Sunday, November 26, 1939
Need for capital and jobs
is main obstacle to co-ops
Two factors constantly enter
Into the co-operative movement
tending to prevent expansion and
tending to make it forever impos
sible to develop rooming groups.
In the first place, the capital
outlay for a rooming house is too
great for the students of meager
financial backing to maintain. And
second, it is essential that prac
tically . every student who is a
member of a co-operative hold a
cash job or have a sizeable cash
reserve, two things which the
majority of boys do not have.
Need banker.
To have a co-operative rooming
house, an outlay for furniture and
the large Initial rent for the dwell
ing is on the whole too large for a
group without financial reserves
to raise. Unless a banker or some
graduate is willing to advance the
money on easy terms for a long
period of time, the chances of se
curing a house are ml.
' This obstacle is exemplified,
Dean Epp explained, by the expe
rience of several members of the
Cornhusker Co-op, when they tried
to get hold of the house at 1327 R
this fall.
Their efforts resulted in no suc
cess in as much as a fraternity
with stronger financial backing
was able to nab the house out
from under their noses.
Long term investments.
This obstacle can be dealt with
Jn the opinion of Prof. L. B. Sny
der, assistant professor of rural
economics, only by large Invest
ments by business men. In his
experience with the Graduate Stu
dent club of which he is a mem
ber, he declares that he has put
Boarding
ACBC boasts
colorful past
Ag College Boarding Club is the
Bole remnant of the first coopera
tive movement which started on
the city and ag campuses better
than ten years ago. Throughout
its colorful history, wherein it
changed location two times, bat
tled for supremacy in all ag cam
pus activities, and expanded to its
present size of 57, Mrs. Wilson,
house mother, feels that it has
filled a needed place in each stu
dent's life.
"It was upon the suggestion of
Mr. Goodding back in 1929 that I
started the first student coopera
tive," Mother Wilson, pioneer and
advisor to the movement exclaimed
in explaining her interest in mak
ing a home for out-of-town boys.
At that time, she explained, she
was living a considerable distance
from the campus and scarcely had
the facilities to assist in such a
program.
Get filled up.
Goodding'8 theory was that
farm boys should have some place
to eat where they could get a fill
of good food for a very reasonable
amount. "After finding all the
women near the college skeptical
about such a venture, the profes
sor and I came to an agreement,"
Mr9. Wilson said. He had found a
rf ludent named Copenhager who
i he thought was a good business
' man and could get the cooperative
movement started. "I accepted,"
Mrs. Wilson smiled, "and I have
never regretted since."
The ACBC spent a four year
embryonic period in the basement
of Mrs. Wilson's house some eight
blocks from the campus. Thruout
this period a general skepticism
prevailed and it was hard to get
student interest aroused. Many
thought that there was danger of
having to pay out additional sums
if money if the venture failed.
NYA program helps.
It was with the instigation of
NYA which gave work to large
number of boys and the realization
of the advantages that might be
derived from living close to the
campus, that the house was moved
first several blocks west on Hol
drege and later to its present cite
at 1401 North 33.
Practically everything dealing
with the management of the house
is left tq the boys to handle. At
the first meeting of the year, the
group votes on where to set the
weekly dues and on what sort of
program is to be followed. One
from their members is elected
steward to do all the purchasing
and to collect the weekly dues.
Future expansion blocked.
"Possibilities for further expan
sion are definitely blocked," Mrs.
Wilson sighed. "There are no
large quantities of money into the
vulture quantities which he can
only hope to recover over a period
of years.
Coupled with this financial de
terent, If the fact that student
niembers with prospects of leav
ing the campus within four years
are unwilling to purchase the
equipment necessary to run the
houses.
Perhaps the reasons for the
greater number of co-ops on the
ag campus than on the city cam
pus is due to the greater number
of cash jobs at the ag barns, Dean
Epp suggested. A majority of
fellows in all the clubs are em
ployed at the present time and in
the case of ACBC practically all
are employed on the ag campus.
NYA jobs.
It is impossible for students who
can secure waiter jobs, or other
employment in which wages are
paid in meals to belong to such a
group. Mrs. Wilson of the ACBC
explains one of the major stimu
luses to the growth of her house
membership was the introduction
of a great many cash NYA jobs at
the college.
Tho subsidiary to the financial
obstacles, a third factor is the at
titude of the students' minds. Dean
Epp in his summary report of the
movement declared "No co-operative
group can long endure if its
existense is dependent upon the
coaching of a person or persons
not directly connected with it. En
thusiasm for co-operation must be
generated within the group; the
initiative and resourcefulness of its
own members must constitute the
will and means for existence.
groups record late expansions
Single city Grad co-op in Baldwin hall
campus club fourth year grows rapidly
The only co-operative for men
on the downtown campus, the
Cornhusker Co-operative Boarding
club, has increased from a group
of 14 charter members in Septem
ber, 1938, to 36 members this fall.
Patterned after the ACBC, the
Cornhusker co-operative, 1516 S,
offers its members a schedule of
hour dances, intramural sports
events and regular Monday night
meetings.
The weekly board bill charged to
members is $4. Purchasing food
in huge amounts, the organization
is in a position to offer better qual
ity food than is obtainable for a
similar price elsewhere. The mem
ber in charge of purchasing gro
ceries and planning the menus re
ceives his meals in return. Waiters
are given one meal for each hour
they work.
Financial setup.
The working capital for the en
terprise is derived from the sale of
two shares of stock at (2 per share
to each member. At the close of
the semester these members re
ceive $6.00.
Representatives of the co-operative
claim that rooming charges
could be reduced 33 percent if the
group were able to obtain a house
large enough to make co-operative
rooming possible. They tried un
successfully this fall to secure the
house at 1325 R.
New members for the group are
selected from a large waiting list
which is in turn made up of men
who have been invited to the house
for free meals and who have re
ceived the approval of two-thirds
of the members. Two members of
the waiting list are voted upon
when a vacancy occurs and the
one who wins Is permitted to join
the group for a six weeks proba
tionary period. He becomes a
member if he receives unanimous
approval at the end of that time.
Bob Kubicek is president of the
co-operative group; John Mercer,
vice president and social chair
man; Clement Anerson, secretary,
and Lynn Landgren, steward.
houses that are larger and yet as
conveniently located as the place
in which we now board. The hous
ing facilities apparently stand in
the way of ever developing a co
operative rooming houso of any
size.
Actively participating In ag
campus activities, the group boasts
the winning of well over a ma
jority of the first place cups in
Coil-Agri-Fun over the last ten
years. In addition they have been
prominent In athletics, and have
taken active part) in university
social events.
Mother of co
A- -v
r
I
In her cozy second floor room
at ACBC, Mrs. (Mother) Wilson,
pioneer of the cooperative move
ment at Nebraska spends a good
part of her time, both alone and
with her boys.
For ten years Mrs. Wilson has
been a guiding hand in this move
ment, coaching and giving her
support to all efforts made by
other groups to get a start. Her
house alone survived from the
Most unique of the university's
co-operative rooming houses is the
ag college's Grad club, which con
sists entirely of graduate men,
now enjoying its fourth year of
successful existence. Charging $30
per month for board and room, the
group now numbers 25 members,
10 of whom both room and eat at
the house.
The club was Initiated by 12
graduate students three years ago.
For two years the club was located
on No. 37th st. Before moving to
its present address, 1301 No. 33,
it stayed for a while at 534 No.
26th.
Pays dividends.
Last year the Grad club paid
its members patronage dividends
amounting to 12 per cent of the
monthly bill. During the preceed
ing year an 8 per cent dividend was
paid. Half of these dividends are
used to furnish working funds for
the group from one year to the
next.
The monthly bill paid by the
club's members covers the cook's
salary, food expenses, heat, pay
ments to the equipment fund, etc.
At the present time the fund pro
vided for the replacement of equip
ment is about $1,000.00.
Eating plan.
The menus served by the club
are made out by the cook. Pur
chase of food is under charge of
the treasurer. One of the methods
by which the club effects savings
in food costs is the purchase of
food in large quantity. Moreover,
the club butchers its own hogs at
the ag college and places them in
cold storage. Eggs arc furnished
at wholesale prices by one of the
fellows living at the house, whose
parents are farmers.
Dr. Lloyd B. Snyder, professor
of rural economics living at the
club, points out that one of the
biggest advantages of the club is
that it promotes more social life
among graduate students.
Gives social life.
"Graduate study is exacting
work," Professor Snyder declares,
"and graduate students are in
clined to forget everything else
and get in a rut. Living, at the
club promotes needed social life.
Besides, all the members are inter
ested in the same type of thing.
Consequently, these become the
subject of bull sessions.
Another advantage of the co
operative to which its members
point is that it brings fellows from
many parts of the country into in
timate contact. Students from
Vermont, Michigan, Washington
State, Utah, and Texas are in
cluded in the club's personnel, as
are representatives of five under
graduate fraternities.
- operatives
Asp i :
DAILY NEBRASKAN staff photo.
various houses which were or
ganized as the movement got un
der way In 1929.
Middle-aged and ultralaoodna-
tured, the mother of co-operatives
continues to assist the stewards in
planning the meals and in pur
chasing the food. In her own
words, Mrs. Wilson expressed
great joy over her work at ACBC.
From only an overflow unit for
tne crowded ACBC house of 1938
Baldwin hall, has crown to a mpm-
bershin of 29 and has developed an
activity program which includes
nour aances, intramural athletics,
and several annual parties held
lointiy witn the mother house
ACBC.
In the large one time home of
Mrs. Baldwin, who now operates
the house and helps with the food
ior tne boys, the ag college group
nas expanded to near capacity.
inougn it is not a rooming house,
"Mother" Baldwin turns over the
parlor with couches and radios,
and the large basement dining
room for the use of her boarders.
$4 per week.
Operating at cost and acquiring
surpluses through the advantages
of mass buying, the house operates
for $4 per boy each week. From
this fund, a percentage goes to
Mrs. Baldwin, another part is used
for food and supplies, and five
cents goes into a sinking fund
which covers incidental expenses
such as newspapers, magazines
and social activities.
A percentage of the surplus
which accrues during the year is
turned back to the students of the
club each spring on the basis of
the amount paid in by them.
Started last year.
The 20 student group which
started the venture last fall grew
to 26 in the spring. During this
same period (he policy of the house
was changed so that short term
boys are now excluded. Despite
these restrictions, however, Mrs.
Baldwin explained, no difficulty
has been encountered in filling the
house this fall. Further, that they
might be sure that only genial fel
lows will be included, an extensive
probation plan of selection has
been introduced.
The plan is not new to Baldwin
hall. Students desiring member
ship or those asked by others to
come- into most any co-operative,
are Placed upon probation for six
weeks during which time they are
inspected by the group. If in this
period friction arises, or If the
newcomer is distasteful to the
others he is at that time removed.
Such a course has not as yet been
followed however, in our club the
house mother assured.
St. Paul hears Worcester
Dr. D. A. Worcester, chairman
of the department of educational
psychology and measurements,
will address the university class
of St. Paul Methodist church Sun
day morning on the subject, "The
Teacher's Attitude Toward Religion."
. :::v::-.:::x;x-x
1 '
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Co-op clubs
pass tenth
milestone
(Compiled In nnrt from a nurvev mm-
ducted by the office of the dean of stu
dent affairs.)
This year marks the tenth an
niversary of the first student co
operative on the Nebraska cam
pus. The dream of Professor Good-
ding back in 1929 that in some
way out-of-town students might
be seated at well-provisioned tables
and that they might participate
in common social activities has at
last born fruit.
On this tenth anniversary, the
movement can boast four strong
men's organizations encompassing
over 150 men on the city and ag
campuses and an eaual number of
women's groups with memberships
topping yu.
Behind every attemDt to form
cooperative houses, but through
experience skeptical about pushing
siuaenis into mem, the office of
tne dean of student affairs is now
proud of the work that has been
done. This office has recently pre
pared a summary of the hardships
and successes of houses in the
past decade. Omitting for the mo
ment the early growth of the
movement at the ag college, Dean
Epps report began,
lo give a perspective of stu
dent cooperation at Nebraska (the
city campus) we first go back to
the fall of 1932. That fall John
Coupland, a sophomore in the arts
college, with the help of a few
other students rented a furnished
house at 3222 Vine street to board
and room on a share-exnense
basis. They hired a lady to do the
cookiner and cleaning for them.
The group was small, containing
oniy aDout eignt students. It. func
tioned for the school year, but was
discontinued thereafter.
"The reason for discontinuing1
was the fact that they found it
difficult to rent an appropriate
house sufficiently near the campus
so that the distance would not be
a burden to the peripatetics. An
other reason for abandoning was
the fact that Coupland found his
burden in operating the house waa
greater than what he gained by it.
The report explains that con
currently with the short life of
this venture, the athletic depart
ment took a step in the support
of the cooperative movement. Con
scious of the inroads the depres
sion was makine on the students'
opportunities to attend school, this
department, the report explains,
worked up interest and quite a
little enthusiasm among business
men for a cooperative house for
athletes.
This house likewise lasted but
year. The business men fii
nished it with secondhand but us
able furniture, and all efforts pos
sible were made to fill it with 18
men. The program failed, however,
first because it was started late
in the fall after students had al
ready gotten settled. Secondly, and
perhaps more important, was the
seventy or the depression which
forced a bloc of the members out
of school entirely. One criterion
of cooperatives and one that this
nouse didn't meet, Dean Epp con
tinued, is that bills must be paid
by the members promptly either
from accumulated reserves or
from current jobs.
Despite the hardships suffered
by these downtown co-ops the
ACBC, founded ten years ago to
instigate tne movement, continued
to turn back large profits to its
members. In 1936 a second club,
this one composed primarily of
graduate students arose on the aer
campus. Gaining impetus every
year, this group has expanded to
a much larger house and now
claims the title of the only
eo-
operative rooming bouse at
the
university.
Baldwin hall.
Last vear overflow tmm
the
rapidly growing ACBC was turned
over to Baldwin hall at 3268 Or
chard. This group has now ex
panded to approximately 30 mem
bers and is worrying about how"
and where it is to expand.
While these successful enter
prises were calling more and more
members out at ag, city campus
students sat tight, despite prob
Ings by C. D. Hayes of the
Y. M. C. A. to et cooperative
houses started. It was not until
September of 1938 that the ACBC
program was copied near the city
campus In the form of the Corn
husker Coop, 1516 S. Other at
tempts have since been made and
every indication points to a great
increase in student cooperatives in
the next decade of growth.,