Long lost are the days when students were referred to as "inmates," when one could not leave campus without permission granted by the president and when writing home was mandatory. Though some may suggest that both Saint Mary's and Notre Dame are caught in the archaic with their reluctance to allow co-ed dorms or forsake parietals, a visit to the reign of the class of 1900 provides a sobering perspective on just how strict things could have been for this year's graduating classes. Let us take a stroll down memory lane to see how the class of 2000 fares when compared to the class of 1900.

Retro back to 1900 when Notre Dame consisted of a mere seven dorms and nine other buildings. The grounds of what was then called Saint Mary's Academy were home to a total of seven buildings. That year, 779 students enrolled at Notre Dame, but, unlike today, these kids ranged in age from five to 39 years old. Back then, both Notre Dame and Saint Mary's had a program called Minim in which youngsters could enroll. Though both schools had few attendees compared to present day, they still boasted a wide range of representation, hosting students from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Switzerland and parts of Canada, ranging from Nova Scotia to the Yukon.

The catalogues for students for the academic year 1899-1900 provide a brief glimpse of college life at the turn of the last century. It is suggested here that those attending Notre Dame bring with them no more than "six shirts, four pairs of drawers, three night shirts, 12 handkerchiefs, six stockings, six towels, two hats, two pairs of shoes, two suits for winter, two suits for summer, one overcoat and toilet articles." It is doubtful that the average student on campus today can so briefly list all he or she has brought with to the dorms.

The booklets also list some of the basic rules and guidelines to which students must adhere. The Belles of 1900 could not leave campus unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. Just imagine calling home to Nova Scotia — "Mom, could you please come out here? I need to go to Meijer!"

Notre Dame administration was apparently so scared by the power of South Bend to corrupt the devout that it forbid students to roam. The students needed permission from the President to leave campus and according to the catalogue, "Students are required to report at the University immediately after arriving at South Bend. Unnecessary delay in South Bend is looked upon as a serious violation of rule." And if Domers think that OIT's suspected surveillance of e-mail is an imposition, perhaps they would find it more inconvenient to know that back in the day, all student mail was likely to cross the president's desk before being sent out or delivered. According to the University catalogue for the 1899-1900 year, these procedures prevented "clandestine and improper correspondence."

For those of you who may find the du Lac's prohibition of smoking in campus buildings an inconvenience, consider this: In 1900, only those students living in Sorin or Corby hall who had written permission from their parents were allowed to smoke. All other tobacco use was prohibited.

Most of today's seniors learned early (read: freshmen disorientation) how easy it is to disregard the drinking guidelines on campus. Back in 1900 though, any use of "intoxicating liquors" was grounds for expulsion.

Perhaps the Sisters at Saint Mary's assumed all women there were of high virtue, for the catalogue for students for 1900 has no mention of drinking, smoking or other immoral acts. Instead, it has provisions for the procurement of proper ladies — students were required to write home at least once a week, there were regular hours kept every week for sewing so women could keep their wardrobes in order, all pocket money was turned over to the treasurer and detailed records of expenditures were sent home to parents monthly, etc. Saint Mary's women were not allowed to bring "frivolous" jewelry with them. Visitors were only allowed from 1:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, as the Sisters felt all other time should be devoted to studies. And you thought parietals were tough!

But it isn't true that this year's graduating classes had it all better than their '00 counterpart. Consider, for instance, the tuition rates in 1900. True, we must account for inflation, but can you imagine how nice it must have been to pay a mere $300 for tuition and board at Notre Dame and only $140 for Saint Mary's? For the men of Notre Dame, board included all washing and mending of clothes. Junior and senior classmen received rooms for free, while others paid between $50 to $80 for rooms. Books cost, on average, $30.

Though students paid considerably less, they spent considerably more time at either school. Imagine a sojourn spent confined to campus property with no fall, winter or spring break, no Easter holiday and only two months for summer. With examinations every other month and as many as nine classes in a session, it is hard to imagine the students of the illustrious centennial class having any time to socialize.

Never fear though — school spirit for Notre Dame athletics was just as strong then, though the University made it clear then as they do now that "undue attention to athletics at the expense of study will not be permitted." In the 1899-1900 issues of Scholastic, fervent rally cries are made for the students to fill the quads and support their teams. The football team had a great year in 1900, finishing with a 7-2-1 record (maybe Bob Davie should visit the Notre Dame archives to see if he can't find some coaching tips from days of yore). Baseball also finished strong, ending their season with an impressive 15 wins and only five losses.

Though in those days Saint Mary's students didn't make the trek across Route 31 to see these games, they had such wonderful activities as stenography and bookkeeping classes to keep them entertained. Fun was also derived from such gatherings as the Notre Dame "Night Owl" club. In this organization, men would gather in the Sorin Hall smoking room to perform and enjoy comic operas, vitascopic exhibitions and "everything in the theatrical line from variety shows to Shakespearian productions." Also in 1900, a great joy arose on campus when the Glee Club was formed. As the Scholastic reported, "It sounds very much like a fairy tale, but this time it is true — we are to have a rollicking glee club; there is a good time ahead."

Today, we have such wonders as movie theaters and the Internet for our amusement. For the class of 1900, as reported by Scholastic, one student's sudden decision to get a haircut caused a controversy. Modern students have so many opportunities for fast-paced entertainment that they hardly notice if someone fails to change his or her clothes for a semester. We take for granted the freedoms we have now, in a time when we can travel our wonderful town or communicate with people across the globe in an instant. Students in 1900 were confined and isolated, not only by the physical constraints of the campus they were forbidden to leave, but by the lack of such modern-day comforts as telephones, computers, cars, e-mail and instant messenger services. They were in awe with the invent of automobiles and telegraphs. Even the living arrangements furthered their isolation. When Corby Hall opened in 1899 offering single rooms, Scholastic sang the praises of such quarters. "The modern American student must have his private room. He is no friend of communism and he shrinks from the thought of community life," the magazine reported.

Though many things have changed and the schools have expanded, some things stay the same. Saint Mary's students have borne the hassle of awakening to the sounds of hammers throughout this year. Many improvements were made on that campus, exactly one century ago. Those students in attendance then were said to have witnessed the definition of "the brick and mortar period of a country's growth." After completion of the construction in 1900, one Belle was reported as saying, "My, how Saint Mary's is improved — so much new wall paper and so many new posts." In one issue of Saint Mary's publication, The Chimes, a writer reports the following scenario. Imagine the Junior Study Hall, with a tasteful arrangement of pictures, statues and plants — when what should invade this serenity? None other than one of our favorite resident rodents, the squirrel. It seems that even a century ago these pesky little buggers dominated campus.

Oh but what a difference a day can make. Or a century. Our beloved campuses are shrouded in longstanding traditions and stoically stand steeped in history, but with each new class, we create more legends. The legacies at Notre Dame and Saint Mary's will forever attest to the time you seniors have spent here in God's country. Let the proud motto for the graduating class of 1900 ring out once more.

"Semper '00."

Jose Cuellar contributed to this article.

• Then and now: The classes of '00