Centennial
As the original founding college, Pennsylvania State College of Optometry (PSCO), and later Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO), expanded to Salus University – the student clubs and organizations associated with the school also expanded. Today, Salus University has various clubs and organizations that students can join to broaden their social and academic involvement during their time here. Below are just a few of the clubs featured in the year books from 1937 and 1947, when the student clubs and organizations were fewer, but an interesting array of topics were covered.
The Probe and Scalpel Society
The Probe and Scalpel Society was a small organization made up of a group of students particularly interested in anatomy as it applied to optometry. The group was organized from the class of 1936 by Dr. John F. Morrow of the College's Anatomy Department. Students eligible for membership needed to be recommended by anatomy professors, and were approved by the Society's faculty advisor. Membership was purposely kept small so the Society would function more efficiently.
The Orchestra
The orchestra of PSCO was not a new organization in 1935, as the group had been “most useful” for several years prior in providing entertainment for various College functions. When the College acquired new buildings at Twelfth Street and Spencer Avenue, giving adequate facilities for school dances, the orchestra became an activity of major importance.
Southern Club
The Southern Club was an organization of students from the south who came together regularly for social and educational purposes. They discussed problems that were pertinent to their section of the country and to each other personally. All students from states below the Mason-Dixon Line were eligible for membership, and native locations of those members ranged from the state of Maryland to various countries in Central and South America. The club endeavored to have an educational and interesting speaker at all their meetings, which were always well attended.
New England Club
The purpose of the New England Club was to enable students from that section of the country to meet regularly and acquaint themselves with one another. Friendships formed in the club had been the basis upon which the close knit harmony of the New England Optometrist manifested itself. The club sponsored various social functions to which the entire student body of the school looked forward to.
The Newman Club
The Newman Club, under the guidance of Father Brown, Chaplain, was composed of Catholic students attending the institution. The club promoted Catholic fellowship and to ally members with their church while they attended a non-sectarian college. The club provided social activities as well as religious programs. Outstanding activities were monthly communions and monthly dinner meetings at which prominent guest speakers would provide entertainment, and at the same time, enlightenment. The Newman Club at PSCO was organized in 1932 and was one of the 286 clubs of the Federation of Newman Clubs at that time.
