Assumption High School - Assumption Yearbook (Davenport, IA)

Page 12 text:

In Peru Alumnus Aids by George Koenigsaecker Building homes and sewers, distrib- uting bread and powdered milk and administering to the sick and aged . . . these were but a few of the many tasks undertaken by former Knight Beacon Editor Patrick Deluhery '59 while spending the summer in Peru. Pat, now a junior at Notre Dame Un- iversity, was accompanined by eight other Notre Dame students on his eight week trip to Ciudad de Dios, Peru. The primary purpose of the trip was to help two peoples — the Peruvians and the Americans — to learn about one an- other with respect to history, culture, resources, needs and potential. The idea for the trip was first put forth by CILA (Council for the Inter- national Lay Apostolate), of which Pat is a member. A board of CILA moder- ators chooses members on the basis of group compatibility, motivation and “a spirit of sacrifice.” The Board knew that the climate and food of Peru would be hard on health and they wanted men who could still come through even in spite of illnesses incurred. After mem- bers of the trip were chosen, CILA organized a fund drive for $5,000 need- ed to send and to sustain the nine young men in Peru. Begin Routine After a careful study of the Span- ish language and Latin American cul- ture, the nine youths departed from Miami aboard a Peruvian airliner. Up- on arrival in Lima, Peru’s capital, the students were driven to Ciudad de Dios, a town of 10,000 about 20 miles from Lima. They soon began a routine that was to last for the remainder of the eight week stay. Each morning three of the boys would go behind the mission where they stayed to open the dispensary. One representative of each family would collect two cups of powdered milk and one chunk of bread for each member of the family. The remainder of the students would accompany Fr. William McCarthy, pastor of the mis- sion, on his daily rounds. It didn’t take the boys long to find something useful to do that would benefit the citizens of the area. It was not unusual for the citizens of Ciudad de Dios to see an American painting the church doors, building sewers or helping a neighbor paint his home. Clinic Work Once a week the boys would go to the clinic to prepare patients for the doctor. As each child came in they would clean, weigh, measure him and take his temperature. In the clinic the boys realized how close the mothers really were to their babies and yet how they could accept death as an everyday thing. Large families are part Natives “IT’S A LLAMA,” explains Pat Delu- hery ’59 to seniors Dave McGee and Pat McGivern as they admire his Peruvian Alpaca wool rug. of the Latin American culture, but most children die before they reach the age of two and one half years. This is large- ly due to the fact that the Perubians have yet to learn to use simple health precautions that are accepted standards in the U.S. Peruvians usually live in a two-room adobe house, two families to each house. They have a diet of beans, po- tatoes, bread, bananas, tomatoes and a non-alcoholic drink called chicha which is made from corn mash. The average mountain Peruvian’s life (half of the population lives in the mountains) is spent in a befuddled state caused by chewing the cocoa leaf which contains narcotic cocaine. This addiction short- ens the average life span, which is about 40 years, but numbs the pains of starvation and toil. Without the co- caine the Peruvian laborer is unwilling to work. His diet is always inadequate and his body is in a constant state of starvation. Achieve Purpose The real purpose of the trip was achieved in the understanding reached between the nine Americans and the Peruvians they met. “Each of us felt that by going out individually or in small groups and participating in fam- ily life . . . having meals with the fam- ily . . . talking with the young men of the village ... we would learn to know the people and their problems, Pat said. “The people of Peru do not wish to have the wealth distributed but rather the opportunity. They wish only the chance to be able to support a fam- ily and lead a prosperous life. They look to the United States to show them the way to make free-enterprise and democracy work for them so that they too may have opportunity. The Peru- vian people are not turning to com- munism because they do not feel that there is opportunity in communism. The knowledge that they have of the United States is primarily gained by watching TV, which many people buy and then rent to others,” he added. After spending several weeks in Ciu- dad de Dios, the boys were invited to a family fiesta. (Only close friends of a family are invited.) At the fiesta there was singing and dancing and a warm friendship for all. It was a grand ending to what could be only the be- ginning observed Pat. At Oasis Knights Cain Steeds Cars, not camels, are given away at the Oasis. Two Assumption seniors won cars during the summer at the Oasis drive-in theater One of the first cars awarded was to Gerry Schutte ’63. “Little Jenny,” as he called it, was a deluxe ’51 Nash. Trouble after the first night and lack of gas soon encouraged Gerry to sell his “lemon” and save for the future. Showing off his prize possession, Gerry invited a couple of senior friends — Bob Daurer and Lee Barta — for a spin. “Runs pretty good, for noth- ing,” commented Bob. “Yeh, it floats like an upside down bathtub,’ ’teased Lee. Everything was going fine until he turned it off. Gerry kept joking about having to push it home, and that’s what he did. A prize ’50 Dodge was awarded to Barb Lewis ’63 for her autograph. Her luck came towards the send of the summer. Knowing of the troubles and investments needed for such a car, Barb refused the car and took $40 in- stead. 10

Page 11 text:

Study Later CHECKOUT CLERK . . . Janet Benson ’63 grinds at a cash register as she collects her tuition. TUITION PAID . . . Jerry Schutte g ’63 and Barb DeZorzi ’65 apply their knowledge on the recent ▼ ITED tests at AHS. TRACTOR JOCKEY Jack Hogan '63 scoops up well- aimed golf balls at Laake’s Driving Range and earns his tuition thereby. “ALL RIGHT, CINDERELLA” . . . how does this one feel?” asks Jim Howes '63, ending a wearisome day and 500 pairs of shoes for his tu- ition.

Page 13 text:

Guild Grapples Frogs, Bugs and Ajax “Please!! pass the insect repellent.” “It’s not raining again?” “There go the lights over.” Mosquitoes, rain and shattering glass . . . these make the theatre! All theatre isn’t as glamorous and exciting as it is often depicted, says members of the Quad-Cities Genesius Guild, to which several Assumption students and grad- uates belong. The Genesius Guild, organized by Mr. Don Wooten, Rock Island, has completed six seasons with increasing success. Sev- eral classical Greek and Shakespearean productions are under the sponsorship of the Rock Island Park Board each sum- mer. This season’s four productions included Ajax, a Greek tragedy, and Aristophane’s Greek farce The Frogs (Assumption theatregoers will recall John Viggos and Jerry Ehrecke, both ’60, in Sister M. Eustella’s production of The Birds.) Shakespeare’s tragedy, Othello, and com- edy, Twelfth Night brought the English 17th Century to Lincoln Park. Mosquitoes might have been the guild’s worst problem if it hadn’t been for the rain. Since Greek plays are performed near the pond in Lincoln Park, specta- tors often sat with legs Indian style and hands on their knees to ward off mos- quitoes. Four rain postponements length- ened the season two weeks, which meant as many as three plays within five days. Finally, Jim Loula, as Othello, demon- strated his Notre Dame football strength by tossing Mike Kennedy, the play’s vil- lain, against the light stands, sending splintering glass to the ground. “My sister Kathy ’59 first interested me in the Guild,” said Agnes Mohr ’63, ASSUMPTION FLIPS . . . as new reg- ulations allow students to wear tennis shoes in this upside down picture. one of the thespians. “Being a member of the casts of Othello, Ajax and The Frogs, she taught me about the Guild. My en- trance as an actress came quite unex- pectedly when one of the Frogs was un- able to be in the play. She called and asked if I would take her place; I agreed and started the next night grind- ing on the actions and dances.” Nits Fix Wits “The Bunkers’ punishment!” In former years this derision was com- monly used for summer school but to- day this six-week period has taken on a new light. This year 2,070 students from kin- dergartners to high school graduates attended summer school in the Daven- port area. Over 100 of these students attend Assumption. The pupils’ reasons for taking sum- mer school courses varied. Some at- tended solely to earn credits needed for graduation but a large number came of their own choice. Some took courses that would benefit them in college in the fall. Others took subjects which could not be worked into their regular school year schedule. Sharon Morris ’63 want- ed a credit in American government, but her schedule for this year was full. She solved her problem by taking a two hour course in government this summer. Judy Braden '63 who had similar reasons for taking the course in government stated that it was worth the extra effort. Other Assumption students such as Mary McCarthy '64. Colleen Walsh ’63, and Dave Schlitter ’63 enrolled in the drivers’ education course. They found that this course made gaining their drivers’ licenses easier and safer. From her experience in the Guild Ag- nes observed that the theatre consists of all types of people. For instance, Mike Kennedy, a graduate of St. Am- brose College and drama instructor at Blackhawk College, directed Twelfth Night and portrayed Iago in Othello. A teacher at St. Pius X Grade School in Rock Island, Betty Nelson, used much of her summer working and acting in Gen- esius Guild. Pat Wells ’65 got an early introduction into the Guild with one of the dance leads in The Frogs. Her sister, Suzie and Janie ’62 have been in guild for two years. With principal roles in Othello, Twelfth Night and The Frogs, Grant McKernie a Northwestern Univer- sity political science major, demonstrated that one’s main work doesn’t have to be drama to be involved. As the summer season closed plans were being made for winter programs at Augustana College and Kewanee, 111. The Knight Beacon will advise students of time, place and ticket price for the various productions. Beacon Wanders Assumption journalists are appearing in publications other than their own Knight Beacon this month. They also have merited national recognition from the CSPA (Catholic School Press As- sociation). Pat Nemmers and Don Miller, both ’62, interviewed the Bishop last year on the lay apostolate. Their interview is being reprinted in four magazines: Today, The Journalist. Catholic Boy, and Catholic Miss. It also won the first place award in the Mississippi Valley Press Conference. KB photographers also merit recog- nition. A picture by Joe Nahra ’63, tak- en at the YCS Study Week at St. Am- brose this summer, will appear in the October issue of Today. Practical English magazine is considering publication of senior Bob Hill’s picture of the Knight Beacon trial to illustrate the cover of their speech issue. Barb Niemeyer ’62, who currently is enrolled in the School of Journalism, Marquette Unviersity, won honorable mention. from the CSPA for two edi- torials which appeared in the Beacon last year. Barb was employed in the editorial department of The Catholic Messenger this summer. For the fourth straight year, the staff won All-Catholic and Newspaper of Distinction from the CSPA of Marquette. Next year, at the sectional CSPA con- vention at St. Thomas College, St. Paul, Minn., Assumption has been invited to put on a trial. The following year they will be invited to put it on for the na- tional convention in Milwaukee, Wis. Junior journalists will attend a press conference at St. Mary’s Clinton, Nov. 1. 11