Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-02-29
MOMENTS p. rtSiCAl CYl U1r.
Ample Provision Made For II at the
University Of Michaan.

/ slutItu lHtolh IHllDle WIFI NlSoI vi
mind and health of body. Time was
when feminine attractiveness was pop
ularly associated with languid passiv-
! ity and clinging dependence, but all
/ that nonsense has been stamped out
! by the coeducational movement in our
higher institutions OF learning. Girls
/ the world over are being taught that Il
wonans usefulness 10 society. her en-
joyment of life and the charm Of her
personality are measured by the com
pleteness with which her mental AMI
physical powers have been developed
Especially Is this true at great 80.
educational institution like the Univcr
sity of Michigan. where girls are given
an equal chanre with men Ia make the
most Of their possibilities.
In scholarship the women easily hold
their own with the men. This is well
known to the general public. But what
Is less generally known Is that Il splen-
did service IL being rendered by the
university in the physical training or
women. Under the efficient direction
Of Miss Catharne l.. Bigelow and her
two assistants. Miss Evelyn T. Derry
and Mrs. Minnie George. together with
the cooperation of medical specialists
in the university hospitals. this work
has gone steadily forward in the inter
est Of good health
( Upon entering the university each
student Is given thorough phySicn
examination This examination. thu
result Of which l. carefully tnbulatcd
includes heart and lung tests. resist
ance strength. body measurements. etc
! If ii is found that her phySical cOndi
/ ton is average normal the student Is
then assigned to regular class work in
the gymnasium If her health is below
the average normal condition that Is,
/ il her heart action is not quite perfect
or her lungs are weak she is assigned
TO Il class specially adapted to hel
needs Should ii happen as Is fire
qucntly the case. that Il student has Il
curved spine or IA narrow chest %
round shoulders or is otherwise defer
tive in posture she is given corrective
exercises under the careful supervision
of one of the directors.
Every girl at Michigan il required To
take Il certain amount Of gymnasium
work the minimum being three periods
a week for one year. Most girls. real
ling the Importance Of systematic
physical exercise. continue the gymna-
Sum work during all four years of
their college course. There can bc no
doubt that great many girls are
saved from nervous breakdown aud
other serious Illness by the attention
thus devoted to the care of the body
The Gymnasium.
The equipment in Barbour gymna-
stun is aS complete rs could be desired.
The gymnasium proper is Il light, airy
room 81 10y 30 feet in size. 1t Is well
supplied with climbing ropes. Swedish
booms and stall bars ladders. travel
Ing rings. horse yaulting box. stand
ards for jumping. hand apparatus
clubs. dumbbplls. foils and Il running
track The large basement contains
400 lockers. ~ dressing rooms. II
shower baths aud white tiled swim
ming tank ~ by 80 feet
Then there is the large swimming
tank. where the girls learn all sorts Of
fancy strokes and incidentally acquire
IL most valuable accomplishments
A fencing class is very recent in
novation. but il is growing rapidly in
popularity. II * under the direction OF
past master in the art of fencing.
Basketball.
s.,f i,,l
The interClaSs contests, which Stimu-
late healthy class spirit among the
girls and the rigorous training rules to-
gether with the opportunity of II wide
acquaintanceShip. make this sport at
once highly popular and extremely
beneficial. Certain requirements must
he fulfilled. however. before any girl
is eligible for II place OH her class team
First she must be physically able to
play. This is aScertained by subject
ing the candidate 10 Il heart and lung
examination. Further, having passed
the physical test. she must train sys-
tematically with specified gNmnaStic
apparatus before she Is allowed 10 en-
ter basketball practice. which. once en-
ItTtU upon. size HluSl dttPnu TpplllHf-
iy. more than one absence being suf-
ficient to disqualify her for participa-
that. Finally she must be able TO show
clear record in scholarship.
The indoor training is complet al Just
before the spring recess. when an in
terclass gymnastic meet is held. an
event which corresponds to the regu-
lar indoor track meets conducted by
the men. The victorious class in this
contest receives II banner. The five in
dividual contestants making the high
est scores are awarded class numerals
II distinction much coveted 10y all girls
with athletic proclivitics.
Palmer Field
After the spring vacation the work
is conducted on Palmer field, pie
turesque glen encircled by wooded
hills. which is abort - five minute
walk from the campus. This field. pur
chased with funds raised by the girls
themselves contains six and onp-haIf