The Belles
of
St Mary’s
Collese
VOL. XLI, NO. 1
ST. MARY’S COLLEGE, RALEIGH, N.C.
AUGUST, 1979
President John T. Rice
One of a Select Few
As a student at St. Mary’s
you are one of some 120,000
women who have chosen to
attend one of the 122 colleges
for women in the United
States. Compare these figures
with the 11.3 million
enrollment at 3,000
coeducational institutions of
higher education to see how
select a group you as a St.
Mary’s student are a part of.
The first college for
women was Mount Holyoke
Female Seminary, founded in
1837. Because women were
excluded from most major
universities, the women’s
college movement spread
rapidly. St. Mary’s College,
founded in 1842, is the oldest of
Raleigh’s colleges and
Universities and the second
oldest college for women in
North Carolina. Furthermore,
St. Mary’s has the distinction
of being the only women’s
institution of its kind that
serves the 16-20 age group.
Today of the 122 colleges
for women in our country the
largest is Texas Women’s
U^versity in Denton, Texas,
with an enrollment of 8,736.
The largest of the private
women’s colleges. Smith
College in Northhampton,
Massachusetts, enrolls 2,561.
St. Mary’s is typical in size of
the small woman’s college,
with 310 students in its college
program and 200 in its high
school.
The history of the
women’s college has not b^n
easy. From its beginnmg the
women’s college was beset
with more than its share of
financial difficulties. The
plight of many women s
colleges intensifi^ during tte
1960’s and early 1970’s. In fact,
between 1966 and 1976 more
than one-half of the wonien s
colleges were forced to
But during the late 1970 s the
outlook for the
college has improv^. Tc^y
most observers feel that
closings are at an end and that
fhe surviving women’s
colleges have a secure future.
Mary’s who will choore tte
unique advantages that a
San’s college can provide.
1979-80
St 23 - Arrival of Fresh-
a. New Sophomores, and
liors
24 - Arrival of
Calendar
November
Thanksgiving Holiday
1
December 13-19
ectjiuuci
it 24 - Arrival of p^cember
irning Sophomores Holiday Begins
for January 7 - Classes Resume
Feb. 29-March 9 - bprmg
Holiday
9U|iiiumvi
25 - Classes Begin for
shmen and Sophomores
t 26 - Arrival of Seniors
t 27 - Classes Begin for
ors and Seniors
28-29 - Parents
.'rii 3-7 - Easter Holiday
ASril 18 - spring
aLu 19 - Alumnae Day
May 2-8 * Examinations
May 9 - Baccalaureate
10 -^mencement
Who’s Who at St. Mary’s
Each issue of the Belles
will feature an interview with
a special person at St. Mary’s
with whom every girl should
be familiar.
Fraternity, and the Scabbard
and Blade National Military
Society.
This first issue’s in
terview is with the President
of St. Mary’s, John Thomas
Rice. Mr. Rice has been
president of the school since
1976. In our interview he
pointed out that he especially
enjoyed working at an all
female school because of the
ever-changing times, roles,
and opportunities for women.
After graduating from
VPI President Rice earned a
Postgraduate Professional
Certificate from Virginia, a
Junior College Administration
Certificate from Florida, and
a Teacher’s and an Ad
ministrator’s Certificate from
North Carolina. All these
honors are an unbiased way to
discover President Rice’s
brilliance.
President Rice, a native
of Virginia and an honor
graduate of Virginia
Polytechnical Institute, has
many impressive credentials.
He was the president of his
class in 1961, a Cadet Major of
the Regimental Staff in the
VPI Corps of Cadets, and a
Distinguished Military
graduate; he was listed in the
1961 “Who’s Who in American
Colleges and Universities”;
he was a member of Phi
Kappa Phi National
Scholarship Fraternity, the
Omicron Delta Kappa
National Leadership
However, there is also- a
personal side to President
Rice for which certificates
and honors are not
distributed. He is a truly
sincere man with a genuine
(also rare) interest in
everyone’s well-being. He
strives to please, at least a
little bit, everyone-which all
of us know is practically
impossible--but which
President Rice does very well.
He is very fair and will always
listen to both sides of an issue.
a list of duties. First, he is
in charge of all internal
operations—i.e. day-to-«J,'y
decisions, hiring or facu—y
when needed, forming
academic policy, and plan
ning of budgets. Second, he is
responsible for projecting the
potential of the college to the
community; this involves
“pep talks” to church and
social groups in Raleigh and
throughout the state and
country. Last, and most
important, he must help to
obtain financial support for St.
Mary’s. Money is needed for
such diverse aspects of the St.
Mary’s pro^am as faculty
salaries, buildings and sup
plies, maintenance, and food.
The combined tuition of all the
students alone is not nearly
enough to cover these
financial needs of St. Mary’s.
When asked what,
specifically, his job is, he gave
In concluding our in
terview, President Rice
pointed out, “The key to St.
Mary’s is its high academic
quality.” We must have high
standards; everyone who is
associated with our school
must be special-because St.
Mary’s is special.
RULES STRICT?
Do you think the rules at
St. Mary’s are strict now?
Let’s compare the rules of St
Mary’s from the past with
those of the present before you
render a final judgment.
First, in the pasi,girk at
SMC had to wear a standard
uniform, which consist^ of a
plain navy blue dress,
^esentiy the uniform is blue
ipans and a big shirt
(preferably one of Dad’s). In
the past little jeweliy was
worn. Now add-a-beads are
practically a necessity.
In former days beds were
to be made every day and
rooms kept neat and clean.
Presently beds are
made and rooms should be
unenterable because of the
mess. Also in the past quiet
hours were to be maintained
twenty-four hours a day. Now
stereos are not to be played
below maximum loudness.
Formerly no romping or
running was allowed in any of
the buildings. Presently no
walking is permitted except
when going to class-late.
In the past students were
supposed to be attentive in
class, with no distractions
permitted. Nowadays they
must either write letters to
boyfriends or daydream.
Once girls had to attend
morning and evening prayer
services. Now they are
required to participate in
evening and early morning
rap sessions. Formerly on
Saturday they were required
to devote two hours to
needlework. At the present
girls must spend at least two
extra hours sleeping.
In the past fiction books
were not to be read except on
Saturday and then only those
that were approved. Presently
no non-fiction books are
permitted except for an oc
casional textbo^; only dirty
paperbacks are approved
reading.
The rules at St. Mary’s
have changed exceedingly
over the years. Remember...
things could be worse. In fact,
they once were.
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