Harvard University - Red Book Yearbook (Cambridge, MA)

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Freshvnan Red Book 17 vard institution--the pin- ball machine-seems to have fallen out of favor. Unlike pre-war Classes, the majori- ty of whose members con- sidered themselves sharpics at the game, only 972, of the Class of '48 were self-es- teemed experts, 7305 dis- claiming any talent at all. A great many conside1'ed it a foul and foolish waste ol' time, money and energy, and one man wrote, The machine is indicative of the media through which capi- talism disperses its wealth. The subject of girls, love, and so forth brought seine unusual replies. The Class's model girl is from Wellesley College, has plenty of person- ality, beauty, and figure, and usually allows up to Hfteen dollars to be spent on her dur- ing an evening. '48 men were overwhelm- ingly in favor of dating college girls, 74'Z, preferring them to high school girls CSVZDD, working girls CSKZQ, or debutantes 15749. The remaining MZ, expressed various rather uncommon choices. One man wrote, If they're friendly does it matter? and an- other said, Any girl that goes out with me is a working girl. No girls' college was an outstanding favorite, though Wellesley, preferred by 29fZ, of the Class, was given the largest support. icfz, selected Radcliife, an amaz- ing gain due to the war over 1942 when the Annex ranked next to Kentucky State Normal. Next came Smith QWKQ, Pine Manor Q-l.1'Z,j,-Simmons Q3.5'Z,j, Vassar Q2.9fZJ, and Yale C2.5f72,D. One man was satisfied with any good, passionate south- ern school. 15fZ, selected various small colleges apparently attended by their one- and-only, and 182, expressed no preference at all. One of the latter protested, I go out with a girl, not a particular institution. To the Class as a whole, personality How could Harvard education be improved? was the most important requisite for a girl, although a number of men quixotically -checked personality, face, and figure. Personality SXSW, Face IWZ, Chassis 15'Z, Moral Liberalism l2'Z, Brains SW, Family 5'Z, Availability WZ, Un the average '48 men went out with girls once a month, though l0'Z, never had a date at all. 42'Z, of the Class usually went dancing, 22W to the movies, l5'Z, necking, and WZ, to a night club. Necking, it seems, was the usual climax of a trip to the movies, since a su1'prising number of men checked both of these items. The Class averaged a 853 loss on an average date, although some went as high as 3510. One man stated, The girls I date must take me for what I am, and I'm a spend- thrift. He had had only one date during his Freshman year. On a heavy date the average outlay was about 5Hil2, though 27'Z9 spent 3515, and HW, over 3lli20. While 1292, never wrote to girls at all, 35'K, wrote frequently, and 23'Z, replied whenever she wrote. 60fZ, of the Class tended to date the same girl, 4L0fZ, pre- ferred to play the field. In correlating

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LL-, The Class showed only one domi- nant are udice ol consecuence and that - 3 was against Communism C32'Z,D. All its other hiases merely arose from the local environment: Liberal Union -l-I-'Zh Bos- tonians lI'Z, Yale men WZ, The question, On :L desert island would you least prefer llouse food, :L ltad- cliffe girl, or l 'i1,'1f Ifmrls of lVl t1tILfj?H. showed that JLUZ, ol' the Class had strongest :Lntipathy for lfim' Kinrls of lVl'flfll,fj, al- though liittltillliliit girls C25',IQ,J appeared to he more palatalmle than llouse l'ood t3l'X,l. Sixty per cent ol' the Class were smokers, 3!J'Qf, preferiug cigarettes, HSM, pipes, and 5'K, cigars. lt is interesting to note that while INSQQ, of the Dean's-list men smoked nothing at all, only 25'j4,, ol' the men in the other Groups abstained. ln How much outside reading do you do? I fl .4 8 ll II r li fl, r regard to liquor, 32fZ, ol' the Class were teetotalers, I VZ, drank only heer, and 57'Z, preferred the stronger varieties. Ol' those who did indulge, although 23'Z, took no more than a discreet monthly dose, QW partook every day or so, and 58'Z, when- ever they could get it. Methods and modes ol' recreation proved an interesting topic. Women were far and away the favorite type of entertain- ment, 47'Z, ol' the Class naming them as their first choice, 2I'Z, as their second. One well-intentioned man, however, wrote, I regard women with more respect than to consider them as 'entertainment'l The movies came next, tlfifz, fi,-gt, qglmigq, 2QfZ, secondj, followed closely hy reading and musical concerts. One moralist made the crushing comment: The results of this question will undouhtedly he indicative ol' the depravity ol' the human race. Other favorite pastimes included square dancing, shooting craps, throwing the hull, and Henjoying my own spar- kling company. The Freshmen went to the movies on the average ahout once every two weeks, though l9'Z, went at least once a week, and l VZ, never went at all. The C'lass on the whole had little interest in the legitimate theater, for only MVK, went once a month or more, and 25'X, never went at all. These figures are not strictly ac- curate as many men ex- pressed their uncertainty as to the legitimacy ol' the Old Iloward. The appeal of the concert and opera was even more limited, only I-I-fl, attending more than once a month, 42'Z, not at all. One traditional Har-

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18 I 9 .L 8 H 11 r 11 ll r fl these questions with group rank it was found that Dean's-list men wrote least often, yet were inclined to have a steady, while the most eager correspondents were in Group IV enjoying many friends. As to the actual amorous status ol' the Class, the majority of '48 men did not take love too seriously in their lfreshman year. Whereas, according to the poll, two were married, eleven engaged, and l5'Z, thought they were in love, 57'K, lllttlllit met her yet. l urthermore, l3'Z, were com- pletely inclifferent, and a disillusioned 5'Z, had been Hloused up. A closely 1'elated question asked when '48 men expected to marry. UNK, believed they would be entangled within five years after graduation, and 25'X, within one year. Yet l3'Z9 thought it would take more than a decade, and WK, stated a firm preference for celibacy. One misogynist declared vehemently, I hate women! I hate women! I hate women! The Class median was about 3M years, although a number did not give specific answers, merely writing, That depends on the little woman, or I don't go by timetables. The questions which were most fully answered we1'e those concerning the College and its treatment of the students. -l3'Zp of the Class considered course work the most beneficial aspect of their college ex- Do you frequently write to girls? How often do you drink? perience, MW, marked general social life. ldxtracurrieular activities were supported by l0'Z,, athletics by 5fz,. Several felt their contacts with Radcliffe had been most broadening, a few wrote, Being on my own. One man, however, declared that thus far college has been a complete waste of time and money. The amount ol' interest the College took in the personal and social adjustment of Freshmen was approved hy 65'Z, ol' the Class. 29W thought it should have taken more interest, while only WZ, wanted less interest. The College's policy was most strongly supported by public school men, 75',7Q of whom favored the present system. A greater proportion of private day school graduates than others wanted to see a change, 35'Zi of them advocating more interest. One of the C'ollege's fondest in- stitutions'-l reshman advisers-was se- verely criticized by '-18. 7l'Z, of the C'lass had seen their advisers not oftener than twice a term, and only QW, saw them more