Calvin College - Prism Yearbook (Grand Rapids, MI)

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Neither a church birthday or a turbulent world finally determined the shape of 1957 at Calvin. It was the people-individuals for whom the year had many meanings. Lilce Dr. Charles Miller, ln the light of the Midllfast crisis, his wise analyses gained him new respect. Already the possessor of a large student following, the community, too, began to study his pertinent comments. Being neither Dutch nor Christian Reformed, John Ramsey could hardly be as enthusiastic over the year's centennial celebration. Some students branded him a radical. l-le was better characterized as one who insisted on holding his own views even if some of these were different from those of the Calvin majority-and they sometimes were. 14 EIGHT FROM TINO THOUSAND :auf Ip' i i .: 4.l '. ltfyllil 223' ,lrif , l 'E i . .4 With a speech on her native China, Helen Kalsloeelc won this year's oratori- cal contest. The adopted daughter of an American missionary, and a refugee on the last boat to leave Red China, she had now become a TV-sports-pizza- American. But she still had faith that the Nationalists could some day regain the Chinese mainland, Dick De Jong was one of the happiest people on the campus. An immigrant himself, he had relatives still in Hungary during the uprising. But he was in A' merica, and that was the promised land to him. A simple courtesy to him would win a response, Only in America do they treat you the same if you are janitor or professor. 4

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T ACCOMPANIED BY BOMBS AND BOMBAS1' The celebration ofthe centennial was only one ingredient that determined the shape of 1957 for Calvin. Bold headlines rocked the world. lt was a Presidential election year, and Grand Rapids caught the spirit. Visiting Estes Kefauver was barely able to keep the stage from the grinning Michigander with the polka-dot bow tie. Dick and Pat Nixon were greeted by cheering thousands along the streets and no less enthusiasm on the campus. -GR Press Photo WGR Herald Photo Russian op ression was met by courageous armed revolt in Hungary, and local residents were forced from their ivory towers with the arrival of bedraggled refugees. ln Upper Michi an, the world's longest suspension bridge over the Straits of Mackinac pressed for completion by next huntin season. Andi there was local news: a murder in quiet Holland, Grand Rapids' First bank robbery in years, a spectacular Eire at the American Excelsior plant. JN' ,, 1 '- P- xg -.-gr. ' g 'lj ,Leu ' x ' 4. ' td? .Eb 4 l -GR Press Photo On the cam us there was talk, Dr. Harry Overstreet offered his mental cure-all for the troubled times and failed to win a convert. The renowned Dr. Paul Tillich proved even modern theology was a confusion of ambiguous terms and loaded phrases. Meanwhile Calvin professors were also in demand cs guest speakers. Prof. Lester De Koster was one such, especially after the publication of his new book, ALL YE THAT LABCDR. f .

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'ITD 5,5522 . A iff! i7 Tifikili if i1!3Liit'1' lf' im EEK ..-40 991 Elaine Last was noticed the moment she stepped on campus, because she was pretty-very pretty. Yet her election to this year's Home- coming Court while yet a Freshman amazed her. And while she could have been swamped with dates, she continued to frustrate the bachelors by going steady. Pomp and Circumstancen terminated four remarkable years for Norm De Nooyer. One ol the most popular campus Figures, the Bere Memorial award topped a staggering list of honors and activities in sports, publications, and class activities. His future held a position in his father's thriving Chevrolet outlet. But Norm would never tell anyone this himself. l-le probably blushed when he read this. . .Y 1 '-. 'rife This year brought a diamond to Eleanor Vander Beelc. An immensely gifted per- son, she concluded her Calvin music career with a brilliant senior recital. But after marrying her prospective preacher fiance, she would probably be using her talent in a modest way as organist and choir director in Waupun or Pipestone. Graduation would be only a step to- ward a farther goal for Elton Piersma. Younger students were usually sorry to leave college, but he viewed the entrance to seminary as the attainment of a long- cherished wish. For this father of five, college was no picnic. Study was com- bined with late hours in his print shop to meet the staggering expenses, and still maintain a satisfactory academic average. i 15