Student Life (1907-1910)
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Student Life (1907-1910)
The October 2, 1907 Hatchet noted that: The girls really have a place of their own this year. Not one little room way off in the top of the College building, but two houses all to themselves. It is such a great improvement over former years that the girls feel quite proud of their new quarters. On the first floor is the parlor, the girl’s study room, the lunch room and Miss Ellis’ [Dean of Women] office. The entire second floor of one building has been fixed as a place to dance. The other rooms are class rooms. On the third and fourth floors are the rooms for those who wish to live in the building. We are glad to see this movement toward making a college for women entirely separate from the men. Miss Ellis expressed it as her opinion that we could soon have a large girls’ school if the students would only give it their support. We think that they will, for they are very enthusiastic now, and are eager to see the work go forward. So far it has been a great success and we hope to see it reach Miss Ellis’ ambition in a few years.'
The December 11, 1907 Hatchet questioned the class spirit of the sophmores: Where are the sophomores? Where is the class spirit of 1910? The answer to the second may help to solve the mystery of the first. To all appearances the class spirit of the sophomores is a minus quantity. Of course there are still a few who attend class meetings. We hold an election. Does the class turn out in a body to vote? Well, hardly, unless the class roll includes but 12 members. We were unfortunate this year in losing several of our members. But the loss of half a dozen neither accounts for nor excuses the rest. Now we want a class and want it badly. Soon the question will be, “When does the sophomore dance come off.” The Freshmen have taken the initiative and are going to give a dance. The same is expected of the sophomores. But there can be nothing done without money (it has been tried before) and there can be no money without a class. You ask what the remedy is. Simply this- turn out in full numbers at the meeting Wednesday night. Show your class spirit and don’t let those green Freshmen get ahead of you.
In 1910 the Board of Lady Managers assisted with services at the University Hospital. Mrs. Edward Stevens was President of the organization. Fraternities on campus included: Delta Tau Delta, chapter house, 1700 15th Street, NW and Sigma Alpha Epsilon, chapter house 2024 G Street. Sororities included Chi Omega (chapter apartment, 1538 I Street) and Sigma Kappa.
B. Dougherty coached the GW Football team. Opponents included Washington College, Ursinus and Virginia Polytechnic Institute. There was also a track team and the GW Rifle Club--winners of the Intercollegiate Outdoor Championship for 1909.
The Class Presidents was organized and composed of presidents (class, organizational) from the University. This was a sort of student advisory body and acted as an intermediary between the students and faculty or administrative body.
Clubs included the Rooters Club, organized 1907, and the Pyramid Honor Society. Student publications included The University Hatchet and The Cherry Tree. Yearly events included the 1910 Students Ball at the New Willard Hotel. The ball was under the direction of the Association of Class Presidents and the Board of Lady Managers of the University Hospital.
In 1909, at the Football Banquet, the W's were awarded. Also, the Fall Convocation Address was by Dean Vance on the subject of: "Washington as a Center of Legal Education." The 1917 GW Freshman prom was held at the Raleigh Hotel. Sororities included Pi Beta Phi (Chapter Rooms: 2024 G street) and Chi Omega (Chapter Rooms: 2024 G Street).
The Columbian Debating Society, in 1911, met weekly at the Law School to discuss and debate subjects of national and world interest. Publications included the George Washington News. In April of 1910 the Honor System was adopted by the Woman's College, Columbian College, and the Department of Law, and rejected by the College of Engineering, the Divsion of Architecture, and the Department of Medicine. GW football team defeated the Fredericksburg College team 5 to 0. The annual indoor meet was held in Convention Hall.
In October 1912, minute and detailed instructions for the guidance and regulation of the conduct of Freshmen were posted on the walls of campus buildings. In November of the same year the Freshmen held a very successful "Prom" at the Raleigh Hotel. One hundred and thirty couples were present. The Association of Class Presidents reelected L.H. English as President. Also, in 1912 the Pan-Hellenic Society held its third annual banquet and GW Co-Eds participated in the woman's Suffrage Parade.
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Author or Source: The Cherry Tree; Hatchet
Document Location: University Archives
Date Added to Encyclopedia: December 21, 2006
Prepared by: G. David Anderson, University Archivist and Historian
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