Wednesday, November 6, 1974
Volumne 6 — Number 4
Then and Now
Chowan's Regulations Changed
From 1848 to the Present
By BECKIE WORKMAN
On May 19, 1848 The Chowan
Association approved to estabhsh
the Chowan Female Institute. In
October of that same year eleven
girls arrived and registered for
classes. When fall semester
began in 1931 the first men were
admitted as full-time students.
From its beginning years up until
this day Chowan has changed its
rules from time to time. Before
you continue to read this article
ocV vniircplf “What ore rn??
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feelings about the rules at
Chowan?”
Then
The regulations for the 1948-51
year prescribed the dress which
the girls were to wear: “In order
to form habits of economy, and
prevent rivalry in dress, the
Board has prescribed a uniform
for Sabbaths and holidays. For
winter, a deep blue merino, or
other suitable fabric — for
summer, a pink calico or
ginghams, and white cambric or
muslin. The bonnet to be straw,
dressed with blue for winter and
pink for summer. During school
time any dress may be worn not
more expensive than the
uniform.” Other rules were that
expensive jewelry was not
allowed to be worn by the
students. Purchases for the
young ladies were made under
the instruction from their parents
and guardians.
The next year these regulations
were repeated and others were
added. The boarding students at
the school were not allowed to
receive or make visits or attend
any exhibition without the per
mission of the principal. When
they left school they had to be
escorted by a teacher. Students
were not allowed to open ac
counts with the merchants
without the permission of their
parents or guardians. All pur
chases had to be approved by the
teacher who escorted the student.
The control of the students was
left totally with the principal and
his faculty, and the officials of the
College declared that their
discipline was mild. “Every
effort is made to reclaim the
erring by kindness and private
appeals 10 the TCaSOn aliu COli-
science; if these efforts fail, the
student is privately removed
from the Institution. No young
lady will be allowed to remain in
the Seminary whose influence
tends to encourage indolence or
insubordination, or, whose in
fluence is in any respect, of an
unflavorable character.”
Additional rules were stated in
later editions of the catalogue.
Students were restricted from
visiting the post office or stores
except in cases of need and then
only when escorted by an official
of the Institute or a relative.
Letters received by the students
passed through a member of the
faculty. Where there was
suspicion of an underhand
correspondence, the letters were
enclosed to the parents or
guardians without the knowledge
of the student.
By the school year 1856 the
officials had changed the rules
concerning dress. The dress was
to be simple, modest, and not
costly. Extravagance in dress
was not allowed. No jewelry
except a plain ring or breastpin
were to be worn. Parents were
asked to avoid the allowance of
large pocket money, as such
Bicycles Recovered
By MIKE PATTERSON
With the recent trend in
ecology, as well as the gas
shortage the last few years, the
bicycle has enjoyed a rebirth of
popularity. People are once again
discovering that it is a very
pleasurable form of not only
transportation, but excercise.
The bicycle fad has grown
enormously in the past few years-
and so has the number of stolen
bicycles. Chowan College has
proven to be of no exception in
this matter. Euell Atkinson, head
of the Security Department here
at Chowan, reports that there has
been “a rash of bicycle thefts
here on campus.” The Security
Department is currently holding
indulgence has a tendency to
promote extravagant and idle
habits in the individuals and
exert injurious influence on their
companions. In the 1890’s the
boarding students were not
permitted to have visitors except
relatives and friends from their
own community. In the Catalogue
for 1900-1901 this rule was made a
bit more distinct by the addition
of “in case of young men, only on
written permission from parents
or gUdrdians given uuectly to the
President or to the Lady Prin
cipal.” All students are required
to attend morning and evening
frayers in the Chapel; also
Sunday School and public wor
ship at a town church on Sunday,
and at night services in the
College chapel.
The rules were changed from
time to time but were rather
(Continued on page 4)
I
)»74 Students
several bicycles they have
recovered, but that have not been
claimed by their owners.
If those bicycles had been
registered, the owners would
have been fairly easy to find. But,
alas, the previous owners didn’t
bother. So, if you have had a bike
stolen recently you may want to
check with the Security
Department.
Bicycles, if the owner so
desires, may be registered at the
Security Department in the
basement of McDowell Columns
Building. The fee is a very
nominal $3.00 a year or $2.00 a
semester and well worth it if your
$110.00 Sears Special turns up
missing.
Students of the Past
Look Us Over Day Is Successful
By CATHY CAVE
Chowan College has given High School students the opportunity to visit the campus academ
ically and socially. This was a fulfilled day of events throughout the school. Look Us Over Day was Saturday
afternoon October 26, 1974. Students toured the college from lunch at 12:00, with interest programs of all
sorts ending the day with a football game at 8:00.