Alma College - Scotsman Yearbook (Alma, MI)

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Top Row: left to right: Beverly Hopkins, Hannah Bach, Jean Huff, Virginia Loughead, Helen Olander, and Carol Paterson. Third Row: Ruth Kreulen, Betty Fischer, Dorothy Walton, Maryhelen Connolly, Prudence Taylor, and Wilma Lowry. Second Row: Norma Hass, Betty Cleland, Thelma Nachtweih, Mary Jo Furstenburg, Helen Milham, Sally Reed, and Mary Lou Williams. Bottom Row: Ann Wacker, Donna Jean Francis, Bettie Fee, Vera Pitcher, Marion Hass, Isabelle Purdy, and Mary Catherine Bell. During the fall semester of 1941, Sally Reed acted as presiding officer of Alpha Theta sorority. The dual role of first critic and vice-president was filled by Betty Cleland. Treasurer Beverly Hopkins handled the money matters, Secretary Donna Jean Francis the records, and Secretary Jean Wilson the correspondence. Vera Pitcher was second critic and Shirley MacGregor, sentinel. The spring semester election resulted in the promotion of Vera Pitcher to the presi- dential position. Marion Hass became vice-president and first critic, Ann Wacker, second critic, and Mary Ann Bowen, sentinel. Donna Jean Francis, Bettie Jane Fee, and Maryhelen Connolly were elected to the offices of treasurer, recording secretary, and corresponding secretary, respectively. 85

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HLPHH THETH Alpha Theta, the original sorority on the Alma College campus, has been functioning since March, 'l89O. Miss Elizabeth Hunting, daughter of Alma's first president, pro- moted its organization. This year, another successful season was added to the society's illustrious history. Aiding the Red Cross was a sorority project during the first semester of the school year. Every member completed two infant night dresses. Several of the girls did Red Cross knitting in addition. The society participated actively in campus activities and contributed to the social life of the college. The Theta Mixer , accoring to the custom, ushered in the social season in the fall, with Jack Tobin and his orchestra supplying the music. The annual Homecoming banquet of the sorority was held in the Rotary Room of the Wright Hotel. The sorority float, built around the theme of the three-fold motto Prudence, Wisdom, and Truth , took the second-place prize in the Homecoming parade. During the rushing season the Thetas entertained with a theater party. After seeing the movie Swamp Water , the group came back to the chapel recreation room for games, entertainment, and refreshments. Shortly after pledging, a closed party was held in the chapel recreation room for both pledges and old members and their dates. An amusing mother and daughter gathering was held at Carol Paterson's home. Dodie Walton, in infant apparel, and her mother, Vera Pitcher, took top honors for the most clever costumes, while Norma Hass, Bettie .lane Fee, Donna Jean Francis, and Helen Olander were very close competitors for the prize. The society gave a tea in the sorority room in honor of their patronesses, who are: Mrs. H. Spencer, Mrs. R. W. Hamilton, Mrs. R. W. Clack, Mrs. E. T. Lamb, Mrs. H. Soule, Mrs. C. Robertson, Mrs. L. Montigel, Mrs. R. Hallin, Miss Grace Roberts, Mrs. S. O. Rorem, and Mrs. Rottschafer. The annual spring banquet, at which new members were formally initiated, was followed by a successful dinner-dance held at the Midland Country Club on May 2. On the morning of the last day of school the sorority held its farewell breakfast. Mem- bers and their mothers were present to bid good-by to the graduating Thetas, and with this event the curtain was run down on Alpha Theta social activities for the year. 84

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PHILOMATHEAN Philomathean Society was officially organized on November TO, 1909. Not till twenty years later, however, did this literary society assume its present status as a campus sorority. This year Philos again were active in campus life, both as a group and individually. During the first semester of the school year the Philos established the fact that they are patriotically inclined. Ruth Kolvoord, who was president of the organization at that time, made the necessary arrangements and acquired the names of a group of soldiers stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Each girl in the society was assigned one soldier to whom it became her responsibility to write. A thriving corres- pondence between Alma and the Fort was developed. ln Alma's Methodist Church the Philos held their annual Homecoming banquet. We've got 'em hooked was the slogan upon which their float for the Homecoming parade was based, with Alma football players supposedly hooking Adrian suckers . The implication was that the Homecoming football game was in the bag. An early winter social success was the sororityis girl-bid dance, Rendezvous in Rhythm , held on December 5. Fritz Carrier and his orchestra provided the swell music for dancing in the chapel recreation room and the decorations further carried out the rhythmic theme of this party. Under the stars, the milky way, the big dipper, and other heavenly hosts transferred to the ceiling of Wright Hall's recreation room, the Philomathean rushing party was held. Next on the calendar came a tea for the patronesses and freshmen girls. After their formal initiation banquet, a bridge party was sponsored by the patronesses, who are: Mrs. Don M. Howell, Miss Margaret Foley, Mrs. C. Carney Smith, Mrs. William Season, Mrs. Leontine Netszorg, Miss Katherine Ardis, Mrs. Ben Lobdell, Mrs. Albert Anthony, Mrs. Don Sullivan, and Mrs. Spencer Miller. The sorority concluded the social season with a dinner-dance at the Midland Country Club on May 23. The Philomathean chapel program showed both originality and wit. The girls imper- sonated outstanding faculty members to the amusement of the students and professors themselves. Betty McCulloch and Betty Pecsenye shone in the roles of Miss Foley and Miss Steward, respectively. Dr. Brokenshire's double was Kay Wilkie, and Irma Nieder- smith's interpretation of Dean Gillard was superb. Characterizations of Prof. Johnson and Miss Smith fell to Liz Miller. Her performances were excellent as were the por- trayals of other eminent Almanians. 86