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&,