Sutton Hall

By the 1922-1923 school year the Cheney State Normal School had undoubtedly achieved success as a teachers training college. At the end of that year the school graduated 1,764 students with teaching degrees. With this growth came a possibly risky introduction into the campus life of the Normal School introduced by Sutton Hall in 1923.

Men

Although a certain number of men had always been enrolled in the predominantly female Normal School, Sutton Hall was the first male dormitory. It was built from 1922 to 1923 and opened in 1923. Sutton Hall is named after William J. Sutton who served as the president of the Cheney State Normal School from 1892 to 1897 and was later elected as a State Senator. In both jobs he was a constant advocate for the Normal School. Sutton Hall's use as a dorm was discontinued around the same time as Monroe and Senior hall. In 1996 a renovation to house student service functions completely changed the interior of the building.

For Their Own Good

In stark contrast to today student behavior was regulated just as much as academic study. In a policy consistent with many other colleges at the time. During the 1913 to 1914 school year their was a list of rules known as services rendered and policies to be obeyed that gave faculty members sole jurisdiction over any and all social functions. The policies were revised for the 1916-1917 school year which specified that there was to be a chaperon at parties, picnics, or any other social function. Although not explicitly stated one of the primary purposes of these strict codes was to keep the young men and women away from each other.