The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-14
VASSAR COLLEGE.
(By a Student of Today.)

Vassar College has now completed her
third decade and has proved that the
founder was wise in the embodiment OF
his idea of the higher education of wo-
men. The college is overflowing with
students, and many who applied for
entrance last year were turned away
because of the lack of accommodations.
One of the pressing needs of the college
is a new dormitory. as well as recita-
ton hall. The trustees have. leased
Windsor Hotel, where about eighty of
the Freshman class and the specials
reside.
The more modern feature OF college
life at Nassar is the athletic interest.
Since the erection of the gymnasium,
with its improved appointments, in 1889.
the students have taken greater pleas
ure i'm physical exercise and training.
The Athletic Association, organized In
the spring of 1895, has instituted fall
and spring field days, when the chief
events are hurdle runs, vaultinS, run
ming leaps and the inter-claSs contests
in basket ball and battle ball. These
days are among the few occasions when
class feeling is shown, which is due to
the healthy rivalry for athletic honors.
THE SOCIAL LIFE
is varied and beneficial. Among its
more important features are the recep-
tion to the new students, two weeks
after the opening of college, by the
Young Women's Christian Association;
the Seniors party tn the Freshmen. and
the Juniors to the Sophomores. on Hal
lowe'en, and the SophomoreS' party To
the Freshmen little later in the year.
In the spring the Juniors entertain the
Seniors at a farewell party, usually in
the form of an excursion down the Hud-
son. The largest receptions are the
promenade concerts, as Philalethian
Anniversary in December and Found
er's Day in the latter part of April,
when the presence of invited guests
adds to the pleasure of the occasion.
Philaletheis, a dramatic and literary
society, gives four Hall plays during
the year and often the students exhibit
great dramatic talents. This year the
plays have been. The Merchant of
Venice" "a Russian Honeymoon"
'..The Heir-at-Law" and The ANA
cons In February the Sophomores
give play, composed by a committee
of the class, in which the whole college
| and especially the Freshmen, are sub
| ject to jokes and witticisms.
| The greatest advance, however. is in
| the educational line. In 1S9i-95
| change was made in the required work
of the Freshman year, by which the
DItStTlDtu tpNOI oilly tl'
| first year, instead, of as formerly, the
first year and half This gave oppor-
tunity for Increasing the work in Eng
| lish, and a greater choice in electives
for the Sophomore year. An equally
| important change Is in the entrance re-
Quirements, which comes into opera
| tion next year, when in addition to the
Latin, two other languages shall be
offered. where formerly one was neces-
sary. The second language may be
Greek, German or French. the third may
be- French or German. These changes
are steps toward securing more solid
entrance work and an extended cleo
| tive system.
| SCHOLARSHIPS.
Vassar is fortunate in being able to
| offer assistance to q large number of
students. She has fourteen scholar
ships and six funds, besides constant CO.
operation from the Nassar Students
Aid Society. The college Aid Fund is
usually without restriction and from 1t
appropria atoms may be made to stu
dents of any grade who receive the ap-
proval of the Faculty. No deserving
student need suffer from lack of assist
| ance.
In 1896 five graduate scholarships
We're conferred on members of the class
of '95, and in June n fellowship will be
| awarded to member of SO.
| EDITH GREELEY, Glass of 81.