Believe it or not….back in 1965, colleges had rules….and at USC they were STRICT - at least for girls! I remember, though, girls and guys from all over the country came to the University of South Carolina to party - even back then it was known as a great PARTY school…hmm…
These are just a few of the rules we lived by ….taken straight from an official USC publication:
Signing out: Everyone is required to sign out and in on engagement cards.
One weekend, several of my friends and I (we were freshmen) were on our way to Charleston for the weekend - my brother and sister-in-law were driving us and about 30 miles out we remembered we had forgotten to sign out. So that we weren’t put on restriction, we had to turn around and drive back to campus so we could sign out…
…Each student will be allowed a five minute grace period in the event of lateness in returning to the residence hall. When a student is no more than five minutes late, she must mark the amount off her engagement card in red pencil. A fraction of a minute will be counted as a whole minute. Any lateness that exceeds five minutes is not covered by the grace period rule…..
…Women are not allowed to visit in the men’s residence halls, except where there are official chaperones.
…Women students are not allowed to leave the dorm halls alone after dark. In walking to/from a campus building, each girl must be accompanied by at least one other person. To go into town to attend movies, concerts, plays, etc., each girl must be with her date, or have at least two other women students with her. (Maybe these still should apply today)
STUDY: Closed study hours for freshmen will be observed. The hours are each week night: 7:30-10:00, break, 10-10:30, from 10:30 on….
Disciplinary Glossary: A penalty given for the infraction of rules is more serious than a regular restriction. It is given by the Judicial Council. When a student is campused, she is not allowed to leave the campus at any time during the day or night. The student must also sign out any time she leaves the dorm.
Windows: Blinds must be closed at night. Students must not dress or undress when venetian blinds or curtains are open. They must be closed as soon as room lights are turned on. On hot nights, closing lower cafe curtains will be acceptable. Calling out of windows to anyone outside is not allowed. Neither is engaging in any conversation.
The Women’s Standards Committee has agreed on certain rules of dress…in reference to wearing casual clothes such as Bermuda shorts and slacks, the following regulations apply:
*Bermuda shorts and slacks may be worn anywhere in the women’s area, except in the main lobby.
*Bermuda shorts and other similar apparel are NOT permitted on the campus, in University or other public buildings of any kind, or in town.
*A coat or wrap-around skirt must be worn over Bermudas when you are walking to the gym.
*You must wear a coat over your swimsuit when going to the sun deck at your dormitory. You may of course, wear anything you want in your rooms and halls, just so the public does not see you.
What to Wear When:
Classes: Skirts, sweaters, blouses, wool or cotton dresses, loafers, flats, rain boots
Football games: tailored dress or suit, high heels
Movies: school clothes or dates dresses, heels or loafers
Teas, Receptions: Sunday dress, heels
And so on and so on…..back then we obeyed all the rules…yeah right!
