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Freshmen hair clipping was the most important tradition at the University of Arizona for many years. Anyone coming to the University came by train: therefore, the freshmen were met at the station and their locks were cut before the got to the campus. Many times the wrong person was clipped which resulted in legal proceedings against the University. However, as the University grew, the tradition continued as did the problems.

During the war years of 1917 and 1918, the student body dwindled down to a mere 200 plus. Those students were kept busy with their war work. There was not much time for foolish pranks or organized horseplay.

From the fall of 1918 to the middle of February, the University was a Student Army Training Corps (S.A.T.C.) camp and no regular classes were offered. When the special postwar term opened in February of 1919, students were adjusting after one semester of no school. Campus spirit was low.

With the opening of the fall term in 1919 and the large growth of the student body, trouble appeared in a different area. Instead of hair clipping, heads were painted green.

For a more dignified plan in dealing with the freshman class, which now included many older returning GIs it soon became apparent that a change from the Joe College antics had to be made. Arguments over the pros and cons of prewar hazing raged, and the administration wanted a more modified program of hazing.

The lid blew off in 1919 when the administration forced all the students to sign a pledge which would prohibit freshmen hazing in any form. This pledge had to be signed before a student could register and pay his fee. The pledge also contained a clause which provided that a student who participated in or did any kind of hazing would be expelled from school.

In 1921 the Student Body Officers attempted to keep the situation under control by suggesting new traditions as indicated in the minutes of the Student Body Officers' meeting. Below are the minutes of the House of Representatives of October 1921:

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FORMULATES NEW TRADITIONS

"A special meeting of the House of Representatives was called to order Thursday, October 6, by acting President T. D. Romero. The following resolutions were presented to the house:

"Whereas, there has been a disruption of the traditions of the Student Body of the University of Arizona, and

"Whereas, there are certain members of the aforesaid Student Body who will not obey those traditions, and customs of long standing in the aforesaid Student Body, and

"Whereas, there are certain other regulations which the upper classes in accordance with instruction from the House of Representatives see fit to enact for the benefit of the Student Body which needs must be enforced.

"Be it resolved, that upon the failure of any member or members of the Student Body to comply with any of traditions as laid down in the Blue Book or any such regulations as may be enacted by the upper classes, when acting in the accordance with the desires of the House of Representatives, that person shall be called before the Student's Council for trial.

"Should any such person or persons be found to have willfully disregarded any of the traditions or regulations of the Student Body they shall be punished by the Student Council as follows:

"They shall be deprived of all social activities of the Student Body such as Class Meetings, Club Meetings, Student Body Meetings, Fraternity Dances, Student Body Dances, any Hay Rides or Picnics and any other social activities that may arise which may be connected with the Student Body. Such deprivation to be active for such periods as the Student Council may direct.

"They shall be debarred from all Athletic privileges of the Student Body, such as Football, Baseball, Track, Tennis, Basketball, Swimming, Boxing, Wrestling, Hockey and other events of an athletic nature under the auspices of the Student Body. Such debarment to be for such periods as the Student Council may direct.

"Should any student or students refuse to appear before the Student Council for trial, the class to which that student or students belong shall be held responsible and shall suffer as a class for these misdemeanors."

The Regulations as accepted by the House were as follows:

1. Freshmen shall be prohibited from escorting a lady to any Athletic contest. They shall be under the directions of the yell leader and shall take their seats as directed.

2. The Freshmen shall enter the men's hall after the upper classmen and Sophomores.

3. Freshmen girls shall wear a small green ribbon on their right wrist in lieu of the Beanie worn by the Freshmen boys.

4. It shall then be the duty of the Freshmen Class to furnish a squad of men to be on the Athletic field each afternoon and to escort the Athletic Teams to and from the trains, carry baggage, etc.

5. The Freshmen shall not be allowed to lounge on the steps or on the grass in front of the Administration or the Library Buildings or pass over the lounge on the Memorial Fountain.

"It was decided that these Regulations and the Resolutions be read before the Student Body Assembly, and be voted on by that body a week from Saturday."

Another problem that developed was the friction between the administration and the Student Body President, Joe Conway. He was editor of the Desert and the administration accused him of financial discrepancies. Many students felt that the friction was a personality clash. According to the Wildcat of September 28, 1921, a special senior class meeting was called:

ARIZONA WILDCAT, September 21, 1921

Seniors Accept 1921 Desert Report

"The Senior Class held its first meeting of the year in Room 215 Agriculture Building last Friday. The purpose of the meeting was to consider the report given by the manager of the 1921 Desert. The report given by the auditor of the books, T. D. Romero, and accepted by the Class. Because of the difficulty that has arisen over the finances of the book, a committee was appointed to frame a resolution addressed to the Administration Committee."

To add to the confusion, in the fall of 1921 Conway was not permitted to enroll in the University because of the financial irregularities. When refused admission, he brought suit against the University and lost. Below is a copy of the court order against the University:

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF PIMA COUNTY,

STATE OF ARIZONA

Joseph Conway, PLAINTIFF

VS,

R.B. VONKLEINSMID, PRESIDENT, AND F.C. LOCKWOOD, G.M. BUTLER, D.W. WORKING, A.E. DOUGLASS, S.M. FEGTYL, D.R. THOMAS, J.O. CREAGER, D.W. ALBERT, A.W. ANDERSON, J.P. ATKINSON, ANNA B. ANDERSON, J.G. BROWN, W.E. RYAN, C.N. CATLIN, G.T. CALDWELL, T.G. CHAPMAN, PAUL CLOKE, S.R. CRUSE, F.J. CRIDER, W.S. CUNNINGHAM, F.P. DANIELS, L.D. DARROW, R.M. DAVIS, IDA W. DOUGLASS, MARK EHLE, H.W. ESTILL, M.H. ESTILL, A.S. FISHER, F.H. FLOWER, ALLEGRA FRASIER, H.H. GIBSON, HERMANCE GRIEBSCH, F.N. GUILD, H.H. HALM, R.S. HAWKINS, R.M. HOWARD, H.A. HUBBARD, JOSEPHINE B. HUBBARD, K.W. JAMESON, F.C. KELTON, A.F. KINNISON, L.F. LACEY, L.R. LANCASTER, H.B. LEONARD, F.M LIFE, ESTELLE LUTRELL, J.F. McKALE, B.J. MATTUCK, W.G. MEDCRAFT, A.O. NEAL, HELLEN NICHOLSON, P.C. NUGENT, E. OAKLEY, A.H. OTIS, F.C. PASHAL, S.F. PATTISON, F.M. PERRY, JULIA RE ELL, E.C. REID, E.R. RESISEN, C.J. SARLE, W.E. SCHNEIDER, G.E.P. SMITH, ERNEST STANLEY, EDROS TATRIAN, G.E. THOMPSON, J.J. THORNBER, INEZ THRIST, BLANCHE THUELLIER, C.A. TURRELL, A.E. VINSON, C.T. VORHIES, M.D. WEAVER, O.E. WEAVER, A.J. WIECHARDT, J.O. WILLIAMS, R.H. WILLIAMS constituting the faculty of the University of Arizona,

DEFENDENTS.

SUPERIOR COURT OF PIMA COUNTY, STATE OF ARIZONA, to the above named group of defendants, constituting the faculty of the University of Arizona, GREETING:

"Whereas, it manifestly appears to this court by the verified complaint of Joseph Conway, the partly beneficially interested herein, that you, and the above named defendants, acting as the president and faculty of the University of Arizona, have wrongfully, unlawfully, and without cause, refused o permit the said Joseph Conway to enter the University of Arizona as a student therein, he the said Joseph Conway, having all the lawful requirements and qualifications therefore and having tendered the required fees therefore, and that there is not a plain, speedy and adequate remedy in the ordinary course of law:

"Therefore, you are hereby commanded that immediately after the receipt of this writ you do admit the said Joseph Conway as a student in the University of Arizona, with all the rights, benefits, and privileges of the other students in said University that you show cause before this Court at the court room thereof in the court house in the City of Tucson, Pima County, State of Arizona, at 10 0'clock A.M. on Monday, October 17, 1921, why you have not done so.

"Witness the honorable Fred L. Ingraham, Judge of said court, and seal of said court this 10th day of October, 1921."

O. G. Failor, Clerk of said court

The Vice President, a football player, was not allowed by coach McKale to act as president; therefore, student body auditor, T. D. Romero became the acting President for the fall of 1921.

To complicate things, some town people started to stir up trouble by convincing students to break the new hazing pledge by clipping the freshmen hair. Rumors kept floating and all the campus expected that at any time the 1921-22 class of freshmen would lose their hair. Since most of the freshmen lived in the South Hall, the hair clipping would be easy.

Halloween night, October 31, 1921 was chosen, and at midnight all hell broke loose. The young freshmen woke up the next morning minus their locks. The male members of the student body had an unwritten pledge that if anyone was expelled for the hair clipping, all men would go on strike. This is how disputes were settled by college students and a few universities that had them, suffered a tremendous loss of prestige.

On October 31 the student body and many townspeople attended the assembly expecting to hear a list of students dismissed, but the announcement was not made until November 2. After dinner that evening the following notice was sent.

THE FOLLOWING STUDENTS ARE SUSPENDED FROM ALL CLASSES:

George Rafferty
Ross Kinsbury
Earl Escher
Jack Eason
Raymond Maestas
Robert Thomas
Lewis Carpenter
George Chambers
W. G. Scott
Howard Benedict
Harry Hillman
J. W. Briscoee
Charles Witte
Horace Merrill
Earl Twomey
J. W. Huffman
C. A. Clements
P. V. Stafford
Russell Van Kirk
Geroge Hill
A. O. NEAL, Registrar

ARIZONA WILDCAT, November 3, 1921

"About 7 P.M. hell again broke loose on the campus with parades and yells heard all over, "We want a strike." two or three delegations called on the acting president demanding a strike. There was confusion all over the school. Many well-meaning persons were trying to help, but instead of helping a misunderstanding between students broke out. The misunderstanding grew worse because of the lack of communication with the administration and within the different groups.

"Many petitions were circulated by different groups such as the following one to the Student Council:

In view of the fact that a number of persons entered the freshmen dormitory of the University on the night of October 31, and had a fight with the freshmen there in an attempt to cut their hair, and in view of the student body in as much as the University dormitory was entered, a class fight took place therein after "A" day appointed time for all such activity to cease.

Witness the following traditions:

First: That there shall be no more fighting between the classes after A day.

Second: That there shall be no fighting in any of the buildings of the University of Arizona.

We are inclined to hold the Sophomore Class responsible for this act except in so far as the responsibility therefore may be demonstrated to lie elsewhere."

Respectfully

The Welfare Committee

The resolution of the Welfare Committee was tabled by the student body officers. Everyone had the University at heart and many groups tried to get the students not to strike, but there was no unified front.

Out in the country (Tucson Blvd. and 6th Street) a group was meeting to find a way to stop the strike. Another group was meeting to find a way to stop the strike. Another group was listening to Dean G. M. Butler on a vacant lot (now the Marshall Building) across from the campus, while Jane Rider was trying to convince girls of the mistake of striking at a meeting on the north of campus. However, there was no unity or expressed communication.

Luckily, the acting student body president called a meeting between classes on November 4 at 8 A.M. which the entire student body attended. While the meeting was in progress, the administration followed by the faculty came into the auditorium for the regular assembly, refusing to recognize the acting president or give the students a few minutes to complete their business. The students marched out and gathered in the Aggie Building patio to conduct their meeting while the faculty met in the auditorium.

Three graduates were called in for advice: Kirk Moore, Andy Martin, and Orville McPherson. After hearing them speak, the striking spirit was gradually lessened and motions were made to try to avoid the catastrophe.

One motion was to appoint a committee composed of three graduates and three seniors to meet with the administration to avoid the strike and to discuss the dismissal of the hair clippers. The last motion was made by William Misbaugh. "Mr. President, I move that one of the problems to the administration will be that the students request the resignation of the Dean of Men (Dean Lockwood)," he said. The motion was heard clearly by the Dean of Men and other faculty members as they passed back to class from the auditorium and was passed unanimously. Motions were also made that students go to class and leave the strike problem to be solved by the alumni committee and the administration.

After five hours of meeting, all points were solved and the strike threat was over. In no time school was back to normal.

Below is a copy of a clipping from the Arizona Daily Star:

ARIZONA DAILY STAR, November 1921

University Traditions to be upheld. Student Body thanks Faculty for fairness in its dealings.

"In an assembly held yesterday morning a the University of Arizona in which a majority of the student body, the faculty, and several members of the alumni were present, all signs of discord prevalent the day before were banished and the affair of the institution are reported to be once more on a normal basis.

"The resolution drawn up by the administration committee, which gives the students power to enforce their school traditions through the creation of a "strong arm committee," was read to the students.

"The following resolution was passed giving the student body and alumni the power to provide means for maintaining the traditions approved by the student body and faculty:

"The administrative committee recommends to the joint committee of students and alumni that they report to the student body that the student body, through the House of Representatives or through other means provided, originate an amendment to the student body Constitution, providing for a traditions committee, with specific duties and powers. Until such an amendment be passed and approved, a subcommittee of the present welfare committee shall be authorized to maintain traditions."

With the passing of the resolution, it was believed that the "bone of contention" in regard to the oft-disputed question of the enforcement of the traditions has been removed and traditions would be carried out to the letter in the future. Registrar Neal stated that the formation of the traditions committee would represent the entire student body and the punishment of traditions offenders would not be hazing.

The committee of students who met in consultation with the administrative council was formulated after the students had previously voted not to strike. The students did not favor a strike as a means of obtaining their ends, rather they desired that certain definite action be taken in regard to the question of school traditions and wanted an explanation why three of the suspended students were given a greater penalty than the others. Thomas, Maestas and Carpenter had received penalties of six months or a year, and the students claimed that this was not fair.

Registrar Neal said the students had taken their punishment in "a manly way" and the faculty desired "to do the right thing and go more than half way." With the adoption of the two resolutions sanctioned by the faculty, the trouble quieted down and affairs of the students "began with a clean slate."

Dr. R. B. Von Kleinsmid told the students the consequences of a walkout. The president said if there was a strike, the University would suspend operations for a couple of days, when it would again open its doors to those who desired to get an education. The president asserted that the old student body and campus organizations would be started anew.

An older member of the student body, who was a World War I veteran, started a trend which was the beginning of the Bob Cats. This was to organize a group where ideas for the good of the University could be exchanged and passed to other members of the student body.

In January, 1922, Colonel Ernest L. Barnes, graduate manager, approached T. D. Romero and discussed the idea of such an organization. After discussing the names for possible members, they discussed how and where to meet.

The first meeting was held in February, 1922, at midnight in the Kappa Sigma annex in the 900 block of North 5th Avenue. The first members present at this meeting were:

Ernest L. Barnes
George W. Chambers
Vance C. Clymer
Malcolm Cummings
E. T. Cusick
John C. Hobbs
Joe T. Kelly
Ellsworth Menhennett
T. J. Randolph
T. D. Romero
Paul V. Ross
Harry A. Stewart
Tom J. Wallace
W. W. Wofford

Later on, Bob Thomas and A. J. O'Connor were added to the list. The decision for a public announcement in the Arizona Wildcat was a great mistake, the mistake was to call ourselves the "Wildcats."

The Cholla section of the 1922 Desert expressed the feeling of the student body toward the Bob Cats:

"The one organization that deserves criticism is the so-called "Bob Cats" otherwise known as God's people. They were organized to cause a terrific reform to take place on the campus. The first reform was to restrict the name of the "Wildcat" to the "Chosen Few." Like the Bob Cats they do their work silently and usually at night.

"It is strange to say that one of the ringleaders of the mob that night that was formed to break it up is now a Bob Cat too, whether by force or by choice we do not know, but it looks crooked. All organizations are crooked."

Hell again broke loose. The entire student body wanted to know who "God's Chosen Few" were. Anyone who was a senior and held an office was practically tortured by his friends in trying to make him confess his membership in the so-called Wildcats.

At the April meeting, it was decided to come out in the open and to change the name from the Wildcats to the Bob Cats. A pin was also designed which is still in use. On May 10th, 1922, the members wore their pins in public.

An article in the Arizona Wildcat about the organization read, "Its organization may change, but it's ideals, motto, and creed never change. Political conditions can be made better and will be made better when students begin to place the worth of their school ahead of their personal enterprise."

After many secret meetings it was decided to take over the Arizona Wildcat for one issue and let the student body know about the Bob Cats. the editorial was written by George Chambers, and after many additions and deletions the whole philosophy of the organization was given:

ARIZONA WILDCAT, March 22, 1922

Editorial: Organization of Wildcats

"Cooperation is an easy theme to advocate and to preach. It is not always so simple to practice. Much has been said from time to time by students, by faculty members, and by graduates about the desirability of cooperation of the various organizations and factions that make up the University of Arizona.

"All too frequently it seems one group goes ahead and does something and the other groups find fault with what is done or point out how much better results might have been secured.

"With the sole and other purpose of making cooperation possible, whereby this University shall become a bigger and better institution of learning, we have organized an informal, non-social, and purely business organization whose creed is a "Better University of Arizona" whose motto is "Eternal Vigilance" and whose members shall be known as "Wildcats".

"We believe this organization is the most open, frank, sincere and unbiased group on the campus and to have it continue is our ideal. We know no party lines, we harbor no petty jealousies, we tolerate the indifferent, back the worker, abhor the knocker, and idolize the person who shows that he has the welfare of the University at heart. We idolize him because he possesses these admirable qualities and it matters not to us how he demonstrates it.

"In order to keep abreast with the remarkable growth of the school, we believe that the time is ripe for some changes and reforms to take place within the institution but safety and substantial progress does not lie in hysteria and agitation, so we advocate a sane and intelligent appreciation and knowledge of our existing laws, traditions and customs before attempting to improve what now exists. But having a respect for our existing habits and customs that border on veneration, we still believe that academics, athletics, and social conditions can be materially bettered by whole-hearted support and cooperation to the entire University personnel.

"Our idea to have each and every person connected with the school take an active interest in its welfare, its name, and in some form or other to cultivate the spirit of school patriotism within every breast, and to be proud to refer to Arizona as our Alma Mater.

"The personnel of this organization will change from year to year, but its ideals, motto and creed never change. At present its members are unknown at all except by themselves and a few faculty members.

"They have been selected on the basis of their individual qualifications only, and come from every college on the campus. Every class is represented with the single exception of the freshmen.

"Hereafter the members of this organization shall wear a small pin which is representative of our name and the ideals to which we have pledged our support. The pin will be a small gold pin about one-half inch in diameter, and patterned after a wildcat head. The jaws of this peppery animal are spread apart and in its mouth it will hold a small block "A" set with red stones. The only other distinctive feature of this pin is its blue eyes.

"On the morning of May 10th, 1922, the members will first wear their pins, and from thence onward we shall daily adorn ourselves with this symbolic mark. It will be worn by us "from thence onward" for its representative of our ideals and aspirations which will not lessen when we are given our diplomas. The interest of the University is the underlying basis of the organization, hence our ideals and hopes do not die the day we sever active relations with the school."

BOBCATS GOES CO-ED

In the Spring of 1986, a new issue was faced by the Bobcats. Several women at the University applied for admission to the organization.

Having been an all male group since inception, their applications were denied and not even considered. This action caused some of these applicants to file complaints with the administration saying that they "had been discriminated against on the basis of sex," and were being denied of their rights provided for the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

Their complaints led to a policy statement from the Dean of Students saying that "all the honoraries at the University were in violation of the 14th amendment and Title IX." And that the only way to solve this problem, if the honorary system was to continue in its present form, was to integrate males and females into all of the groups. Several arguments were brought up by all of the affected organizations, but ultimately integration became inevitable.

The 1986-87 Bobcats evaluated the mandate very carefully, and after exploring all of their options sent a proposal to the Arizona Board of Regents to allow single-sexed honoraries to exist at the state universities. The following is an excerpt of the Regents response:

The legal implications of your proposal were discussed with the Board counsel and considered by attorneys representing the three state universities. Based on their conclusions, the Board is persuaded that the university recognition of honorary or professional organizations whose membership is selected on single-sexed bases would conflict with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and may significantly jeopardize any federal funds received by that university. In particular, it has been noted that while social fraternities are expressly exempted from the prohibitions of Title IX, efforts to provide a comparable exemption for honorary and professional organizations was rejected by Congress.

With this in mind, the Bobcats realized that failure to allow women to apply would force the group off campus, and they therefore opened their selection process to both sexes for the first time in the Spring of 1987. Through their search to find the thirteen most outstanding seniors at the University of Arizona, Kira Finkler, a woman, was found to be one of these thirteen and was rightfully given membership to the group.

Two of the other female applicants felt that they had been discriminated against and were denied admission to Bobcats "solely because of their sex." They filed suit against the group and several administrators and faculty. The case went to hearing, and Bobcat alumnus Dwight M. "Skip" Whitley Jr. (1969-1970) represented the group in court. The case was dismissed and the women denied of their request for a court mandate to redo the application process or grant them membership.

During the legal battle, the Bobcats and the honorary system received a great deal of local coverage by the news media. This coverage put the integration issue into the limelight, and the Dean of Students decided to rigidly enforce the previous policy statement. The 1987-1988 Bobcats took the initiative in this area and chaired a task force to provide for the integration of the honoraries. This task force was largely responsible for the honorary system, as we know it, to stay intact and continue.

Although integration had occurred within the Bobcats, disagreement arose with both current and alumni members as to whether the group should go off campus and disregard the Dean of Student's legally justified mandate. The conclusion was reached by the 1987-1988 members that in the interest "of preserving the unity and welfare of the University of Arizona" that Bobcats should stay on campus and continue as it had before. It was also felt that they should not be denied membership because of their sex. On the same note, it was made obvious that alumni had felt the same way, as that year two females were selected as honorary Bobcats, Anna Marie Chalk and Mary Levy Peachin. Thus it remains that a Bobcat's first loyalty is to the University of Arizona.

-ETERNAL VIGILANCE

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