Elmhurst College - Elms Yearbook (Elmhurst, IL)

Page 33 text:

LE CERCLE FRANCAIS LE CERCLE FRANCAIS — (Officers in front row) Lett to light: Professor C. G. Stanger, advisor; Catriona Bowen, secretary; Alev Vernon, vice-president; Gladys Buenger, president; Paul Umbeck, treasurer; Professor R. Wagoner, advisor. The French Club, known officially as Le Cercle Francais, has always had a small but loyal membership, and its activities this year have been more extensive than ever before. This is due largely to the enthusiasm brought into the club by its new co-advisor, Professor Robert Wagoner, whose plans and directions gave the club something to be really proud of. Under his direction the club, hosts to the Goethe Verein at the combined December meeting, presented a Christmas play in French; and on May 10, the group success- fully dramatized Moliere ' s immortal comedy, Le Medecin Malgre Lui. Members who took part in the two plays were: Dorothy Miche, Janice Pulse, Gladys Buenger, Marie Gee, Barney Schierhorn, Tom Ktsanes, Mil- and Cox, Larry AuBuchon, Sherman Fuller, and Professor Wagoner, who took the title role in the larger production, as well as directed it. Other meetings of the society were taken up with various social activities — all in French. There were movies of the chateaux of the Loire, an evening of bridge in which all bidding was done in French, a French form of Old Maid, and a French spelling bee. French club pins were awarded by the society to its most active members, and twelve French students received the awards, selected by a committee headed by Janice Pulse. The Club had also an entry in the Homecoming parade, their float represent- ing a grape arbor and a champaigne bottle emblematic of one of France ' s greatest in- dustries. Don Cash, Dorothy Miche, and Bob Jones were the members of the float committee. Each spring the club holds its final meet- ing at the home of Professor Stanger on Elm Street, and each member of the club who attends brings some prearranged edibles which are all shared afterwards in a buffet supper eaten out-of-doors when the weather permits. The meeting this year was held on May 16, when the officers for 1939-1940 were chosen. The executive committee of the club was composed of the officers seated in the first row of the above picture with the addition of Jean Pulse, the custodian of the scrap book for the current year. It is they who planned the interesting meetings and special activities which made this year of Le Cerle Francais its best. Pa r Tiucnty-fivr

Page 32 text:

GOETHE VEREIN GOETHE VEREIN — Bottom row, left to right: Lester Dresch, secretary; Hugo Leinbergsr, president; Anna Louise Susott, vice-president; Dean Plassman, treasurer; Jost Washburn, librarian. Second tow: Professors R. Wagoner, C. G. Stanger, E. Heyse Dummer, and E. Hansen, faculty advisors. The Goethe Verein enjoys what is prob- ably the largest percentage of active mem- bers on the campus, and its programs have always something interesting to offer. Every meeting is opened with the sing- ing of German folk songs and is closed with the serving of refreshments. The October meeting was occupied chiefly with the elec- tion of officers. In November, Professor Robert Wagoner directed two student Schat- tenspiele or shadow plays entitled, Der Tote Mann and Das Narranschneiden by Hans Sachs. The students participating were Arthur Albion, Paul Blasberg, Ilona Mardaga, William Lane, Marcia Powell, Norman Roberts, Helen Schmale, Anna Su- sott, Robert Tiemann, and Jost Washburn. The December meeting was a joint one held with the French Club and the group sang German Christmas carols and heard the Christmas story sung in German by Dorothy Graham. Following the meeting a Christmas party was held in the Commons. Highlights of the February meeting were some linguistic readings given by Dr. Dum- mer. In March, the newly organized German Sprechor Choir made its first appearance under Dr. Dummer ' s direction. Its twenty members presented three German numbers: Das Heideriroeslein by Goethe, Schoen- Rothraut by Morike, and Her von Ribbeck auf Ribbeck im Havelland by Fontane. Solos were by Donald Reichmann, Helen Schmale, and Harry Willman. On the same program, Mr. Alfred Behrens, formerly of the University of Leipzig, spoke on German Youth Hostels. The entire German-speaking community of Elmhurst was invited to the May meeting, and the attendance was the largest of the year. As in previous years, the Goethe Verein presented its annual award to the ranking junior major in the department of German who is also active in the Goethe Verein. The award, a six volume set of a famous German author, went to Hugo Leinberger, the retiring president of the club. The wide interest in the Goethe Verein and its high membership total can be traced directly to the variety and number of its ac- tivities. The meetings are carefully planned so as to be of interest to all German students, beginners as well as majors. P f r Twenty-four

Page 34 text:

STUDENT UNION The only body on the campus through which the students as a group can maintain official relations with the administration is the Student Union. Although freshmen are excluded from voting privileges during the first semester, all students are automatically members of the organization upon matricu- lation at Elmhurst. The cabinet of the organization, elected by popular vote during the middle of April, is comprised of five officers and four chair- men of standing committees. The Student Union cabinet for the year 1938-1939 is pictured below. The activities of this all-school organiz- ation are as varied as its membership. It has furnished a recreation room for the men, cooperates with the Women ' s Union in sup- plying furniture for the women ' s counter- part, runs a supply store which sells candy, athletic supplies, soft drinks, ice cream, and other miscellaneous items, produces two official organs: the bi-weekly newspaper, the Elm Bark, and the college yearbook, The Elms, and sponsors numerous social functions throughout the year. William Heise was manager of the stu- dent union store for the year just past, and the newly created post of store assistant was given to Everett Rauh, both of whom are pictured below. Meetings of the organization are held regularly each six weeks, and special meet- ings are called as the need for them arises. At Christmas time, two charitable drives were sponsored by the Student Union: one undertook to aid the needy family of a former Elmhurst student, and the other send its receipts to the needy college students of v ar-torn China. The traditional green freshman caps were also supplied by the treasury of the organization, despite early opposition to their purchase. A new public address system was also supplied out of the Student Union treasury, replacing the ineffective and antiquated am- plifiers formerly used. The social life committee, assisted by the faculty advisor, Dr. Sander planned and carried out many popular recreational eve- nings. The Campus Shuffles, initiated last year, were repeated three times with the same enthusiastic response; the Freshman Mixer, the Homecoming Hop, the Christmas Party, and the Let-down Party were all suc- cessful dances sponsored by the Student Union. STUDENT UNION CABINET — Standing: Richard Kessler, treasurer; Carl Rasche, vice-president of men; Robert Royer, publications chairman; Lester Dresch, chapel chairman; Harry Vernon, president. Seated: Ruth Westerbeck, vice-president of women; Dorothy Kross, secretary, Marjorie Boldt, social life chairman. Henry Bucholz, chairman of athletics, is absent from the picture. STUDENT UNION STORE — Leff (o light: Herbert Sad- ler, Marjorie Boldt, William Heise, store manager; Everett Rauh, assistant store manager. Fat e Tivrnfy-six