Student Government The transition to student government as a method of control came about in 1909-1910. In 1917 a student council of eight members was elected semiannually by the boarding school. This organization was known as the Student Council of the State Normal School Dormitories at Trenton. With some minor changes the government remained the same until 1928 when the increase in commuting students made evident the need for a supplementary plan. At that time the Student Cooperative Association was formed. By 1955 its purpose was to "act as a clearing house for all problems affecting the social welfare of the students, to unify the student activities in The College, and to foster and promote all those interests which contribute to the well-rounded life of the individual." The Association was directed by the Student Executive Board of fourteen members elected by the classes. Today, the Student Government Association has approximately sixty members, elected by the student body. Each academic department, as well as each class, is represented. In addition to the basic duty of protecting student rights, the SGA addresses student grievances, provides legal assistance to students, sponsors campus-wide activities, and monitors the constitutions of all other student organizations. Dean of Women In September 1924 the office of Dean of Women was created, and was "designed to promote the ideals of right living." Dr. Don Bliss, principal, thought this was an important innovation and said, "More time is spent by students at the hall than in the classroom, and here is the opportunity for the most effective work in character building. It is of little use to care for the scholastic training of prospective teachers and ignore the more important phase of the work-the wise use of leisure." Sororities and Fraternities Sororities reach far back into the history of The College. Until 1929, debating was an important activity of student life, and between 1908 and 1929, a yearly contest in debating was held by the Literary Societies for the Championship. By 1955, the focus had shifted from dramatics and debating to programs concerning the social life of The College and the promotion of service. In addition to sponsoring parties and dances the sororities conducted special service projects. Men's fraternities were also active in the social and scholastic life of The College, and by 1955 there were four fraternities. Today The College has twelve fraternities and thirteen sororities that serve as both service and social organizations. Community Involvement When The College moved to Hillwood Lakes it encouraged students to give voluntary leadership in various community groups, such as the Y.M.C.A., 4-H Club, and Boy Scouts. Beginning in the fall of 1942, a special orientation course without credit was required of each freshman. The first semester was to orient students to college life and the second to the community and to groups interrelated to the school. Beginning in 1995, The College expanded its commitment to service by implementing a comprehensive service learning initiative as part of the First-Year Experience (FYE) program and the general education curriculum. Each first-year student is required to complete a project connecting service to the community with the traditional classroom experience. Exchange Students Beginning in 1947-48, the first foreign students lived and studied on campus. By 1955 there had been twenty-five exchange students from a total of twenty-one countries. The visiting students were future teachers who came to learn American educational methods and organization. Around this same time The College sent its first two students for a full school year to Scotland and England. Since 1978, the School of Education has provided its students with the opportunity to student teach overseas. More than 400 student teachers have participated in the eight-week student teaching program. Today The College offers more than 150 exchange and study abroad programs in over forty-five countries. Traditional Customs By the 1950s The College had established many traditions. At Christmas, traditions included caroling by the men of the music department and a Christmas concert by the choir in Kendall Hall the Sunday before the holidays. Thanksgiving had its traditional customs as well, including the Theta Phi Sorority's annual Thanksgiving offering, which was the culmination of its drive on campus to provide a fund for the benefit of the children at Lanning School. Early in the fall the Social Board sponsored an all-college party on campus. This featured a program in Kendall, group singing in the dormitories, and a dance in the gymnasium. All students were invited and the occasion provided an opportunity for the freshmen to become better acquainted with the upperclassmen. The last week of the school year was known as Senior Week, and was marked by many ceremonies. One custom was step singing, and was observed as the junior class took possession of the steps at Kendall Hall from the seniors. The week concluded with a picnic, an informal dinner at the Inn at which humorous skits were presented, and the senior dinner-dance. Today's students are looking to the past to continue traditions of yesterday. In 1996, students reestablished the tradition of a college formal by instituting the Annual TCNJ Formal. In addition, the Class of 1999 re-instituted the tradition of Senior Week. Activities included a trip to Atlantic City, white water rafting, and a Spirit of New York dinner cruise.