Lehigh University - Epitome Yearbook (Bethlehem, PA)

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new underground power and tele- phone lines. Tne swimming pool took on a different appearance, and we no longer got tnat slimy feeling after eacK dive. WitK changes on South Mountain rapidly occurring, we wondered how many years it would take for future construction to make the old contours unrecognizable to us. Another change on the campus was in our increased interest in stu- dent government as we scrapped the old Arcadia constitution and adopted a new one. The change- over represented the combined efforts of those of us who took an active interest in the redrafting of the new constitution. Hearings were started early in 1947, and we all were en- couraged to express our views and to give suggestions for an improved form of student government. A ten- man committee consolidated our opinions into four different proposals for reform. As a result of a referen- dum in May, 1947, campus-wide proportional representation under the Hare system of balloting was selected as the form of government we wanted. With our expressed opinions in mind, the Constitution Revision Committee drafted a new constitution over the summer and presented it to us for deliberation in September, 1947. Another referen- dum was conducted in early October and the new constitution was rati- fied by a definite majority. Arcadia conducted its first elec- tions under the new constitution in late October after a week of campus- wide politicking . Campaign signs were everywhere, posters screamed the candidates merits, and even a loudspeaker blurted out the good word for a potential Arcadia mem- ber. Forty-five candidates were whittled down to fifteen on election day, and these fifteen chose Charles W. Boig, 48, as Arcadia president. With the new machinery in opera- tion, a loud clamor for belter student government and an improved con- stitution was finally silenced. As a 13

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seemed like it would not be many years until we, too, would not recog- nize the old hill. Biggest feature of the post-war building spree was the new dormitory. Lehigh sidewalk su- perintendents on location reported that the dorm is something to behold, and each day as the stone and mor- tar were piled higher, we readily agreed with them that the utility of this badly-needed housing w ould be closely proximated by its beauty. A new frame dispensary with the latest in equipment sprouted by the Physics Building, and Packer Hall received a new neighbor as another frame structure was erected close by to serve as office space and auxiliary classrooms. The space once utilized by the Health Service in Christmas- Saucon Hall was redecorated, and the Veterans Administration moved in. The Industrial Engineering De- partment moved into offices of its own that were partitioned off in the east wing of Packard Laboratory, and the once drab interior of the Physics Building had a new look under the influence of pastels and other gay colors. This new cheeriness added greatly to the old atmosphere. Coxe Laboratory was relined with paint, and amazed students returned to Taylor and Price Halls in Sep- tember, 1947, to find their rooms redecorated. The two temporary dorms at the lower edge of Sayre Park finally were completed in time for occupancy in September, 1947, after being under construction for fourteen months. The lag in upkeep and mainten- ance necessitated by the war was being compensated for by this great activity, and under the guidance of Andrew W. Litzenberger, Lehigh s Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds, many other improvements were in the offing. To the accompani- ment of air compressors, trenches were dug all over the campus to ac- commodate the installation of the 12

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result, a stronger, better-organized Arcadia was created for the Deneiit of all. Class elections late in tke spring semester of 1947 showed a decided increase in individual class interest as a large field of candidates for eacn class office kad to be shaved down by Hare balloting. For the year of 1947-1948, Gene Sowers, ' 48, Dick Fuehrer, 49, and Eric Erikson, 50, were elected presidents of their re- spective classes. On many occasions we outdid ourselves in the matter of school spirit. Perhaps it was because we had a football team in 1947 that won its share of games and proved it could operate as a team. A highly- touted Muhlenberg eleven had to work to edge out a 21-14 victory as we roared a reverberating cre- scendo of cheers, the likes of which had seldom been heard in Taylor Stadium. A corps of cheer leaders led us in cheering that was an im- provement over the indifferent yell- ing of the past. During the fall, re- ciprocating overtures of peace were exchanged between Lehigh and Muhlenberg and between Lehigh and Lafayette as we all agreed that school spirit should not be mani- fested in the redecoration of the rival s campus. As a result, pre- game nights were peaceful and no paint was shed. The climax of the football sea- son, the Lafayette game, found all of us making feverish preparations to show our team that we were be- hind them. With the accent on mechanisms, some of us applied our knowledge of kinematics to the prac- tical problem of constructing moving displays for the Homecoming Week- 14