Boston College - Sub Turri Yearbook (Boston, MA)

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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.

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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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Longwood Towers was the site of the pre- lenten social, which served as a step to that very formal, very strict Freshman Prom at the Statler — an occasion when stu- dents became socialites — when tuxes and tails replaced trousers and sweaters. Paul Tondorf was Chairman of the Event — Frank Daley, in person, was the Pied Piper. For the most of us who had stepped from high school to college, this was the first strictly formal affair. We can now confess that it was rather trying; that although the music was rhythmic, the floor smooth, and the girl cooperative, still inexperience and lack of confidence depressed our usual careless abandon. But we proved ourselves equal to the occasion. We hid our nervous- ness with deceitful nonchalance; we re- solved to be prepared for the next formal by learning another step to complement the one to the left and two to the right. At four o ' clock that morning, the social season had definitely come to a close. The following week threats of exams rose to haunt us. Much boning — exams — worry — relief — fond farewells and promises to meet during the summer — the Freshman Year had ended. Where did the year go? SOPHOMORE The summer of 1937 saw little change in the administration of Boston College. There were still information cards to be filled, bills to be paid, and classes to be found. But we soon learned that there was a new energetic force at work. The office of Stu- dent Counsellor had been made into a full- time position, and Father Richard Rooney was the happy choice. He brought with him the spirit and enthusiasm of Father Arch- deacon; his publication, the King ' s Herald, soon became one of the most pop- ular sheets on the campus. In his office one could, at any time, go to Confession or bor- row a cigarette. With Father Rooney as Moderator and John Dacey as Prefect, the Sophomore Sodality increased its member- ship and its influence and activity. The Sunday before Christmas was set aside as Mother ' s Day, when mothers were given the opportunity to see that College meant more than studies and dances. A strong active Sodality is a necessity for a Cath- olic College. To Fathers Rooney and Coyne we extend our gratitude for showing us how and why we should be faithful so- dalists. It caused our particular class great con- cern when we learned that one of our Freshman professors, Dr. Herman von Walde-Waldegg, had not been heard from since his explorations in South America. But our fears were dispelled when it was revealed that the German anthr opologist and scientist was delayed only for a short time. We have never learned why his mu- seum near the college was alloted to the Glee Club for their rehearsals. Demosthenes, the rules of rhetoric, and Horace were our main concern until we temporarily laid aside our books to open our minds to a spiritual message delivered by the Reverend Frederick J. McCarten, S.J. We grew to look forward with anticipa- tion to our annual retreats, when new per- spectives were offered us, when the truth presented in a clear manner gave us new evaluations. Much was expected of the Dobie ma- chine, which had defeated the Cross 13-12 the year previous. We expected that with the addition of our mighty potent Fresh- man wagon, the varsity team would again triumph, but such was not the case. The team, steady though unspectacular bowed before a superior opponent, and we tasted the bitterness of defeat. Our sorrow was alleviated somewhat by a sparkling Christmas Social wherein we made merry with cider and doughnuts. At this time we must give credit to Dick Pow- ers, President of the Class, for a most suc- cessful social season. His appointment of a Banquet Committee was democratically approved by the President ' s Council, and the Committee immediately went to work to offer a banquet which would rival that of Freshman. In the middle of February, the Class convened to enjoy a satisfying dinner followed by an interesting talk de- livered by Austen Lake about his trip to Ireland. Our old friend. Father Tom Feeney was there to defend himself and the Jesuits against the charge of being plutocrats. The evening was climaxed by Sherman Rogan ' s thrilling and dramatic rendition of The Face on the Barroom Floor. The week of February the eighteenth marked a hectic period for many members of the Class who took part in events which commemorated the seventy-fifth anniver- sary of the College. Shortly afterwards, our class orator, Paul Greeley, won the Gargan Memorial Medal, which is annually awarded to the best debater in the Mar- quette. Then came the time for planning, pre- paring, and paying for the Prom. We were