Manhattan College - Manhattanite Yearbook (Riverdale, NY)

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Chg Passing Panorama Equipped with the knowledge of four years' higher education, certain ideals, principles and the wisdom of youth, we now venture forth to help shape the destiny of the human race. As yet, most of us are still uncertain as to the route to be taken, but our ends are clear. It is our pur- pose to prove ourselves in the eyes of the world. The task is tremendous and the future be- wildering as we peer through our untrained eyes at the great panorama that waits to en- gulf us. What of the life we are leaving? How much of those four years of academic security and so-' cial freedom will be forgotten? Let us now glance quickly over those faur years and recall our experiences, so that they may be written as reminders for us, in time to come, of our cherished college days. ?rcsltman year Delays in the completion of the new Hayden Science Building gave us, the new centenial freshman class of Manhattan College, a few days of extra vacation. The length of our freshman week was cut to a few days. In order to be certain that we obtained enough in- doctrination, the Vigilante Committee instituted a special course in concentrated freshman hazing for our benefit. We were lucky in the fact that, due to the short registration week period, the whole sopho- more class was at the college to help put us through our paces. During this period we were addressed by all of the campus leaders, and given the invitation to come and ioin. After learning all of the college songs, defeating the sophs in a tug-o-war and recuperating from writer's cramp, due to Dean Cossa's examinations, we became freshmen in good standing at Manhattan College. This was our first opportunity to observe the college to which we came. However, these observations were cut short by the endless freshmen activities, college activities and A.F.-R.O.T.C. drills. The Korean War still being fought, most of the freshmen ioined the re- serve at the college in the hope of being prepared, it called upon to serve their country, in what seemed an impending crisis.

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FRESHMAN JUNIOR SENIOR

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During the summer of 1952 the United States team won the Olympic games at Helsinki. The 100 meter dash was won in a photo finish by Jasper Lindy Remigino. On his return to Manhattan, he was greeted by the whole student body at a pep rally. As we, the fresh- men, looked in admiration upon our hero for a day, he was pre- sented with a testimonial scroll by the Student Council President, Bob O'Brien. As the year progressed, great events took place at the college. A new statue of St. John the Baptist De La Salle was presented to the college. Three faculty members passed away. At the time we were not familiar with Brother Benignus of Jesus, but as time moved on, we became well acquainted with this brilliant man through the use of his book, Nature, Knowledge and God.ll His untimely death was heavily felt by the college and all who knew him. Athletics prospered during this year. The indoor track team won their seventh IC4A crown by piling up a total of 36 points. Under the sparkling leadership of captain Andy McGowan, the basketball team went to a 19 to 4 record and received bids to the NIT and NCAA. We reached the semi-finals in the NIT. During the year we watched the Hayden Science Building progress to the finished stage. Upon completion, the new building was dedi- cated by Francis Cardinal Spellman in a ceremony in which digni- taries from far and wide were included. In the spring of 1953 the freshman class elected its class president, Jake Drozda. Under his guidance a social committee was formed to sponsor the Frosh Ball which was held at the New Yorker Hotel. In our first year at Manhattan, we saw many changes and improve- ments. As we advanced to a new year, we took with us a hope of fulfillment and a realization of the problems that lie ahead, one of which was being studied at that moment . . . the parking problem. Sapltmm Val! We returned to Manhattan College in the fall of 1953 to find that Brother August- tine Philip, previously vice-president of the College had been appointed to succeed Brother Bonaventure Thomas as president of the College. Awaiting us also was the first group of Foreign Exchange Students to enter the college. Doning our vigilante pins, we rallied to the aid of Chuck Yax, Vigilante chairman, and led seven hundred and thirty freshmen through the paces of freshman week. The sophomore class was dumped by the frosh in the annual gridiron contest in Van Cortlandt Parlc. The remarkable thing about this game was the fact that the tide of the contest was turned in favor of the frosh by the inspired playing of a soph- omore, Frank Lamiano, who was loaned to the frosh for the game. The battle of Jasper Hill, after being postponed for a week due to the World Series, was won in the third attempt by the frosh, and freshman week was ended. The Student Council reinstated tweny-two of the tweny-six groups which were fomerly suspended. After having been made the omcial voice of all Student Council announcements,ll the Quadrangle, with the consent of editor Giglio, an