Capital University - Capitalian Yearbook (Columbus, OH)

Page 25 text:

RECITATION HALL Recitation I lall is probably tbe most absolutely practical building on campus; dating from 1891 it runs a close third to Lehmann and Leonard for being the oldest. In its long history it has con- tained the chapel, the library, overflow science departments, and always a varied assortment of classes. Students still struggle there through tiring recitations in a variety ol subjects: psych, history, French, education. English, math. etc., and profs still hold forth in fifty-minute stretches in the hope of pounding some learning into the heads of Capi- tal Joes and Janes. Recitation I lall may he one of the least attrac- tive structures on the campus, hut there is a certain venerable air of dignity which has attached to its decaying brick walls and those rows ol tall, shining windows. Although most students forget its exist- ence after four o’clock in the afternoon, it is still an important part ol every Capsters educational experience. Every morning at 7:50 the eight o’clock profs arrive with their stacks of notes, their brief cases full of test booklets, etc; and promptly at 8:05 the eight o'clock students begin rushing in. From there on the old work never ceases: the floors crash; the blackboards are covered with formulae, conjugations, and battle diagrams; the air is Idled with chalk dust; and every hour the bell starts another avalanche of footsteps from the second floor to drown out the last-minute con- clusions of the profs. I he only frivolity about Recitation is the big bell which hangs in the tall square tower in front. For years the victory hell has clanged out to Capsters and Bexley citizens the good news of every athletic encounter successfully engaged in by Cap’s heroes of the grid and the basketball floor; in fact, victory isn't victory at Capital until it is confirmed by this rusty voice from Recitation I lall.

Page 24 text:

LEHMANN HALL Lehmann I (all, the most antique of our ivied halls, still dominates the campus after three- quarters of a century of service. Rearing its gray rectangular shape in weather-beaten dignity, Leh- mann looks out on Main Street with a calm eye. little indicating the usual feverish goings-on inside. Lehmann is the nerve center of Capital LI. and occasionally the nerves become a little jangled, such as those trying ten minutes between classes after the morning mail. I his building contains a little hit of everything: dorm store, classrooms, adminis- trative offices, clinic, switchboard, print shop, and three floors of girls—not to mention the offices of President Yochum himself. The traffic in and out of Lehmann is worthy of a metropolitan intersec- tion. Perhaps the walls of Lehmann have heard more bull sessions, more gripes, more faculty con- ferences, and more meaningless chatter than any other on the campus. No longer do the inmates carry their fuel up from the basement in improvised coal buckets which left trails of grimy dust in the halls; in fact, only a slight creaking in the corridor floor indi- cates that Lehmann’s existence dates back before the turn of the century. All day long, the corps of secretaries and administrative officials rush back and forth carrying on the varied business which needs to be looked after; a stroller down the hall ;s greeted on all sides by a barrage of typewriter noises; and Lehmann fairly bustles with efficiency. 1 hen, in the evenings after the administrators have gone home, the girls descend, the boys arrive, and Lehmann takes on a romantic atmosphere down around the living room. So Lehmanns business runs the gamut of the entire college scene: from the vital machinery of the institution to hilarious dorm life to ten-minute breaks for cokes and mail to romance. What more is there to college life— except, of course, the classes downstairs? 18-

Page 26 text:

LOY GYM Old and battered, Fort Loy has withstood some forty-three years of service to Capsters and commu- nity. It would he hard to estimate the number of athletic forays which have been battled on its creaking floor, the number of cheers which have rebounded from the dingy brick walls, the number of people who have sat tense on its benches as the purple-and-white men charged up and down the hardwood. Not only that, but Fort Loy has taken on in its forty-three years of service other duties: back in 1907 it served as auditorium for dramatic productions and for commencements; when the vets started coming back to school in ‘46, it served as men's dorm (and was officially dubbed the Fort ); and occasionally the fellows and girls of Cap hide those drab walls under festoons of crepe paper and f ort Loy becomes a carnival midway or a barn for the hoc-downs. Truly, Loy Gym has had a checkered career. During the day, Loy Gym is somewhat less glamorous. Men’s plus. ed. classes keep the floor shaking most the day upstairs; downstairs are facil- ities for various athletic exercises: weight-lifting, wrestling, ping pong, and what-have-you. Intra- mural basketball teams also play an interesting variety of ball beneath the broad white-washed beams which have spanned the ceiling and the years in Loy Gym.