Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery - Dental Columbian Yearbook (New York, NY)

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Cfhe Dental Columbian for • nineteen • thirtu • three V J. Irving Graham David N. Levine Vice-President President Mario Franzone Richard S. Silver Student Council Representative Student Council Representative Max Levy Secretary-Treasurer Samuel X. Kaplan Student Council Representative History of the Senior Class The class of 1933 pauses a brief moment in its arduous climb toward graduation to indulge in a little pardonable retrospection. As it fondly dwells on the events of the past years and again enjoys their memories, the idea slowly crystallizes that 1933 has a history of its own. Nearly four years have elapsed since that momentous morning when, with pale faces and fluttering pulses, the members of the class huddled around the rostrum in the anatomy laboratory to receive their baptism of professional study. Only a brief introduction, a happy lack of ceremony, and their work was begun. Histology that afternoon was of special moment since it signified the group ' s first excursion to the medical school where they spent the greater part of their next two years. Of interest, too, is the fact tiiat it was from this laboratory that they obtained their first glimpse of the early construction work on that monumental span across the Hudson, whose slow growth to completion was to strangely parallel their own in dentistry. The close of the fitst year was of unusual significance since it marked the beginning of the splitting off from the class of that intrepid group of twelve students who elected to take the three-year course of continuous work and were graduated in September, 1932. These men have already taken their places in the professional world and are doing their share to add to the growing prestige of the class of 1933. As sophomores, the class continued its incursions into medical knowledge with courses in pathology, pharmacology, and bacteriology. During this crowded year, the students also began their work in operative and prosthetic technique and were intro- duced to active clinical work in prophylaxis. The third and fourth years were spent in the clinics, where the technical talents of the group manifested rhemselves to best advantage. Their work was uniformly good and bespoke a sound training in the fundamentals of dentistry and a confidence in applying it. Pjge Twenty-six

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Ql c Dental Columbian - for • nineteen . thirtu • thr To unravel the skein of motives, causes and actions of the class of 1933 would be a most difficult task fot any chronicler. Its life was too complex and too closely interwoven with the many and varied interests of the individuals who composed it to lend to ready analysis. In spite of the centrifugal tendencies that occasionally manifested themselves, the group was tied by a unity and an esprit de corps that was its first claim to distinction and a real factor in its survival. Group studying reached its greatest development with this class, and the strong spirit of cooperation was an important help in traveling the rocky roads of such difficult courses as physiology, pathology, et al. The annals of 1933 have little room for a recital of the social activities of the class. In the main, their days were joyful and halcyon ones, and they never permitted themselves to be long concerned with the incertitudes of their existence. The extra- curricular lecture of Dr. Richter on permutations and combinations, Dr. Alpert ' s novel anatomy quizzes, and the peaceful class elections were bright spots of their quadrennial career. Dave Levine ' s endless comic sorceries did much to leaven many a tedious hour. The only weaknesses in the class armor were a flair for contagious rumorings and a susceptibility to facile tumults, but even these were too ephemeral to seriously interfere with their work. The legend of the class of 1933 approaches its end. Inevitably, in spite of their efforts, the students will finish their courses and be qualified to assume their new role in a hostile and competitive world. Commencement will soon be here, farewells will be uttered, fond ties will be severed. The future is impenetrable, the present uncertain, the past alone will always be with us. Farewell, Columbia. R. S. S. Page Twenty-seven