DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 81 



college life. I have attended during these years eight annual conven- 

 tions, a National Quadrennial, a Students' Council and a Lake Geneva 

 Conference of the Young Women's Christian Association. 



In these twelve years I have visited all the colleges of Michigan, 

 some of them more than once, and have endeavored to keep in touch 

 with the college work of Ihe state. I have also attended several sessions 

 of the School Masters' Club and of the Michigan Academy of Science. 

 It has been my good fortune to visit also during this time seventeen or 

 eighteen other higher institutions of learning in this country and Can- 

 ada, to inspect their equipment and learn something of their methods. 



Two years ago by our invitation, women interested in home economics 

 met here to organize the IMichigan Branch of the American Rome Eco- 

 nomics Association. I was elected National Councilor for the Branch 

 and have attended one annual convention of the National Association, 

 the three state conventions held and several council meetings. I have 

 attended also one of the Lake Placid Conferences on home economics at 

 Lake Placid, New York. In order to prepare for the Graduate School 

 in Home Economics which was held at M. A. C. in 1912, I visited the 

 school at Ames, Iowa, in the summer of 1910. On account of the health 

 and sunnner school duties of the chairman of the home economics com- 

 mittee, I served as acting chairman for our school. 



A year ago we organized an honorary society for home economics 

 students, the Omicron Nu, which has already met with favor in other 

 institutions. Two additional Chapters have been organized and several 

 requests for charters have been received. One at Purdue will probably 

 be installed in the near future. 



A social club, "The Idlers,'' to which all women connected with the 

 college are eligible, was organized several years ago to promote social 

 life among non-society members and to take care of general social 

 functions; among these may be mentioned the Hallowe'en frolic, Thanks- 

 giving evening. Faculty dinner parties, a "IMinisters' evening," the May 

 Festival supper. Three new literary societies have been established in 

 these years. As this system is strongly fixed at M. A. C. and as it pre- 

 sents some excellent features, still another society ought to be estab- 

 lished, or the existing plan should be modified. Certain features of the 

 present plan are exceedingly harmful in the home life of the department. 

 The ''bid day'' must be abolished and opportunity for society member- 

 ship or attendance should be given to all who wish it. This would be 

 ideal. 



Within the year there was organized at the college in connection with 

 the women graduates of some twenty five colleges resident in this 

 vicinity, the Lansing Branch of the Association of Collegiate Alumnae. 

 I have re})resented the P»ranch since its organization at a Deans' Con- 

 ference, a National Convention and a National Council of the Associa- 

 tion. 



These points are given to show hoAV wide the field in which a dean of 

 women must be interested. Her time ought to go not only to the regu- 

 lar duties at the college and the hundred and one unexpected matters 

 Avhich arise to perplex, but also to these outside interests, taking some 

 part in social activities and furthering the interests of the department 

 in every' way possible. 



As a result of the experience of these years I believe a more liberal 

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