In response to the reality of the Depression, the Nahheeyayli Board announced that it was not compulsory for women in the grand marches to wear corsages. The intent was to prevent embarrassment to escorts who felt they were unable to purchase corsages for their dates. Panhellenic groups interpreted this to constitute a ban on corsages, … Continued

A series of antimilitary and anti-ROTC editorials in the campus newspaper (Orange and White) in spring 1932 sparked efforts by ROTC members to have the Publications Board curtail such editorials. The Student League for Industrial Democracy led the controversy about military training (one of its members was associate editor of the Orange and White). Three … Continued

In 1933 members of the band objected to the notification from the UT ROTC department that all band members would have to take two military classes each week. Band members threated to withdraw from the ROTC program, but upon announcement that the classes would be held only during winter quarter and the band would devote … Continued

In 1933, as part of the New Deal, President Franklin Roosevelt created the Federal Employment Relief Administration to help combat national unemployment, which stood at more than 20 percent. One part of the program sought to bring into colleges and universities students who otherwise would be on the labor rolls. UT participated in the program, … Continued

In January 1935, following an incident the preceding semester in which many women in the dormitories suffered food poisoning from oysters served in the UT cafeteria, women in all dormitories complained that the trays in the cafeteria were not kept clean and that each student was not allowed enough for each meal without extra charges. … Continued

Curfew hours for women had been liberalized somewhat, and women could stay out until midnight. There were stringent requirements, however, about signing out. Seventeen women who failed to sign out properly for a weekend in the mountains were punished by the Administrative Council by being required to be in their dormitory rooms by 6:30 p.m., … Continued

In 1936 students (mostly members of the League for Industrial Democracy—later, All Students’ Union) joined the national call to participate in a nationwide, antiwar student strike at 11:00 a.m. on April 23. A strike rally in front of Ayres Hall was held but attracted only 29 people (three of whom were reporters). Organizers blamed the … Continued

In 1940 the student governing body led an effort to have the university furnish transportation between the Hill and the agriculture campus. A primary proponent was Dixie Miller. At that time, agriculture classes started 25 minutes later than those on the Hill, and students walked down Cumberland Avenue to and from the Hill, aggressively seeking … Continued

In 1943 serving of air corps cadets in the University Cafeteria in Strong Hall became an issue for women students, who were charged a flat sum for their meals and were required to take them in the cafeteria. Women students who did not have 8:00 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. classes were asked to wait until … Continued

In fall 1952 the UT Film Society, which had announced plans to show four Charlie Chaplin films and Alexander Nevsky, a Russian movie, announced it would substitute other films in response to loud protests from many individuals and organizations. US Attorney General James McGranery had recently announced that Chaplin, a British citizen, had been barred … Continued