The Victoria College, 1925-2000: A Tradition of Excellence

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The 1947-48 Victoria Junior College
Cheerleaders were (left to right)
Mary Gladys Bauer, J. T. Swope,
Bettye Jean Snead, Aubrey Breed,
and Boydene Griffin.
“We came to school to get an education, not
looking for a chaperone to take care of us after
school hours. Now that we fought for freedom,
is this an example of what we’re going to get.
Now that we’re home and in our own country,
we feel that we should be free to do as we please
in our spare time.” Ossie Farrer, an interior lineman,
remarked, “It seems as if junior college
should issue a baby bottle to the students.
We are being led by the hand and told what we
should do with our spare time.” 17
A petition drive designed to sway the board
to reverse itself was launched. The petitioners
mounted loud speakers on a truck and broadcast
their appeal for signatures throughout the
town. They also canvassed neighborhoods
soliciting support for their cause. Their exercise
of a democratic principle produced 1,400
signatures. Undeterred, the board and chief
executive held their position. At the school
year’s opening assembly, Roach explained to
the students that the only organizations
banned were those that had constitutions
or bylaws that permitted new members only
“by vote of active members of the group.”
Excluded from the ban, Roach pointed out,
were the Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, “school
groups in which membership is attained by
merit, and religious organizations.” 18
Adrian Brandes, a college student and
spokesman for the student opposition, was
introduced by Roach and was asked to present
the counter viewpoint. After giving the outline
of the ban, as he saw it, Brandes admitted that
the prohibition against fraternities and sororities
did “not encroach upon social activities of
the students” although the ban and pledge
themselves were “pretty rough.” Brandes hesitated
in recommending to the students that
they should not sign the pledge. He remarked
“that each student would have to make up his
own mind.” 19
Opposition to the ban and pledge evaporated
after the assembly. Some students were misinformed
as to the board’s action and thought all
social activities were to be eliminated. When
they discovered otherwise, these students had a
change of heart. Teachers who supported the
ban also convinced students to shift their position.
Furthermore, students were unwilling to
buck state legislation banning secret societies
from public schools. With little public support,
48 ✦ THE VICTORIA COLLEGE, 1925-2000