Manhattan College - Manhattanite Yearbook (Riverdale, NY)

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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.

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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.

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Members of the Blood Bank discuss the possibility of getting 400 pints this time. blood bank Very few campus organizations can capture the attention and interest of the entire student body. Many groups strive toward this end, aware that it is the purpose ofr student organizations to benefit the college by betterment of its students. On two special days, one in the chiily days in the fall, and the other in the bright season of early spring, the attention of the entire college is focused on such a group. One might expect the entertainment to be spectacular, the benefits many, or the compensation plentiful for an organiza- tion to so commandeer the spotlight. Conversely, the enter- tainment is slightly painful, the benefits intangible, and the compensation, not of this world, for the Manhattan College Blood Bank lays down as its first principle the Christian virtue of Charity. It was this same principle which inspired Manhattan men of 1949 to form a medium whereby the College might aid in satisfying the great need for plasma. Today, seven years later, the blood donated stands at some five thousand pints. The Blood Bank is literally a bank, oftering the most sound security to investors. Its function is to receive the plasma from all persons connected with the College and in turn cater to their needs. Any member or his relatives are entitled to use the services of the bank at no expense. The organiza- tion will furnish as many pints of blood as are necessary to insure the safety of the beneficiary. JV You are right, there is blood in your veins. It tickles. i