Georgian Court University - Courtier Yearbook (Lakewood, NJ)

Page 148 text:

Freshman residents of Mercedes Hall CLASS H1952 Dear 7l Diaries, We are marking September Zlst in you with the biggest, brightest red letters ever. Today we arrived loaded down with trunks and parents to register in the Mansion and to steal curious glances at our brand-new classmates. Everyone was so friendly and help- tul that, although tar from familiar surround- ings, we are already at home . We are settled now in Raymond Hall, Casino, and Mercedes Hall for a year that is like an unopened, but peeked-at, present. September Z4 . . . Three days ot college gone and we are all too worn down for much writing, Diary dear, but a word is in order A group of Freshmen in the Casino. about that marvelous party our Junior sisters gave us tonight. Coupled with last eve's treat by the Seniors it adds up to a royal welcome for us frightened Frosh. October 21 . . . We are bursting with a new awareness of loyalty and pride invoked by the lnvestiture Ceremony this evening. As we stood in the Mansion's tradition-filled foyer, our big sisters placed academic caps on our definitely swelling heads. The student body president emphasized a Courtier's responsibil- ities, then our ringing voices proclaimed the Alma Mater with a real sense ot belonging , October 23 . . . Bassinet in the Casino-but why? Why? For the sweetest, prettiest card- and West Wing. l 40

Page 147 text:

Until Initiation we had merely been absorb- ing the theory of independence and authority over others. Now had come the chance for us to make an art of our Sophomore character- istic at the cruel expense of the frightened Frosh. We were the antithesis of virtue as we loomed over them in the classroom after dinner, mocked them in the smoker, and sub- jected them to such ridiculous garbs. However, it gave the class of '52 ,an opportunity to fly their good sport colors. ln presenting Arsenic and Old Lace at the Hallowe'en Party for the student body, and Freshmen in particular, we were original as well as traditional. No class before us had ven- tured a Broadway play for this occasion. One of our new members, Dotty Vaughn, in her role as Martha, convinced the audience of her talent in character portrayal. We were equally as thrilled as the Juniors when given the news of the Junior Prom to be held in November. ln many a Soph bedroom you can see a picture of smiling faces with the Waldorf's Jade Room as a background. Thanksgiving vacation proved that our l948 sentiments were identical to those we felt a year before. Down deep in us was the Freshman desire to be at home where father carved the turkey and mother begged us to eat just a little bit more. While the Court Page staff advertised the coming Holly Hop, we urged the Freshmen to buy bids. We told them how the Christmas decorations so completely converted the Gym into a romantic dance floor. We must admit that it took us quite a while to choose our class pin. Yet we were con- sidering how significant this little piece of jewelry was to become years after we left Georgian Court. Naturally, the pin of our choice was one whose appearance we felt would be worthy of all that it represented. To verify what everyone suspected after our Hallowe'en drama, the Court Players' annual production brought to light the acting ability of our class. Sophs, Maureen Muth, Doris Simcoe, and Dianne Delany won leading roles in the Barretts of Wimpole Street , and at least six others held minor parts. During the week of Christmas activities we unconsciously exchanged our coats of so- phistication for warmer ones of child-likeness. ln the Chapel before the lnfant's crib, outside under the pines on the Mansion lawn, and even at our hall parties we were reaching out to grasp Someone from Whom we could draw strength -the spiritual strength, grace. The doom of impending exams immediately after our return from vacation was somewhat lessened by the development of measles on the part of our distinguished vice president, Hendy . However, the tests did go on as scheduled. Outwardly our Retreat seemed to silence us and liken us to sixty little mice. This was quite an accomplishment! The even greater result was the inward spiritual contemplation and depth which those four prayerful days inserted in our minds. ' To think we could invite our escorts to take us to the Senior Prom at the Ritz-Carlton was a social peak in our year. Another spot to add to our list of the Starlight Roof and the Jade Room . The decision as to what Sophs should head the cast of our inter-class play, Uncle Bob was a difficult one. Eight from the more talented bracket acted brilliantly in the one-act show. From that time until the end of April' our hopes and plans were anxiously directed toward the biggest event of our second college year, the Sophomore Weekend. Even as far ahead as December some of the eagerists can- vassed the New Jersey coast for a really spec- tacular orchestra. So that this Spring Social would be as wonderful as possible, especially for the Seniors, we organized our Gay Nine- ties to raise extra funds. Nothing but the best was what we gave the Seniors, Juniors, and Freshmen-and their dates. May Crowning for the second time on the Court Campus found us less tempted to merely view the lovely devotional practice. Instead we were moved to imbibe the meaning of the edifying crowning, procession, and hymns. 4 As we held the traditional chain of laurel wreath for our big sisters who were entering the Casino on Class Night, we realized that the spirit of independence to which we had pledged ourselves in September had left us only a month later. For the rest of our Sophomore year we had been typical little sisters-looking to the Seniors for guidance, and now wishing so much that they were not about to leave us. When we thought about assuming the responsibilities of the following year we in- voked our discarded patroness, Mother Nature asking her to forgive our recent disloyalty and promise us her strong guidance in our Junior year. SOPHOMORE CLASS OFFICERS At a meeting of the big four seated in Lakehouse are Betty Limont, secretary, Julie Sullivan, president, Mary Henderson vice president and Ann Von Hoene, treasurer

Page 149 text:

party booth ever. Judging by those ohs and ahs of approval land not just from harried familiesl it will be safe to mark our first effort as a class mission accomplished . Chairman Joan Kozusko did our bassinet up in pink and blue, aided by our willing but hammer-hacked fingers. October 3l . . . Dear Diary it is a wonder even you weren't in a jam-packed waste-bas- ket today along with jangling alarm clocks and fuzzy animals. What with laughing at the ridiculous spectacle of each other in reversed skirts and sweaters, pincurls and pigtails, monstrous signs, green and black stockings, and carrot corsages, and squaring nervous meals with one wary eye on those terrible, terrifying initiators of ours, we thought today would never be over. Yet tonight those same Sophs basked in our applause of their Hal- lowe'en Party rendition of Arsenic and Old Lace . Of course, we are still a j-jittering m-mass of n-nerves. November 30 . . . Without a doubt the diaries of Mary Ann Dempsey, Norine John- son, Joan Kozusko, and Frannie Decibus will get an earful of busy plans, plays, and worries this term, because we have just elected those lucky Frosh as president, vice president, sec- retary, and treasurer of our class. December 5 . . . Oh Diary, delightful is the only word for tonight's Holly-Hop. As we entered the Casino with our not-so-blind dates, gasps of wonder paid ample tribute to the huge Christmas tree, candle-lit tables, soft lights, and a real live Santa Claus presiding over the dream-fulfilling dance. December l6 . . . Tomorrow, it- is home for Christmas. lt is hard to believe the wonderful day is almost here at last. We feel as though Christmas is already here at the college with the sweetly solemn crib ceremony in chapel, the caroling before the Mansion tree, the Senior party and tableau, and then that mar- velous formal banquet this very last night. We newcomers realize now why the mere mention of Christmas activities at the Court evokes fond expressions from her students. January 5 . . . Hello Diary, glad to see us back from two weeks of doing none of those hovering Biology notes and leering English themes and doing instead, loads of delightful things we hadn't planned on at all. But sem- ester exams are coming, so best we spend the next few weekends in picturesque Lakewood, if we expect to date these diaries from the Court next semester. Perhaps we could man- age to interrupt such worthy pursuits for one sparkling evening spent listening to and danc- ing with the Saint Joseph's College Glee Club. January 27 . . . Retreat is almost over. There really is not much we can write about these days of contemplation. Yes, they were won- derful, certainly quiet, and a priceless oppor- tunity, but our real inner thoughts on Retreat are much too mixed and personal to imprison with our leaky pens. January I3 . . . Dear Diary, We are speech- less. The Ritz-Carlton, our dates, gorgeous gowns, dreamy music, . . . why doesn't the Senior Prom come around, say every month or so? We guess the answer is: il l we wouldn't have enough time to look forward to it, and i2l our dates. February l'8 . . . You know Diary, we really shouldn't take time out for you tonight. We have to learn our parts for Getting Pinned . Be a darling and pray our dramatic debut is a success. March l7 . . . Shure and begorrah, top o' the evening to ye, and who put the labor and love into tonight's Saint Patrick's party? We're thinkin' it's the Frosh and we're thinkin' we're thinkin' r-right. April 25 . . . Honestly we are surprised you are still open to us after the way we have treated you. Why, it has been weeks since we have taken pen in hand, except of course to ask him to the Sophomore Weekend. Then we did have to answer that letter he dis- patched so promptly, telling us he had never had such fun and he knew we felt the same way. May 21 . . . This ink we're using is the bluest procurable in tribute to Our Lady and it is as permanent as the impression in our heart's memory book of today's May Crowning. lt was lovely with that singular beauty always evident when her children voice Mary's praises. May 24 Musicale is over now and, although we mandolinists were just a little bit worried, today's performance was in the in- comparable tradition of this annual event at the Court. June 8 . . . Dear-about-to-be-put-away-for- three-months-Diary, Graduation is past now. Our Seniors have gone, but they are with us still in every thought of this our first year. We are eager to sign you Sophomore , yet we have grown so used to Yours truly, the Freshmen that it is signing good-bye to an old friend. We promise, dear Diary, to take you in well- tanned hands next September and tell you all about our first collegiate summer. FRESHMAN CLASS OFFICERS President ......... MARY ANN DEMPSEY Vice President ........ NORINE JOHNSON Secretary . . . . . JOAN KOZUSKO Treasurer . . . FRANCES DECIBUS