LD 2571 .A7 V **\.-j.:.^.\ c°^4a^;:>o ,**\>;^/\ . ^, .0^ v-s '^^ ^^o^ NEW SERIES, NO. 172 SEPTEMBER 1, 1919 aSulletin of t!)e g^tate mnibersitg of Sotoa imomm at t\)t mnibersite PUBLTSHED AT THE TINTVERSITY, IOWA CITY .ss.,ed .eoU-montbly throughout the ^-^^^"ie-^^f^rforman"? "' '"™nt"^^eo a7r'Lte^of1S?^.e'pSvS2rf^r in se/tloo m^ ai spew^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ authorized on July 3, 1918. ^AMA ffptf:cr\i I THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA IOWA CITY WOMEN AT THE UNIVERSITY PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVEESITY, IOWA CITY For the first time the University of Iowa is issuing as an ofl&cial bulletin a document which is entirely the work of students. The idea was suggested by the President of the Women 's Council, approved by the Dean of Women, and worked out by a representative committee of undergraduate women. Originally it was intended to be published as a handbook for women already on the campus, but the university editor, believing that young women planning to enter college would be interested in the ideals and activities of women students at the University of Iowa, offered to include it in the series of University bulletins. Nellie S. Aurner, Dean of Women «. Of 0. ocr 8 19,3 WOMEN AT THE UNIVERSITY This bulletin is intended to furnish the girl who is now, or expects to be, a student of the University of Iowa with infor- mation which she may desire about regulations and organiza- tions, and to give her some idea of what is expected of an Iowa Woman. College life offers no privileges without corresponding re- sponsibilities; and the girl who is fortunate enough to be able to continue her education beyond the high school at state expense must recognize her obligation to contribute something in return for the extraordinary advantages that are provided for her by the University. These responsibilities may be said to be of three kinds : her responsibility to herself, to the Univer- sity, and to the state. The University offers a young woman both general culture and specialized training in any vocation she chooses to select. She may fit herself to be a teacher, a nurse, a doctor, a dentist, an engineer, a lawyer, an artist, a musician, a chemist, a dieti- tian, a business woman, a journalist, a social service worker, or she may enter any of the other vocational fields now opening to women. Whatever it is that she likes best, she owes it to her- self to become a specialist in that particular field. Competition leaves no place for the dabbler — the woman who knows a smat- tering of a great many things and no one thing well. But specialized knowledge alone will not bring success. A girl must possess also personality, the faculty of drawing people to her. For this are necessary honesty, buoyant good health, self- confidence, and modesty. Girls and boys are not born with their personalities already moulded; they are given certain potentialities which develop according to environment and self- training. The girl who, during her college days, grasps her opportunities for developing those potentialities to the fullest extent is training herself to be worthy of her own self-respect. Any University is to a very large extent what the students make it. A girl who graduated not long ago from a certain college said, ''I am ashamed of my school; I am ashamed to say that I graduated from it. ' ' She did not recognize the fact that if she had reason to be ashamed of her school, it was her fault. The University needs people who, when they see a con- dition that needs a remedy, will not say, "Why don't they do something about it? " but who will say, "Why don't we do something about it?" Who are "they," if not the students themselves and the faculty — that is, the University public. Men grow only through a definite turning of public opinion in some certain direction. It is the business of every student to see that that public opinion is turned in the direction of highest development of each individual, each group, and of the University. With this idea in mind the women of the University, led by Staff and Circle, formed the University Women's Council. This body is composed of Staff and Circle, Freshman Commission, and representatives from each residential district of Iowa City, who meet twice a month to discuss matters of interest to wcwnen, and to recommend social regulations to the University Social Committee. Recommendations are made on the basis of student opinion as ascertained by district meetings held by the various representatives, or captains, of the districts. The chief accom- plishment of the Council during the spring of 1919 was to prepeire this bulletin for the assistance of present and prospect- ive women students and to interest the University in publish- ing it. The Council, in conjunction with the University Coun- cil, composed of both men and women, is a definite step toward self government based on public opinion and its intelligent direction. A college course at the University costs the state of Iowa much more than is received in tuitions. The state makes this gift for a definite reason — because it realizes that education is the foundation of a successful democracy. This gift is not a charity; it must be paid back, exactly as if it were a definite business obligation ; not paid in money, it is true, but in service heightened by training. Therefore the University of Iowa is a place for earnest work, and organized play, so combined as to train in the most effective manner, men and women who mil be leaders in progress and civil welfare. The girl who works and plays honestly and fairly, with ideals of service ahead of her, who accepts the responsibilities that are hers, cannot fail to become a potent factor in the life of the University, and of the world of affairs. HONORS Obviously the first duty of every student is maintain a high grade of scholarship. The University and the consensus of the student body demand it. Fortunately the vast majority of girls, as well as boys, cheerfully recognize this obligation. The few who fail to do so quickly fall by the wayside and soon withdraw from the University. Certain honors which come to those who attain high rank in scholarship deserve mention. In the liberal arts special honors, in their grades, are awarded at graduation. The honor With highest distinction is given to the five students whose standing is highest; With high distinction, to those other students whose standing brings them within the highest twentieth of the graduates for the entire year; With distinction to those other students whose standing brings them within the highest tenth of the graduates for the entire year. These honors are awarded at commencement and are inscribed on the diplomas of the recipients. Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha of Iowa, is a national honorary society, which elects to membership from the senior class each year a certain number, about a tenth of the class, who have attained high standing in all the work of the course. Sigma Xi has for its chief purpose the encouragement of orig- inal work in scien VC^ in 'St ^'-'t. 0- O N O Hq , 'o . . * A