Stephens: A Look Back: Stephens: A Look Back

The 1962 Stephensophia is dedicated to “our Far Eastern Susies” with the following dedication:

The sound of happy voices, the spirit of genuine cooperation, the development of ideas and aspirations, all blend together in the WORLD OF SUSIE STEPHENS. So that in future you will be able to relive your college days as you turn these pages, the yearbook staff presents the service activities, the social, intellectual and cultural events, and the honor presentations in a tribute to the ideals that we hold the highest. Through these, each Stephens girl has broadened her knowledge and has created new friendships, thus preparing herself for her place in life. In contributing to the variety of backgrounds and nationalities, the Stephens girl endeavors to strengthen her own convictions through an understanding of the ideas and beliefs of her fellow students. In the WORLD OF SUSIE STEPHENS, the East meets the West. To our Far Eastern Susies, Chai Kyung Chung, Seoul Korea, Mei Tottori and Reiko Seki, Tokyo, Japan, and Chitta Techaphailve, Amphut Seriniyom, Adchara Satrabhandhu, Bangkok, Thailand, whose influences are seen throughout our campus, whose ideas have become a part of our lives, and whose smiles have warmed our hearts, we dedicate the 1962 Stephensophia.

The book this year really emphasizes the social aspect of college life, with information and photos from MU football games, 'blue rooms,' dances, trips to the public telephone and excitement over Johnny Mathis’s visit to Columbia.

We’re starting to see signs that Stephens is transitioning from a two-year to a four-year college. This year, we’re told third year students are candidates for BFAs in dance, fashion and theatre arts.

Okoboji Summer Theatre in Iowa is also starting to become a permanent fixture in Stephens’ world. The first theatre season there opened in 1958 and in 1961, Stephens signed a five-year lease for the building and added children’s plays to the summer schedule. This year, the theatre building and land is turned over to Stephens, which has agreed to operate the theatre for a minimum of seven years. Spoiler: It will continue to thrive for decades and is still producing excellent shows, including children’s plays, today.

Among visitors to campus this year are Hon. Charles Malik, former president of the U.N.; Barbara Ward, an English writer; and journalist Edgar Snow.

The Stephens Standard has been renamed to The PORTFOLIO. The magazine presents the best material produced on campus, including paintings and photographer, poetry, essays, drama and more. Today, the magazine is Harbinger and has won Outstanding Literary Journal by the national English honor society Sigma Tau Delta four out of the past five years.

The Burrall program is still going strong, some 40 years after it began. The initiative includes services, discussions, classes and projects.

Paul Akemann oversees Burrall this year. It’s fitting. She would go on to be Dr. Paula Drewek, a retired professor of humanities who has served in a number of international initiatives. She is on a number of interfaith boards and organizations that promote understanding and peace.