Carleton University - Raven Yearbook (Ottawa, Ontario Canada)

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Carleton College Year Book 1944-45 23 Common Room Committee The creating of a college spirit requires interests outside of the class-room that are general to the student body yet peculiar to it. One such interest is the Common Room, which has formed a meeting place for clubs and discussion groups, as well as for individual students before and after class and during the half-time break. During the past year, the attractiveness of the room has been increased by the addi- tion of four handsome pictures of Canadian scenes by modern artists, bought by last year's Council. This year a magazine rack and a bulletin board were installed. The high cost of furniture made it impracticable to provide divans and chairs as planned: it is hoped, however, to add these next year. For those who have come to Carleton College from other universities, their peri- odicals have been made available in the Common Room. Here have been placed also the generous donations of books, pamphlets and circulars, on almost every subject of cur- rent interest, that have been made available by the U.K. Information Office and the War- time Information Board. The Council's Committee: Luella Barrigar, Betty Jones, Sonia Barron and the writer, sincerely hope that the Common Room in- creasingly will be a centre of college life. -E. L. R. WILLIAMSON. Ski Party On February 19th, a meeting of the Carle- ton College skiers convened in the College Common Room. On the following Saturday the group met at the Chateau Laurier termi- nal of the Hull Electric Railway. We boarded a Wrightvllle car with the Saturday noon rush-hour crowd, bounced gaily along to the end of the line. tumbled out of the street car, strapped on our skis, and started for Pine Hill. Our trek took us along the fence of the Dominion Experimental Station, past the Wrightville church and for a mile and a half through fields, along ridges and up and down small hills. The sun was glorious, the snow abundant. After several downhill runs we gathered at the top of Pine Hill and a member of our group took a snap of us. A few more slides and then one last exhilerating run before starting the trip home. - Our outing was late in the season. The number in our group was limited. Neverthe- less I believe that that afternoon's skiing will be remembered long by each of us and will be the beginning of a happy future for Carleton College skiers. -FRANCES WILSON. Swimming Party It was the night of Monday, March 5th. The pool lay quiet and still, the soft glow of light was reflected back from it in such a manner as to enhance the blue and green combination of colour a thousand fold. The stillness was such that one hesitated to enter and thus destroy this serene setting of the Chateau swimming pool. Suddenly the en- trance doors Hew open and the scene was changed in the twinkling of an eye, for Car- leton College students were splashing, diving and plunging into the green waters from all sides. Youth was trying to pack into one short hour the fun and gaiety of an afternoon at the beach. One would never have guessed that it was a cold sleeting night outside, could they but see the scene por- trayed within. The girls Cand there were manyl, how different they looked in the latest swim togs! -gay colours beyond number in one and two- piece outfits that certainly lent charm to the wearers and created a hum of conversation among those who had come to the party in the role of observers. The manpower shortage was in evidence as it has been at all- social affairs, owing to the exigencies of war, but the boys who were able to attend did a magnificent job of spreading themselves thin. There was a high premium on deck chairs and sun lamps when the games in the pool had ended, for it was really something to lounge back under the soft ' warm rays of the lamp and dream of the days to come at the summer cottage or camp. The latter part of the evening was en- livened considerably by a few late comers, who had attended class, but they were still keen enough to want to get in on the fun even after an evening's lesson and from the manner in which they got into the swing of things, they were not long in catching up. It was with great regret that the hour for parting arrived, and it was the consensus as the tired but happy crowd trouped out to the dressing rooms that such an evening should be repeated more often. -GWEN WOOD.

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22 Carleton College Year Book 1944-45 Soon the delightful aroma of steaming coffee drew the guests tothe Iviinto Room. where they enjoyed a buffet luncheon. There was bright conversation Cmostly in French! and gay laughter. Many admiring glances were cast at Madame Couvreur, the guest speaker's charming English bride. Without doubt this was the most successful event in the history of the French Clubg and of the hundred or so people who attended. almost all were students or ex-students of Carleton. As this article goes to press, the weekly meetings are continuing and plans are being made for a closing dinner in April. Since all of our guest speakers spoke in French and that language was used as the medium for conducting our meetings, it is felt that the French Club is helping to forge the missing link between an academic know- ledge of French and the spoken word. And no single achievement is of more practical value in Canada than the ability to speak both languages fluently. But quite apart from that is the wider knowledge gained with regard to the French-Canadian people-their culture, traditions, customs and outlook- which goes a long way toward solving the problem of national unity. Not always will our fellow-compatriotsg but we agree with when we don't, we will at least understand their reasoning, and judge more sympatheti- our more formal gatherings cally. Finally, were a definite contribution to the social life of the college. In closing, may I offer to the club's executive my sincerest appreciation of their splendid co-operation, with special mention of Mrs. Bruce Morgan, secretary, and R. D. Buchanan, treasurer, who attended to the business end of our affairs with efficiency and zeal. -JAMES s. PATRICK. Sgt. H. Dewdney, Mrs. Bruce Morgan, J. S. Patrick, R. D. Buchanan. ' Absent:-Alison Dickison. The Bulletin - The Bulletin, the official organ of the Students' Council, has continued to be the best means of announcing the extra- curricular activities of the College. It has carried on under the editorship of H. Moulds, assisted by Isabel McNeil, Ursula Trimble, Ethel Upton, and Ronald Shuttleworth. It proved more economical to have the mimeographing done by a student of the High School of Commerce rather than by a com- mercial firm as was done last year. The Bulletin was issued bi-monthly and much credit is due the above committee for carrying out this useful service.

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24 Carleton College Year Book 1944-45 Current History Club A group of students at a meeting on De- cember 5 organized the Current History Club to hold discussions every Tuesday night at 9.30 about contemporary national and inter- national questions. Thus, during the third year of Carleton's life the third College club came into existence to fill a need in College life which was not provided for by either of the two older clubs, the Latin-American Club and the French Club. At the second gathering on December 12 an executive consisting or Cecil Froats, as President, and Violet Nelson, as Secre- tary-Treasurer, was chosen. The subject for the evening, What Is a Canadian? produced lively argument. The discussions covered a great variety of topics which frequently led to heated con- troversy. They ranged from the problem of Germany's and Japanls aggressive spirits, the place of the U.S.S.R. in world affairs, and the Dumbarton Oaks proposals for a uni- versal political organization to maintain peace, to social security measures in Canada, slum clearance schemes, and the influence of eco- nomic and social issues and of the French- Canadian culture on the Canadian political pattern and national unity. While the initial number of participants in the discussions was small, it has grown until nfwg there are about twenty members in the c u . The aim of the Current History Club is to obtain a deeper insight into the design of present political, economic, and social affairs by analyzing the complexities of international power politics which are inextricably inter- twined with Canada's domestic, political, eco- nomic, and social issues. The members wish to progress to a wider appreciation of the part that Canada can play in world affairs and of, not only the ideal, but also the most prac- tical way by which this role may be enacted for the greatest benefit to Canadians and the rest of humanity simultaneously. -CECIL S. FROATS Students' Christian Movement The following is the official statement of the basis and aim of the Student Christian Movement of Canada: The Student Christian Movement of Canada is a fellowship of students based on the conviction that in Jesus Christ are found the supreme revelation of God and the means to the full realization of life. The Movement seeks through study, prayer, and practice to know and follow Jesus Christ and to unite in its fellowship all stu- dents in the colleges of Canada who share the above conviction, together with all stu- dents who are willing to test the truth of the conviction upon which the Movement is founded. The Movement desires to share with others the values discovered in Jesus Christ, and to join with those of like mind in all lands and of every race and rank in the creation of a world-wide order of society in harmony with the mind and purpose of God as revealed in Jesus Christ. Two features of the S.C.M. which em- phasize its difference from ordinary Church are first. the complete absence of national and racial discriminations, and secondly, in the inclusion, with convinced believers, of those who wish to test the truth of the Christian conviction. The utter lack of a Hpietistic Sunday atmosphere makes the Movement valuable to many. Others ap- preciate the opportunity to express questions and new understandings without fear of mockery, disapproval, or indifference. The student's duty is to take nothing for granted, to investigate and analyze every- thing in his field of study. To many uni- versity students this approach, so different from that of high school or collegiate, is confusing, disillusioning, and frightening. The S.C.M. gives them a chance to examine their religion in the same way, and to share their uncertainties with others, a most helpful procedure. . In Carleton College this year a small group has met regularly to discuss such problems as Christianity or Chaos in the Post-war World g After Death-What? The Rev. Alexander Miller visited Ottawa early in March under the auspices of the S.C.M., and gave many a new inspiration as he spoke of the problems of the Church in 'Great Britain. Owing to the difficulties of time, the discussion group is the only type of activity carried on this year. Plans for next year, when day classes are expected for the College. include expansion into a variety of activities, such as wor- ship, study groups, and social events. Prob- ably the group will find it advisable to adopt a more formal organization, for thus far it has carried on without president, chairman, or secretary. -HAROLD DEWDNEY