History of the UF Division of Student Affairs | Page 14

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two other assembly areas on campus, the University Auditorium and a small
hall in Peabody Hall. Example YMCA programs from this time period included
Bible study groups in residence halls, fraternities, and rooming houses led by
faculty, staff, and local laymen. The YMCA also sponsored speaker series that
represented a variety of religious, social, and economic topics. The UF Student
YMCA was involved with student housing. One of Johnson’s first duties was
finding off campus housing for students including an inspection program. He
also helped with issues in campus housing. One of Beaty’s duties as a Student

Florida Farmers Week participants at Lake Wauberg 1927
Photo Credit: UF Archives Digital Collection

YMCA Assistant and later Associate General Secretary was to advise the
YMCA student government. He described the YMCA cabinet as composed of
students representing every section of the UF student body. The UF Student
YMCA cabinet was the policy making and program coordinating group of the
YMCA and the precursor to today’s Student Government. Beaty worked with
freshmen and organized what became the Freshmen Friendship Council. The
main purpose of the group was to assist first year students in the transition
to college, a precursor to present-day orientation programs. From Beaty’s
memoirs, “During Mr. Johnson’s career, the student YMCA secretaryship
attempted to do for students on the campus what has since been expanded
into the student personnel program, including a student union building and
services.” J.E. Johnson was the last UF Student YMCA General Secretary and
served from 1924 to his death in 1943.

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