City College of New York - Microcosm Yearbook (New York, NY)

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CAUSE ANO EFFECT! Fi«d- •riel 8. R«b!«®« (righ ) ond »K »«»• dot body. pi m CXf L:- incut for interncship of College students to tlie municipal government, under the guidance of Commissioner of Investi- gation. William B. Herlands. For the second time since the World War. the K.O.T.C. took no part in the Charter Day exercises. The Officers Club. Lock and Key. and Cercie Jusse rand vied to carry the flags. A compromise was effected by leaving the flags on the plat- form. The 1500 who attended came away on good terms with France, for the accent of the French Ambassador who con- gratulated us on our marvelous “librarcc wiz zc fiftee thou- sand volume” was most intriguing. Although still comparatively tame, school elections echoed the split on the peace question. Most of the vehement Oxford Pledge group having seceded from the A.S.U.. a new party, with isolation as its keynote, was formed. The election, how- ever, was decided at the American Student Union Convention. As the new United Action party was concerned only with Student Council, the majority of class officers went unop- posed. The A.S.U. swept the class and all the major positions. Harold Both advanced to Student Council President, ami Marvin Rotheuberg and William Kafsky were elected Vice- President and Secretary respectively. Klliot Rosenbaum be- came President of the February '39 graduating class. Included on the ballot was a referendum on the union baud issue. Clever phrasing of the ballot plus strong union sentiment combined to require union orchestras at all college functions. Losses, as well as wages, went up at many gym dances. V In July. City students, concentrated in Coney Island, the Catskills and Rockaways. were startled by the announcement of the granting of a leave of absence to President Robinson. Since at the end of the next year President Robinson was to he eligible for a pension, it was a foregone conclusion that his resignation was imminent. In the meantime, without fanfare. Professor .Nelson P. Mead, chairman of the History depart- ment. was installed as acting-president. Expectations were fulfilled on December 16. when tile Board of Higher Educa- tion accepted the resignation of Frederick R. Robinson. Further democratization of the staff resulted from the Hoard of Higher Education's order requiring election rather than appointment of department heads. All went well at first, and in the voting held in the middle of the term, five depart- 26 ments chose new chairmen. However, these new democratic by-laws were, in the spring term, fated to cause one of the greatest furors witnessed by the ‘39 class during its stay in college. During the summer, the resignation of Dr. W. Parks Rich- ardson was announced. Previously the Teachers Union had leveled charges of anti-Semitism at him, based on the reports of subordinates. Dr. Richardson gave no reason for his with- drawal. With its last vacation behind it, the class settled down to make up for D’s and F’s of the first three years. Graduate schools, law schools, medical schools, dental colleges filled the students’ minds. Higher averages were a necessity. Studying required by the rapid approacli of commence- ment, however, did not prevent the turning of attention to the history making events in Europe. Throughout September. Hitler and his Sudeten stooge, Henlcin. shouted threats at Bene ’ Czechoslovak Republic. The Western democracies and Soviet Russia lined up against the dictators. But England’s Prime Minister, Chamberlain, decided on his version of “peace in our time”. The brave little bulwark against Fascism was sacrificed at the “Peace” of Munich. The Nazi lust, however, was not satisfied. When bewildered Hershcl Grynzpan shot a German attache, savage violence, organized by authorities, broke out all over Germany against the Jews. To complete the job the government demanded an indemnity of $400.000.000. I he latest news from abroad was the only topic of discus- sion going to and from school and between classes. Hitler was cursed vehemently but to no avail. The House Plain radio interrupted meetings and parties with II. V. Kaltcnborn’s al- most hourly analyses. Social science courses were devoted almost exclusively to current events. Staid Math professors dropped “pi to discuss the cutting of the European pie. Professor Root of the Biology Department deeply touched every student in a Physiology lecture when lie broke down 1

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I II II II A«»ing-Pr«y»n» N»ho P. M«ad gtotfd th« Prom with hi pmonce ond eff.ci- olad «a lha «rowning ©t Avdray CKr-Oi© oad Oerlai Wolfao 01 Queen ond King retpact'realy (right, top). the season, the College flagship met an ocean vessel in the Hay and shook hands too roughly. One life, that of the Mandalay, was lost. When the final accounting gave 39 the largest share of the profits, the class was once more “out of the red . The City College Store having been cleaned up”. Student Council ami A.S.U. turned their attention to the lunchroom. In a short while closed container milk appeared; milk prices were lowered: the list of 5e sandwiches was increased. The Campus uncovered a budding opposition newspaper. Supposedly hacked by Norman L. Marks, former chairman of the City College Host of the American Legion, the S iakfsman gained unfavorable publicity by the White Jew incident. The New- man Club ami the K.O.T.C. leaders of the newspaper denied that the call for “White Jews” for the staff was derogatory. The Spokesman died in the embryonic stage. For the first time, the Administration actually cooperated with the anti-war demon- stration. “Lift the Fmbargo on Loyalist Spain became a battle cry which reached a cli- max in a special stoppage for peace. In Lewisolm Stadium (with loud speaker equip- ment provided by President Robinson) one thousand students heard Congressman Jerry O’Connell, who had flown from the capital, call for action by the United States against aggressor nations. Unity in the anti-war movement, however, was gone. Although more students than ever before left class, the Great Hall Anti-War Strike meeting was smaller than that of the previous year. Outside in the Lewisolm Stadium, a smaller audience, composed of Socialists. Trot- skyites, Oxford Pledge supporters, and simple isolationists, was addressed by Norman Thomas. The Great Hall heard the former Ambassador to Germany. William K. Dodd, lash into “Dcr Fuehrer”. The ranks of the honor students were nearly doubled hv the institution of an arrange- 23

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completely, exclaiming, What’s the use of attempting scientific discov- eries to save lives, when madmen in Europe today do their utmost to destroy them?” Extra-curricular life focused on the march of dictators, assisted l v the apparently whole-hearted cooperation of the new administration. The Great liall was jammed more than once hy an aroused student body and faculty. The largest meeting of the term was the Save Czechoslovakia Rally”. Despite the pleas and angry denunciations by Senator Vojta Renes, brother of Czechoslovakia' President, Stanley Isaac . Borough President, and Recorder Ackley, representing the dmiuistralion. Czechoslovakia was not saved. Humanitarian aid to the suffering non-combatants of Spain and China was the topic of a gathering addressed by representatives of the Spanish and Chinese Consulates. Germany was the chief object of attack. The Faculty Council went on record as condemning the restric- tions against the Jews. Graphic description of the lack of academic free- dom under totalitarianism was given at the draping of the Nazi college flags which hang in the Great Hall. t a ceremony presided over by John T. Flynn and Nelson P. Mead drapery hearing the words Till the old Germany shall awake” was afiixcd to the pillars under the Hags. The savage activities of the dictators struck home when it was an- nounced that, in addition to the other C.C..YY. boys, Ralph Wardlaw. instructor in the Public Speaking Department, and Jack Freeman. Presi- dent of the '39 class, had died in Spain, fighting Fascist aggression. Social and club life was not forgotten in the sweep of history. Frosh- Sopli warfare was reawakened. A Junior-Senior Committee was formed to bring about cooperation between the classes. The Faculty Council require- ment that clubs list their members in the Dean's office was repealed, thus removing a source of friction. All ’39 activities were pointed toward ilia affair, the Senior Prom. Offered free to Prom pledgees, the Fall Reunion Dance was a flop”. The Prom Chairmen. George E. Pecker ami Rill Tomshinsky, scoured New York hotels for a ballroom to equal that of the Junior Prom. Rut the Astor Roof Garden could not he duplicated. Aided hy the free dances, pledges poured in. Rrcaking all records. 180 tickets were sold. Outstand- ing at the prom was Artie Gellin's orchestra. Audrey Christie and Charles Walters of I Married An Angel reigned as King and Queen. The House Plan Carnival outgrew the gym and moved to the Main Building. There, aided hy Frank Davidson, the new Director, the House staged an affair so grandiose that it was more than mere words can con- Th v«r-lib«rol it.-dtnt body. hooded by Stvdent Council ProideM Harold Roth. weloomed Sonoter Vojto Be»«i to tho CoU«9 irt the itirring doyl of the Ciech cmH. 27