Features | The UGA Century

Students

B Y - G R E T C H E N - D' H U Y V E T T E R

1. In 1961, two days after UGA was integrated, Dean Tate held back an angry mob. After Kent State in 1970, he donned love beads to soothe student demonstrators.
2. Female students didn't appear on campus till the early 1900s, but they now make up 55 percent of the student body. And they don't all major in home ec anymore.
3. What would game day be without the Redcoats? Founded in 1905, they became one of the finest bands in the country under the leadership of the late band director Roger Dancz.
4. The Red and Black marked its 100th birthday in 1993 when the oldest living editor, John Candler ('29), met then-editor Johnathan Burns ('93). The newspaper gained its independence from the University in 1980.

Only nine students got diplomas at the first Commencement in 1804. By 1900, enrollment was still very low: 279. Projected enrollment for 2002: 32,500.
Can you guess how many UGA students have gone on to become governor of Georgia? Howell Cobb ('34) was the first in 1851. Current governor Roy Barnes (AB '69, JD '72) is the 24th.
UGA has had three Rhodes Scholars in the last four years: Rob Sutherland ('96), Scott Hershovitz ('98), Beth Shapiro ('99).
ike a lot of students, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life when I arrived on campus two years ago. But a Freshman Seminar with professor Cal Logue helped me find a path. He was inspiring, thought-provoking, and entertaining—and he got me interested in majoring in speech communications.

Throughout my years at UGA, I've run into many people—faculty, staff, and fellow students—who have had a profound influence on me. And I know I'm not alone in that experience. When I went through training as an orientation leader, I learned about campus legends like Dean Tate, who impacted so many students through the years. To me, that's what makes UGA such a special place: the people you meet here, the people who help you take the next step in your life.

In my own way, I've tried to make a contribution. My project was to help create a special welcoming ceremony for students and their parents at the start of the new academic year. With help from lots of others, what started as just an idea turned into reality when the inaugural Opening Convocation was held this fall with former Gov. Zell Miller as the inspirational keynote speaker.

Looking at the students and parents in the audience, I could tell they were paying attention when President Adams and other speakers welcomed them to the UGA community and told them they were joining a family of more than 30,000 students, 10,000 faculty and staff, and some 200,000 living alumni.

When it was my turn to go to the podium, I got all choked up trying to say what UGA means to me. This university makes my heart sing—and, like so many before me and more who will come after, I'll never forget the time I spent here.

Gretchen D'Huyvetter is a junior from Marietta.