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While black and gold had recently been adopted as the official school colors, there was yet no generally accepted name for DePauw's varsity athletic teams. "Fighting Parsons" was occasionally applied to the football eleven, but the usual term for the university's representatives in intercollegiate sports competition was simply "Old Gold." The present usage dates from the spring semester of 1917-18, when the "D" Association sponsored a contest to pick an appropriate epithet, one that would reflect varsity fighting spirit as well as the school colors. "Tigers" won out easily over such suggestions as "Yellowjackets," "Wasps," and "Yellow Demons," and quickly attained the popular favor still evident today.

By 1918 President Grose had been able to make significant additions to the teaching faculty. Among those who were to have relatively long careers at DePauw were Lisgar R. Eckardt, another Boston Personalist, in philosophy; Raymond W. Pence, a specialist in writing, along with Edna C. Hayes in English; William W. Sweet, who replaced the popular Andrew Stephenson as head of the history department; William Wallace Carson and Katherine Alvord, also in history; Edwin B. Nichols in Romance languages; Rufus Town Stephenson in Greek language and literature; and Walter N. Hess in biology. Classicist Stephenson also introduced courses in art history in a new department by that name.

Important administrative changes were also made. In addition to her history teaching duties, Katherine Alvord took on the office of dean of women and soon became a powerful influence in the lives of DePauw coeds. Lisgar Eckhardt also was made part-time dean of freshman men. From 1914 to 1916 DePauw alumnus Charles D. Anderson served as the first executive secretary to the president. Another recent graduate, Catherine Tillotson (McCord), began her long service to the university as cashier in the treasurer's office in 1918. The university support staff had grown to include a director of residence halls, superintendent of buildings and grounds, and an engineer.

In the meantime the entry of the United States into the First World War in April 1917 brought disruption to the campus somewhat comparable to that of the Civil War era. Intercollegiate athletic events were called off for the remainder of the semester, and men began drilling each afternoon under the command of the director of physical education. Not to be outdone, women students signed up for Red Cross first-aid classes, and some even practiced military drill themselves.

Before the close of the academic year 62 men had left campus for military service and 42 for farm work. Classes opened in the fall with 140 fewer students enrolled than the previous year, and men continued to withdraw during the next several months. Students and faculty started war gardens, subscribed to relief funds, purchased Liberty Bonds, and sent Christmas boxes to men in the service. In August 1918 DePauw contracted to take part in the belatedly organized Students' Army Training Corps and sent 17 students and two faculty members to a summer training program at Camp Sheridan. On October 1, 500 men were inducted into the S.A.T.C. in a ceremony near the Boulder.

The old West College gymnasium became a mess hall and the Little Theater a barracks, along with Florence Hall, while Rosabower was transformed into an infirmary and the East College basement provided space for the post exchange and barber shop. After the Armistice in November 1918 the short-lived military program was phased out, and the campus returned to normal. University buildings reverted to their former uses, and academic life resumed its ordinary pace. Moreover, the university received compensation from the federal government for every dollar expended on conversion to military purposes.

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