By Jason Tang
Students at BYU might feel justified in complaining about the rigorous rules of today, but a look at past policies might make them more grateful for the present.
In a report to the Board of Trustees in the early 1900s, George Brimhall, president of Brigham Young Academy, established the policy that 'students who frequent pool halls ... bowling alleys or other such places of questionable repute shall cease visiting them or suffer the penalty of being suspended from school.'
Today, most students would find this rule absurd.
'Dang, I''ve broken all those rules,' said Russell Woodward, a senior from Franklin, Idaho, majoring in business management. 'I''ve been to Ozz, Miracle Bowl and Fat Cats. I guess there''s no hope for me.'
According to the book, 'Brigham Young University: a school of destiny,' students at BYU in the late 1890s had a curfew of 8:30 p.m. during the weekdays and 10 p.m. on the weekends so students could take their schooling seriously and study.
In 1891, the editorial section of 'The Normal' reported, 'No young man has the right to rob the ladies of the study hours; they may be pleased to have you come, may treat you with the highest respect; still, this would be no excuse for your coming. Now is the time to study and the lady students have no more time to waste than the young men.'
However, students still found time to socialize and party.
'They talk about parties, but it''s not parties like we think of,' said University Archivist Gordon Daines. 'They''d go to faculty members houses and read poetry.'
Academic excellence always stood as one the most important part of the school. In the early 1890s even athletics were purposely omitted from the school.
'Man, that''s crazy,' said Ben Thomas, a junior from Idaho Falls, Idaho, majoring in business finance. 'You gotta have athletics, or else there might not be anything else to do in this town.'
Even when President Benjamin Cluff launched intercollegiate athletics, many voiced their opposition.
In 1895, President Brigham Young Jr. said college yells were an abomination to his spirit and they reminded him of 'hoodlums going through the streets.'
In 1897, George Goddard, general superintendent of the Church Sunday School Union, said, 'College yells and football games are damaging to the respectability of such institutions and very destructive in their tendency of life, limb and the religious tone that should always characterize every Latter-day Saint school of learning.'
Today the BYU Superfans club has the slogan 'Can Your Hear Us Now? GOOD!!!' Things have definitely evolved.
Even at the turn of the century, BYU traditions were different from they are now. For instance, according to 'Brigham Young University: a school of destiny,' in the 1920s freshman hazing existed. Freshman were not allowed to use the front doors in certain buildings; they had to wear a green propeller beanie hat, repeat the school college song and school yells at any time on request by a senior, and otherwise demonstrate their subservience. Punishments for failure could result in a paddling, though it rarely occurred.
'That would be scary for me as a freshman,' said Stacy Hart, from Seattle, Wash., majoring in political science. 'Transferring definitely would seem like a better option than the paddle.'
Even though life at BYU has evolved over the years, many similarities continue to carry on.
In 1922, the library was nicknamed the 'matrimonial bureau' and was a favorite for male students to meet females so they could walk them home.
Some things never change.