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) / Arlington State College (1949–1965) / Student life
caption_attribution_description: English: Arlington State College Miss Dixie Belle candidates sitting on cannon: Linda Davis, Martha P[?], Janet Peterson, Monda Freeman.
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 evolved rapidly during the ASC era. However, social and political issues were not a major part of the campus culture at the time. During the ASC era, the college encouraged the creation of student clubs and societies based on interest as well as professional and social organizations, which grew rapidly in number between the late 1950s and mid-1960s. In 1954, ASC made its cadet corps optional instead of mandatory for the first time in its history. The Shorthorn continued to serve as the student newspaper on campus while the Arlington Review was created in 1962 as a literary magazine publishing the works of students.
  In 1961, ASC created the Student Activities Program, which organized activities, dances, guest speaker appearances, and the screening of films at the Hereford Student Center. In fall 1965, its events were attended by over 5,000 people at a time when just 970 students lived in dormitories on campus. Featured performers included jazz musician Lionel Hampton, classical guitarist Andrés Segovia, and the Vienna Boys' Choir. Among the most popular student events on campus during the mid-1960s were dances, Western Day, and the Winter Olympics, which featured oddball events such as tricycle-pulled chariot races and pogo-stick jumping.
  Student government became more prominent and effective during the ASC era. In the 1950s, ASC had a 20-member Student Council whose members were all appointed by the college president. In 1962, the Student Council was enlarged to 30 members, 16 of whom were elected by ASC students and the remaining 14 of whom were appointed by the president. The Student Council's main aims were to improve services to students, facilitate better overall communications on campus, make the college's grounds safer and more aesthetically pleasing, and discuss issues of concern to the student body.
caption: Miss Dixie Belle candidates, 1962
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