Assumption High School - Assumption Yearbook (Davenport, IA)

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Bishop Guards Flock During a Sunday Mass in late September, Assump- tionites heard their Davenport pastors read a letter of the bishop requesting that each parish begin a novena to pray for the bishop at the Ecumenical Coun- cil. On this occasion the bishop spoke to his flock through his pastors. This is the student’s main contact with the bishop. Last winter Joe Nahra ’63 visited Bishop Ralph L., Hayes with two ’62 graduates — Pat Nemmers and Don Miller — who interviewed the bishop. Joe was Knight Beacon photographer. Summarizing this ex- perience, Joe states, “I was astounded at the bishop’s frank and jolly spirit and the touch of fatherly af- fection as he displayed the Christmas decorations in his living room. Aside from this personal contact, the only opportunty I have to hear the wishes of my bishop is either through The Catholic Messenger or my pastor who acts as the guardian of his people and his representative.” Ask an average student about the bishop and he replies that the bishop is the head of a large organ- ization, who works in a large office each day, or lives in a towering house with large rooms. This has been the effect of secularism in the world. However, stu- dents in the apostolate are usually aware of the re- lationship of the bishop and pastor to them. Bruce Borne ’63 says, “I don’t have any direct re- lationship with the bishop, that is knowing him per- •sonally, but he is the head of the diocese. He is like a middle man — the link between the Holy See and the laity — who must delegate his authority to the pastors. The pastors are our guiding light.” Senior Don Chenoweth adds, “The bishop co-or- dinates all the priests in the diocese to achieve a goal. Although he is a very busy person, he is still a priest and is approachable by the average person. The pas- tor is our appointed spiritual director; he is like a doctor for our soul.” The pastors have a direct and more personal re- lationship to the layman than the bishop. The pastor is responsible to the bishop for his parishioners. Fr. Kenneth C. Martin, pastor of Our Lady of Victory Church, comments on the role of the pastors: “St. Paul explains our role very well: ‘A priest must be all things to all men.’ The pastor must be interested in the laymen’s problems, material and spiritual — all aspects of their lives. The bishop is to the diocese as the pastor is to his parochial flock. The duty of the laity is to help the church financially and spiritually: to take active participation in all activities pertaining to the parish. Students, as laymen, have duties to their Church; as Father Martin says: “To take active participation.” Assumptionites have taken interest in their parishes. Now we wait for them to carry out the expected reforms and renewals of the Ecumenical Council. KNIGHT BEACON IfW ” Ai a Hftiion in the Sight” « I»» ' The Knight Beacon is published eight times a year by students of Assumption high school. The yearly subscription rate is $1 50 Mike-rophone Church Soups Up New Cor by Mike Townsend The 1963 model of the Catholic Church is coming out soon! Sounds strange, but right now the Ecumenical Coun- cil in Rome is preparing the new model. Though it is the first in 100 years, there will be no radical changes, but just an overall streamlining. Several new innovations will be evident; for in- stance, the liturgy, the “engine” of the Church, may be modernized, and our bishops, the “sparkplugs” may be stepped up to a much greater power. The Church will also get a new “paint job.” In other words, the external appearance will be im- proved in order to appeal to non-Catholic customers. Finally, a revitalized set of “tires” (that’s us, the laity) will enable the Church to be carried through- out the superhighways and dirt roads of the world. These changes and other refinements will result in a rejuvenated Mystical Body which will overcome to- day’s modern “traffic” problems. How about it, hotrodders? 24

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Mortuary Seeks Recruit Thirty-five colleges, six nursing schools and nine non-academic schools Moon Shines in Auditorium The fifth annual Assumption Variety Show to be held Nov. 20 has become the goal of many talented AHSers who have their eyes on the moon. A visitor from the moon who will come to see Americans’ manners of amusing themselves,” . . . that’s the central theme of the show under the direction of Sr. M. John Therese and Sr. M. Joanette, BVM. In preparation for the show four fresh- men girls . . . Erika Koenigsaecker, Mary Beth Weatt, Nancy Gray and Ai- leen Engleman . . . have been practicing and arranging a “Lollipop Dance.” Soph Steve Huyette plans a recita- tion of “Hell in Texas” and the sequel to “Casey at the Bat.” Other talented sophomores preparing to display their ability are pianists Wayne Hunt, George Mitchell, and Joe Barnes. Gary Hunt, Pat Dray, Colleen Dunn, and Jill Schroeder, all ’64, are consid- ering a performance of two scenes from “Teahouse of the August Moon,” which they studied in their junior journalism class. The seniors, too, have been looking forward to the show. Dancer and choreographer Jo Luther ’63 has been busy arranging, directing a cast of jun- iors and seniors, and performing “Cool,” a song and dance from West Side Story. Tickets may be purchased from mem- bers of the cast and crew. Activity books may be used. Moon men will have to find their own way in. Beacon Blinks Along with the Knight Beacons, which will be distributed today, 429 Assump- tionites will also receive their KB port- folios. As they place each issue of the paper in their portfolio, they may look back over the year’s joys and sorrows. But not Alfredo. The pride of Alfredo Omiste ’62, Boliv- ian foreign exchange student at Assump- tion High School was his Knight Beacon portfolio. It held the reminiscences of a year filled with the obstacles of dif- ferent language and customs, overcome by the love of man for his brother. How did it come to lay on a revolution ridden Peruvian street? Will it ever be replac- ed? In June ’62 Alfredo received his di- ploma and class ring, and prepared for his return trip to Bolivia. During the excitement and chaos of the Peruvian revolution Alfredo passed through Peru, where he lost the portfolio. If you can replace Alfredo’s port- folio, please report to the press room, S-10. Until Oct. 18, 9:30 pm, Carol Menes ’65 and 400 other Assumption students were undecided as to what college to attend. After College Night Carol re- lated that she had definitely decided upon Marycrest. Carol explained that this program permitted her to find which colleges offered the courses she wanted and which were most convenient and eco- nomical. She plans to major in English and become a teacher. Michele Morrison ’64 stated that this program helped her to narrow down the list of colleges she might possibly attend. Her choices are Creighton Uni- versity or St. Louis. College Night helped many students such as Jack Cogan ’65 to resolve their questions of costs, scholarships, cours- es and requirements for entry. Although Judy Houghton ’64 still has over a year to decide upon a school, she explained the value of this pro- gram for herself. She stated that Col- lege Night helped her to decide what to look for in a college so that next year she will be able to find the school that possesses these qualities. After receiving the information they needed, the parents and students were welcomed into the cafeteria where free coffee and 600 donuts were served. were represented this year. College Night is jointly sponsored annually by the Assumption high school Boost- ers Club and faculty. This year non-Catholic schools as well as parochial participated in the program. Four of these were universi- ties from Iowa and Illinois. The number of schools represented was increased to almost 20 more than last year and they ranged from state universities to a college of mortuary science. Student-parent attendance al- so increased to almost 800 present at this year’s program. Officers Reign Reigning as officers for the Pius XII chapter of the National Honor Society are Jeff Gadient, president, Joan Ber- endes, vice-president, Mary Ann Soen- ke, secretary, and Bruce Borne, treas- urer. This year, as last, the Society has sponsored College Night. Also they will be in charge of the annual spelling bee and the formal in the spring. )ioLdei)t Council fence { J } I Variety 5how Nov.ZO |Eiv J AsJCtubly Nov. Z 7 1 Y.C.ii. Dance Dec. 7 'pagiletli Pi filter Ue.c. d 23

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Are Elections Monopoly or Free-for-All? Eight student council officers were elected to rep- resent the class of ’63 in their freshman year. Three have persevered in student political life for four years; these are girls. How does one account for this? Could it be differing methods of election? In the boys’ division, a freshman student council hopeful must first designate a particular office he Keds Kapture Kids Did you spend three to five dollars for conformity? About half the senior class did. A Knight Beacon survey disclosed that 55 of the senior boys and 64 of the senior girls recently bought tennis shoes, which until recently had been outlawed. What do these fig- ures show — merely a desire for inexpensive shoes or a need among students for wearing what the “crowd” does? Perhaps the reason students place so much emphasis on conformity is because they align it with popularity. However, such students are letting a large chunk of their life slip away from them. When they fashion their activities to include “what everybody’s doing” they are permitting the “group” to dictate not only what they do but possibly how they think. It’s not that group activities aren’t good; what we’re aiming at is a rebirth of creative thinking — students striking out on their own, doing something different merely for the sake of doing it. Taking a walk, coining a new nickname, thinking up some unique decorations for the next dance or writing a hit song about a lost love are a few suggestions. How will this creative thinking help students? First, by doing things he normally never would have thought of, the student may hit upon something he really en- joys. Maybe he is capable of writing a hit song; he’ll never know until he tries. Secondly, since this creative thinking is an ex- pression of self, it will help the student realize just who he is and what he associates himself with. More- over, the student will look upon himself with more distinction than a coded number on an IBM card. Putting this into practice, Knight Beacon staff mem- bers have had an opportunity to try their creative powers on this issue. By special arrangement with Gordon Printing Co., the staff have pulled “production proofs” for this issue. Heretofore this work has been done by professionals. This issue should indicate whether the idea was a good one or not. Finally, and probably most important, the experi- ence of thinking for himself, rather than having some- one do his thinking for him, will instill in the stu- dent the courage to do the right thing even when “everybody else” is headed in the wrong direction. So, students, give it a little thought the next time you tie those tennis shoes. wishes to hold. Secondly, the candidate must secure a nomination petition for an office from the vice- principal. The petition must be signed by twenty of his classmates. Repetition of signatures for each office is not allowed. The voting consists of choosing one boy for each office. All freshman girls desiring to run for student coun- cil are asked to submit their names in their home- rooms. A few weeks before election day, each home- room eliminates until three candidates remain. No one contends for president, vice-president, secretary, or treasurer. When the voting takes place, each girl in- dicates her first four choices. The four girls receiving the most votes are “student council representatives.” In examining these methods, two main points should be considered. First, in the present method of election employed by the boys’ division, there is a great tend- ency to find a dominant number of able candidates running for the same office. Since only one can be elected, the remaining lose their opportunity to de- velop their leadership qualities via the student coun- cil. This unbalance also tends to weaken the other representative offices. Second, the method employed by the girls’ division emphasizes homeroom representa- tion, which is important to the goals of the Student Government Association. However, an objective look at the student council representatives of the class of ’63 also reveals this fact: although the boys elected more candidates during the four years, they tended to stabilize after freshman year. For example, as sophomores, the boys elected three new’ officers. Two endured for the remaining three years as active student council members. Perhaps this indicates 1) that freshman boys do not select leaders who will last or 2) that such lead- ers do not run in freshman year. The question the Student Council should ask it- self is this: “Do the disadvantages of the differing systems outweigh the advantages?” AM PD 25