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

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my subjects) showed a continuous improvement from the freshman to the junior year, as a glance at the final ratings confirms; may it continue to do so to their own satisfaction in the years to come! Samuel S. i enmatt It is not an easy task for me to write a critical essay dealing with my personal reactions and opinions involving the present graduating class. My multiple tasks in dealing with students both as instructional officer and as assistant to Dean Ballard give me a greater insight into the atti- tudes and values possessed by these students. It is impossible to compare one group of students with another with- out taking into consideration the environment of this group, its composi- tion, and the period of time through which one has had contact with it. Fundamentally, I use the same attitude towards students as I use toward feminine pulchritude. There are no ugly women; some are more beautiful than others. There are no poor students (barring accidents); some are smarter than others. I must admit that while I had you as students in my courses in analyti- cal chemistry, I may have acted somewhat brusquely. You probably saw me walk up and down the aisles in the chemistry laboratory peering over your shoulders with a harassed mien, muttering esoterically under my breath. I kept my hair from turning gray by tearing it out after I saw the final exam grades. Well, you can hardly blame me, now, as you look back, can you? Of such stuff are colleges made! The educational process is a two-way street, and I can assure you that I learned from you much about student behavior (perhaps a little bit about student misbehavior?) for which I am duly grateful. I am more apprecia- tive of your earnest cooperation, and your generally mature attitude. It is this kind of behavior which gives an instructor a feeling of satisfaction, even though the results of his teaching are not immediately apparent. I anticipate that this attitude, this serious attention to the problems surrounding you, will act as a kind of touchstone. With the qualities you possess you should go far and set the standards of dignity and prestige that are inherent in the practice of professional pharmacy. I extend to you all my blessings, and my best wishes for the success in every respect that is due you.

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puns that are unexcelled for iodine number, and rancidity and I especially recommend one of my brothers, Frater Newman, when I make this state- ment. I am willing and glad to recommend them for anything, anywhere, and the farther away the better. Let ' s have quiet wit hin these halls and peace at any price. I have heard more vociferous gatherings such as gull rookeries, and the primate house at the zoo at feeding time. You know that they are around. P.S. There are even a few students among them. ttutcatee 4. Kelf When you, the class of ' 52, entered C.U.C.P. you were merely a mass of strange faces. When we met in Botany lab you became individuals; when you finished Pharmacognosy we were well acquainted! By the time we had struggled through collenchyma and sclerenchyma, through bark and cork, through ovate and obovate leaves, through drupes and cremocarps you became more than row and seat numbers. As we travelled on through receptacles and slippery conceptacles of Fucus, saw the flash of ignited Lycopodium spores, examined the sori of ferns, the winged pollen of pine, the microsporophylls (stamens) and the megasporo- phylls (pistils) of the angiosperms you became personalities. Some of you seemed interested in the course matter; some of you appeared to want to see how little work you could do — and still pass! Our acquaintanceship was renewed with Pharmacognosy in your Jun- ior year — or should it be called Organic Chemistry year? Your knowl- edge of botany became necessary for a study of the drug plants. Terms which may have been merely terms that had to be learned in Botany in- creased in meaning. Pharmacognosy itself became much more than the title of a course. The study of the crude drugs themselves and of their active constituents, a practical application of botany and chemistry, seemed to appeal to you and many realized the value of knowing these aspects of drugs worked with in other courses or dispensed across the counter. I hope and trust that the knowledge retained, even if relatively slight, of Botany and Pharmacognosy will help you all to be better pharmacists and, perhaps of greater importance, to appreciate the important role of plants and plant products in the world about you. The class apparently (in

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? iatit ty. ' Pafoitty The time of arrival in September 1948 and the time of graduation in June I 952 has gone by in the most rapid fashion. Who were these people, what were these people like, is there something to remember, something to think about after they leave the scene, something to recall in later years, some memory to retain for the future. True one does obtain an impression from any group while in the classroom, from the individual member during a short, fleeting talk and from an early morning or daytime hello in the school corridors. But something more than that is required in order to meet the real personality of the student, we must leave the school halls for a short time, away from scholastic routine, away from the well ordered classroom life. Such opportunities occur from time to time at a school dance, fraternity affair or perhaps a pharmaceutical meeting outside of school hours. The most satisfactory would be a journey or a trip involving several days in each other ' s company. Such was our pleasure to have experienced and if the group who were along are at all representative of the entire class, (and I ' m sure they are) then it was the most worthwhile endeavor of the entire four years stay at school. It will now be very easy to recall the name, the face and perhaps even a good portion of the personality of the alumnus for many years to come. We now have a bit more than the seat and grade number to go by. The word alumni brings to mind your entry into that group which is so concerned with the good and welfare of the College. You can always maintain your identity both as an individual and as a class by actively associating yourself with that group, the Alumni Association of C. U. C. P. which is now affiliated with the Columbia University Alumni Federation. The class of ' 52 has always been a potent force in the various extra-curricular activities of the school, notable in the school publication and also in the problems of the student council which in turn is concerned with the welfare of the entire student body. Some people of the class may be singled out for honor in those fields but perhaps they would prefer to ' blush unseen ' and leave their good work to be continued by those to come. As the 1952 President of the Alumni Association may I extend a welcome to the entire class to join and actively participate in the affairs of what is now your group. The makeup of the class is such, according to my thinking, that they will insist on becoming an active part of this organization and make their influence felt.