Creighton University - Bluejay Yearbook (Omaha, NE)

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Unposed testimony of the normal attitude in the library. On a hot day in July of 1955 the first real event of the school year occurred; in the short span of eight hours three old buildings ceased to be and work had begun on the new men ' s dormitory, Degleman Hall, and the student ' s union center. This million dollar project, a tall gleai||ing stone structure of five stories, is financ- ed by the University with the aid of a govern- ment loan. The hall will house some 194 stu- dents; the student center will have dining facili- ties to feed 50?f. This proud architectural dream stands as a symbol of the Reverend Francis Degleman who, as student counselor, strove to instill in the hearts of hi| many students a c p understanding of the hehtage which is theirs as Catholics and a fuller understanding of the great benefits of a liberal education. Immediately upon registration, the little stories that make up everyday life began to take form. This year Creighton showed a substantial increase in enrollment. By the time Mr. Williams, the registrar, had counted up all the heads over 2600 students were enrolled, almost twice the total for ten years ago in 1945. In October the campu s radio station, KOCU, celebrated its eighth birthday. The station, which started with a home built transmitter in 1948, now offers a full day ' s program with the latest in news and records. Graduates of the station came back in large numbers to testify to the success which their association with KOCII has brought them. Returning students found a real shocker in the library situation. Friendly little notes to the students appeared on all the tables requesting them to keep silence and above all not to leave their trademark on the furniture. Periodically, there was a removal of the more boisterous ele- ments of the library. Students actually checked out their books this year; and many bitter stu- dents have learned that unless books are return- ed and fines paid, they would cease to be desir- able members of their respective classes.

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HI NJ JWl THE SCHOOL YEAR ot 1955-56 was per- haps no different for most schools than any other year. It was a year of success stories and of fail- ures. It was a year of increased enrollment, of building and advancement, a year fraught with the ever recurring problem of insufficient class roorns. It was a year of confusion for some fresh- men, a year of adjustment for others. It might have been a year which saw the school, under- taking the difficult task of educating our youth, rewarded with a grant. Yes, without a doubt for most schools it was a normal year. Most of these things also occurred a Creigh- ton. But something else was taking place here and at all Jesuit institutions. Fornt was the four hundredth anniversary of the death of the found- er of the Society of Jesus, ' ' t. Ignatius of Loyola. What is important about this? Nothing, really. ' % But it is rather important that so many years after a man has passed away the system which he initiated is still surviving. It is important that 400 years after his death, one can still feid men firmly adhering to the religious and eau- cational ideals of Ignatius. Each of us here at Creighton hAs been in- fluenced by this man. We have been trained to think, to judge, and to St according to right principles. We have been taught the best that has ever been k jown and thought in the world. We have made friends, joined with others in activkies, attended games and dances — these too are part of an education. In the principles of Ignatius we have learned the meaning and value of life; with these principles before us, we entered into the activities of the school year.

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No student would miss the President ' s Convocation % Behind every man there is a woman. In the marble haflk t St. Cecelia ' s Cathedral on a rainy mornin in October, Archbishop Gerald ergan celebrated a sol n votive Mass of the »ly Ghost to begin thefpiool year. The RevereSr Raymond Bishop ' s sermon, in which ur lives were compared to the weave of a,tdeli- cate cloth, illustrated how students arejBtaped through various influences of college and uni- versity life. The languages, he said, in red I or the Mass of the Holy Ghost in St. Cecelia ' s Cathedral. and blue emphasize a fine culture; the pastels of music and art lend dignity«to the pattern. Philosophy ties the fibers tog|j er. Carefully ■u work weaving stro and sleriraer threads into T jWisdom of God. l»her Bishop ' s words were an explicatio Ba pf the underlying theme of Igna- tion educatiJB — all actions must lead one to God. That afternoon in the comfort of Omaha ' s civic auditorium the student body and faculty enjoyed one of the most pleasant convocations in years. Bob Reily knocked the students back in their seats when he requested a donation of one dollar per student on behalf of the United Fund campaign. That |2548 was collected shows that the work of the Red Feather and Red Cross was appreciated. Most of this money, however, came from the faculty; the colleges of arts and commerce gave the poorest showing — 18.5 cents per student. But to get back to the convocation. The main feature of the afternoon was the honoring of Mr. Puis, director of the department of speech, for his thirty-two years of service to the University. Mr. Puis, a man of strong relig- ious convictions and a kind, interested friend, has always had a word of encouragement for the poor student speaker.