1931

Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal allows for construction of a new indoor swimming pool in the basement of Academic Hall and a new library.

November 1931
Lyrics submitted by Bera Beauchamp Foard of Doniphan, Missouri, a 1931 graduate of Southeast Missouri State Teachers’ College, are selected in a contest and become the words of the Alma Mater of Southeast Missouri State Teachers’ College. The alma mater’s music was written by Wilhelmina Vieh, a teacher in the music department. In 1924, President Serena announced a contest for original words for the use of a song for the college. This song would be used to build school spirit and first place would get $5, second would get $3, and third would receive $2. The prize was not awarded until November 1931. The Capaha Arrow then held a separate contest with the same prizes to pick the music to accompany the lyrics. Vieh won this contest.

1932

October 1932
President J.A. Serena lifts the ban on dancing for one year.

1933

Walter Winfield Parker succeeds Joseph A. Serena as president of Southeast Missouri State Teachers College. His tenure as president runs from 1933 to 1956. During that time, he led the Teachers College through the difficulties of the Depression and World War II. The College grew to 1,715 students and 80 faculty. Five new buildings were constructed during his tenure to meet the demands of post-World War II expansion: Kent Library, Cheney Hall, Myers Hall, Memorial Hall, and Houck Field House.

The four-quarter academic year is adopted.

1937

Under Head Coach Abe Stuber, the football team records an undefeated 9-0 record, giving up 0 points combined in their first seven games.

Wayne Goddard becomes the first “First-Team Little American” athlete in SEMO history, earning eight letters at Southeast, four each in track and football. He later returned as a SEMO football coach.

1938

Graduation with honors in a specific field is implemented.

The Alma Mater first appears as the recessional for the Teachers’ College commencement ceremony.

1939

March 1939
The Board of Regents approves a resolution requiring all students to show evidence of a smallpox vaccination.

November 7
Miss Sadie Kent dedicates the new library by placing the Bible on a shelf in the reading room. The new library is built on tennis courts between Albert and Leming halls, directly across from Academic Hall. It housed 150,000 books, a museum, a small theatre room for plays, a separate Children’s Library, two seminar rooms, a reading room, a browsing room a periodicals room for journals, an office and a workroom.

November 7
Cheney Hall, a men’s dormitory, is dedicated. It is named in honor of the school’s first president, Lucius H. Cheney. 

World Events

1931
The Empire State Building is completed.

1932
The neutron is found.

Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to fly nonstop across the Atlantic Ocean.

The Civil Works Administration is created.

1933
Adolf Hitler becomes chancellor of Germany.

Prohibition is abolished in the United States.

The New Deal begins in the United States.

1936
The Hoover Dam is completed.

1937
Toyota is founded in Japan.

J.R.R. Tolkien publishes The Hobbit.

Volkswagon is founded.

1938
Superman first appears in books published by DC Comics. 

1939
Batman first appears in books published by DC Comics.

War breaks out in Europe with Germany invading neighboring countries.