Brown University - Liber Brunensis Yearbook (Providence, RI)

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Vigilance Committee The purposes of the Vigilance Committee, more popularly known as the V.C , is to unite the fresh- man class as a unit, and to instill within it the cus- toms and traditions of Brown University. The V.C, comprised of 24 carefully interviewed, and very capable sophomores, executed one of the most successful freshman hazing periods ever effected before at Brown. Every member of the committee handled his job in the most expedient manner. The Those nasty, nasty old raids. Front row, left to right: Nichols, Calkins, Wilbur, Wenzel, Clark, Dowling. Second row. Pollard, Hartman, Hayes, Markowitz, Liv- ingston. Back row. Harvie, Amann, Jones, Thompson, Brady. hazing period, concentrated into two weeks, experi- enced no trouble, and very handily accomplished its purposes. This may be attested to by a poll taken among the freshmen. Some innovations which were installed as part of the annual Vigilance Committee program were: Daily sings on the Faunce House Terrace, which helped greatly to teach the Brown- lings the college songs, a VC . court to deal out pun- ishments to uncooperative freshmen by making them sing publicly, or by dousing them with a water-filled milk can. The reason for the milk can being used for punishment rather than the traditicnal and archaic Pump was that the latter was removed and hidden by the freshmen. A thorough search by the V.C. was to no avail, and the hiding place of the handle re- mained a secret until well after the hazing period had ended. It was returned at the Princeton football rally and placed again in its old position on the pump. Although this act may seem base, and not befitting the conduct of loyal Brown freshmen, the V.C. feels that it contributed to the success of the program by showing some of the spirit which it was the intention of the V.C. to promote. The hazing period was climaxed by the annual Flag Rush, which for the third time in 40 years was won by an up-for-the-game freshman class. The mass of freshmen clamoring for the flag atop the greased pole could not be repulsed by the small knot of sophomores opposing them. After the Flag Rush a gala dance was held at Alumni Hall by the sopho- more and freshman classes jointly. The Vigilance Committee was led by E. Howard Wenzel, Jr., chairman, and Winthrop V Wilbur, secretary.

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SOPHOMORE CLASS The Sophomore Class, aside from being 550 stu- dents attending Brown University, exists as an or- ganized group whose purpose is to plant the roots of the Class of 1953 firmly in Brown tradition and cus- tom, and to make the members of the class strong and enthusiastic alumni as a result of having created a close tie between Brown and the students. Some of the more important functions of the class are: to issue class news letters, which inform the members about the financial status of the class, as well as keeping them aware of class activities; to re- vise the Vigilance Committee so as to enable next year's group to be a stronger and more efficient unit; to arouse in the men of '53 an enthusiastic interest in the work of the Brown Key; and to provide men who are adequately equipped to maintain the tradi- tions and capably carry out the work of the Key. In the Fall of 1950 the main task of the Class of 1953 was to undertake and successfully complete the hazing of freshmen. The purpose of this hazing was to effect the unification of the Freshman Class to enable it to go through four years at college in true Brown fashion. The Sophomore Class feels that it has helped to create a stronger unity in the Class of 1954. The highlight of the hazing period of '53's fresh- 1949. The Vigilance Committee had planned to raid the freshman dormi- man year was on September 27, tories, but the anticipated raid failed to materialize. '53 was prepared. About 200 strong the freshmen massed on the College Green in front of the Chapel steps and in chorus chanted, No more Beanies . The 12 PAUL GOLDMAN president WINTHROP WILBUR vice-president RICHARD MENDELSOHN secretary JOHN SCHEMICK EEEESUEER VC. did as much as possible to prevent this action, but the freshmen, by sheer weight of numbers, over- powered the V.C. and discarded the traditional beanies. This action on the part of the men of '53 went to prove that the long hazing period of two months was unwieldy. The Sophomore Class, under o R e period of the new freshmen to two weeks. This con- the guidance of the reduced the hazing centrated hazing proved much more efficient and the Sophomores have added again their small bit to a better Brown University. Class officers were: Paul Goldman, president; Win Wilbur, vice-president; Richard Mendelsohn, secre- tary; and John Schemick, treasurer.

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JUNIOR CLASS BENJAMINMcCKENDALL, president The Class of '52 which entered in September of 1948 made an auspicious start by being the first Freshman Class in many years to win the traditional Freshman-Sophomore Flag Rush. The freshman ath- letes further distinguished the class by coming through the wrestling teams. The freshman football team was also season with undefeated hockey and quite successful, the most memorable game being the 7-0 upset victory over a strong Holy Cross eleven. The following year the class firmly established its reputation by successfully defending the flag rush on that same mud-spattered battlefield where they had been so victorious the year before. The most important activity of the sophomore year was the institution of a new tradition. In cooperation with the Freshman Class the '52 Class Council presented the first annual Freshman-Sophomore Dance at the Narraganset Hotel. In that year the seal on the class blazers was redesigned. The Junior year is traditionally the most active, and the Class of '52 has been no exception. The year's activities got underway in the early fall with a beer party held at the Lincoln Woods Reservation. The biggest social event of the year was the formal Junior Prom, the date of which was changed this year from the Homecoming Weekend to the night of March 2. Ralph Stuart and his Orchestra supphed the music for a capacity crowd at the Sheraton-Biltmore Hotel. One feature of the evening was the presentation of Throughout the entire year the class council displayed deliberate gardenia corsages to all the girls. organization and originality in the planning of Junior activities. Although the Homecoming and Spring Weekends are not official functions of the Junior Class, the chairman and many members of the committees run- ning these activities are quite often juniors. The Brown Key, Junior Honorary Society, was also ex- ceptionally active this year. In all phases of campus life-extra curricular interests, athletics, and schol- arship-juniors have taken a leading part. Although past achievements are not important in themselves, they are indicative of the leadership that may be expected from the class of 1952 in their most important role as seniors. The officers for the junior year were: Ben McKendall, president; Brad Benson, Ralph Crosby, John Hutchinson, vice-president; recording secretary; corresponding secretary; and Joseph McVicker, treasurer. RALPH CROSBY H. BRADFORD BENSON vice-president recording secretary 14 JOHN HUTCHINSON JOSEPH Mc-VTCKER corresponding secretary treasurer