Columbia University College of Pharmacy - Apothekan Yearbook (New York, NY)

Page 31 text:

COLLEGE CLASS HISTORY • H€VH OFf FIRST YEAR Some ninety odd students gathered together in the lecture hall one day in September, 1955, ready to emhark on a new adventure, Pharmacy. These young men and women knew that the going would he hard; some were to despair and drop out after a few weeks, others to fail, hut the majority were to persevere and graduate. Our first few days were filled with awe and wonder. There were stark silent laboratories con- taining the mysteries of chemistry and botany. microscopes which revealed uncanny new worlds to us and professors whose voices had strange anesthetic properties. We were in a scientific wonderland of mystery and adventure. Election of class officers resulted in the selection of the following: Irving Markowilz. President; Arnold Goodman, Vice-President; Mary Pittaro, Secretary. Soon came the mid-semesters and we met the emergency by cramming. It worked well. Cramming enabled us to absorb useless information in such a way that it could be easily forgotten a few hours after the exams. At this time. Wolf and Powders indulged in their favorite indoor sports, marble rolling and hair clipping. The victims of their activities were Professor Brown and Li ' I Tisch. respectively. The mid-years brought more cramming, followed by games and dances which brought us up to the second mid-semesters and then our finals. A week later we were at the college dance held at the Hotel Park Central ' s Florentine Room, where we bad a ripping good time. The evening over, we boys and girls waved goodbye and promised to see each other again soon. SECOND YEAR Summer passed swiftly and the class was together once more all looking fit, except for Tonick who had a little less hair on his head. That year, with our courses in M T ke. and Mac, Physiology and Microbiology, was a bit more interesting. In a short time we were well rooted in our work, in fact we were rooted, barked, leaved, twigged, stemmed and rhizomed. Heretofore when one had a cold it was a cold and that was all. but. after taking physiology when one had a cold it was really serious. The serous membranes had stopped secreting, there was friction, reddening and everything. With microbiology we were constantly on guard against contamination by bacilli and worms of all sorts. It was a constant nightmare. The year was more exacting, in fact so exacting, that several of the boys stopped going to Minsky ' s and went to class. However, some of the more chronic patrons ab-

Page 30 text:

attached the suction pumps to the gas jets, causing the phenomenon of burning water, and smeared capsicum on the tip of his water bottle, which made him the victor of every water bot- tle war. Oiir senior year was a year of triumph for Vic Lewitus, who rose from obscurity. Mr. P ' s five minutes amounted to nothing as com- pared to being thrown out of Mr. Lewitus ' class. Grandpa, how did anybody get back to Mr. Lewitus class? All you did was to go to Equity and if you had clean hands you were readmitted. Is that all. Grandpa? That s all 1 can think of right now, but—. Didn t you have any dances while you were at school? Why yes, our Prom, held, if I recollect correctly, at the Hotel Ambassador, on March 12, of the same year. We enjoyed ourselves immensely, and the memories of that evening still linger on. I never saw so many beautiful women in all my life as 1 did I hat night. Did you meet Grandma there? ' Now now, children, to bed. REBELLION OF THE SENIOR CLASS We have heard of the New Deal Expounded by our Dean with zeal. New Deals may be good for nations But when it deals with education It means that our life at college Will merely be to cram in knowledge. Where before we ambled by Never with a thought to try Any studying until the day Finals came around in May. Now each week there is a test To see who can remember best. Assays, formulas, and such— Well rebel, cause that s too much. We should hold a demonstration To set aside this innovation And in closing just one sigh For the good old days gone by. » 26

Page 32 text:

solutely refused to leave, believing in the old axiom, Don t give up the slip. Of course sleeping in the lecture hall went on in its usual way. Examinations and elections came on schedule. The results of the elections were: Joe Brown. President: Benjamin Kristal. Vice-President; Mary Pittaro, Secretary; Isidore Shahon. Historian (poor fellow). The results of the exams were not so good. Heretofore we had heen acquainted with The Barber of Seville, this year we became acquainted with La Barbera of Pharmacy. We were very sorry to see Mr. Soren leave his post as instructor to work for a chemical house. We were also sorry to see Dr. Amy retire. As our Dean and Pro- fessor of Chemistry he was a grand old man. Several students threatened to leave school when a notice was posted forbidding poker and crap games. The notice was enforced, but it did not forbid casino or penny- pitching so the students decided to stay after all. This eventful year, 1957 A.D.. was brought to a close by a successful dance held in the Colonnades Room at the Essex House. THIRD YEAR This year was marked by the inauguration of Dr. Ballard as Dean and by the many reforms and improvements which he initiated. Bi-monthly exams and a change in the marking system from numbers to letters were decreed and riding in the elevator forbidden (students on the in threw their keys away and with a deep sigh and shrug of their shoulders resigned themselves to walking upstairs). The daily Columbia Spec- tator ' was brought to the school. It made us feel for a time as though we really were associated with the Heights. Through Dr. Ballard s efforts the men students were finally rewarded with a lounge where they might take things easy during the ten minute intervals between classes. 1 he following class officers were elected: Harold Roemer, President: Anthony Ro- mano, Vice-President; Mary Pittarro, Secretary; Morris Pollack, Historian. With elections over, committees appointed and the student council assembled, we girded ourselves for the series of exams which loomed ominously between us and our diplomas. Our college career was climaxed by the Senior Prom, held March 12th at the Hotel Commodore. It was the only affair which he had as a class and it will long be remembered. . , Now as our course draws to a close and we are V K? , ' about to go into the world and all that sort of thing CW Jwe cannot help but look back fondly at some of our ' Hl ' Sr courses and professors. ffiy First there was Manufacturing Pharmacy under the guidance of Professor Carter which brought to ight the fact that homologues exist. Then Jurispru- dence which introduced us to Equity and Economics advising us to mind our own business. Finally Dis- pensing Pharmacy Lab which, we will always asso- 5e«io« Foros ciate with Hialeah— it tested our quick get away. » 28