Los Angeles Pacific College - Yucca Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

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'5fYuccal9 ' School Spirit No SINGLE phase of college life so reflects the character of a college as does school . . . . h spirit. School spirit is the life-blood of an academic institution. It can be one un- dred per cent pure and wholesome, or poor, lifeless, indifferent, or even dormant. Intercollegiate athletic activities usually show up the kind of spirit characteristic of h ' stic roup of students, or they may be of a school. There may be a popular ent usia g the lame-duck variety. The school spirit of an institution can be represented in one of its units, the typ- ical student. He may be a grind, a tea hound, an athlete, an overgrown high school is carried over into the impressions one re- boy, or a tireless social climber. This idea ceives when the name of a college is spoken. For instance, Harvard, the peculiar ac- ' ' h ll t on h' h th tudent must affect or else he will be mistaken for a dance a pa r 7 cent w ic e s U. S. C. the mighty Trojan, or the athlete, California, the mighty Golden Bear, an athlete from the north, L. A. P. C., Hermon and its hills, theology, psychology, sociology-a good school to attend in which one may have a fitting environment to study the problems of life and to reflect upon them. School spirit cannot be manufactured, it must be spontaneous and genuine. Ral- lies are needed to wake it up but it must be there to be awakened. But the many van- ities of school spirit sometimes prohibit its identity. A good example is here at L. A. P. C. Aside from Chapel, school spirit may seem to be dormant and only alive at Chapel when it should be replaced by reverence. But school spirit is here. We are all democratic. We are not snobbish or clannish. We have many experiences in common. lllore of us are from the middle class and we more truly exhibit a typical American school spirit than many other colleges which are richer and have more students who of course belong to sororities and fraternities. The last mentioned or- ganizations I believe are unamerican and undemocratic. I am glad the school spirit of L. A. P. C. is not narrowed down to the hum-drum of sorority or fraternity social life. The idea of such organizations is fine but the results are evident when one meets its members. High scholarship is one thing and high citizenship is another. We have truly genuine school spirit here, although it is hard to recognize it when one does not stay here at the college and when one's time is entirely taken with many respon- sibilities. School spirit not only should be loyal to its Alma lVIater, but it should also be American and democratic. School spirit should be such a possession that upon grad- uation the student would carry over into private life the principles of good sportsman- ship, democracy, and loyalty, out of which that spirit was created. -B. MARSHALL. Page Sixty-nine

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-'-'El Y 11 c c a lit'- Humor By EsT1-IEP. DEUTSCHE THE SUBJECT OF HUMOR is a serious one. In fact, it is no topic to consider when one is swamped with final examinations and is vainly trying to make up that back work which has resulted because of an excess of procrastination. However, I shall en- deavor to write, as best I can, an essay Qthat is, an attempt at onej on that elusive and difficult topic which is such an asset to human nature. Humor must be spontaneous, and it must preferably possess the human element. Mere foolishness is not humor. There is a peculiar cleverness-a contagious wit, about it which has nothing in common with silly frivolity nor vulgar jest. There is a laugh-provoking ridicule, or clever touch of irony, or spicy tang of satire which is es- sential. Humor requires wisdom, intellect, wit, and an understanding of human nature-a broadmindedness, a quickness, cleverness, and clearness of thought which is not commonly found. Humor, it seems, is indispensable to the happiness and well-being of any normal person. How few of us there are who could enjoy a book, lecture, et Cetera of the more serious type, without its enlivining touch of humor breaking 'now and again into the monotonous dryness and solemnity of the subject. Though' I love romance, and though tragedy has a certain fascination for me, I would consider the setting of this stage of life incomplete without the respite of comedy. Nothing should ever be carried to an extremeg too much of any good thing is too much. lt is all well and good to be serious minded, and it is certainly fickle and use- less to be continually laughing and finding something incongrous in-every occurrence, without the slightest thought of the real meaning and purpose of life. But one should never be a pessimist, nor always an optimist. It is better to laugh than to weep-if one can laugh without forgetting that all of life is not a pathway of roses and that there is really a serious mission in life. The benefit in true humor lies in giving us a rest, a little recreation from the cares, worries, and troubles of this wearisome existence. We may forget in the amuse- ment that we are carrying an immense burden of responsibility on our shoulders and just return to the joy of childhood's carefree days, when all life was gay and happy from dawn till setting sun. Humor should be between the lines and pages of life's great drama, without erasing any of it. Page Sixty-eight

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-'-+2-f Y zz c c a lie-- Students IN ASSOCIATING with students I have found that there are two widely different classes. Which of the two is the nearer perfect depends entirely on one's viewpoint. If anyone cares to go to college and spend all his time studying and always go to classes with his lessons prepared, I will allow him the privilege. I will even admit that he has as much right in college as the fellow who considers attendance at classes the price that he must pay for the social events and the sports. However, the two classes of students do not regard each other with any such democracy. The one who is in earnest about his lessons can not understand how the other gets along. How can this fellow, who has never studied, be the first one to finish the examination? The industrious fellow toils on. He gets a good grade. But our friend, John, who has not had time to learn about Napoleon, thinks that good grades are not worth so much effort. There is as much lack of understanding on the other side. When John goes to the field to practice football, he has a kind of contempt for Bill, whom he has left in the room trying to work the latest problem in physics. John has often asked Bill to go with him. But Bill always says that it is not worth so much time. I once heard a preacher say that if he were in college again he would be satisfied with lower grades and spend more time in social events and sports. I wonder if I can hear a former college athlete answer that all his football playing did not fit him for the life that he was later to live. If the minister and the former athlete could both be placed in college again, I am not sure that either of them would do much differently from what he did when the opportunity was given. I wonder if there is not something in our natures that makes one studious 'and sends the other out on the football field. No doubt these two classesYcan never be united into one. Yet I am almost per- suaded that the world would be greatly impoverished if it were to lose either of them. -BURTON YOUNG. DA Y DREAZVIS ' Someday, I will findfme a Prince Charming Or 11 hold young Loclzhinvar. We shall roam the world together, We shall watch .the evening star. We shall play 'that I was a princess In a tower lone and sad, And that he came and stole me Franz a witch that was 'very had. There will bea fairy Godnzother To bring happiness untold: She will help us find the rainbow- At its end the pot of gold. 1CATHERINE FREY. Page Seventy