page_title: History of the University of Texas at Arlington (1917–1965)
section_title: Student life
hierarchical_section_title: History of the University of Texas at Arlington (1917–1965) / North Texas Agricultural College (1923–1949) / Student life
caption_attribution_description: English: Sam Houston Rifles platoon at North Texas Agricultural College, fall semester, 1939.
context_page_description: The history of the University of Texas at Arlington between 1917 and 1965 was the period of its existence as a member of the Texas A&M University System. In March 1917, it was organized as Grubbs Vocational College, a junior college that was a branch campus of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, which later became Texas A&M University. Open only to white students, the curriculum at GVC centered around the agricultural, industrial, and mechanical trades. In May 1923, the college was renamed North Texas Agricultural College due to the rapid expansion of its liberal arts curriculum, the fact that it was no longer just a vocational institution, and its quickly growing enrollment. During the Great Depression and World War II, NTAC survived major declines in enrollment and multiple attempts by the state government to close it. Beginning in 1937, there was a movement in Arlington to elevate NTAC to four-year college status, but this goal would not be realized for more than two decades. Student life during the NTAC era was vibrant, although there was a cultural split between the students who lived on campus and those who commuted for classes.
context_section_description: Student life during the NTAC era was vibrant, although there was a cultural split between the students who lived on campus and those who commuted for classes. The Shorthorn continued as the student newspaper, while in 1923 the first edition of the college yearbook, the Junior Aggie, was printed. Freshman at NTAC, referred to as "fish", were subject to hazing by sophomores. Hazing persisted despite efforts by Dean Davis to ban it and expel those found guilty of it. The student body elected cheerleaders, class officers, representatives on the Student-Faculty Committee, and a homecoming court consisting of a king, queen, princess, and escorts.
  Except for those who were married or over 30 years old, all male students were members of the ROTC cadet corps, which was created in August 1923. In 1933, it established a drill team, which became the Sam Houston Rifles (nicknamed the "Jodies") in 1937. The Sam Houston Rifles eventually became the oldest extant organization in the ROTC program, and went on to perform in the 1957 inauguration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. In 1939, NTAC's 34-member college band, under the direction of Col. Earl D. Irons, toured 14 cities throughout West Texas.
  Student behavior was strictly controlled at NTAC: a curfew was enforced starting at 7:20 pm every night, dancing was forbidden, firearms were prohibited, and demerits were given for rules infractions. At NTAC, classes were held five days a week, with lectures generally occurring in the morning and labs in the afternoon. Campus clubs and organizations typically met on Thursday afternoons, while social functions were generally scheduled for Friday and Saturday nights.
  Student clubs were also popular during the NTAC era, and by 1933 there were 25 such clubs on campus. These included clubs based on geographic origin (such as Dallas County, Tarrant County, and West Texas), activities and subjects, an honor society (Phi Kappa Theta), music clubs, and social clubs for female students. Other student activities during the period included a Students' Council, dances, performances, and lectures. Among the noted guest speakers on campus during this era were Texas folklorist J. Frank Dobie, Texas governor Beauford H. Jester, U.S. Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins, and historians Arnold Toynbee and Walter Prescott Webb. Grand Ole Opry star Minnie Pearl also entertained NTAC students in 1947.
caption: Sam Houston Rifles, 1939
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