IDEALS FOR THE PRAIRIE VIEW MAN AND PRAIRIE VIEW WOMAN

A university is more than its students, its faculty, its administrators, its alumni or its campus. A university may be appropriately described as a spirit. Truly the spirit of Prairie View makes this University a great institution.

“For every man and woman whose foot has touched this hallowed soil has found a spirit... and broadened and deepened it . . .”

On March 11, 1878, eight male students from rural Texas came to the doors of Prairie View A&M College seeking an education. They entered a wooden frame building named Kirby Hall and there they found a spirit . . . the spirit of Prairie View . . . through the years this spirit has been handed down to each generation of students attending the College. It is now handed to you. When you are characterized by this spirit, you will truly bear the mark of the Prairie View “Man” or the Prairie View “Woman.”

Deep in the heart and fiber of the Prairie View spirit are ideals which have been traditional at the University. Those students who have made their own commitment to these ideals . .. have found the spirit . . . and they have broadened and deepened it . . .

We commend these ideals to you . . . the present generation of students . . .

1. Fraternity
   The Prairie View Man and the Prairie View Woman are linked together in brotherhood and sisterhood. This fraternity is expressed through kindness, thoughtfulness, respect, consideration, encouragement, and assistance to fellow students. They share, inspire, aspire, and seek to always enhance and strengthen their peers. They never do anything that will diminish or degrade. They are understanding of the shortcomings of others without excusing them from responsibility. They have a love for their fellow man and woman, and seek joy, pleasure and accomplishment through mutual association. There is a tie that binds the Prairie View students together; none goes their way alone. All that they send into the lives of others comes back into their own.

2. Friendliness
   The Prairie View Man and the Prairie View Woman are known by their friendliness. They are cheerful and hospitable. They greet their fellow students, faculty, friends, and visitors with a warm smile and cheerful “hello.” They are polite and considerate of others. They make everyone feel welcome by their friendliness.

3. Honesty
   The Prairie View Man and the Prairie View Woman are honest with themselves and fellow students. They will not tolerate dishonesty in themselves nor in their fellow students. They will not cheat, lie, steal or foster dishonesty in any form. Their honor is their greatest asset.

4. Scholarship
   The Prairie View Man and the Prairie View Woman are scholars. They are scholarly in dress, in attitude, in disposition, in philosophy and intellectual pursuits. The Prairie View student is in continuous pursuit of excellence. They do not permit themselves nor their fellow students to engage in mediocrity in any form.

5. Cleanliness
   The Prairie View Man and the Prairie View Woman are clean. They are clean of body, clean in their thoughts and clean in their actions. They abhor dirt as disease. They work continuously to maintain a clean residence and clean campus. They strive to be clean in their physical and spiritual beings for they know that cleanliness is a sign of purity.

6. Health
   The Prairie View Man and the Prairie View Woman know the value of health. They realize that their bodies are the temples of the mind; therefore, they seek to protect and safeguard their bodies. The Prairie View Man and the Prairie View Woman never engage in an act or practice which may be injurious to their health or the health of any one person. They respect their bodies and mind. They have knowledge of its functions and engage in those habits which always keep themselves healthy and alert.

7. Respect
   The Prairie View Man and the Prairie View Woman give respect to others and command respect for themselves. Whether alone or with others they maintain their dignity and honor by seeking truth and knowledge. They realize that the price of respect may be loneliness or isolations. They never act in any way which might bring disrespect or dishonor to themselves, their fellow man or woman or their University.

8. Responsibility
   The Prairie View Man or the Prairie View Woman is a responsible person. They are responsible for truth, order, self-discipline. They have trusteeship with other students, the faculty, the administration, and the alumni for supporting and strengthening the University. They place responsibility before pleasure or privilege. They never perform an act or deed for which they are not willing to take full and complete responsibility. They maintain that they and their fellow students should not evade responsibility, they welcome it as an opportunity for growth and maturity.

9. Service
   The Prairie View Man and the Prairie View Woman are characterized by a concept of service. They understand that the greatest achievement of a man is to be of service to others. They use their skills, knowledge, talents not only to sustain themselves, but to help their fellow students, the campus community and the world community. They are willing to give something of themselves for which they receive no pay and personal fulfillment from the knowledge that they have been of help to others.

10. Reverence to a Supreme Being
    Students are free to express religious or none religious preferences or any spiritually as long as they do not infringe on the rights of others. (A change from the source cited below.)

Source: Prairie View A&M College Student Handbook 1971-1972.