DEPARTMENT REPOltrS. 33 



LITERARY SOCIETIES AND SOCIETY HOUSES. 



The rapid increase in atteudauce during recent years has had a tend- 

 ency to change somewhat the social life of the student body. Formerly 

 nearly all students lived in dormitories, took their meals in large board- 

 ing clubs and seventy-tive per cent or more belonged to one of the 

 Literary Societies which occupied rooms, fitted up by the members of 

 the societies, in the basement or upper story of one of the dormitories. 

 These societies in addition to literary work held parties and dances 

 occasionally. Under these conditions student life was very democratic. 

 Kich and poor were on the same level. Each student formed an inti- 

 mate acquaintance with a large number of fellow students. If he 

 completed a full course he could number his friends by the hundred, 

 if not by the thousand. In after life he appreciates these friends. 

 Thev seem to be the onlv true, and ever to be trusted friends that 

 he has ever had. He values these friendships as one of the chief assets 

 of his college life. 



The addition of the women's department improved the social side of 

 college life. The young men became neater in appearance and more 

 refined in inannei-s. The opportunity for enjoying the society of re- 

 fined young women was greatly increased and greatly we l>elieve to 

 the advantage of the young men. 



When the new AVells Hall was erected six suites of rooms were 

 finished ott' on the top floor for the use of societies. Three fine suites 

 of rooms ai'e occupied by societies in Williams Hall. The rooms in the 

 new dormitory are not to be used for parties at which young women 

 are to be present. The armory is open for the use of societies for 

 social functions. 



One society erected some years ago on the campus a l)uilding ex- 

 clusively for its own use. It does not provide living rooms for its 

 members. It is open at all times and serves as a social center for its 

 members. They can gather in its parlors after supper, hold their liter- 

 ary and business meetings on Saturday evening and when desired hold 

 their dances or other social meetings in its spacious rooms. As this 

 building is on the campus it pays no taxes and receives its heat and 

 light from the college at cost, hence the expenses for maintenance 

 are very low. This building has proved very satisfactory to all con- 

 cerned. 



One society has erected a building otf the grounds. This is built 

 on the plan of the modern fraternity house and provides boarding 

 facilities and living rooms for the majority of its members. It has 

 been in operation too short a time to draw safe conclusions from its 

 experience. 



Two other societies live in rented buildings off the campus. They 

 pay high rent and have no boarding accommodations and very cramped 

 room for literary or social purposes. 



There seems to bo a very marked and strong tendency on the part 

 of several of the older societies to erect their own buildings which will 

 provide living rooms and boarding facilities for their members; in 

 other words to follow the fraternity house plan as may be seen in most 

 of the large universities which are not provided with dormitories. 



It seems evident that the college is now at the parting of the ways 

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