Boston College - Sub Turri Yearbook (Boston, MA)

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WILLIAM F. lOY President Soaior THOMAS I. POWERS Vice-President FRESHMAN A historian, to be believed, must analyze his subject without emotion, without prej- udice, purely objectively. In that light we have studied the Class of 1940; we have re- marked their four years as one unit, and we have concluded that in September, 1936, when school was officially opened, the Freshman Class consisted of the greatest assemblage of mental, social, and physical supermen ever collected at one time. Four hundred and fifty-eight of us had been personally interviewed by Father Archdeacon, who assured us that he was edified with our entrance examinations and hoped that we would prove loyal to our class. Before formally starting classes, we were asked by the genial Mr. Francis Campbell, who was also a Freshman in his new posi- tion as Registrar, to answer the questions found on five volumes of information cards. In retrospect, we can appreciate that this marathon writing was merely an introduc- tion to the blue book specials, which were to confront us during the four years fol- lowing. The first day of school was one of con- fusion, astonishment, and revelation. Na- turally, there was difficulty in finding just where the Tower Building was situated, and whether or not the elevators to the va- rious floors were running. When the pro- fessor appointed one of our number class beadle, a gasp of sympathy was let loose for the unfortunate youth by those of us who were uninitiated to the Jesuit vernac- ular. But our sympathy was in vain, for the beadle may now be defined as one whose name begins with A, who is charged with the task of supplying chalk, mite boxes, and Americas. By the time the fog of confusion lifted, we were prepared to appreciate more clearly the beauty of the buildings and the grounds. As we recall our first impression of the upper rotunda, we realize that we had ample reason to feel awed, for one could not absorb nor understand all that was depicted before us by statue and painting, simply by casually glancing at the works of art. The chimes too, were a source of satisfaction, especially to those of us who lacked a watch. The first meeting of this great group of young men, probably the greatest collec- tion ever assembled, took place a few weeks after our entrance into Gothic Am - erica. This was the occasion of the intro-

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SfdlORS

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IHistor PATRICK A. RAFFERTY Treasurer EDWARD M. GREELEY Secretary duction of the class to the Very Reverend Louis J. Gallagher, S.J., the esteemed pres- ident of the College. Fr. Gallagher greeted us warmly and endeared himself to each one of us. He told us of the great deeds ex- pected of us as Boston College men. We were sure that great deeds were expected of us when Dean Maxwell clearly, suc- cinctly — but oh so definitely — explained the academic reguirements to which we must conform. The great deeds partook more of the nature of feats, almost impos- sible to do. Somehow we managed to do them — how, we still do not know. Truly, now we were men of Boston Col- lege and we took time out to learn the col- lege songs, the cheers, the names of the football players. Then there followed days with Cicero, with Snyder and Martin, with the beautiful or, for those enrolled in a scientific course, an intense workout in the laboratory. A welcome relief appeared in the form of an annual retreat delivered by the Reverend William J. Murphy, S.J., then Prefect General of Studies of New England, with whom we were to become more close- ly associated in Senior. Our football team under Frank Murdock rolled along a victorious path, subduing all but a surprisingly strong Brown team, who held us to a tie. We entered the Holy Cross Freshman game undefeated and came out — still undefeated. Ananis, Schwortzer and Company showed well-trained ability and a world of spirit with a clean 19-6 victory. Naturally, there had to be a celebration — and what a celebration! Never has a Bos- ton College activity attracted as large a proportion of the class. Our guests of honor included the visiting Purple team. Bill Cun- ningham, whose stories of his trip to Ger- many are still remembered, and that digni- fied gentleman from the Italian Embassy, whose tales of war, told in broken English, caused a great deal of embarrassment especially among the Scholastics. Our Class officers, who were elected to hold the reins of government for the rest of the year, were announced; the names of Charlie Carroll and Bill Joy led the rest. There will be little disagreement when we say that the Freshman Banquet was the most enjoyable social event held by our class. The credit belongs entirely to Father Archdeacon, who did not cease until he achieved one hundred per cent attendance — then he was edified with our showing. We lost a spirited organizer and efficient director when our Dean was transferred to the Rectorate of Boston College High.