Bates College - Mirror Yearbook (Lewiston, ME)

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EL SS HISTU We're the War Babes, the class of '-16. Wie were the last class to enter when Bates was still a civilian college, we were here during the 'Gwar years, when it was blue jackets and hup-two- three instead of slouch coats, heavy shirts, and we were here in the first post-war year, when reconversion set in and the steady trickle of former Bates men and incoming freshmen has continued into a river. Yes, it was September 21, 1942, that we en- tered, almost 200 strong. IMUR . . . the agonies of the Faculty Reception . . . Personality tests fare you afraid of high places?j . . . Stanton Ride, with the bees, the stop in front of the grave of the frustrated female fwho didn't go to Batesl, the cider and donuts. Freshman week over., we started classes and Freshman Rules. Three little words-tbat's all we lived for, bibs and bows, caps and bow ties, the Unholy Thir- teen-remember Don Richter's scalping, and who was that worshipper of Allah kneeling out- side the Chapel? Saturday Night Dances. with the Bobcats and Sis entress 4'HE1nbrace me, my sweet Embraceable Youvl. Freshman Discus- sion Groups, Mothers Weekend, Jeffrey Lynn and the measles. Bill Ginn was president, Muriel Ulrich vice-president, with Sue Davidson as secretary and George Stewart treasurer. There was a sadder side too, for every week fellows left for camps, and the service flag went up in the Chancel of the Chapel. It was a civilian year overlaid with patches of war. We had seventeen days at Christmas and got out the middle of May. Mert Sanborne was our first class casualty. The first group of accel- erating freshmen entered in the spring semester. The Navy first came that summer of '43, while mgnyl of our class took advantage of summer sc oo . We returned that fall to a Navy-Bates campus. We got used to the undress blues, the ten o'clock curfew for men, Navy lingo-hit the sack, chow. scuttlebutts, regimentals. Bob Dennett, Les An- derson, Art Ploener, Don Richter, Bob Rudolph. Bob Lindh now functioneered in Navy blues. Chase Hall Open Houses and Navy Smokers were inaugurated. The V-12 Octet had its be- ginning. Then came the Soph Hop, Carnival. tea dances, Ivy Hop, and ll:l5's on Saturday night were extended to 12 o'clock pers, while our sailor escorts fiew across campus on their last minute dash before taps. Class officers were Bud Ireland, Muriel Ulrich, Sue Davidson., and Alden Sears, BASC. We got used to cold Maine winters, earlier breakfasts, chilly May' Day breakfast, the nightmares of exams. Dia- monds for Fran Dean, Holly Hawkes, Nonnie Preble. Winnie Poole, Ruth Nickerson, ,loannie Merritt. Thanksgiving, New Year's at Bates with classes as usual-what are holidays for. anyway? We only had brief glimpses of home during short vacations. and the year ended in the middle of June. Prexy Gray retired and President Charles F. Phillips took over the helm with a new Bates HY UP 1945 Plan in the ofling. Bates ran on a year-round schedule calculated to graduate a student in two and two-thirds years. The Squall, rampant with humor, was born that summer, and in the fall the Student resumed publication on a bi- monthly basis. The rest of the ,lolly ,lolly ,luniors returned in November, many of us well-versed in factory lingo. Social events got into full swing with Cabin parties, open houses at Thorncrag, bas- ketball games, Smokers, and Navy Formals-the Christmas one was the 111ost beautiful in years. Ch1'istn1as was a weekend holiday-remember those crowded late trains? Motif for Carnival was the circus, and the snow sculptures were terrific! Class officers were Schmanska as presi- dent, Ruth Asker, vice-president, Sue Davidson. secretary, and Pat Wfilson as treasurer. News of Roosevelt's death shook the campus, bringing the war even closer to us. V-E Day came May 6 while the flag was still at half-mast. That was the year that spring came and went. Engage- ments included Betty Kimball, Penny Gump- right. Ruth Small, Silvia Grey, and Jerry Wal- ther. all to Bates men. Joannie and Bud got married in the Bates Chapel early in June. Ivy Day, and we tried the feel of the cap and gown . . . the Ivy Hop . . . exams . . . and another year was over. Our war years were nearing to an end. V-J Day and peace at last. That summer was our farewell to the Navy at Bates, and the garnet once more became the prodominant color. Ci- vilians. veterans came in ever increasing num- bers: former Bates 111611 from the original class of 746 were back-George Disnard. Shorty Fleicher, Bill Ginn fand wifel, Bill Fee, Bob Rudolph. For the first time in many years there was no football team, but basketball got rapidly underway. Winnie Poole Sherman back on campus, mixing college and marriage, engage- ments came thickly: Pril, Bunny, Marty, Mac MacMackin, Erma Rowe, Kay Reilly, Ruth Asker, Ginny 0'Brien, Scottie Miller, Dottie Lichter. Marriages: Billie Greenburg Diamond, Nonnie Preble Eldridge. Betty Kimball Howard. Teddy Holmes Knights, ,lerry Wfalther Keach. New Dorm, now Smith Hall, was opened up for the surplus wo111en and social activities slowly went back to pre-war days, but what can a gal do when there are 500 odd girls to 150 fellows? The Christmas formal and Carnival Hop were fun, with numbers of former V-12ers and old Bates men on campus for the weekend. Ruth Stillman was our lovely Queen: Sue Da- vidson, Ruth Asker, Pat Wilson, Marty Cloutier, .lay Packard and Muriel Stewart formed her court. In February we held the first Pops Con- cert since 1942. Weire the Class of '46, the class of the Wfar Years, our days at Bates have been full of fun, hard work, wonderful friendships, disappoint- ments perhaps., but crammed with glorious memories.

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SENIUH UFFICEHS PAUL SCHMANSKA RUTH SMALL President Vice-Prpsidpnt PATRICIA WILSON MURIEL STEWf ART Treasurer Secretary Myrtle E. Holden Vera J. Cleland Geraldine M. Wfeed Barbara R. Wllller Marv F Langille Electra Zazopoulo Davld T Brlgllalll Cum laude ln ECOIIOIIIIPS