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Show Students play house By CHRIS FALL Chronicle Staff Though the purpose of the Sill Home Living Center has remained a mystery to most, it attracts enough attention to remain a part of the. campus. It is basically a center in which home economics majors (though others are accepted) are instructed in the ways of housewifery or home management, as you will. In 1950 Virginia Cutler, who was then the head of the Department of Home Economics, recommended recom-mended a center be built for teaching home management. Salt Lake insurance man Sterling Sill contacted the community for private contributions and the present center was dedicated in 1952. "The basic theory of the Home Living Center was to give valuable experience in home management in a practical setting such as an apartment concept." Mrs. Maxine Dunham, director of the Center, stressed decision-making and budgeting to her students who live at the center for a five-week period. The five apartments at the center house two girls (the center is not co-ed) each, one of the particularly particu-larly innovative concepts at the center. Two in each apartment is a more realistic way to look at the situation since the students are basically simulating the economic and social situation of a married couple or two career girls. Part of the University program, but privately Mrs. Dunham does not requre that all dishes be prepared from scratch and suggests spending no more than one or one-and-one-half hours for each meal. She stresses learning to cook in small quantities because this is the situation in which the girls will be living in the immediate future. As well as home living, aspects of entertaining are taught. The girls are assigned to entertain the group twice during their stay. "Menu-planning, meeting guests graciously, serving quality food, conversing well, time scheduling and presenting meals on time" are of paramount importance in this assignment. assign-ment. The girls are given numerous handouts, one of which enumerates 10 objectives of the course: 1. Develop judgment in the individual though conscious decision-making. 2. Increase the student's confidence in her own ability to make choices and to accept the Tightness of her own judgment. 3. Develop good group relationships through leadership, cooperation and contribution to the group... The list continues with basic concepts which most students (it would seem) have managed to absorb ' in their 20 or 21 years of life. Since a large number of the University students live away from home either in the dorms or apartments, .,, ; . ...... .... '. I S5i&lWM " ' V I L- ' v. j ' -w , living there. The girls practice home management there. The center opened for occupancy in 1952. they get plenty of practical experience in home management. The student living on $100 a month has come up with a stricter budget than this course could provide (initial furnishing of $925, $75 for the five weeks they don't pay any rent or utilities). However, for those with no experience whatsoever, the course could prove helpful. .Jhe Sill Home Living Center seeks to provide a T tome-like situation for the home economics majors unded, there are several courses taught at the i -enter. The students living at the center are in-; in-; 'olved in Home Economics 375 and home economic econom-ic cs teaching and regular classes are taught in the it lasement. The only requirements to live in the cen-cU-iK tW previous courses-Home Ec 171 and to and they suggest only juniors or older take the .-Burse. "Making the course, students spend five weeks 0 (Playing house" hoping they will successfully fill Fir forthcoming roles. This begins by furnishing " he apartments for harmony in design and prac- lcaity. Supplies belonging to the center are laid F as they would be in a store and the girls are 1 ' iven a make-believe budget of $925 to supply their n ipartments with the essentials. IhT laundrV techniques, cleaning procedures, 'u'r rood preparation are held from 7:45-8:35 iojerymorning.During the remainder of the day, the isf- rs attend regular classes (not more than 12 hours 'tiJ W6fk'' Spare time is sPent housecleaning, yienManning and "wise use of leisure time" is Jei'fPected. Mrs. Dunham has access to the apart-bvLn apart-bvLn at a" tir"es and thus expects them to be rentable at all times. J puraging creativity and simplicity in cooking. |