Lehigh University - Epitome Yearbook (Bethlehem, PA)

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personal initiative. Perhaps the administration had this in mind when Dravo House was scheduled to become an all-freshman dorm in 1955. When the outcries and protests had finally subsided, several hundred freshmen moved into their segregated dorm under the care of twelve upperclassmen sening in the capacity of proc- tors. Contrary to certain beliefs, the Dravo House fresh- men had done remarkably well by the end of the first semester. Breakage was less than that for a correspond- ing period when upperclassmen occupied the dorm. The Dravo House scholastic average was above the all- freshman average, and leadership potential was brought to the surface as the students elected section presidents and, under the guidance of the proctors, governed themselves. Following two semesters of suc- cessful operation, the plan was expanded to include both Richards and Drmker House, and with the com- pletion of the hew dorms, the freshmen found them- selves successfully managing the affairs of the three houses on the hill. While freshmen were learning to accept the re- sponsibilities of student government, upperclassmen were having difficulties in conforming their ideas with those of an associate dean. Since 1953 the question of revised social petitions, an acute problem, was slowly reaching the point where corrective action was impera- tive. The subject of Houseparty became the point in question, and about it centered all the various minor disputes from both sides, the deans and faculty, and the students. The students, according to the faculty, had failed to maintain certain standards necessary to the continued observance of a Lehigh tradition — Housepart) ' . A seven point grievance list was compiled by a student- faculty investigating committee and presented to the students in the spring of 1956. Take some action, was the ultimatum, or house- party will be discontinued. Hopes ran high as the fall semester got under way, for a new associate dean had taken office and was in favor of a rapid but satisfactory ' conclusion to the whole affair. At a meeting of student leaders several weeks later the grievance list was discussed and the problems solved to the satisfaction of those facultv members The Broun and White, published twice weekly, keeps Lehigh students w ell informed. Philip Milhendler, slide rule engraver for more than twenty-eight years, plied his trade in Lamberton Hall. J ' - ■i 4 ' H V ( . 1 K if S H JN V w 5

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The Packer Memorial Chapel, center of spir- itual guidance for Lehigh students, rests in quiet dignity under its winter mantle. By ten o ' clock on the morning following a heavy snowfall, these well-packed steps are so slippery that one misstep will send an unwary student on a fast ride. a trial basis. All students in the Uniform Freshman Year, as it was called, would enroll in a uniform pro- gram designed as adequate preparation for any field of engineering study. At the same time these students were to attend a series of weekly conferences conduct- ed by the various department heads, in order to become better acquainted with opportunities in the different fields. The students themselves rated the program as a valuable supplement, and on their recommendation the Uniform Freshman Year became standard for the incoming classes. Developing school spirit and planting the seeds for its future growth is one aim of the orientators during freshman week. Hard to define, but conspicuous when lacking or abundant, spirit is necessary as a morale builder and as a component in the development of 22

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who had expressed concern. Fall Houseparty proceeded under student-formulated regulations and was de- clared in accord with university policy by the dean ' s office. A crisis had been met and passed, and the stu- dents had proven that they were responsible in handling the authority delegated to them. An important question which remained unanswered until after the beginning of the spring semester in 1957 concerned the Spring Music Festival. Because of objections based on the use of professional talent and the handling of production costs, the event had been discontinued. Festival officials worked tirelessly with the administration in the fall of 1956, and after an agreement was reached on the controversial points, feverish activity began in the salt mines, headquar- ters for festival workers under the Grace Hall stands. When plans were released for publication they were similar to those for a television spectacular. The set design called for a one hundred foot stage with two levels, a hundred foot ramp on the upper level and eight hundred feet of production area on the lower level. In the rear a projection screen was erected to pro- vide changing backgrounds. The festival itself was arranged in two parts, one a folk opera, Finnian ' s Rainbow, and the other a con- cert extravaganza featuring the Brown and White Band. As 1957 was the 50th anniversary of the band, the concert feature was concerned primarily with the his- tory of the development of the organization. The story was unfolded by combining important world events with music popular in the corresponding era. These periods included the first World War, the roaring ' 20s, a more serious tone concerning the first Christmas Ves- pers in the ' 30s, World War II and the St. Louis Blues Ivlarch, and a finale of pictures from the recent successful football season. Activities make up an important part of a student ' s informal education, and since 1936, the University has supplemented this phase of college life by add- Lamberton Hall, soon to be renovated for use by the Civil engineering department, will long be remembered as Lehigh ' s Controversial cafeteria.