College of the Holy Cross - Purple Patcher Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

Page 28 text:

CROSS AND CRUCIBLE. Stephen C. Caufield, President, Francis I. Crimmins, Secretary- Treasurer, Robert J. Barile, Vice President. A 1 ' :f A :': f X' V x , J as, N a ! f J ....-,. 4.:, I .N ,.,x .1 .. X 0 . v t, 1 7 BIOLOGY SOCIETY. Edward E. Eldridge, President, Robert E. Stanley, Secretary, Anthony S. Fauci, Treasurer, john E. Lent, Vice President. 24 Growing out of the original science club of Holy Cross, the Cross and Crucible Society of undergraduate chemists is chartered to stimulate in- terest in various aspects of chemistry. This yearis lecture series included a program of student and guest speak- ers. Guest lecturers were drawn primarily from industrial chemical concerns in the vicinity of Boston and Worcester. Topics of discussion ranged from Nuclear Magnetic Res- onancev to the c'Philosophy of Sciencef, Affiliated with the American Chem- ical Society, the club meets monthly in Haberlin Hall. As testimony to its progress the Cross and Crucible pub- lishes periodically a journal, The Cross and Crucible, formerly The H ormone. Also open to chemistry students is a seminar and an active collegiate or- ganization, the Intercollegiate Chem- ical Society. The seminar features guest professors from other colleges and is attended by the faculty and chemistry majors of all four years. Founded by the late Rev. Anthony McCormack, SJ., the Biology Society celebrated its sixth anniversary this spring. One of the most active under- graduate organizations, it is presently moderated by Rev. Ioseph Busam, who celebrated his fiftieth anni- versary as a Jesuit this year. This Society is composed strictly of pre-medical students and requires one year of biology for membership, a condition waived in the case of fresh- man pre-meds. Meetings are con- ducted every second Wednesday of the scholastic year and feature guest lecturers on the various specialized fields of medicine. Speakers for the past year included a pediatrician, an obstetrician, medical legal experts, a dentist, and a neurologist. Highlighting the Societyis activities is the publication of an annual journal during the month of April. W1'itten and edited by students it is distributed widely on the East coast. The Society is organized in an informal manner and boasts a library composed of con- tributions from the personal collec- tions of physicians and specialists.

Page 27 text:

YW? Twice monthly a group of students meets in Lehy lounge to discuss the science of first principles. Each year the Aquinas Academy consists of about ten scholastic leaders of the senior class. It is dedicated to the in- vestigation of a philosophical problem which is chosen by the members at the beginning of each fall semester. This year the Academy elected for discussion The Natural Law and Existentialism, with particular em- phasis on the latter. In September Joseph M. Corr was selected President of the organization, Peter Luperio, Vice President, Robert P. Marshall, Secretary-Treas- urer, and Paul T. Hayes, Publicity Director. Meetings of the Academy are con- ducted on an open basis and anyone with an interest in philosophy may at- tend. Gatherings usually run about an hour and a half and consist of an exposition of a modem philosopher and his thought, and a discussion period. A member of the Academy introduces the topic by way of a brief discussion. Modern philosophers in- Aquinas Circle vestigated this year included jaspers, Marcel, Bergson, Nietzche, and Sartre. Culminating each yearis activity is an actus in philosophy conducted by the Academy. Last year Thomas McCarthy publicly defended St. Thomas's theses on the freedom of the will and the immortality of the human soul. This spring the organization sponsored an actus in the field of scholastic ethics. Moderator Rev. Dennis Crowly, SJ., selected one of the top students in the senior class to conduct the disputation. The actus is conducted in Kimball auditorium and frequently draws interested students from other New England colleges. Theses in scholastic philosophy are defended in the face of objections proposed by an audience composed of faculty and students. During April Prev. Frederick I. Ademann, SJ., of Boston College spoke on the contemporary existen- tialist Husserl. Guest speakers pro- vide an opportunity for exploring some of the avenues of modern thought. 23

Page 29 text:

Founded in 1955 the Physics Society provides an opportunity for the extra- curricular study of current research and development in the Held of physics. In 1958 the club was afliliated with the American Institute of Physics. The Society conducts biweekly meetings to provide expression for students who have undertaken in- dividual projects of investigation. Student speakers discussed aspects of pure physics and its application. Fre- quently members of the science faculty are invited to participate, and, in the future, the Society intends to extend invitations to guest lecturers from industry. The Physics Society provides its members with valuable information regarding occupational positions and graduate school opportunities in physics. In addition, the group fre- quently presents movies of current physical research and has planned trips to nearby graduate schools and industrial establishments. One of its accomplishments, The Cross Product, is Written and edited by physics majors. This year marked the fifteenth anni- versary of the Mathematics Club. Un- der the guidance of Dr. Patrick Shanahan the club meets every Tues- day evening at seven o,clock. Lec- tures at the Weekly meetings are, for the most part, provided by the stu- dents themselves, although the or- ganization has attempted to obtain guest lecturers. In the offing are joint meetings with mathematics clubs of nearby colleges. Members of the math department and math majors conduct a very active Weekly seminar. Distinct from the seminar, the math club is not considered a formal organizationg nor is it considered an extra class. The club is a group of students who enjoy mathematics and assemble for a deeper understanding of the sub- ject, particularly topics not formally covered in class. It aims to encourage the study of pure and applied mathe- matics and to investigate the spirit which guides present day mathema- tical activity. Each spring an award is presented to the best student lec- turer of the club. PHYSICS SOCIETY. Robert I. Webster, John F. Izzo, Presiclentg Richard F. Castcn, Vice President, William R. Fehlner, Secretary-Treasurer. Q The MATH CLUB listens to President Hay Cannonls Set theory. 25