History of the UF Division of Student Affairs | Page 16

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and housing accommodations; and organizing social and recreational activities.
President Tigert also had concerns about the UF Student YMCA’s relationship
with UF. He felt that it was illegal for the state to subsidize a sectarian organization
on a state college campus. According to Beaty, President Tigert’s view of the
UF Student YMCA was also influenced by his previous experience overseas as a
YMCA Secretary with the American Expeditionary Forces. According to Beaty,
during WWI President Tigert “found himself in disagreement with the operation
of some of the YMCA personnel.” In addition to running YMCA operations in
large cities and Student YMCA operations on college campuses, the YMCA
had provided morale and welfare services to U.S. soldiers since the Civil War.
During WWI, this included providing canteens and “huts” for recreation and
religious services and raising more than $235 million for relief work. The WWI
YMCA canteens were the precursor for the United Service Organizations (USO).
By 1941, the YMCA with five other national voluntary organizations founded
the USO. The other organizations were the Salvation Army, the Young Women’s
Christian Association, the National Catholic Community Services, the National
Travelers Aid Association, and the National Jewish Welfare Board. There was no
further explanation of President Tigert’s personal views about the YMCA.
In 1928, Tolbert approached then UF Student YMCA Associate General Secretary
Beaty to offer him a new position, UF Assistant Dean of Students. President
Tigert reinforced Tolbert’s offer to Beaty by sharing pending changes he had in
mind for the UF Student YMCA. UF Student YMCA General Secretary Johnson
encouraged Beaty to take the UF position as he was not certain of the future
of the Student YMCA on the UF campus. Beaty accepted the Assistant Dean
of Students position and continued his YMCA Associate General Secretary
duties during a transition period. President Tigert skirted concerns about UF’s
relationship with the UF Student YMCA by creating a new UF department
­— Bible Instruction — and hiring then UF Student YMCA General Secretary
Johnson as the UF faculty member in charge of religious activities including
religion courses and courses in the Bible. During the transition that ended the
Student YMCA role at UF, Johnson’s various titles were Student YMCA General
Secretary, Student YMCA General Secretary, and Professor of the Bible, Acting
Director of the Union, and Director of Religious Studies. By 1940, Beaty spoke of
“one religion professor (Johnson) for 2,989 students who also acts as General
Secretary of the Student YMCA.” Johnson died in 1943; there is no mention of a
UF Student YMCA General Secretary after this date.

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