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

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3 191O'5 1930's 1950's 1900's 1920's 1940's Above: an early 20th Century class with female representation. Right: The Women's Student Government Association in 1931. Over the years, more than just the facade and style of the school have changed: the people have changed. One gender in particular, the female, has evolved from non-participation to the point of relative equality today. Women were not pre- sent at the birth-of the college and weren't recognized as possible members of this academic community until 1894 when the President was first given authority to establish courses for co-eds by an act of Congress. The end of the First World War brought an increase in' women's enrollment which brought along increased recognition. We can get an insight to their role at that time by looking at a piece in the '31 Index reviewing the Women's Government Association. . BOOKLET BY E. .I .V ., f . .gg Q it 'H-L 1 i 1 i xc' 1 .3 fi 1 A Personal Canv:v::. -. .lifnsi ', A o Evil: of Dormitory Life-'rhdnight H0 f1 of Who Knew: Whll' A 9 Flirting 52 K0 Mill wizhouc o Reading Improper Az Other Suggs.-:tive

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W ,-61 ...e ., The more social of pastimes have been taking up valuable study time ever since we planted our first grape. The tradi- tional rope pull between classes was a favorite at the turn of the 20th century and was still popular in the '5Os. The pond also played an intergral part in numerous initiaions ot all sorts. Homecoming was a big thing of the '50s and still is today but they had football rallies like you just donit see around here anymore. Formal balls are another part of life that has left us for now and the malt shop atmosphere of the Campus Store has been replaced by the crowds in the Hatch. Those days are gone but no doubt someday this years favorite social activity will be remembered for some years to come. l i YB

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X This body was organized in 1919 under the name Wom- en's Student Council for the purpose of controlling all af- fairs pertaining to the conduct of women students. The Council was formed when the Senate found itself incap- able of legislating wisely for the co-eds, although the truth of the matter is that the co-eds discovered it first. Not only was the Senate unable to legislate for the women students, but it was also unable to punish women for in- fractions ofthe roles as their sole method of enforcing laws was through pond parties and the co-eds objected to apub- lic bath. lt was in the years following WWII that women turned their recognition into equality with an integration of ladies from the Womens S.G.A. into the previously all male Senate. , TWT W ,-,.,.---- ..-t ,. . v'-f. , .- , 0 'A 95' '.J ', f ,-o . 4,