Blake School - Reflections / Call O Pan Yearbook (Hopkins, MN)

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Smitty and associates play blackjack. Enough of this environment, what about the man? Underneath his hard shell, the Senior is a gentle soul. He is studious, persevering, imaginative. We realize that few of the hierarchy will agree with this last description, but it is so. The marks may not show it, true, but the fact remains that many hours of hard studying arc put in by all the members of the class. A favorite activity is the hate session. After a particularly hard test the Seniors may gather together for a discussion of the Blake Faculty, or as is usually the ease, one teacher who has especially arousal their anger that day. These discussions arc tape-recorded and when played back, resemble the noise made by 3,000 Mau-Mau warriors gathered around a ceremonial bonfire. These hate sessions may involve anyone, from the oldest man to the youngest nobody. Everyone is subject to attack in these good natured fun-fests. Seriously, the Class of ‘56 has made many contributions to Blake, through organizations such as the athletic teams. Publications, and the Union. We have spent some of the most enjoyable years of our lives at Blake, but we hope that we have succeeded in our attempt to set a worthy example for the rest of the school. We have made mistakes, yes, and we apologize for them, but we arc proud of our contributions and hope that the School will remember them, as we will certainly remember Blake. 23 Hollcrn stars in after-lunch activities.

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THE CLASS OF 56 Mate Session The Senior is many things to many people. The underclassmen see him as an ogre, living in a dark den eating misguided little boys. The Faculty sees him in two lights: infrequently, a studious, well-man-crcd, mature young gentleman (this condition usually exists only near marking periods); a loud juvenile who can be found either dealing cards or engaged in the latest New York Times fights. The friendly folk of Edina consider him a fleeting visitor who always returns on weekends. The students of one Minneapolitan girls’ school think a Senior is a |Kst—and should be treated as one. The Seniors, themselves, look upon each other as bon vivants, gay and carefree young men. bound for a world of fun anti adventure. All this leads up to the question—what is a Senior? Biology has taught us that the best way to study a creature is to learn about his environment; in this case, the Senior Room. This dark den of depravity is located, unfortunately, next to the Faculty Room—unfortunately, because the Faculty compares it to a jet-age wind-tunnel and the Seniors compare it to sitting on a beehive. What do the Seniors do in there all day? The underclassman thinks that they spend all of their time thinking up the latest torture, such as the treadmill.” “shoot the chute, or “the rack.” But no, other things go on. They listen to the radio, gamble, handwrestlc, or engage in any other activity which is noisy. It has been said that more money changes hands in the Senior Room than on Mr. Edie’s Stock Exchange, for gambling is, perhaps, our greatest activity. Black Jack. Poker, and other card games arc enjoyed by all—except those who lose. At other times they may engage in a New York Times fight, although these have been outlawed by our next-door neighbors. 22 Myr demonstrates a parlor trick.

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THOMAS HUNT BENNETT Entered Blake in 1944 Call O’ Pan VI; Tennis VI; Glee Club VI. HEAD Ever since Tom entered Blake in the first grade, he has been one of the friendliest and best liked members of his class. He has to put up with a good deal of kidding from some of his classmates, but he takes it all in his stride and is never offended. Tom has been helpful to the Dramatics Association as a ticket salesman and as an usher and is a member of the Glee Club. He is always ready to help John Haugen out by writing an article for the “Torch at the last minute. Although he is not known for skill as an athlete, he can always be seen working hard on the tennis court in the fall and spring and on the hockey rink in the winter. Outside of school Tom likes to occupy his time hunting and skeet shooting. His marks have been fairly gootl, and he always works hard. He spends most of his time in the library and docs not join the less industrious Seniors in the Senior Room except before chapel and after lunch. While he is there, he is always ready to join discussions or to give his classmates some exercise when they feel they must try to throw him out the window. Although Tom docs not attend many dances and parties, he is a great friend of everyone in the class. Wherever he is, his good-natured laugh can be heard. His friendliness and willingness to work have won him many friends at Blake and will certainly Ik great assets to him while he is at college anti during the rest of his life. 24