Student Social Life

The Men's Student Senate repealed 12 of the freshman class rules for the coming school year following unusual levels of rebellion and complaint against the rules by the class of 1934.  Most importantly, the  "girl rule" limiting freshman men's contact with freshman women, the path rule forbidding freshmen from using certain paths on campus, and the rules requiring that freshmen always carry matches for the upperclassmen and freshman handbooks were abolished.

In the 31st annual Doll Show, dolls donated by the College community for children of prisoners in New York City were displayed along with toys donated by students for children at the Methodist Home in Shirestown.  The YWCA-sponsored event occurred in the Alumni Gymnasium and featured a play entitled "Our Aunt from California" by Madalene Demarest Young, dancing, bridge, pinochle, and refreshments.

The Board of Trustees denied College recognition to two Jewish fraternities, Sigma Tau Phi and Phi Epsilon Pi, on the premise that the ratio of fraternity to non-fraternity Jewish students would be too high.  It was widely assumed that the denial of official recognition to the fraternities was due to antisemitism, particularly on the part of President Filler.

In the first scrap of the year, the sophomores hurled buckets of blood, rotting fruit, and other refuse at the freshmen attempting to enter Biddle Field.  For the first time in many years, the sophomores were victorious.

Empowered by President Mervin Filler's public disdain for the freshman rules, freshmen men staged an anti-rules demonstration outside Bosler Hall in which they wore colorful ties, unbuttoned their coats, and put their hands in their pockets but retained their dinks.  Violence was averted by promises from Dean Montgomery Sellers and the Tribunal president, Tom Watkins, that the freshmen's demands for changes to the rules would be considered.

The sophomores won the annual freshman-sophomore flag scrap at Biddle Field.  The scrap lasted for ten minutes, during which time the freshmen, led by Jack Fowler, attempted to remove the sophomores' flag from a greased and defended flagpole.  The sophomores' leader, Jimmy Knight, sat atop the pole.

The annual College picnic was held, featuring roast beef and a faculty-student baseball game.  Students were surprised with the cancellation of classes and bus rides out to Boiling Springs, the site of the picnic.

The faculty and College YMCA led what they claimed to be Dickinson's first-ever Freshman Week program beginning Monday, September 15th, one week before the start of term.  Over the course of the week, students learned the Dewey decimal system, were given physical and psychological examinations, met faculty and prominent student leaders, and enjoyed a doggie roast.

The 1965 College Bowl Team faced the current undergraduates at the Homecoming College Bowl.

Vice president for student development April Vari, '82, presented the results of a Quality of Student Life Study over breakfast during Homecoming and Family Weekend.  The study found a need for improvements in non-academic buildings, specifically the HUB, residence halls, and sports facilities.

In the first ever Homecoming Fall Fest, student clubs, academic departments, and on-campus organizations exhibit their activities, projects, and accomplishments at booths set up on Belvedere Field.