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

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etota ut 7 4v to My first contact with the class of ' 52 was through the medium of a course labeled Pharmacy Administration. In the course of the semester I learned a great deal about drug store management and still more about the class. Unfortunately the class was scheduled for a nine o ' clock meet- ing, which led to my observance of many of the members of the group who were still asleep. I am sure that under many of the overcoats worn in the class were sets of pajamas. That ' s why Posner always had his coat col- lar turned up. I could always tell when it was time to start the class. It was easy; I just waited until I could hear Trobitzen and Scherman panting up the stairs. I knew when I was saying something that did not meet with gen- eral acceptance when I could see Kaufman sneer and Lane snicker. In all it was an enjoyable experience even though we never settled the conflict concerning the manner of dealing with cut-rate competitors or how to become one. Through all this Mosher kept his nose in the air . . . when you are the only pharmacist in town I guess you can afford to be inde- pendent. The class contributed many good merchandising ideas, all the way from Wall Street and Madison Avenue sophistication to East Bronx sell them something else, they ' re still standing there . Substitution and over-the-counter sale of barbiturates was thoroughly explored, and even though I do not think I made many converts among the class die-hards, we had many lively discussions. Guest speakers were always appreciated. They afforded many an opportunity to copy notes or to catch up on read- ing the tabloids. It was not until Pharmacy 49 that the true character(s) of the class showed up in full light. Here I was able to observe laboratory techniques and attitudes that were new to me. Laboratory coats ranged from taste- fully draped tatters to pink sport jackets. There were many serious stu- dents who neatly and diligently worked at their desks; always wore clean lab coats and brought their weights . . . and then there was Scherman. I think the course was wasted on Posner, though. Among all the polyethy- lene glycol esters not one could be considered as an adulterant for chicken fat. Examination time was always interesting for me. Several quotations taken from the class of ' 52 are: Is sorbitan sesquioleate really on this exam? I need more time ; This is an exam, not in Pharmacy, but in

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And then there were those who could never locate their desks in the laboratory because of the mass of hair hanging over their eyes; who forgot to put blades in their razors when shaving; who wore luminous purple ties with green sport. shirts under laboratory jackets stained with portions of the prescriptions of the ages and those who thought that compounding talent was measured in terms of the number of pieces of dirty equipment strewn over the desk top. Lecture periods were additional sources of revelation and grey hair. I could never quite shake the feeling that Baskin knew the answers to the myriad questions he asked nor could I decide whether Kaufman ' s grin was a salute or a silent Bronx cheer. Trobitzen and Dimendberg were forever dashing into class ten minutes after the bell, whereupon the former would begin copying notes from some previous lecture and the latter would promptly fall asleep. The remaining portion of ' each lecture for the balance of the year was devoted to the continuous struggle over the techniques involved in the various medication forms and the intricacies of incompatibilities sea- soned with discussions on the great need for proper professional conduct in pharmacy and attempts at convincing Posner that fifty cents was an inadequate price for I 00 suppositories. It was gratifying to see the gradual change which took place in the class which resulted in the emergence of students who could be considered as capable representatives of our college in the profession of pharmacy. I knew the turning point had been reached when the typical comment changed from, But that ' s not the way my boss does it in the store to All right, I ' ll do it your way . . . here. How could I have ever enter- tained any doubts about a class which was capable of such great progress in such a short span of time! Looking back over the few short years of our association together I can think of many pleasant reminiscences that will have a lasting place in my memories. From start to finish, it was a sincere pleasure to have known the members of the Class of 1 952. May the many enterprises you success- fully undertook at C.U.C.P. carry forward with you to many years of con- tinuous good fortune and happiness in pharmacy.

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English ; and afterwards: I didn ' t come to argue for points, I only want clarification. Am I up to 80 yet? I knew the answer, but I didn ' t under- stand the question ; I deserve an A in this course ; Am I up to a C- yet? I couldn ' t study for this exam, I drove a cab all night ; We dis- cussed this in lecture? Lecturing in room 50 was sometimes a trying experience. In the era B.P.A. (before the public address system) there was a rush to the front seats by those who were interested in hearing the lecture, for various rea- sons, and a rush for back seats by those who were behind in copying notes. The public address system brought a new geographic distribution of the class. There were the same people rushing to the front seats, but a new group emerged, those who sat in the back near the loudspeaker. Here one could catch the choicer morsels of the lecture while copying notes . . . and Scherman sat in between in order to receive the adulation of both groups. In all, the character of the class of ' 52 might be described as some- times cynical, sometimes rebellious, sometimes disinterested, but gener- ally gratifyingly sincere and warm-hearted. Each commencement is a time of reflection for most faculty mem- bers; usually a time for pride in the curricular accomplishments of the graduating class; always a time for sincere hopes for the success and hap- piness of each new alumnus . . . and so it is with me. IZofant SdanfaU This seems to be an era of words. Perhaps it will some day be so characterized. Daniel Webster once said that knowledge does not com- prise all that is contained in the large term education. The amount of respect and confidence you will command will depend largely on how well you deal with the many problems that will surely confront you during your practice of Pharmacy. From the manner in which you have handled the various crises that have arisen at school, I am sure you can cope with the g reater problems that are still to present themselves, and be worthy of the title Pharmacist.