Prickly Pear, Yearbook of Abilene Christian University, 1990 Page: 73

                                
Clubs provide F

I

"Social clubs - the salt of the earth to the one that is in
them, and the scum of the slums to the one who is out,
but wants in. Social clubs have their place in Abilene
Christian college. They fill a need for binding certain
groups of students together which no other organization
can meet. Social clubs can be of great value to a school
and they will be in ACC as long as they remain in their
place." - 1935 Prickly Pear
Almost immediately the preparatory school became
known as Christian College. It began to be accepted in
the community as a permanent institution and families
began to move into town to be nearer the school.
Debating and literary societies and sports teams were
started at the beginning of the school. During the postWorld
War II period they flourished.

\J D          LY          atmosphere
Besides social clubs there were the normal
academic, honors and departmental groups in addition
to groups compiled of people from the same
geographic region. There was a Panhandle club, a Big
D club, a Sooners club and an East of the Mississippi
club, among others. Club membership began
increasing in the late '60s, then dropped off a little
until the '70s. By the late '70s social club memberships
increased and remained high.
Some clubs have survived from the early days of
ACU, including Ko Jo Kai, GATA (which started out as
Girl's Aid To Athletics and is now Girls Aiming Toward
Achievements), Sub T-16 and Trojans. One club started
out as Lucky 13, then rechartered to Pals, then
rechartered again as Delta Theta. In the spring of 1990
they rechartered again as Xi Beta Chi.

THE BELL BECKENED students when
it was their turn to eat at the cafeteria.
In the '50s there were so
many students dinner time had to be
staggered. The original bell the campus
had was cracked during the celebration
when the school was saved
from bankruptcy.

IN THE EARLY days of ACC everyone,
including teachers, had to attend
Chapel. Before Moody Coliseum
was built, Chapel was conducted
in Sewell. Three or four devotionals
were conducted to accommodate all
the students. Until the recent advent
of the Vali-Dine system, students
were assigned seats.

HISTORY / 73