Center for Archival Collections
Archival Chronicle
August 2010: Volume 29, Number 2
Gallery: 100 Years of Student Life at BGSU | Archival Chronicle Index | CAC Homepage
Student Life in 1938: The Women's Handbook
At left, the women of Alpha Xi Delta mingle at a student reception during the 1940s
While women's social roles were changing throughout the twentieth century, "proper conduct" was still deemed particularly important for co-eds. At BGSU, the women students themselves took on the task of setting standards for conduct, appropriate dress, and curfew hours, and enforcing those standards through a discipline system. Students who broke the rules could have their privileges revoked, their freedom of movement restricted, or could be brought before the Dean of Women for more serious punishment. Reproduced below is the list of common infractions which could earn demerit points. Nearly everyone earned a few points. By the 1970s, however, this separate disciplinary system for women was abandoned. Today, all students must meet the same standards of behavior.
Demerit System
(from 1938 Women’s Handbook)
Any person receiving 5 demerit points in one semester shall be summoned before the house chairman; for 10 demerits, before the Dormitory Board; for 15, the Executive Board shall have power to withdraw privileges.
The house chairman shall appoint proctors every two weeks. In case of absence, proctors shall appoint substitutes.
Demerits shall be reported by the proctors, house chairman, dormitory board members, and Association officers residing in the Halls and by the House Mother.
Proctors are held responsible for noise and shall receive two demerits if they permit same. Proctors shall receive double demerits for failure to give demerits when deserved and 1 demerit for failure to attend to the lights.
Every two weeks reports of demerits and light cuts with dates of same shall be left with the house chairman.
| Infraction | Demerit Points |
| Study Hours | |
| Noise in room or corridor during study hour | 1 |
| Visiting during evening study hour | 1 |
| Failure to respect a busy sign | 1 |
| Quiet Hours | |
| Disturbance after retiring bell | 1 |
| Disturbance before 7 a.m. on school days and 7:45 a.m. on holidays | 1 |
| Disturbance during Sunday quiet hour | 1 |
| Lights | |
| Lights on at 1st visit of proctor | 1 |
| Lights on at 2nd visit of proctor | 1 |
| Lights on at 3rd visit of proctor | 2 |
| Use of lights before 5:30 a.m. | 1 |
| Use of bathroom lights for study | 1 |
| Failure to turn off light when leaving room | 1 |
| Failure to report light cuts to proctor | 1 |
| Bathroom and water faucets | |
| Use of bathroom and water faucets after last bell* | 1 |
| Use of bathroom and water faucets before rising bell** | 1 |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Rude actions in the dining room | 1 |
| Running in the corridors | 1 |
| Shouting in parlors, corridors and rooms | 1 |
| Loitering at door when callers are leaving | 1 |
| Failure to send callers home at specified time | 1 |
| Failure to sign cards as requested in rules | 1 |
| Failure to return to house at proper time: | |
| For first five minutes late | 1 |
| For each five minutes thereafter | 2 |
*Last bell was at 11:00 p.m. on school days, 11:30 p.m. on Saturdays, when lights were to be turned off.
**Rising bell was at 6:45 a.m. on school days, 7:45 a.m. on holidays.
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