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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 22, 1950)
Page 6 THE BATTALION Friday, September 22, 1950 y British Students Began Movement for ‘Centers’ One hundred and forty-five years ago an idea started in England that today has become the goal of every college in the United States—to have a student center. Around 1815, two small groups of students, one at Cambridge and another at Oxford, became fired with the passion for free discus sion. They conceived an organiza tion through which there might be a combat of mind against mind, irrespective of college registration. Students rented and furnished their own halls and, for a long time, were not recognized by the college authorities. But out of this < ‘debating ,, stage in student organization developed some of the great leaders of the times, includ ing Gladstone, Ruskin, King Ed ward VII, and others. Prompted Structures With this love for discussion and debate came a call for reading rooms, libraries, lounges, and fes tive halls. Thus came better build ings and refinement of furnish ings. The student center idea, mean while, was begun in America as early as 1832 in Harvard, then in the University of Pennsylvania. In 1896 Pennsylvania secured the first real student building in this coun try, and Harvard completed one in 1901. During the early years of the century, the spread of the idea was rapid and on a club basis. The next definite trend, known as the “campus democracy stage,” started in 1918 following World War I. Many colleges had exclusive fra ternities, but the Student Union, rather than the fraternities, met the needs of a great social democ racy. They became larger .and more inviting and the real center of student life. General Trend Last and present development of the Union in this country is iden tified as the “community recreation stage,” starting about 1930. Be coming more than a club or a cam pus activity, the Union represented a general trend of the times. Prop erly organized and developed dur ing this period, it offered an op portunity for personal self-discov ery and self-improvement through a broad field of college service. Fundamental characteristic throughout these periods of devel opment was ownership and opera tion of the buildings by students. Today, there are still charges to keep these Unions going. Used by Students A Student Union building is also paid for by the public, but students are by far the biggest users of the building. Over 95% of the build ings have a required Student Union fee. With a chance to learn etiquette, ballroom and folk dancing, to work and to play, and, perhaps most im portant of all, to meet people, the students of today at the colleges which have Student Unions be come more polished socially and culturally. Mrs. Cummings Is Gif ts Head Johnnie Cummings Mrs. Cummings, manager of the MSC gift shop, has two sons in A&M. With two sons enrolled in A&M and having lived in Bryan for four years, the A&M campus is not new to Mrs. Johnnie Cummings, manager of the gift shop in the Memorial Student Center. Already experienced in the mer chandising field, Mrs. Cummings has been connected with a grocery, eating establishment, and appli ance store. One son, Glenn is a senior, while the second, Don, is a junior. Basically, the gift shop was sug gested by Carl Birdwell, manager of the Exchange Store, who made this suggestion to a committee of students, faculty, and former stu dents about four years ago. This committee had been ap pointed by President Gibb Gilchrist to recommend various things con- c^ning Student Centers, including what facilities and departments should be in the Student Center. Birdwell Suggestion At this meeting Birdwell said that the Exchange Store had faith fully served the student body and visitors many years for gifts and souvenirs. He suggested that the school put a gift shop in the Stu dent Center to serve the same group of people and to let the profits go to operate the Student Center itself. Actually the gift shop is just an elaboration of the Exchange Store. The gift shop will have a to bacco bar with a line of box can dies, nuts, and many exclusive items—such as Turtles by DeMets in Chicago, Charlotte Charles Rum Cakes, Sherry Pralines, Russel Stover Famous Standard Candies, Kings and Whitman Box Candies and other lines, many of which are found only in exclusive department stores in Dallas and Houston. Also it will offer everyday items for student conveniences such as as pirin, shoestrings, .tooth paste, ra zor blades, soap, and other items. Film Supplies There will be a complete stock of film for photographers and sup plies for users in the craft shop, art room, dark rooms, and hobby shops of the Center. Showcases and wallcases are custom built and are made of beautiful birch and are well light ed. The colors of the room are dusty rose and blue and the indi rect lighting effect will greatly add to the beauty of the room. The gift shop is conveniently located near the MSC post office. ' Jeanne Hooper is one of the girls who will be working with Mrs. Cummings. Her husband, Darrow Hooper, was a freshman football star last fall. Two other girls will be chosen at a later date. Congratulations to the Officials of A&M College who were responsible for the planning and con struction of the new Memorial Student Center. The Southwestern States Telephone Co. appre ciates the opportunity of being able to provide the latest type of telephone facilities for this modern building. We invite you to visit the specially prepared Tele phone Center where facilities have been provi ded for your convenience. Congratulations on the opening of your Memorial Student Center 0===]0[===» MONTAG’S Fashionable Writing Paper BLUE HORSE Paper School Supplies * f Southwestern States Telephone Montag Brothers, Inc. Atlanta, G&,