Activity of Missouri Colleges By Miss Lorena L. Parrish, Physical Director Howard Payne College.

It is with pleasure that I take this opportunity to give you a glimpse of the work of the Junior Colleges of Missouri in Athletics.

In 1914, the organization known as the Junior College Athletic Association of Missouri was formed. Up until this time there were only a few of the colleges devoting much time to athletics. Howard Payne has for years been one of the strongest supporters of athletics for women, not only within her own college, but a strong advocate of intercollegiate sports. Since the organization there have been four out of the seven junior colleges which have taken up active intercollegiate basket ball-Christian College and Stephens College, both of Columbia, Mo., Lindenwood of St. Charles and Howard Payne of Fayette. I feel confident that in another year the remaining three will join our ranks. We also have our tennis tournaments every spring.

In the year 1915, we started for the first time work in track and field athletics. A dual meet was held here on May 17 between Howard Payne and Stephens. It met with such overwhelming success that we have planned to make it an annual event. There were several physicians present at the meet, and they were very enthusiastic in their praise of the work, saying that it was one of the finest moves that had been made within recent years for the development of our girls. Notwithstanding these facts, there is still a great deal of prejudice against this particular form of athletics, and the two questions that are uppermost in the minds of a great many are: “Are we taking chances with the girls’ future health by allowing these sports?” “Do the advantages gained overshadow the possible danger?” These questions should be given careful consideration by the physical directors and they should see to it that the girls under their charge receive careful training and supervision. It is only in this way that we shall be able to break down the prevailing prejudices. I should say that under proper conditions and supervision the gain in health and strength far outweighs the risks of danger. Here in our own school the girls who are most active in athletics are the healthiest and are rarely ever absent from classes because of illness.

Since the meet held here in Fayette in 1915 was the first intercollegiate meet of its kind for girls in this section of the country, it might be of interest to include in this article the various events used:

Target shooting 50-yard dash Base ball throw 60-yard hurdles (3 hurdles) Discus—2-l/2 pounds 75-yard dash Shot-put—8 pounds Running high jump Basket ball throw Running broad jump 220-yard dash