Barnard College - Mortarboard Yearbook (New York, NY)

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The largest Freshman class in q the history of Barnard — as they are quick to remind us — turned up this year. Reaching toward the solid ivory towers of academic tra- dition in a year of uncertainties, these young hopefuls got off to a good start. War or no war, the long, long road to a B.A. began with the highly undignified contrivances known as angel-robes. Clad — more or less — in these clas- sic draperies, each newcomer had everything from her length to her breath duly measured and recorded. Soon enough she began to realize what a lucky thing it is for Barnard that tea hasn ' t been rationed. She went to the Dean ' s teas, Dr. McGuire ' s teas, Wednesday teas and other mis- cellaneous — teas! Barnard ' s own pet systems have presented quite a barrier to less talented groups, but 1947 soon learned what you do if your name is cov- ered with a red slip. And it wasn ' t long before they could all reach into that box in 304 and pull out number 137 just as neatly as you please. Then there were the mathematical mysteries of eligibility and other vital facts presented for the inspection of Freshman — and other consci- entious folk — in a little publication euphemis- tically known as Blue Book. The casual item making each student responsible for all the regulations crammed between its innocent-look- ing cover was one of the more terrifying aspects of early Frosh existence. On the other hand, a ceremony regarded with a lot of friendly curiosity was Meeting My Ju- nior Sister, which — for reasons too deeply rooted to be questioned by mortals — always takes place at twelve on Jake. Over cheese- burgers at the Bookstore, each well-meaning Junior offered the gems of advice she wished she had received two short years before. But 1947 ' s complete and un-freshman like sophis- tication made most of it seem like coals to Newcastle. When it comes to the curriculum, a Fresh- man ' s lot has its own unmistakable earmarks. 16

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Freshman day is the gentle process of in- troducing brand-new Freshmen to Barnard and to each other. Dressed in their best, they have lunch, listen to the Dean, say hello to Jake and the Morgue and smile brightly at the girls with whom they ' ll spend their next four years. And then, after they have been properly awed by Opening Exercises and have suc cessfully manipulated their first Barnard teacups, they realize that they have become The Class of ' 47 . Frosh Officers: Elizabeth Brigham, Bonnie Hauser, Alexandra Rice, Ruth Raup, Mary Rudd. 15

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Life is bound by books and rules Read and followed with adherence. The academic glamour fools The Freshman with its false appearance. She beats her brow in every course; Outside intrusion — she rejects it. She finds the libe a helpful source, And fondly plans to pass the exit. College is an education — Witness Freshman concentration! Six-passes on the lawn and panic over English A themes are inevitable. Efficient little white index cards for that first term paper help to maintain some semblance of academic order during this frenzied phase. Dr. Alsop ' s inimi- table Hygiene A classes improve one shining hour of a Freshman ' s week with highly useful pointers on Vitamin B and good mental adjust- ment. Of Saturday classes — that special Frosh blessing — and the first collision with quiz books, no more need be said. While the year was still young, each Frosh had a date named Arthur, who turned out — as any upperclassman might have warned her — to be a rat. She recorded his unhappy tale in her best manner, under the alert ear of the English department. More often than not she icfused to believe that the queer voice played back to her was the one she ' d been making generous use of for some seventeen years. Every Freshman is automatically a member of the Undergraduate Association and is en- couraged to take up her part in the workings of democracy at Barnard. The class of 1947 went into politics with a bang. Its fervor burned until forty-three candidates for class president had been nominated. Bonnie Hauser was the final winner. Mary Rudd became Vice- President, Alessandra Rice took over the duties of Secretary, and Helen Trevor was chosen to 17 tend the treasury. They saw to it that the Frosh- Soph party thoroughly cemented the class ' for- eign relations. Thus did 1947 become a true part of the Barnard community.