Mercer University - Cauldron Yearbook (Macon, GA)

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- i. The-C ildroix-1912 0 Freshman Class History When Mercer opened up in 1911, ‘‘Freshmen” seemed to be the popular pass word nl the day and if out wished to he well entertained by the upper classmen all he had to do was mention that name. From all known or unknown regions of the South the students had llockcd, some anticipating a repetition of former joy- ful experiences others thrilled by the newness of it all. For everything was o terribly new, and every other human being on the campus seemed so wise and so much at home. Hut such a condition was not destined to last long nor was it to endure for more than two weeks. At the expiration of that time the new men were Freshmen only in name, and had assumed an air of possession tin equaled by Sophomores, Juniors or Seniors. Rut the Sopho- mores failed to see any change and continued without abatement the dep- redations which they had practised from the first day of school. In ac- cordance with the time honored custom the two classes came together in the class rush. The Freshmen entered this contest with the determination to do or die, and as It happened, being greatly outnumbered, they died valiantly. Most people look upon the Freshmen as being ignorant, fresh, and of no earthly value except to hear the brunt of jokes and pointed sayings. But in their own exalted opinion too much praise cannot be given them for their noble efforts in 1911-12: no approval of any action which they may have taken as a student body could be misplaced: and no condemnation what- ever would he justifiable in the slightest degree. Let us consider what this class has done for Mercer during the tear 1911-12. Last fall, by the efforts of Coach Stroud, a successful football team was turned out and of those winning places on the Varsity nearly a third were freshmen. A still more successful basketball team won laurels for the College, but what 64

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Freshman Class T (.oiors: V iolet and Cream. Ol MtTRS Irwin, Ii. 5......................................................President Grant» Ross,............................................... Vice-President Grace, W. j., . . . . Secretary and Treasurer Jones. C. B........................ Historian MEMBERS Askew, I). H. A pitman. I- B. Barber, I.. R. Baskin. C. J. Beam, R H Bell, F. A Biinnkk, H. H. Carson, J. Christopher. C Dean, I. D, Dill, VV. P. FaNCHER, J. W. Forrester, 11. Forrester, R. V. Frink. C. H. Gallagher, V. VV. G IP son, VV. VV. Grace, VV. J., Jr. Grant. Ross 1 I ATT AWAY, W. B. Holmes, R, |, Hootf.n, B. P. Hi IKON, J. F. Irwin, IF S. Isaacs. E, A, Jackson, A. Jewett, H. C, Jones, C. B. Jokey, S. It. Kirkland, I . P. I .kwis, J- C Montfort. I). 11 Morris, VVf. R. Moses, F. T, Nolan. |. A.. |k. Prvton, G. C Pit i man. VV. R. Powell. F- C. Kiioden, J. K. Ropi r is. J VV. Roqckmorl, VV. T. Sims. VV’ I). Smith, L. S. Sit v i ns, C. G. Stovall, Geo. I ll RFE, J- V- D. Tl'GGLK, K. I . VVai ki r. K. Wells. Ci. I I. Williams. It. M. Williams, C. M Zi i i RS, R. N.

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-TKe- CskMldror -191Z could that team have done without the h reshmen ? Looking forward wc can see a championship baseball team, but would there be any possibility of such a team if the Freshmen were excluded from participation? Chat class further showed its energy and dauntless courage bv ending second only to the Seniors in the inter-class basketball games. Sophomores, Juniors, Law- yers and Pharmacists doing down before their charge in ignominious defeat. Who can doubt that the Seniors play a big role in the college life at Mercer? Then look forward and see in the graduating class of 1915 these same Freshmen whom the world has bulleted and knocked about like a ship on a tempestuous sea. And when at last Mercer has become the foremost college in all this section of the L inverse, men will look back with admira- tion upon those same Freshmen by whose efforts this was largely accom- plished. 65