Michigan State University - Red Cedar Log Yearbook (East Lansing, MI)

Page 17 text:

ASUAL WAS THE WATCH- WORD OF YOUR SUMMER AT STATE. Class- rooms went out-of-doors. It was just what the Land- scape Architecture department had been waiting for, and just what the surveying students had tseen praying for. The broad sweeping lawn in front of Wells Hall was Coney Island come to Michigan. Sun decks of women ' s dorms and sorority houses were given a work-out in sun tan oil and smoked glasses, as every- one pooh-poohed the harmful effects of ultra-violet rays and nursed their burns. Students gathered in the grill for their morning cup of bracer and planned big exoduses to the quarry. Joe and Joan College looked dejectedly at last year ' s worn swimming suit and went searching for a new one downtown. Tennis courts near Dem Hall were busy from morning through the long twilights. Jennison ' s swim- ming pool resounded with wild shouts of laughter and games of water polo. It was often dangerously full. You gave your room maximum ventilation on the warmer nights. Buddies from down the hall came around too often to pass the time in nocturnal ses- sions which covered everything from Aristotle ' s uni- versals to the Tiger ' s pennant potentialities. You probably did a lot of just plain walking about campus to keep from falling asleep. Organizations did only enough to keep body and charter together. The State News was published every other day, while the gentlemen of the fourth estate took a much-deserved breather from rigorous dead- lines. The Spartan funny men were completely out of laughs for a few months. Student Council kept a skeleton staff to take care of whatever might arise in student government. It was a summer of Sabbaths. Of course, you probably noticed that competition was a little tougher for grades than usual. Despite a certain weariness that fell upon you occasionally, your classmates were likely to be a little older and more serious about their goals. The utility of the summer quarter was still the vital factor, no matter how many swimming parties and tennis games were arranged. Summer went to bed in late August with a yawn. ' 49, a year of accomplishment and good fun,

Page 19 text:

AIN CAME, THE SNOW FELL, THE LEAVES WITHERED IN 1949, but the traditions of Michigan State stayed on. You could assign the tug-of-war and the pep rally to a given season, but together they made a full school year of work and play. When the senior women marched en masse to the Auditorium for the annual lantern parade and pre- sentation to underclassmen, it didn ' t matter what the time of year. To the senior coed who passed the lan- tern and the girl who received it, the ceremony sym- bolized all seasons, all four years of an idyllic college career. Sports enthusiasm knew no limitations of weather. Michigan State had its share of brainchildren in the realm of athletics. Such a one was Canoe Baseball, encouraged doubtless by the convenient Red Cedar. The sport has spread to other campuses, but its Coop- erstown, its Hall of Fame remained in East Lansing. Greased pig races, and flag-pole contests were more fun than the campus had seen in many years. They demanded a certain amount of athletic prowess and most of all, unbridled enthusiasm. More sentimental was the serenade. An entire code of etiquette had grown up about this tradition. Planned weeks in advance, the singing had the ap- pearance of a casual and pleasant surprise. The coed appeared at her window, or if the hour permitted, stood at the door with Bob. Before the love song was four measures old, the dorm or sorority observed blackout regulations and became as silent as a hos- pital zone. The serenaders were careful not to inter- rupt another group. Tradition required they leave quietly in order when the job was done. During the year, the girls reciprocated and serenaded male living groups with Christmas carols. If you were walking about campus at the time, it was a wonderful and nostalgic sound. Fall, spring, summer, winter, Michigan State was a great place to get your book-larnin ' .