Swing-In and Swing-Out

Maude B. Davis, dean of women on Trinity’s Waxahachie campus, inspired what is known as one of Trinity’s most revered traditions. Davis initiated Swing-In, a warm reception for first-year female students, in the fall of 1924. Sophomore women, functioning as “Big Sisters,” hosted this reception for their “Little Sisters” to welcome them into the Trinity community. To complete the cycle, Davis then established Swing-Out in the spring of 1925, a goodbye banquet-ceremony hosted by junior women to honor senior women. Sponsored by the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), both the welcome and exit traditions endured for more than 50 years as prominent events on Trinity’s social calendar. Core elements included group singing, inspirational speeches, a dinner, and a candle-lighting ceremony in the evening darkness, designed to foster emotional and spiritual bonding.

When Trinity moved to San Antonio in 1942, Swing-In and Swing-Out continued on the Woodlawn campus. But subtle changes occurred during the next decade on campus. When the YWCA was no longer an active campus organization, sponsorship passed to the Board of Women’s Social Clubs.

The last references to Swing-In and Swing-Out appeared in the 1975 Trinitonian. Viewed as old-fashioned by student leaders and University officials, the traditions morphed into more inclusive events such as New Student Orientation for new students and the Last Great Reception for seniors. In different ways, the modern formats seek to accomplish the same goals as those envisioned by Maude Davis in an earlier era.