Page 9 - Spelman50thReunionBook

dress, stockings and straightening combs. Since men could visit until 7:00 p.m. Security to us
pants were only meant the presence of one elderly guard known as
allowed on “Will Shoot” and the admonition by upperclassmen

weekends at to beware of Dr. Manley’s frequent evening strolls
breakfast and in tennis shoes whose soles allowed him to show
after dark, most up undetected. We were cautioned to go in groups
of our trunks when we left campus, to avoid Milton-Yates after

accommodated dark and the dreaded “Bottom”. Our fight song
only one or two during Freshman Orientation week quickly became

pairs of slacks; skirts and sweaters were “Spelman Sing” and our initiation into the
the norm. Our belongings fit into one footlocker. “sisterhood” -- covering each other as we found
Home hair relaxers were not yet on the market. ways to get around the rules.
Learning to apply make-up, trying new hairstyles Perhaps our most traumatic experience that

and buying grown-up clothing styles not permitted Freshman year was the grueling registration
at home were parts of our rites of passage in our process. Long lines, closed classes, and messed

first days away from home.
up schedules proved to be the most harsh reality of
We were perhaps the last class to attend our new college experience. We had survived the
compulsory Chapel at 8:00 a.m., three days per reading placement tests that Spelman required, no

week and Compulsory matter how great our high school grades. The thick
Vespers on Sundays books, long study hours and unrelenting professors
and to be awakened were formidable. Some were fortunate enough to
by the bell tolling. be coached by our upperclassmen sisters as to

Our dining hall, which teachers to avoid; others were not so lucky.
Morgan Hall was By mid-semester, we were seasoned college
also a dormitory, students and ready to conquer college or so we

and our lone co-ed recreational center was located thought. Little were we prepared for the changes
in the basement of Packard. Dormitory lounges which were to occur, not only in our campus life,
were the social congregating areas where young but in our world and in ourselves.