Wichita State University - Parnassus Yearbook (Wichita, KS)

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.gznior fgcem . . . 1950 S P tL P dent AI Littleton . . Vice President

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PAGE 14 jlrere ad GL eginning... By John Mileham When ten students filed across the stage before the school president in 1899 at Fairmount College, they constituted the first of many graduating classes. This year, a half century later, 496 men and women donned cap and gown to receive diplomas from the same school, now known as the University of Wichita. Strangely enough, the University of Wichita wasn't founded as a co-educational university, but as a preparatory school for young ladies in the Wichita area. It was to be called the Wichita Ladies' College. ln i886 the Rev. J. H. Parker, minister of the Plymouth Congregational Church in Wichita, proposed plans for founding a college for young ladies. The school was to be located east of the city and would consist of one large building for offices and classrooms and several smaller cottages which would serve as living quarters for the students. . The main building was to have a large observation tower with a powerful telescope that would provide an interesting view of the surrounding countryside. The telescope was to be the most powerful in the Southwest, and the observation tower would be open to the public one day a week but otherwise would be used for study by the students. With plans completed, the building was started, and construction proceeded rapidly until, due to the lack of money, the proiect had to be abandoned when half completed. For five years the half-completed building stood untouched. Finally additional 'funds were secured and the building was finished. At this point it was decided by the school officials that a co-educational school would be of more value to the community. With this change, and because of the school's location atop a hill overlooking the countryside, the name Fairmount Col- lege was suggested and adopted. On September l5, 1892, Fairmount College was officially opened.

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7 0l'l'l,el'l If 0l'l0l l 0bLl0 Perhaps the highest achievement to be attained by any senior woman of this University is to be selected as a member of the Women's Honor Group. The seven outstanding women of the class of 1950 were Mariorie Van Camp, Epsilon Kappa Rho, Sue Bowers, unaffiliated, Mary Faith Pellett, unaffiliated, Mildred Hiteshew, l.S.A.p Shirley Galatas, Delta Omega, Betty Knocke, Alpha Tau Sigma, and Kathleen House, Pi Kappa Psi. Election to the group is based on scholastic standing, quality of service, outstanding character, and leadership in campus activities. The Women's Honor Group, which patterned its activities along lines acceptable to Mortar Board, National Women's Honor Society, sponsored a leadership conference in November and a tea for recognition of outstanding sophomore women in April. PAGE 'I6