The Importance of Seniority
While the women of Valdosta's college were serious about their schoolwork, they were also quite attentive to social outings and dynamics. While this was evidenced in the "Locals" and "Clubs" pages that plainly and politely outlined goings-on in many editions of The Pine Branch, one of the relationships highlighted often in the jokes was that of the upper- and lower-classmen, displaying a usually (but not always) friendly rivalry, not unlike that of siblings.
No Names Given
(November 1928)
(October 1924)
(Freshman Number April 1926)
(April 1928)
While some of the jokes here are slight digs at freshman, what's also important to note here is the reduction of these students to their experience at the school, happening most commonly with freshmen. This is quite odd compared to the other jokes included in The Pine Branch that referred to people in the jokes as students by name, highlighting the differences between older and younger students.
Heavy Hitters
(November 1927)
(October 1926)
The vast majority of jokes made between the two groups were done so at the expense of the freshmen at the college which poked fun at their inexperience, naivete, or general absent-mindedness. Some could be particularly biting, like the ham example above.
The Freshmen Wouldn't Take It Lying Down
(October 1926)
(May 1928)
While less common than the Seniors cracking jokes about the Freshmen, the latter would occasionally make a joke at the expense of the older students, here criticizing them for their lack of social skills and their overall bossiness, creating a back and forth not unlike that of bickering siblings.
All in Good Fun
(February 1928)
(October 1926)
True to the earnest nature of The Pine Branch, these excerpts are a good example of the underlying feelings that older and younger students had towards one another - care, respect, and ultimately, understanding and camaraderie.
