The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-10-26
East Drops
ChaberOnS,
Cigaret Ban
BY RUTH
written for NEA Service)


NEW YORK, oct. 26.-The recent
decision Of Hunter college to pro-
vide a smoking room for its wom-
en- students and to admit tobacco
advertisements in student publica-
tons. gives nicotine a 100 per cent
rating Of respectabillity among the
eastern wolnen's colleges.
The bitter t~en-year-old fight be-
tween defenders of conservatism and
apostles of young women's freedom
to do what they like, is in effect
over.
C%haperons, compulsory chapel,
required courses and 10 o'clock cur
few finally have gone overheard,
along with the ~anti-smoking rules
IN the last three years or SO.
Given Many Liberties
Five years ago a Whit Of nicotine
on the breath, an, unchaperoned
motor ride in broad daylight, an
excursion to the late" movies, if
discovered, brought expulsion in a
cloud of disgrace at the leading
women's colleges Of the east.
Today the girls enjoy commodi-
Gus smoking rooms, choose their
courses pretty much as they like,
and go to bed as fancy dictates.
They cut classes and chapel free
~. For the most part they motor
where and with whom they please.
This "abdication of the college au-
thorities from their traditional role
of police and social arbiter won
praise from the presidents Of Vas
sar, Wellesley, Barnard, Hunter and
Mt. Holyoke in recent interviews.
Colleges Follow Parents
The flexibility of c%urriculums and
social regulations and the new in
dividualism which has developed
with a rush among the members
of the current college generation,
they described as 'the best prepare
ton for life"
THE college is concerning it
self primarily with the develop
ment of the mind rather than the
control of social customs" explained
Miss Mary E. Woolley, president OF
Mount Holyoke college, n of the
oldest institutions in this country.
Parents were the first to relax
supervision and permit their daugh-
tiers the chance to make their own
decisions. It was proper for the
college to fall in line when it was
proven that young women could be
trusted"
End Thrills for "RebeIs"
Motoring and weekend privi-
leges have only minor restrictions
now" admitted Miss Ellen Fitz
Pendleton, president of Wellesley
college, who agrees with Miss
Woolley that the new individual
ism has a rightful place in col
lege life.
Actually the colleges were much
slower to relinquish traditional
restrictions than were the parents
of their charges.
An the present capitulation to
the mode has done away With
many outlets for excitement and
c%ontriving on the part of the young
women who love to be in rebellion.
Mothers Abetters
Many a girl was expelled from
first rank colleges because she was
caught with a cigaret dedling her
lips, although her own mother
smoked casually at home and
couraged her to do so.
Mothers who refused to sit up for
their daughters to return from late
parties were likely to aid and abet
their daughters in planning UNI
chaperoned appearances at college
promes. Like the prohibition law,
the strict Social regulations Of the
college tried to stem the tide OF
popular feeling.
After a decade of enthusiastic
bootlegging of modernity by the
students, the wal is over and the
college girls may do pretty much
what they please.