Student Life: Freshman Diaries, 1926
From GWUEncyc
Article
'“Freshman Diaries Prove Startling”
“Extracts from the Diary of Freshman,” a theme-subject given by Dean Rose in her quiz section of English Rhetoric, brought forth some very clever papers concerning the activities and reactions of the freshman to life at George Washington University. The papers ranged from the satirically to clever to the reflective type, the latter presenting several thoughts concerning the University which are well taken.
One freshman starts his diary with the following introduction: “My reason for writing this diary is entirely sentimental, but as it is to be kept strictly from the public eye and read by none other than myself and perhaps my grand-children, I will not give further excuses for it.” A portion of his diary follows:
“Sept. 21, Started my college life at G.W this morning. The buildings are large and well equipped, but the campus is small and very unattractive.”
“Sept. 22. His Honor, otherwise known as Prexy, officiated at a getting together meeting, which we were instilled with school spirit, non-alcoholic.”
“Sept. 23. Our first class was presided over by a much bespeckled gentleman who spent the full hour telling that our time under him would be a life of song and joy, not to mention ease and luxury.”
“Sept. 24. The gentleman of yesterday was entirely wrong.”
“Sept. 25. A word to the wise is sufficient. I am now wearing my freshman cap and am in readiness at all times to furnish senior classmen with cigarettes and matches.”
“Sept. 26, Wonderful Discovery! In a nearby combination – delicatessen – cafeteria patronized by the super-six, carmine-lipped flapper Fannies, you pay ten cents for your lunch, of a three-cornered cheese sandwich (the cheese missing), and a cup of coffee: cover charge of forty cents for the privilege of viewing the modern Shebas.”
Another freshman gave a more reflective tone to her theme, a portion of which is quoted below:
“Sept. 29. It is a queer thing that all my professors stress imagination and appeal to it, and let reason go at a discount. In high school it was usually the other way around. It happens even in mathematics, which I have always considered the least imaginative of all subjects, because it is so bound by rules and regulations. Probably when Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote about most mathematicians being of a bullying or tyrannical turn of mind, he never imagined that it might have its softer side.”
“October 12. At Roll Call I had a chance to see the whole University together, or at least a representative assembly. It helped to realize what a really great University we could be if we only tried. I think there would be a great deal more spirit if there could be two or more of these meetings throughout the year on important days. When each college goes its way without much thought for the other colleges, how can it think about the University as a whole?”
Another of the frosh, in a theme translated from the original Greek, is quoted as follows:
“Sept. 17. This day dull and murky. Went down to George Washington to undergo a trying ordeal known as registration. One pays a small fee (had to borrow twenty-five cents, vulgarly know as ‘two-bits,’ from a girl behind one of the tables to make up the full amount of my fee. I hope I don’t see her again), and in turn is allowed to write out his life history, religious beliefs, hopes, ambition, and weals on a neatly deluding card. But I fooled them. If they try to get any tuition money from me, they will have to look elsewhere than in the information given on the card, because I wrote down the wrong address.”
“Note: Spent two days after the 23rd getting acquainted with my professors. In some doubt as to whether they expect red apples and flowers on their desk mornings.”
“Oct. 1. This day took the so-called ‘Intelligence Examination.’ Among other parts of the examination the stereoptican flashed upon a screen the heads of numerous disreputable beings. Behind dense masses of beard and hair on could faintly discern that their faces were contorted into all manner of queer grimaces. These grotesque visages may mean anything to me.”
“A number of questions were asked to determine the social intelligence of those undergoing the examination. I am sure that the professor and his assistants would have worked up their knowledge of etiquette a good deal more accurately by reading Mme. Emily Post’s noted book on the subject, than by trying to obtain the information from us.”
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Author or Source: Hatchet, January 6, 1926
Document Location: University Archives
Date Added to Encyclopedia: January 25, 2007
Prepared by: Lyle Slovick, Assistant University Archivist
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