Boston College - Sub Turri Yearbook (Boston, MA)

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(Elass l tstory AR BACK in the September of ' 35, there converged on the Heights { from hill and dale, from harbor and hamlet, from tent and tene- W ment, from peach fuzz to five o ' clock shadow, a frosh class that m- ( augurated a new scholastic system, new social events, a new dean and a new spirit. ,. r, i We met amidst gothic splendor, beneath the soundmg Tower where our boyish laughter was suppressed with a gulp at the approach of some lofty looking senior. Weighed down with books including that portable library m one volume, the Snyder and Martin , we began our year m real freshman style with a further purchase of a bow tie, a battered hat and turned up white shoes, after the fashion of Joe College . Recovering from the surprising shock of being addressed as Mister, we bought up the razor blade market and proceeded to weather the rigors ot the new A.B. Honors Course, mind you, with Greek. . tt- i c i i Father Archdeacon, S.J., had just dropped in from Regis High School, New York and to him was entrusted the fate of so gallant and so promising a band of almost 500. Early in the fall, the greatest freshman day program in the historv of Boston College or of any college was begun. An undeteated football team met Holy Cross frosh and was deadlocked to a 6 to 6 tie. Un the same evening Cambridge officials were startled by an advancing horde of iubilant B.C. frosh, who were crossing the boundaries m perfect attend- ance to a dinner at the Hotel Commander. With the announcement of our new commanding officers and with speeches of encouragement and new hope, a perfect day was concluded. [26]

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On Friday, December 20, 1935, the new class began to make history by sponsoring the first under the Tower social with music furnished by the Burke Brothers ' Grey Towers orchestra. Parallel to this was the inception of intra-mural football and baseball — an innovation for the indulgence of practically anyone who cared to defend the escutcheon of the class. Even surpassing the usual financial worries of college life, the dread mid- years arrived in January and effected many strange phenom.ena. Cofl ' ee sales rose to new heights. S.R.O. signs hung outside the library and chapel; and beards were allowed to flourish until they approximated the braiding stage. As a soothing aftermath to this intellectual baptism, a sports night and smoker was held in the Senior Assembly Hall. Movies, speakers, reporters and numerous other attractions helped to leave a lasting impression on the eager audience. When that seemingly endless stretch from Christmas to Easter had been covered with the addition of a few gray hairs, we began a series of eventful expansion. In April, our Communion breakfast was held off the campus for the first time in the College ' s history — at the Hotel Continental, Cam- bridge. On May 8th at the Louis XIV ballroom at the Hotel Somerset, the class rallied to the contest in terpischorean art which very nearly rivaled the light fantastic as portrayed two years later by the mad chorines in Father Bonn ' s version of Antigone. With monetary hesitation for the inbibation of the atmosphere so gladly expended at the dance, the class inaugurated a Mother ' s Day program for the maternal inspection of the buildings, which were lodging the external expression of their every hope. With the passage of time we progressed in collegiate wisdom; soon we observed the futility of many things in life, such as the impossibility of the end justifying the means, the termination of the Billy Frazier-Jonesy feud, a house date with an Emmanuel girl, prompt service in the librarj etc. opi)omore With only a happy memory of the previous year, the men rallied to the call of education in September to find that newer and more difficult con- quests were j et to be made. The same four leaders were supported for re- election and with a nearly perfect reunion, the famed class of ' 39 began its second scholastic year. Smiling faces were saddened suddenly when Father Leo J. Gilleran, S.J., died. His smile often replaced darkness with the brightest light, even for those with whom he was not formally acquainted. He left an empty place in our midst and an indestructible character in our memories and our hearts. Early fall brought forth loud cheers both for a successfid football team and the visit of Cardinal Pacelli, who became an Ail-American in the eyes of loyal rooters by declaring a two-day holiday. This reason terminated with the annual banquet held at the Continental where Fathers Gallagher, Max- well, Judge Swift and Brother Gilbert contended in offering congratulations for past deeds and advice for future needs.