Lehigh University - Epitome Yearbook (Bethlehem, PA)

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Forty-niners and their ladies whooping it up in the dance hall number in the 1954 Spring Music Festival. was the year for a championship. As the long- awaited vacation drew near, Bethlehem lit the Christmas star, and the rest of the decorations, which give the city the name The Christmas City . Vacation arrived, and everyone journeyed homeward for the much-needed rest. After New Year ' s, we soon realized that we were not the only ones who had been making resolu- tions. Dean Hayes ' memorandum, restating the University ' s po sition on drinking, was sobering news for most of us. We put aside this problem temporarily, since exams were approaching. Every- one had finals fever , a malady whose symptoms are contemplation of studying and procrastination, and whose remedy is simply study. Exams were soon finished, and time alone dulled the pain. The writer ' s cramps healed, and the semester ' s work was culminated. A new semester began, and everyone had the chance to start anew. Academically, nothing had changed much from the first semester, but socially, the traditional rushing parties had lost their flavor and potency. Birch and root beer predominated at the dull, lifeless gatherings. Nevertheless, the fra- ternities survived the two weeks of rushing, and the new pledges were selected. They quickly found out how the houses were kept so clean. The Military Ball was a great success, this weekend and the Navy weekend providing excel- lent excuses for parties. 3800 people witnessed the Engineer wrestlers down previously unbeaten Navy 19-8, to give us a season record blemished only by the 15-13 loss to Penn State. The Team finished third in the Easterns and fifth in the Nationals, a record of which Lehigh can be proud. In both of these tournaments, Ed Eichelberger was voted the outstanding wrestler, a tribute to himself, and also to Lehigh. IFC Weekend proved a great success to all those who attended. Stan Rubin ' s Tigertown Five thrilled the crowd at the Frolics on Saturday aft- ernoon, while Stalag 17 and the Monte Carlo Dance were enjoyed by all. Soon vacation ar- rived, and while many again took the familiar journey homeward, others proceeded south for a more casual life on the Florida beaches. The time after vacation was filled with many activities which followed each other in rapid succession. Students tried to pull up their grades and attend all the functions at the same time, a near impossibility. The annual Music Festival this year performed Allegro , before sellout crowds. The high, quality of the staging was, indeed, a credit to those whose time and efforts went 12

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ache too. For most, it had been a weekend of joyous memories. It seemed that Houseparty was no sooner over when Lafayette week was upon us. In the fra- ternities and residence halls, students were busy manufacturing evidence of how badly we would whip the Leopards. Wood had been gathered for the bonfire, and the freshmen were busy guarding it. A few of them sported new hairdos, styled by tonsorial artists from Easton. Friday night began at the pep rally where the Team was cheered, while Lafayette ' s fate was predicted by the Fresh- man skits. After the bonfire, the pajama parade across the bridge completed the evening. All these pre-game activities appeared in vain on Saturday, as thousands of drenched, but loyal , Lehigh fans watched their Team lose 46-0, in one of the most lopsided games of the long rivalry. We managed to upend their goalposts, but somehow, the wooden souvenirs didn ' t mean much to us. It felt good to get back to our campus and forget about the after- noon ' s activity. Thanksgiving vacation arrived, and with it, our own private Valentine ' s day. It was at this time that many received notification of how well they had applied themselves to the main purpose of attending Lehigh. Parents listened patiently to their son ' s story of how the pink slip was a Regis- trar ' s mistake, but they were not impressed. Vaca- tion ended quickly, as always, and we headed back to school determined to do better. The basketball and wrestling fanatics replaced the avid football fans, but amidst the praise and good wishes for the Teams, tragedy struck the stu- dent body. Bruce Thompson, known to all for h is basketball wonders, was suddenly stricken with polio, and subsequently died. The Lehigh Family knew they had lost a real competitor and a true friend. The Wrestling Team looked good in defeating their first opponents. Many felt that perhaps this Winter brings with it slippery hills and icy walks. 11

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into the production. Spring Houseparty came and went. What has been said about previous Houseparties, can be reiterated now with only a few of the incidents changed. Les Elgart was thor- oughly enjoyed, and the Saturday night parties were worthy of the Lehigh name. Then, with less than a month left in the year, everyone again picked up the finals fever . To a lower classman, this final month merely repre- sented the close of another school year, as he looked forward to his college years ahead. To the senior, however, this final month was the pinnacle of his college career. He had finished four or five years of hard work aiming towards a degree, and his life ' s occupation. Baccalaureate Sunday, and Graduation on Uni- versity Day arrived, and whether the senior went on to graduate school, into the service, or into in- dustry, a definite phase of his life had been com- pleted. He had achieved the first great goal of his life. One of Lehigh ' s oldest traditions. Flagpole Day. Students watch as awards are given out for service and scholarship. Seniors listen to parting advice during the Commencement Ceremonies in Grace Hall. 13