Lehigh University - Epitome Yearbook (Bethlehem, PA)

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hundred and fifty couples danced to the music of Muggsy Spanier and orchestra, and girls were permitted to stay on campus for the second time during the summer. Then, to add to the confusion of an already bewildered student body, the faculty inaugurated a new cut system, which recognized no allowed cuts nor the unlimited absences previously given to honor students. Anyone so unfortu- nate as to miss more than twice as many classes as the course had hours was to be automatically dropped from the class, and had to petition for re-entrance — provided his cuts were due to illness. With this note ended the summer session and the weary students plodded home for a much-needed three-day vacation. Freshman week, cut this year to 6 days from the usual 11, ended in the pledg- ing of 291 men by the fraternities. Instead of the decrease in enrollment ex- pected, 1717 registered, including 648 frosh, the largest in the school ' s history. Of these 1717 men, 1100 were already in Army and Navy reserves, with the length of their stay at Lehigh still uncertain. The lowering of the draft age from 20 to 18 made the 600 uncommitted students even more doubtful of their future than those in the reserves. A big event in gridiron history was to be the Lehigh-Yale game at New Haven on Saturday, October 3 — the game to unveil Coach Hoban ' s new team. Remem- bering the new cut system, 940 students petitioned to have their Saturday classes cancelled so that they could make the trip with the team, only to have it flatly refused by the faculty, thinking of the defense-transportation needs. But even without the legal support of the Lehigh cheering section, the Brown and White team put on a good show, holding the Yale boys to a 6-6 tie for the first half, only to lose in the second — in a game destined to be one of their two losses of the season. The following Wednesday was Founder ' s Day. The annual ceremonies were held this year in Packer Chapel, with His Excellency, Alexander Louden, Neth- erlands Ambassador to the United States, being the guest speaker. Degrees were given and honors conferred as usual — and in the afternoon the Frosh beat the Sophomores in the sporting events, obtaining by this feat the privilege of re- moving their head wearing apparel on Sundays. Friday, to end the eventful week, Cornelia Otis Skinner appeared at the Student-Concert Lecture Series pro- gram in Brougal High School auditorium. A week and a half before fall houseparty the already war-conscious students crowded 1200 strong into Grace Hall for the Military assembly, the first of its kind in the University. Representatives of the Army, Army Air Corps, Navy and Marine Corps addressed the assembly, after which a question period was held. The visiting servicemen gave the various requirements of the services and indi- cated the students ' chances of being permitted to continue education at Lehigh. At the same time it was announced that the government had made $17,500 avail- able as loans to engineering and pre-medical students needing funds for tuition. After a hectic week of pre-valentine cramming, the students suddenly re- Grace Hall 13