Student Life (1930s)
From GWUEncyc
Article
The following appeared in the Hatchet in 1936:
“Strong Hall Women Tell Of Ideal Man - Intelligence and College Training Considered Necessary”
Strong Hall women prefer college men, like men with brains and otherwise vary widely in their concepts of an ideal man which none of those interviewed will say they have met yet. Averaging about 5 feet 5 inches in height and 122 pounds in weight, all of these girls, who hail from over half of the states of the Union, and some of whom have migrated from as far as the Hawaiian Islands, Hungary, Ireland, and Paris, France; seem to have reached Strong Hall with at least a few determined ideas about the mankind which interests them. In addition to the general chorus which spoke for brains, many of the girls felt that a sense of humor was a great necessary asset - most of them agreed that good looks were not necessary.
One brunette of the Hall, who incidentally wasn’t looking for her ideal, demanded five million dollars and handsomeness beyond words. When asked what she considered such handsomeness, she said, “tall, dark, and uh - dignified”. “And he should be generous”, she maintained. Several indicated a leaning toward professional men, while others seemed willing to take anything they liked. One girl liked doctors, another asked for anything but a doctor. And to the question, “What must he not be?” one answer was, “Plumber”.
Although the traditional tall man was bid for, most of the girls seemed to think the ideal was the middle sized man. Broad shoulders seemed to be popular and nice teeth, strong hands, good complexions, pleasant speaking voices, all seemed to have their particular attractions. In the field of idiosyncracies, one girl demanded that “he” be able to tie a bow straight (even bow tie wearers have their fans), another Strong Hallite said that “he” must smoke a pipe, another requested a cleft chin; and, although she keeps it dark while in circulation here, there is a brunette who holds a prejudice in favor of the boy in the West Point uniform.
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Author or Source: Hatchet September 29, 1936
Document Location: University Archives
Date Added to Encyclopedia: December 21, 2006
Prepared by: Lyle Slovick, Assistant University Archivist
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