Haverford College - Record Yearbook (Haverford, PA)

Page 17 text:

THE SOCIAL COMMITTEE Another new ccmmittee this year has been the Social Committee under the leadership of Mike Heeg, president of the Senior Class. Like many other committees this was started with much en- thusiasm and interest. It was to provide the stu- dent who ordinarily would not date much the opportunity to enjoy events which would take place on the campus. It was hoped that the committee could bring in folk singers, lecturers, small bands and so on. Needed for this was money. Unfortu- nately the college did not seem to sense the crying need for social life on the Haverford campus. What was asked as a five-ten dollar assessment from each student turned out to be a token gift from the college. Still the committee was not disbanded, even though its hands were tied for want of money. This year they have given a couple of dances, as well as planning for many things which never reached fruition. Such is the way at Haverford. And its Function

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THE STUDENTS ' COUNCIL In four years, as many will testify, the machine age has come and gone and reappeared again, but its character has changed. Despite the shortcom- ings inherent in any political machine, the heritage of student government we received as freshmen was impressive both in caliber and accomplish- ment. Since then, however, it seems that the intri- cate and efficient machinery of intellectual and plebian wheels has been superceded by the slow grinding of mill stones — yielding an admirably stable but uninspired government. If this is an accurate reflection of a change in the character of the student body, then this is the natural result of the democratic process. However, if it is merely a manifestation of a popularized version of demo- cratic apathy then it ' s unfortunate that the stu- dent body isn ' t realizing the unique self-govern- ment potential which exists at Haverford. The election of Louis Matlock as president of this year ' s council was practically a fait accompli stemming from a transplanted Westtown popu- larity. It was no coincidence, however, for Lou was warmly supported by elements of any factions one may claim exist. As leader of the octagonal ring, Lou accomplished an extraordinary feat by main- taining a delicate, yet very sensible balance be- tween Chemistry, athletics, and Stu Cou affairs. The implications of such a balance offer an in- sight into the major innovations of this council — namely, the laudable attempt to distribute the burden of the president ' s responsibilities which would make the position more appealing; and the questionable attempt to draw boundaries that de- fine, and that will inevitably limit council juris- diction. On the surface, perhaps the outstanding fea- tures of this year ' s council were the home-made investigations of waterfights damaging to the reputation of Barclay walls, the monthly kitchen- cabinet dinners behind door C and a healthy, well- rested president as father of the council. Twelve

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THE OCTET They ambled up to the bandstand end formed a non-geometric semi-circle. The Haverford Octet. But there were ten — or was it eleven. The crowd quieted imperceptibly during the incantation one, two, three, four, BO, Doot-doo-doo The octet was singing and clowning its way through another performance. The same old songs, but Tony Bing did Faraway better than usual and really killed the audience, Katowitz lambasted Rigoletto ; the hall came alive. The whole group was loose, but Zavitz was loosest. Last year Pete was the head of the Octet, and this year it has been said that he was the member with the foamy head. This combination of nectar and harmony began four years ago when Pete as nervous Rhinie was thrust into the midst of twelve upperclassmen in the Tower, He managed to survive in this atmosphere of debauchery but appealed to Matlock, Block, and Plass to return him to the moral life. An interesting idea, but unsuccessful: Lou got married, Neil ma|ored in economics, and now even Block can be heard occa- sionally raising o Budweiser baritone. But the music will soon give way to mathematics and football when Pete starts his teaching career. Behind the entertaining performances were panicked dress rehearsals, tensions and disagree- ments, and the attitude that the Octet was a good thing to work on occasionally. The results came from many late hours of rehearsal in Union. The group had a lot of talent, with Donham, Maud and Bing all scraping the rafters with their high notes; Mohr ' s casual accenting from the other side of the Mason-Dixon, Zavitz, Katowitz, and Taylor helping muddy up the middle parts, but could all be counted on for good performances. Thomas and Mezger kept the group from floating owoy with a gravel tone that went down to unknown depths. When the group got together well, the results were good, Horry Thomas ran the group in his senior year, replacing Pete who was taking over Harry ' s pre- vious )ob of Glee Club President. Harry spent enough time in the chemistry lab to major and get into med school, but otherwise could be found, usually with his four-year roommate Mike Donham, in the midst of some group project, ranging from brainstorming for Class Night to inventing prepos- terous schemes for ploying May Day, and fre- quently singing. Otherwise, he spent a year making Council meetings shorter and funnier; he lost round after round at Bryn Mawr; he was proud of occasional bits of scholarship. Fourteen