History of the UF Division of Student Affairs | Page 23

23

student employment; to act as chairman of a committee for social functions and
social life; to act as chairman of a committee on scholarship and loans; to advise
with the Director and Board of Managers of the Florida Union in developing and
administering a social, educational, and cultural program for the Union; to advise
with fraternities and the IFC; to counsel students in their adjustment to university
environment; to cooperate with university authorities in handling all misconduct
of students; and to work with all boards and committees administering student
activities.” In 1951, these departments reported to Wise: Union and Student
Activities; Housing; Speech & Hearing; Psychological Services; Adapted &
Corrective Exercises; Reading Lab & Clinic; University College (Lower Division);
Dean of Women; Dean of Men including Loans & Scholarships; and Discipline.
In 1955, Dr. Wise returned to Columbia University for a teaching position. Beaty
told then President Reitz that he would not be an applicant for the Dean of
Student Personnel position as he planned to retire in 1960. President Reitz’s
response was that Beaty would be appointed Dean of Student Personnel and
a search would begin for the Dean of Men position. Dr. Lester Hale was offered
the Dean of Men position but was on a leave of absence from UF to teach at
Ohio University and could not secure a release from that contract until 1956.
Beaty served as both Dean of Student Personnel and Dean of Men from 195556. Hale had been employed at UF off and on since 1935. He had served UF as
a professor of speech as well as professor of theater and was the founder/first
director of the UF Speech & Hearing Clinic. He had also served as Acting Director
of the Union from 1943-45 when Johnson died. Hale had a lifelong ambition to
be in the ministry and a high interest in the welfare of people and working with
people. Leaving academe for Student Affairs administration was enticing to him.
As Dean of Men he worked with fraternities, residence halls, and counseling
students. In 1960, Beaty retired as Dean of Student Personnel and Hale became
Dean of Student Affairs, a title change made by President Reitz.
U F R a c i a l ly I n t e g r at e s
The Buckman Act (1905) specified that UF “shall admit no person other than
white male students.” In 1920, S.D McGill, a Black attorney from Jacksonville
wrote to UF expressing interest in a College of Law extension course. He was
referred to Florida A&M University. In 1949 Virgil Hawkins and William T. Lewis
were denied admission to the UF Law School. Several suits were then filed seeking

I ntr od uction