University of Virginia - Corks and Curls Yearbook (Charlottesville, VA)

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AT THE UNIVERSITY The fall semester of the 1953-54 sesston started slowly and did not have much life until King Cole, King of Hobos, visited Darden,s ofhce and Carroll's Tea Room. Around the same time the Serpentine Club became the Alpha of Virginia chapter of the Sigma Phi fraternity, and Student Council cleared the way to allow a concert to be held in the Gym at Openings. October 2 the Cavalier Daily ran a poll asking students if Virginia should join an athletic conference. The poll showed students favored joining the Atlantic Coast Confer- ence. On Monday night, October 5, the Lawn Chowder and Marching Society was re-activated on the Grounds. Bo Moore became The Purple Shadow? Plans for a course evaluation committee were announced early in the Fall and the group began meetings to plan the sample course evaluation that took place at the end of the first semester. Widdy Tazewell after lengthy correspondence with other Universities, headed the committee. Friday, October 9, Virginia joined the Atlantic Coast Conference, terminating 17 years of independence. The next week a series of articles on physical education were initiated in an effort to modify the then existing requirements. Opening Dances were scheduled for November 6, 7 with Louis Prima and Charlie Spivak providing the music. Fall bids netted fraternities 95 pledges Sunday, October 18. These were limited to second-year men and transfers. A shooting took place at 5:21 P.M. at Carrole on October 27. Ritchie Joslin was shot by Teddy Britton after an argument over a girl. Police rushed to the scene, took names, and Britten was hustled off to jail. Joslin was treated at the hospital. Result? A hoax. The Moot Court people over at the Law School needed a case, so they made one up. On November 10 it was announced that Mrs. A. E. Walker, hostess for the Student Union, had resigned. She had served University students for 35 years in this capacity. The same day James T. Gillespie became the champion pipe smoker after puffing for one hour, 39 minutes, and 32 seconds on his briar. He defeated Walter Bossert of Columbia in the first Mason-Dixon Intercollegiate Pipe Smoking contest.

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Stuart Valentine was elected President of the College April 29, with Granny Swope as vice-president, Mac Gibson secretary-treasurer, and Marvin Perry historian. Sonny Nichols, Widdy Tazewell, Fred Bocock and Bo Moore won Student Council seats. On May 1 Walt Kelly, creator of Pogo, spoke at the Cavalier Daily annual banquet, Widdy Tazewell was elected president of the Raven Society, and Frank Ward resigned as track coach. Student Council announced plans for a forum on public drinking problems on May 12. Recommendations of three Council committees on drinking at athletic events, social func- tions, and at dances and concerts were heard at the forum which was held in Cabell Hall. Student reaction was not favorable enough and further proposals were planned for pre- sentation. With this in the air, the spring semester of 1953 came to a close with Finals.

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November 10 was the first day Widdy Tazewell mentioned Students For America in his editorial column of the Cavalier Daily. Calling SFA a QQkindergau'den Ku Klux Klan, Tazewell initiated a newspaper squabble that was to take up much space and arouse student interest for many months to come. A student who had gone to Reno to seek his fortune in gambling was given space in the next days issue. November 12 the Cavalier Daily ran a full feature page editorial on SFA, entitled Students for America vs. Individual Liberty.n This was occasioned by a rather excited letter from a hrst-year student, and also because of the serious nature of the entire scheme. The SFA controversy continued to rage on the editorial page with students contributing many more letters to the editor than could be printed. In the midst of all this Michael McWhinney produced an original play, written by himself, in Minor Hall. Culture emerged through the political smoke. uOne-platoon system increased injuries, team doctor Charles J. Frankel revealed in an article November 18. The 153 football squad suffered an increase of injuries 30 per cent above average for the previous 19 years. Cavalier Guard John Polzet was named on the United Press first string all-state team the same day. End Fred Moyer made the second string all-state squad.