1931

For the first time since its founding in 1886, the full quota of Phi Beta Kappa fraternity keys are to be given to graduating seniors at graduation on Monday. Senior class day exercises, including the induction of the seniors into the Alumni Association, will take place in one day. Belles Lettres decides to continue to not have rushing for new membership in their society as mentioned in an amendment to their constitution. The honorary fraternity Omicron Delta Kappa initiates seven new members.

The men's and women's glee club put on their first combined performance since 1925. The old Phi Delta Theta house will be turned into a psychology lab. The radio transmitter built by Dickinson students is fully operational and reaches several other radio stations in the eastern half of the United States. The radio station may be used by students whenever the studio is open. Student Senate cuts some funding for all campus organizations except the band, orchestra and the Dickinsonian.

The football team finds a new coach who signs a three year contract. Founders' Day celebrations begin this day. The senior picnic is planned for the following Monday where many athletic events will take place. Two men's literary societies, Belles Lettres and the Union Philosophical Society, see their organizations losing membership and seek aid from the college administration to keep their clubs alive. The Jewish fraternities gain representation in Senate.

Work begins on the new Phi Delta Theta colonial house. Distribution and sale of the 1932 Microcosm will take place in Bosler starting next week. Senate approves the 1931-1932 budget and passes two new rules involving elections. Founder's Day breakfast will be held by YWCA. The freshman badges for next year will be metal instead of paste-board cards.

A radio transmitter made by Dickinson students is now being tested in the physics lab and will be the basis for the new college radio station W3CY. The dramatic club casts its next production "Holiday" which will be performed around commencement time. A constitution and by-laws are set up for the varsity D Club.

Several Dickinson men plan to go abroad this summer to western Europe and norther Africa. The Beta Psi fraternity and the Commons Club merge and now will collectively be called the Commons Club Incorporated. Edward Biddle, president of the Board of Trustees creates a committee of trustees that will consider men for the office of president of the college. The Microcosm is sent to the printers and will be ready for distribution for the price of $4.50.

All freshman rules are suspended for the rest of the semester by the Tribunal, marking another step in the evolution away from traditional rules.

Dr. Mervin Grant Filler, president of Dickinson College, dies in Philadelphia after suffering from a severe case of influenza. Dr. James Henry Morgan, previous president of the college, will be acting as head of the institution until a new president can be found. The superintendent of grounds and buildings at Dickinson, Joseph Burns, dies of a heart attack.

Funds for a new library are expected to be raised over the next four years. The Dramatic Club announces the cast for their April production of "Tommy." The Interfraternity Council announces a new resolution regarding alumni in the rushing process. Student Senate passes a resolution that will require all organizations to submit an itemized budget to Senate. Dickinson women are invited to "play day" at Bucknell University which will allow women from different schools in the area to play each other in athletic contests.

The German Club's showing of the film "Anna Christie" brings in $120.29 to be added to the travel fund that will allow students to travel to Germany. A new Dickinson alumni club will be forming in New Jersey. Six college students, including representatives from Dickinson, are collecting 1,000,000 signatures annually to pledge total abstinence from intoxicating beverages. Three men from the Dickinson basketball team are chosen to be members of the Franklin and Marshall honor team. In their first inter-collegiate swim meet, the Dickinsonians emerge victorious.

The basketball team ends its season, perhaps its best in school history. Sophomore Milton Davidson is awarded the sophomore cup for exemplary character and achievement by Omicron Delta Kappa. The winners of the 1932 Microcosm beauty contest are decided and include both fraternity and non-fraternity girls. Student Senate makes plans for a D Club on campus which will ensure that deserving athletic teams are adequately awarded. The Interfraternity Council revises rules for rushing. A distinguished alumnus is lost with the death of Dr. Clyde Bowman Furst.

Former Dickinson student and Dickinson Law School alumni Judge Sylvester Baker Sadler dies. Dr. Horace Rogers, associate professor of chemistry at Dickinson, is invited to submit his biography for inclusion in the next edition of American Men in Science. The Dickinson basketball team defeats its last two opponents to become champion of the Central Pennsylvania conference. The Athletic Association proclaims that Dickinson will not be joining a new basketball league of small Pennsylvania colleges including Drexel, Ursinus and Gettysburg among others.

Fraternities, sororities, honorary societies, several classes, and the Athletic Association have plans for several social events to be held in the coming months, including many dances by popular demand. The Microcosm adds a feature on women's athletics for the 1932 issue of the yearbook, a novelty. Congressman Robert Rich, Dickinson class of 1907, tells Congress to adjourn on account of his constituents being afraid of the United States Congress. The oldest living Dickinson alumni, Alexander Smead, dies after a colorful life in military service.

John Hall Hopkins of the junior class is named the most outstanding Dickinsonian as he receives the distinguished 1902 Award. The German department expands is repertoire of classes to include a course entitled Cultural History of the German and Scandinavian People. German will be made the language of the classroom. The Microcosm will sport a Scotch theme including a drawing of Carlisle Castle in England, which is both close to the Scottish border and from where the town derives its name.

Westford Warner of the senior class is nominated to attend the Midwest Student Government Conference. Several poems composed by a Dickinson alumnus, Louis Olmstead '30, will be published in popular literary magazines.

Dickinson alumnus Professor Clarence Anderson of Pennsylvania State College dies following an operation at a hospital on Huntingdon. Upon the recommendation of the Special Athletic Committee of the Alumni Council a new committee was appointed to survey the athletic situation on campus. Every branch of the college is represented on this committee. The 128 anniversary of Old West's burning is recognized.

The Athletic Association elects a new president, but protests the lack of publicity regarding the elections, blaming Student Senate for the poor turnout. The Biology department, under the leadership of Elmer Herber and the Mohler Scientific Club, presents three films relating to the study of cancer but are interdisciplinary. At the faculty meeting it is decided that preliminary examinations will be done away with beginning immediately to lessen the work for both students and their professors.

International Relations Club planned. Dramatic Club performs "The Millionaire".

Dickinson students participate in model disarmament conference at Bucknell University. Doll show planned.

Annual Doll Show is planned. President's house is remodeled.

Tribunal punishes freshmen for breaking freshman rules. Helmuth Joel (German exchange student) describes the plight of the working class in Germany. Arthur J. Hepburn, '96, is appointed to attend Geneva Conference. Students plan to participate in YMCA's Peace Conference at Bucknell University. YMCA and YWCA hold fireside meeting to discuss the Negro racial question. Professor Lewis Guy Rohrbaugh is elected to Pi Gamma Mu. Description of museum in Tome Scientific Building.

Homecoming weekend is a success. President Karl T. Waugh gives first address to college.

Freshman football team plays charity game against Gettysburg to benefit Emergency Relief Fund of Carlisle. Phi Delta Theta House opens with festivities. Intercollegiate Newspaper association meets at Dickinson. YMCA plans Armistice day service. Football team begins to use water wagon designed by Professor M. W. Eddy.

German exchange student discusses school life in homeland. Plan for homecoming weekend. Interior designers work on Phi Delta Theta house. Burgess J. Fred Myers fines college $100 for damages resulting from student victory demonstration.

Students parade in midnight march after football victory over Penn State; police resort to tear gas. Annual college picnic is held. German club plans activities, including hike modeled after German youth movement. Tribunal convicts two freshmen of breaking freshman rules, gives punishments. Carnegie Corporation endows Bosler library.