewis planned several open houses, invitation dances, and a series of teas to which they invited members of the faculty. Mrs. Churchill and the house counselors helped make living in a dorm a treasured memory of college life. th the e increased enroll sds took ove meriT ottresnmeh women, another dormitory, Knowlton hHouse, making a Itotai of four dorms for female students. P Dormitory seemed to lose its essential meaning, which any Latin scholar will recall is a place to sleep. It became much more than that, especially to the freshmen whose seven o ' clock curfews kept them within the portals of Lewis and Thotcher on vveek nights. The dorms were social centers and study halls, as well as the traditional networks of bedrooms which they had been considered previously. The freshmen were perhaps most impressed with dorm-life for reasons other than that they were compelled to remain there. Here was the first place to meet new friends — friends to be remem- bered long after four years of college hove passed. Proctors were not those domineering upperclass- men trying to get their charges into mischief, but they were friends, advisors, and tutors endeovoring to get the frosh off to a good start in this new life.

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ichairman. Dances were held on a larger scale than ever this past year, with motifs and decorations of unusual originality. At teas the students, especially those new to cannpus, had a chance to meet the faculty and administration informally, hiere was a lesson in the social graces necessary for any hostess or guest. Still social were the activities in the rec room, which as always, was the busiest place in each dorm. When tired of studying, we always found here a retreat where there was sure to be a game- of bridge or a group discussion in progress, either one a welcome relief for a weary mind. An unusual event sponsored by a dormitory was the Knowlton hlouse Variety Show. With talent gathered from all over campus, the girls organized a show, the profits of which went towards purchas- ing new furniture for the house. Group participation in extra-curricular activities was a strong bond within each house. Thatcher took first place in the women ' s division of the float rally. Women ' s Athletic Association ' s intramural sports program showed cooperation to be the key to a successful athletic season for dormitory teams. That was dormitory — parties, dances, the rec room, practical jokes, sports, rallies, discussions, bridge, friends, and studies. It was far more than just a place where one could fall into bed after a day ' s activity. THATCHER Ml For the first time in the school ' s history, Thatcher hHoll was an all-freshman woman ' s dormitory this year. The lock of college experience, however, did not stop the girls from showing a great deal of spirit and ingenuity in planning events for the dorm. Starting the year off with music, the freshmen held a dance on the Eve of Columbus Day. Under co-chairmen of social events, Ginny Par- sons and Ruth Burns, the rec room was decorated ' in a nautical theme with port-holes, life pre- servers, buoys, and other maritime riggings, and the S.S. Thatcher was underway with a big splash! After Dean ' s Saturday the freshmen became evident in campus activities and showed the kind of enthusiasm that makes college worth- while. After Dean ' s Saturday the freshmen . . . showed the kind of enthusiasm that makes college worthwhile.