Bradford Durfee College of Technology - Alethea Yearbook (Fall River, MA)

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Forrest V. Heckman, Jr. ...... ..........,.. T reosurer Mario Antonelli ........ ,.... ....... V i ce President At the corner of Bank and Durfee Streets in Fall River on the austere building standing stalwart and impressive since 1893, is a challenging sign - Bradford Durfee Technical ln- stitute. As freshmen, we were confronted with this challenge and seventy-one of us accepted it. Now after four years of study, work, laughs - and gripes - we take our exit. The transforma- tion from green freshmen to mature seniors is truly re- markable. Even now, vivid in our minds is that first morning of our undergraduate careers when we sat starry-eyed with anticipation in the auditorium listening eagerly to President Coombs as he acquainted us with the rules and regulations of the College. As we poured out of the auditorium, fervently clutching our newly acquired Student Handbook, many upper classmen stood by, volunteering tongue-in-cheek information. This was our begin- ning. The constitution of our group was primarily war veterans, who hailed Bradford Durfee Technical Institute as a place of opportunity. The mature approach of the veterans' segment and their general propensity for candid discussion has proved sti- mulating. At times, however, their superannuated air sobered activities to perhaps needess conservatism. Others of our group, as well as veterans, were pronouncedly serious, being charged with the responsibility of raising a family or working long hours to defray expenses incurred in attending college. Along with the intellectual growth of experience in our quest for knowledge we have been fortunate to witness the rapid physical development of the college and we have had our shore of enjoyment of the many moments, incidents, and events peculiar to institutions of higher learning. Some highlights follow. In our freshman year, we saw the resumption of publishing the student yearbook, it was called the Pioneer. We also witnessed the first girl cheer leaders, who added much color to the basketball games. And at graduation t James Curtis ,..,..... ..,,.. P resident Raymond Carrier ...... ,..... S ecretary time, the Institute, having been granted the right to awar degrees, we saw the lordly seniors for the first time dresse in cap and gowns. The biggest events of our sophomore year were the charte ing of Kappa Sigma Phi Sorority and the initiation of wor on the proposed Student Council. During our iunior year, the new Student Council, being no set up in its final form, was voted upon favorably by the stu dent body and legally accepted. Also two new clubs wer born in this year: The Glee Club, and The Beaux Arts Club. As we entered our senior year, we had the privilege o being the first class to use the new wing of the college, whic has been named the Leslie B. Coombs Science Hall. The firs intercollegiate stag dance, held in November, under the au' pices of Kappa Sigma Phi Sorority, was a huge successp b invitation, neighboring schools of nursing and colleges partici ated. Thereafter, a number of other dances have been offere in the new cafeteria salon. Among the faculty, three changes occurred: Dr. D. Alexande Severino head of the Department of Art and Product Develop ment left to teach at the University of Wisconsin, Mr. Lero Smith, an instructor of the same department, took a new positio in Vermont, and Mr. Harold C. Smith, associate professor in th Department of Textile Engineering, retired. At this writing, the exciting climax is yet to come - inter views for positions, examinations, the senior prom, dinner dances and banquets - and lastly, graduation day. We have come a long way in four years. We have learne principles of life as well as book knowledge. We have mad our future inviting. We have become soft-spoken, confident truly adult individuals. In some fitful indulgence of reminiscing, this college an nual and particularly the kaleidoscopic summary of this account will serve as a spring board to relive these fruitful years.

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Annu. T 1 A25 gm, . MARIO ANTONELLI, JR. DONALD BENOIT I Mechanical Eng. Advertising Design Soccer 1, 2, Fencing 3, 4, Varsity T, 2, 3, 4, vice X Fencing 2, 3, 4, Phi Psi 2, 3, 4, Beaux Arts Club president 4, Epsilon Phi Pi l, 2, 3, 4, Dean's List 3, 4. 3, Engineering Society, Senior Vice President. Nl U ll' if A. ROBERT BERNSTEIN ALFRED K- BONGE Textile Eng. Textile Eng- Epsilon Phi Pi 'l, 2, 3, 4. 20