College of Mount St Vincent - Parapet Yearbook (Bronx, NY)

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CLASS HISTIIHY We, the class of 1946, like to think of ourselves as the Victory class at the camp of Mount Saint Vincent, for in a way we feel that we were an auxiliary branch of the armed forces that won victory for our country'in Europe and the Far East. Our orders of the day differed, our uniforms were not the same and our battle area was far less hazardous, but we held objectives in common-training for a part in a hard-won world peace. I . V We had a hale and hearty. group of one hundred and sixteen in our ranks when we Srst came to grace the rolling campus. Our newness must have protruded from our very boot-tops, for noone ever mistook us for other than we were-meek, mild and admittedly muddled Fresh- men. Our Junior sisters dashed-nobly to our rescue and in no time helped us through the indoctrination period. The first few weeks found us with full issues of equipment-books, books, and more books for the big offensive, the Battle of Brains. Any trickle -of homesick tears was quickly dried in the whirl and dash of welcoming parties, A. A. beanies and frequent trips to the mail boxes--a habit we 'never overcame. In October we won our first medal for distinguished service, the award being first prize for our skit at the Hallowe'en Party. At the end of the- month came the all important occasion of the year. We experienced our first college retreat with the realization that it was such exercises that made our training the most complete that could be had. t November was our month to lead the parade, since Freshman Week and our formal Investiture into the student ranks were scheduled. We were royally entertained by our Junior sisters at a minstrel show, chose our commanding officers for the year with Joan Gardner leading the staff, then underwent the tortures of the skillfully constructed Sopho- more obstacle course, commonly known as hazing. A few days later we marched proudly across the campus in our full dress uniform of caps and gowns, for Investiture Service had made us full-fledged soldiers at Mount Saint Vincent. Thanksgiving leave came and went and our first Christmas at the Mount was before us. The annual Cantata and caroling for the Seniors sent us home with the Christmas spirit bubbling within. 'Shortly after we returned, orders were posted for our first battle stations and mourn- fully we took our posts in the well-spaced chairs of the examination hall. The fray was short-lived leaving us with severe cases of battle fatigue, but much more seasoned. - NY. ., I Adv' B 1 xl' , fl . if if w FLIP lil i ,UQ 81

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At the beginning of the second term we welcomed sixteen new members into the regiment. Days and months slipped into nothingness, but not until we had taken part in two maneuvers -the Song and the Play contests, in which we fought valiantly and enthusiastically, if not the most adeptly. A few more practices, a few more drills, then graduation ceremonies became the order of the day. We stood at attention throughout Baccalaureate Week, and fired a salvo of congratulations at the departing Seniors. Then, veterans of a year's campaign, we packed four kit-bags for a summer of selected training programs. The following fall we returned to the ranks with Audrey Gallon as our Chief-of-Staff. The Academy had withdrawn from the grounds, so we found the camp sitefenlarged and renovated, much to our delight. We also encountered a young band of fellow soldiers in the newly instituted nursery school. Our routine was more placid this year, but we did engage in the Amateur Hour held for the benefit of the war fund, and welcomed our second retreat. In November, Mother Mary Josephine visited the ranks of our student army, and won the very special place in our hearts that she will always maintain. The time came to rally our forces for our first large-scale social offensive. We turned the Gym into a carnival scene for our tremendously successful Sophomore Informal and as the last strains of music floated across the floor we tucked away the Silver Star we had earned in this engagement. In February we sat at attention throughout a concert of the Trapp Family and a month later we betook ourselves on a fun-packed hay ride. Springtime saw our regiment coming to the fore again to prove its powers of innovation and daring. Due to the zeal of some of our company members, the Horse Show, which has become an annual event, was introduced and we joyfully won our share of top medals. , That year, graduation week found us resplendent in our summer whites carrying the Daisy Chain across the lawn to stand as color guard for our graduating sister regiment. Then a few hasty goodbyes and we had added another row to our service ribbons. As seasoned fighters we entered Junior year with a reserve of energy, for we were then in advanced combat areas, with dreaded theses, term papers, and accounting reports burst- ing all around us. We greeted our Freshman sisters with gusto, entertaining them early in the fall at the Junior-Freshman party. Christmas activities were highlighted by the boarders' dinner in formal dress. It was our turn to party the Seniors after their caroling assignment and this we did with the customary form, the order of the day being cocoa and marshmallows. After a barrage of exams was weathered, we drew up tactical plans for the first formal i lv? . E. I W Q W I 'lr 'p , if .J . f i ll