Westwood High School - Chipmunk Yearbook (Westwood, CA)

Page 31 text:

PAGE FOURTEEN ALUMNI Alumni In an old iwue of tlio Chipmunk un ulumni (.■ditor couipaml a high school without alumni bucking to a cannon hull without a cannon. We arc glad to suy that Westwood High School has never found Itself In this deplorable condition. Ileginning with our first alumnus, who graduated in Ibis, and continuing to the present time, we can truthfully say that the cannon has always neen In good working order. At the present lime the alumni association boasts of thiity-flve members, several of whom are students in various universities, where life Is always very busy, but they have found time t send a few words of greeting to the present stu- dents and friends of their old High School. Hey Frosh! Faced ut the very beginning with perhaps the hardest problem of his college career, many a freshman stands annually at the forks of the road. Into his hands Is Intrusted the momentous decision, the result of which tuny keep Inin in th • University or. again, may put an end to h J happiest days before they have scarce begun. At one road let us erect a sign hearing the legend The Kvll of Carrying Too Much ; at tho other, one which reads. The Kvll of Carrying Too Little. To the average llrst year man these two roads constitute the only ways through a college course, and many a man today would have graduated from the University of California if the medium or u middle route had been ap parent. Too much study or too much activity means a neglect of one or both, with most disastrous re- sults to the student. In a like manner, too litti'- study or uu interest in too few activities has eve , a worse effect. Those who hold themselves aloof from contact with activities and from the com «fV.yi.J'lterests of their Alma Mater lose the most precious heritage of college years—-KitIKNUS. At no university are there more opportunities ror part let I pat Ion in literary, forensic, or ath- letic Helds than at the University of California. In addition, the social life of class and university absorbs its quotu of new blood, and ever longs for more. Of prime interest to the high school senior at the present time is the freshman year which faces him or her in college. President W. W. Campbell of the university has said that If a student survives the first semester he stands an excellent chance of completing his four years or education. Realizing the Importance of correct guidance during the initial month of a college career. California has an extensive advisory sys- stem with a personnel made up of faculty and senior students. This group of advisors have a dual purpose. They are responsible not only for tin freshman's course of study, but also the kind and number of activities in which he participates. Jack of all trades and master of none. is a time-worn adage which, while ancient, is the most descriptive term which may he applied to tile average college man or woman interested In activities at California. Without exaggerating on present conditions it Is safe to say that half who become “flunkouts are relegated to this class simply because they attempted to do too many things. In a similar manner a large percentage of first class athletes fail to make the team because In their freshman year they were not advised to limit their activities to one sport. It is impossible in college for the average person to follow the high school custom of being on two teams at the same time. Perhaps the greatest problem of all associated with university entrance Is that Involving the question of Shull I become a rraternity man? In after life the thrusts of the world may dull your sensibilities and east a haze over tho mem- ory of some college events, but nothing can over dim or tarnish the recollections of rush week. The night that a new found friend pinned a symbolic pledge button over your wildly beating heart will never be forgotten. Put. like all good things, entrance into a fraternity stands consid- eration and bears the giving oi a little sound udvlce. Call It the don't of the frateruily aspirant if you wish. Don’t he too eager, don't bo forward, don't anticipate your bid. and then find out before you accept with what kind of a group you are afitl.at.ug yourself. Hotter wear uo pin ut ull than one ot which you are not proud. Wealth does noi recoin mend a fraternity, neither does it condtlun it. Men aie men for all of that. What is true of u men entering a university D likewise true of a girl. The problems of the one ar • the problems of the other in a slightly altered form. Faculty advice, while always intended foi the best, may full simply because the instructor did not have enough lac.s concerning the student at his disposal. ' enior advisors are upt to be prejudiced aiu oiased lu their decisions. The fact that they are always personally interested in some house or activity cannot help but have a bearing, however small it may he, upon the ad- vice they offer. In the innumerable problems which dally come up during the freshman year, there are alumni to whom the newcomers may always turn for help. At California toduy are men and women who once chanted the fighting gong of Westwood High. From them can be gained help, if the person wishing It will only let them know. Uit- foriuntcly, advice in the freshman year is ten- deied by most upper classmen very sparingly, for few appreciate laughter for their pains. The salf- suhlciency of sonic freshmen is actually pitiful. The alumni ure never too busy to talk to you longer than a faculty Instructor or a senior ad- visor. At California today ure alumni of Westwood High who but a few short years ago drank from tho same fountain of clear mountain water as you today will drink. Today these same alumni mey he drinking from the marble fouutain on the Sathcr Terrace from which you some day will drink. What, then, can he more tilting than that from them you may learn, and that to you may ever extend the common and binding tie of comradeship in the school among the pines. Sincerely yours, H. E. CASSIDY. Berkeley. Cal., March 31. 1924. Dear Editor; I wus greatly pleased to have been called upon for a contribution for this year's publica- tion. If the little I have to say will do someone some good by influencing them to go to college, I will feel that 1 have accomplished a great deal. I have been more than repaid for the efforts I have expended toward my schooling and each day 1 am hotter able to appreciate the real value of education. I used to think that tho college or university was a place where well-to-do people sent their sons and daughters, but that Idea certainly has been changed since 1 came down here. Eighty per cent of the students of this university are work- ing their way through, and it Is an houor, rather than a humiliation, as some are prone to think, to work in order to continue education. The University of California has been severely criti- cized for the apparent prevalence of social func- tions, dances, etc. Every one. I think, will ad- mit that a certain amount of play distributed at the right and proper time is desirable If not nec- essary. Our institution is so large and thore arc so many groups that the public is led to believe college life here Is Just one big party. We who urc here can best testify to the error of this Id ». As far as most of us are concerned wc buy our A. S. U. C. cards which admit us to all contests in the way of sports. Including base- ball. basketball, football, soccer, wrestling, box- ing and crew races. Through some of these channels one can get a little diversion from bis studies, as well as a lot of enjoyment. If there is anyone in the graduating class who I; planning to go to college, just recommend to them this university and give them my ad- dress. I shall be glad to help them register, ar- range their toursc, and do auything 1 can to make the hist few weeks u little easier. With best regards to the faculty and student body. I am. your friend. LEWIS E. ERUES. L of N.. Reno. Nev., April 3. 1924. Dear Editor: Purliaps you would like to know how some of tho Westwood graduates like Nevada and how they are making out. Nevada Is recognised as one of the best small universities in the west; the student body num- bers about seven hundred and fifty. As you know, a small university has certain advantages over a large one. We come in closer contact with both students and faculty than is possible at the larger schools. If there Is something that you do not fully understand your professors are always ready and willing to help you. which is not always possible at a larger Institution. We have a very good faculty, all of whom are capable, and some even are nationally known. A small school tends to be more democratic, because studeuts and faculty get better acquainted with each other. Along the line of athletics. It is much easier to make the team in football, busketbull, track and other sports. You have more attention and are recognized quicker. One of last year's West- wood grads, for Instance, made Ills class numerals iu football here and he had never been In a a suit before. This can be duplicated by most anyone, not only in football but in other sports as well. One may think a small school can not put out as good a team as u larger one, yet Ne- vada, last season, put out a team that held California’s wonder team to a scoreless tie. The varied departments of the university art- all well organized and equipped. Courses In mechanical, electrical and mining engineering, arts and science, agriculture uiid education arc offered. The Muckay School of Mines Is the best lu the west. The College of Agriculture is also very good, the dean of agriculture being a na- tional authority on soils. There are numerous social events each semes- ior such as dances, musical entertainments, dra- matics, etc., all of which tend to make college worth while, for It rs there that one makes new frionds and new acquaintances much more rpad- lly and you learn how to get along with other pooplo. At present the student body is fairly small, but It huH more than doubled In the last few yoars. New buildings ure being built as the size of the universRy warrants. It will not be long before Nevada will rank as high as any of the universities on the coast. We hope that in the future we may have the pleasure of seeing more W’cstwood graduates here. All of us are getting along very nicely and fully intend returning next fall, and we hope to accomplish even more than we have this year. We, the undorslgned. wish succ;ss to Westwood High School and the Chipmunk. Sincerely yours, AUGUSTUS M. DIXON. JOHN CARNIATO. ERWIN J. MORRISON. Berkeley, Cal.. April 2. 1924. Dear Kids: I have now started my college career and 1 just want to tell you a few things about roy ad- vent Into college and how it ull appeared to me. College ain’t all It's cracked up to be.” Looked at front the outside, things always appear dif- ferently from what they really ure. und niy first sight of the University of California scared rather than inspired me. Through all the rush of registration and getting started 1 was wishing that I was back in dear old Westwood High. 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