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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 19, 1954)
Pa£« 6 THE BATTALION Thursday, August 19, 1954 College Has 78 Years of Stormy History A&M new ha* 78 year* of his tory, history significant mainly for the people who made it and what has been done. Some of the time ha* been stormy, but the result is the most important thing. Freshmen Have Own Drill Team The military students of the freshman class have their own drill team, coached by military science instructor* and led by its own elected officers. At the first of the year, try outs for the team will be an nounced. Membership is on a com petitive basis, with about 80 try ing out each year for the 30-man team. Besides putting on drill exhib- tions on the campus, the team travels to other cities to perform. Texas A&M, like every other state’s land grant school, was authorized by the Morrill Act of 1864. At this time, Texas and the rest of the South was a little too busy fighting a war to do anything about, but by 1866, they began looking around for a place to put a land grant college. The school was not founded in the middle of the Brazos valley by accident, contrary to what upper classmen think. The city of Bryan gave the land to the state. The story says that the school was to be two miles from Bryan, but someone perseverent state re searcher discovered that Bryan had (at that time) 14 saloons, so the college was moved out an other two miles to get away from the evil influence. The school had the usual open ing ceremonies in 1876, but there was a slight misunderstanding. Only a few students showed up, so they told them to go home and bring some more boys back with them, and things got of to a start the next year. The presidency of A A M was first offered to Jefferson Davis, fomfer chief executive of the Confederacy. But Davis declined on the grounds of poor health, possibly because he had just gotten out of prison, and the job was then offed to Thomas Gathright. Although Gathright was then superintendent of instruction for the state of Mississippi, he could read and write, and accepted the job. He had five faculty mem ber* to help him. The people of the state of Texas didn’t think too much of their two- building agricultural and mechani cal college at first. The faculty member* were trained only in the classics, and the farmers and ranchers of Texas had no use for an education in the classics. Some reorganization was necessary. On to the scene came Lawarance Sullivan Ross, to save A&M as he had saved Cynthis Ann Parker from the Indians about 90 miles up the Brazos river. Ross took the presidency of the school in 1890, and his personnel prestige gave the school the public prestige it so badly needed. You’ll hear about L. S. Ross until the day you graduate, but briefly, he was a Texas Ranger captain at 18, a brigadier general in the Confederacy, and a general all round soldier, statesman, and knightly gentleman. His statue, a bronze by Pompeo Coppini, is probably the most photographed object on the A AM campus. He was also the first man to live : in big white house that every’ presi dent of the college has lived in ’ since. The school perked up and sung along from his time on. It has had a few student revolutions, a glim mer of a faculty revolution, and a few other things that a college needs to get out of its system while it is growing up. But since Ross’ day, it has had the approval of the people of Texas, its owners, for the job of education it is doing. Park Cleaners... Southside Shopping Center . . . South of Kyle Field Invites all new Aggies to visit our plant and try our Famous two and three day service - Our Features - FORM FIT PATCHES CROSS STITCH A&M’s Living Room come 'eicfi >or You’ll find what you want at Caldwell’s . .. the finest in watches, silverware and other finery ... at prices you can afford. There will be ^ v~"‘al days ahead ... we have just the thing for Mom, ther or sister. Or if you’re thinking of your bes^’.^ you’ll find the beautiful and economical... at Cal^bell’s. Diamonds - Watches - Silverware Expert Watch and Jewelry Repair Caldwell’s JEWELRY STORE 112 NORTH MAIN PHONE 2-2435 (Continued from Page 1) Bowling—Table Tennis Anyone interested in learning how to bowl or joining the MSC A AM bowling team should be a member of the Bowling committee, which sponsors intramural tourna ments as well as tournaments with other colleges. The Table Tennis committee also organizes such tournament*. Public Relation The members of the committee make known to the student body the facilities of the MSC, through radio, advertising, and newspaper writing. Student Forum This committee promote* lec tures on the campus by noted speakers, so that students may be better informed on current ideas. Junto This small group meets bi-week ly to discus a wide range of topics; all members are given equal op portunity to express their view*. Aurio This club is for those student* who are interested in high fidelity sound for radio and record players. Great Issues The Great Issues committee will organize for the first time a series of speeches on subjects of popular interest. The group also handles a series of radio broadcast on con troversial issues. Film Society The Film society arranges the showing here of the best movies of the past. Members of the com mittee will select the films, pro mote sale of tickets, and make ar rangements for presentation. Recital Series If you’re a long-hair, this is for you. The Recital Series committee arranges for serious-type concerts by regional and national artists. Stamp Collectors A new group — specially for stamp - happy guys who want the fun of hob - nobbing with other philatelists. 3JC 3aL nc$ m The Latest in Style and Textures Wool Jersey Winter Cotton Corduroys Rayon Suiting Woolens Formal Fabrics Orion and Nylon The Fabric Shop 106 Main Street Bryan THE OLD DAYS—Before the internal combustion engine replaced the war horse, A&M’s artillery units used to prac tice with horse-drawn cassions. Here they are lined up on one of the campus drill fields, preparing to race to see which unit could get its weapon set up and ready to fire first. “The Place Where Friends Meet” SPORTSMAN Bar and Grill RAY E. HOLLINGER, Manager Steaks - Chicken - Seafoods Oysters on the Half Shell 104 S. Main Bryan Ph. 2-1932 DON’T TAKE A CHANCE . Start A Cheeking Account And Know Where Your Money Goes • . • We trust that we may have an oppor tunity to serve your banking require ments, and are fully equipped to serve your every banking need . . . College Station State Bank NORTH GATE COLLEGE STATION Member FDIC—Member Federal Reserve Bank An Aggie in Business for Aggies . . . . . . welcomes you new Aggies Our exclusive lines of nationally- advertised clothes, both uniforms and civilian, are awaiting your inspection and approval. Highest Quality - Lowest Prices AGGIE TAILOR MADE CLOTHES Located Conveniently at North Gate, Next to A&-M Grill