Page 71 - 1930 October - To Dragma

70 To DRAGMA

quite busy but very happy. I marvel at my very calm nerve and con-
fidence, but that I now realize, was a true sign of my unsurpassed ig-
norance. I am sure I wouldn't have such calmness now. At the door
of the faculty room I met none other than our Judith Sollenberger of
Theta chapter, and we have stayed these last six years here together.
Another Alpha O from Theta came later—Ebba Anderson, who stayed
one year as instructor in Spanish, filling a place left by a year's leave
of absence granted to someone.

After three years had passed, just when I felt I would welcome
heartily a new interest, one of the dormitory hostesses was given a
leave of absence for a long trip. Imagine my shock when Dean Alvord
called me in conference and asked me to slip into her place for the
year. I asked a week to consider it, for it seemed preposterous to as-
sume such a family all at once—one hundred girls, and in the hall that
had been my home as a college freshman, just eight years before. The
scenes of my escapades were so recent in my mind's eye, and my fellow
companions close enough to expose me, that I feared for my success.
I did consent to take charge, however, the remaining eight months of
the year and was apparently on trial, for when the new Lucy Rowland
Hall opened, the administration suggested that I start its organization
the following September.

To describe Lucy Rowland Hall will give some idea of the setting.
Our dormitories for women are now built in what might be called a
three-sided quadrangle, leaving a large court in the center. Mansfield
Hall, the oldest, on one side, Rector Hall across the back and Lucy
Rowland, just new, on the other side. Mansfield Hall and Lucy Rowland
accommodate one hundred girls each and Rector about one hundred
thirty-five. The dormitory life of the freshman and unorganized women
is wonderfully fine. The buildings are all beautifully furnished, and
much attention is paid to the pleasure of these two groups. My particu-
lar capacity is hostess and organizer, having control of the discipline, i
the social life of the girls, and the general atmosphere of the hall. Such
a beautiful place as Lucy Rowland creates its own atmosphere, how- j
ever, so really, I might say that my chief duty is to lock the door at
10:00 P.M. and try to see for the sake of the mothers that all the cherubs
are in their trundle beds.

I feel a much bigger person for having had the opportunity of work- ;
ing with girls. I have tried to study character and characteristics, and
the stimulating part of the experience is that I have found out my fail- j
ures and weaknesses, for college girls are so brutally frank that they j
expose you even while you criticize them. Speaking as one who sees j
behind the scenes and knows the heart of the average college girl, I must ;
say that she is a very remarkable person. She is sincere and earnest
and is trying to learn to live with others and respect their points of |
view. If given the opportunity and treated fairly, she will be honest
and will meet you more than half way. There isn't anything that can't i
be done in a moment's notice, and her ideas for parties and stunts are
miraculous. She may be "wild looking" at times, smoke frequently and