Manhattan College - Manhattanite Yearbook (Riverdale, NY)

Page 227 text:

The German Club, or as it is known in Deutsche circles, Die Huegelwilhelme, met with fitting success during the past two semesters in realizing its obiective, to provide better means of understanding the culture of the German people. The achievement is iustly termed fitting for great effort was expended by President Otto Schmidtmann and his cohorts. Digressing constructively from the theory that a cultural organization is not meant to be a social group, the German Club leaves little to be desired in the social lives of its members. Smokers, outings, parties, a hayride, and a mas- querade dance comprise a strong addition to the non-scholas- tic activities of the group. Another departure, union of families, was a secondary aim of the club. During the past year the members and their fathers twice gathered about the dinner table for ein Mittagessen. Ja, diese ist die Deutsche Klub . . . wirklich. The cultural activities of Die Huegelwilhelme again leave little void, and it is not often that the student activity period is free for the members. Sponsoring a series of lectures dealing with all phases of Teutonic civilization, the German Club always displays a welcome mat to the student body. Aug- menting this service is a series of films, appropriately termed Propaganda films, presenting German life in video. The highlight of the past year involved a major advance by Die Huegelwilhelme. In coordinating with the Manhattan College Players, the members accomplished a two-fold objec- tive which was once but a dream. The Schiller Festival of Spring, in which the club enacted the German scenes in an Anglo-German rendition, paid tribute to the memory and art of the great German poet Friedrich Schiller and afforded the many who attended entertainment on a professional level. Strengthened by the experience gained last year as a result of the fine record of the Council under the leadership of such individuals as Terry Gallagher and Art Mahon, the Debaters entered the fall season with renewed confidence and enthusiasm. As the year passed, it became obvious that the group had come into its own and that the members were reaping the benefits of arduous but willing efforts on behalf of Manhattan. Relatively small in size as compared with many of the other organizations on campus, the Council of Debate has, never- theless, constantly wielded a powerful force in representing Manhattan on the fields of verbal battle. Ably prexiecl by Tom Gowlan, the team has rolled up an impressive record of which it can be proud. In all the competitions that they have entered, whether they have won or lost, the debaters have shown that their intellects, their wits, and their speaking abilities are on a par with whatever can be produced anywhere. Debates are not spectacular things, and the work of this organization is not one that is too well publicized on campus, but certainly the performance of the Council of Debate is one that can be held up with pride as a shining example of the intellectual feats of what we know as one of the finest educational institutions in the world. Tom Gowlan checks through the Student Council mail box for that much awaited debate invitation from a Girls' College.

Page 226 text:

clunte societ II Circolo Dante Alighieri, the official campus organization of students interested in the study of Italian lite, literature, and culture, has for its purpose the enlightenment of its members in regard to the contribution of arts and culture performed by the scholars of Italy. Foremost among the activities of the Italian Club is an event which enables the society to fulfill its purpose on campus and garner the spotlight with one of the highlights of the college cultural calendar. It is the annual Dante Festival, at which outstanding artists of the operatic and concert worlds grace the stage of Smith Auditorium to provide an evening of soul stirring music from the pens of great Italian composers. Again this year, with president Frank Pumillo and moderator Professor Pascal Cantatore organizing the event, the Dante Festival proved to be a most enioyoble evening. Although much of the attention of the group is directed to the success of the Festival, the activities of II Circolo are by no means few. A goodly number of social functions, bi-monthly meetings, and numerous projects center the atten- The Dante Society is as much study life as it is social life. tion Of a members Of the Italian Club. The large number of Manhattan men marching up Fifth Avenue pointed to one project well accomplished. Positive steps toward the establish- ment 'of a permanent scholarship fund was certainly another. It's funnier in Spanish than it is in English. El Centro Espanol embodies a group of men devoted to arousing and enkindling interest in Spain and Spanish nations and customs. On campus but a few years, the Spanish Club has established itself securely through the media of enter- tainment and service. During the past year the society has diverted its attention to more direct means of understanding the Spanish culture, placing secondary consideration on vicarious modes. Visits, much like field trips, were made to local Spanish areas where the members enjoyed European films, dined at Spanish restaurants, and enioyed the company of Spanish people. The field trips covered such areas of timely interest as the Hispanic Museum, the United Nations, and the Latin American Club. To supplement this actual appreciation of Spanish customs, El Centro Espanol sponsored monthly meetings where lectures on the literature of Spain concluded in open forums, and where films of high cultural value were enjoyed. The ever growing popularity of Latin American music in this country is responsible for the event which the Spanish Club takes special pride in presenting, The Spanish Music Festival. Once again this year the society published La Estreila, a newsletter in Spanish. The paper, featuring the most tul- ented men of the club, proved to be a stimulating bulletin for lovers of La Lingua Espanol.

Page 228 text:

Ned Reilly and Walt Marvin pose with their moderator. Members of the French Club enioying another meeting. Le Cercle Francoise is an organization of men who have as their obiective the furtherance of student interest in France, Ned Remy calls the meeting to attention. her culture, and her ways of life. By sponsoring a series of m stimulating events, the society has again whet student appe- tite for France and things French during the past year and has encountered success in realizing its aims. Under the able guidance of President Ned Reilly, the French Club centered its activity about frequent literary sessions at which members of the faculty joined the students in con- sidering various works of French authors and poets. At other sittings the attention of the society was directed toward the music of outstanding French composers and artists. Filmed presentations of France and her citizens formed still another outlet of information for the curious. In the line of special projects 0 club newsletter was circulated, giving vent to the creative talents of the members, and a field trip was organized. Coalition with the two major sources of information regarding France in this area enabled Le Cercle Francoise to add to Manhattan's treasury of French culture and gain its broad perspective. The Alliance Francoise, on intercollegiate organi- zation sponsored by the French Government, proved to be quite valuable by providing films and recordings of French life and traditions. The French Consulate also afforded the group pertinent information on Gallic culture and sources of interest for the field trip.