College of Wooster - Index Yearbook (Wooster, OH)

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Nine Hours of Religion Are Required... 1 A chapel speaker once said that on the campus occasionally one may see students enrolled in Dr. Anderson's marriage course doing their homework. Perhaps this shows that the nine hours of religion requirements do not bore Wooster's Joe College and Betty Coed. How can they, when the religion department boasts such names as President Wishart, Dr. Vance, Dr. Anderson, and Dean Bruere? Time means little to this department, for the religious study runs the gamut from the Old Testament era to contemporary thought in a few years. Within this wide range, also fall the subject of poetic literature, prophetic reformers, and the life and letters of Paul. Special attention is given to missions, Chris- tian social work, and religious education instruction. Marriage is Popular Course Representing an ultra-modern mode in the department is the popular preparation for marriage course. The class discussions do not touch upon the radio-serial conception of marriage, but face frankly the questions of married life. Undoubtedly, the ideas gained in these discussions and the theories pro- pounded in other religion classes have outside reverberations. Many times, the dorm lights burn far into the night while bull sessions on Three of Philosophy Poorly anchored beliefs are set adrift when dubious sophomores tangle with the problems of immortality, freedom, religion, and evil in the metaphysical realm of Dr. Virgilius Ferm's introductory course. Dr. Ferm and Dr. Chesley T. Howell are not worried however, for they have a life line of almost a dozen courses to throw to the floundering students. The first link in the chain is a class in logic. Discussions about the principles of scientific and formal reasoning help the students to or- ganize their thoughts in a consistent manner. Philosophers Organize Thoughts Should I do this? 't'Did he act justly? These questions find an answer in the courses in ethics and theory of value. Religion is also investigated as the students attempt to define satisfactorily soul, immortality, and God. Mysticism, conversion, and the development of religious beliefs are stressed in the psychol- ogy of religion. Psychology of artistic appre- ciation and expression forms the link of aesthetics. Philosophy of the ancient Greeks, supplemented by that of the important medi- eval thinkers, adds the final touch to the well- forged chain. Theoretically, students emerge with well-organized thoughts, prepared to religion hold sway. A POPULAR PROFESSOR of reliqion is Prof. Iames Anderson. The broad- rimmed hat you often see him wearing is a Texas model. for Texas was where Dr. Anderson spent his first 26 years. He has been at Wooster since 1928: was dean of men from 1930-1935. converse with the sages. DR. PERM gave a party for his twenty- two philosophy maiors last Christmas season. Philosophers in this picture are Cleft to rightl Dr. Perm. Hal Streeper. Charles Wynn, Margaret Coryell, and Paul Hearne. DR. CHESLEY T. HOWELL fleltl and department head Dr. Virqilius Perm are interesting teachers as well as brilliant scholars. I-'erm has written eight books: he uses his own writings for textbooks in most of his classes. Howell has like- wise written many books.

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PHI ALPHA THETA is the Greek name for the new history fratemity, headed by Kay Sommerlatte. Only history majors of high academic standing may be elected. Front row: Kemp, Kingsley, Eisenberger, Sommerlatte, Ahrens, McClellan, Hart. Back row: Wheeler, Bollens, Mr. Ells- worth, Mr. Hail, Miss Dunham, Bone. MOST POPULAR COURSE is Miss Dun- hcn'n's World War. The class meets three times a week under compulsion, but on Monday mornings Miss Dunham has an informal discussion period for all interested. Students may bring up any current topic. At the discussion period this Monday moming were Cleft to rightl, Margaret Sherrard, Miss Dun- ham, Jim Berry, Alex Drysdale, and Paul Gruber. So that she can teach this course dynamically, Miss Dunham reads fifty books a year. HISTORIANS Dr. Clayton Ellsworth, Dr. William I. Hail, and Dr. Aileen Dunham discuss Enqland's chances for victory in the war. Ellsworth is cm authority on American history, Hail on Far Eastern history, and Dunham on European, past and present. This trio teaches sixteen courses. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS CLUB is for those students interested in current events. Marilyn Iohnston headed the organization. Front row: Campbell, Bowman, Ellis, Hudson, Sallenbach. Second row: Coe, Wylie, Mr. Hail, Iohnston, R. Thomas, Sommerlatte. Third row: Merry, Chalfant. Strong, Mordhorst, Good, Grafton, Peters, Dutton. Back row: Mellert. lohnsten, Duffield, Robins, 1. Donaldson. Carroll, Lamale. History Department Correlates Past and Present A distinctly cosmopolitan quality engulfs the history department, for few students pass through Wooster without some experience among the archives of the ages. By turning back the clock, students relive epoch-making events which pass in quick succession. In the West wing of Kauke, department head, Dr. Hail, has covered all ages of British and Oriental history. Here the Tapping rebellion has been fought, here the 'Treaty of Shimino- seke has been signed. Second Hoor Kauke has seen the unfolding of the renaissance and the reformation. The French revolution has echoed cries of Liberate, Egalite, Fraternitef' from Dr. Dunham's room. Here also, under the pseudonym of World War, the history of the world since 1870 is reviewed. Dr. Ellsworth guides his students through the course of American history from Colum- bus to Roosevelt, socially and politically. His course is a mobile unit rambling all over Kauke and occasionally into the basement of the library.

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J. MILTON VANCE Dr. Vance, acting head of the religion de- partment, has the longest record of service on the Wooster faculty. He Was' graduated from Lake Forest College and attended theological 34 Years at Wooster seminary at Princeton and at McCormick. His advanced studies and travels in Europe, Palestine, and India enable him to use first hand information in his classes.