Morgan State University - Promethean Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

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HISTORY OF THE The Freshman Class which entered Morgan in September, 1940, had the distinction of being the .6.nt to cnlier the colkgoe after it bad become; a state school. Some began to cherish their new Alma Mater almost immediately; it took time for the beans of a few others to warm to that which is Morgan. During the orientation, we were given the entrance examination and various lectures. At the faculty reception freshmen were formally introduo:d to the administrative officers and the instructors. A few evenings then came the traditional Promcthian Procession in which the freshmen students paraded with, lighted candles. Many hearts pounded for fear the cherished Bame would be extinguished. Having been hazed in a manner we, the freshmen, considered unfair, we decided not to submit to such treatment. The Class of '44 asserted itself, had lh,: hazing stopped, and thus started what was appropriately called a new day, new era, and new regime . Finally, freshman classes began. The oew students went amid the stares and comments of wise and sophisticated upper-classmen. It was a new and exciting feeling to be actually attending college classes. As time passed, the Class of '44 became accus- tomed to the new environment and were eager for its niche on the tablet of our Alma Mater. The class officers were elected as follows: Robert Drake, president; Luther T homas, vi prcsidcot; David T rader, secretary; and Ernestine Welch; treasurer. As our sponsor we elected Mn. Jessie M. Wright. Gradually we began to assume an ever increasing role in the activities of the school, we sent Ernestine Welch and Cordelia Gilmore as representatives to the Student Council. Also, many of the freshmen had already become stars on the gridiron; ..Kenny Thomas, Otcar Giv.cos, Joe Egglerton held important places as tackle and ends respectively and Unk Campbell as the team's great halfback. In early Deocmber, the Frt hman-Sophomoc football game took place. HowlVcr, there occurred what to us was a major catastrophe. We went down to defeat by a scoic of 6-o. The Sophomore Clus organized the Pint Freshman-Sophomore conference, and the Class of '44 was the first freshman class to participle in it. Issues pertaining to the sludcnca and to the college were discussed, and various student speakers were heard. At the end, the conference had proved itself well worthwhile. Rdatioos between the two classes were gi a tly improved, but this was only one of the results. T he exchange of ideas gave us a new outlook and a desire for improvement. The conference was followed in the evening by a dance where was celebrated the end of a unique and successful day. In February, we celebrated Frcs'hman Day and gave a program in the chapel. We described what it w u like to be a freshman and gave our view-points on several sub- jects. The Class of '44 was unusual in that it contained an unlimited amount of talent. It was never in want of ideas or ways of executing them. At one of the class meetings it was decided to prepare a magazine which w u called The Freshman Herald . Many of us contributed to it and worked late to finish it on schedule. T he copies were draw lated gratis and were worthy of our efforts. Spring with all her magnifiocncc came. Naturally our spirts were high. other classes had done, we decided to have a class dance. Instead of having the usual formal dance, we wanted something original. It was decided to have a yacht parly and dance. This was an immense success-,grcater than we had anticipated. This brought to an cod our first year of college life. They had been glorious days-among the best we were to have during our whole college career. We, who had once been inexperienced and unoricotated, had completed a most successful first year and were eagerly looking forward to a KTDU1 On returning to school, we were ready to embark upon a second successful year, and as the first step elected our class officers. They were George Parrish, president; Joseph Gibbs, vice-president; Ernestine Welch, secretary; and Viola O'Neal, treasurer. We began inltantly to make plans tor tnc year. When it came time to practice for the annual Freshman-Sophomore football game, tiie lordly sophomores contended that the)- didn’t need practice; therefore they took very little. Some of the boys had become football ltars and were ineligible to play »i tlic game. The freshmen, eager and anxious to win, practiced every day. Consequently, we, the sophomores were held to a leOrcle tic. The Frahman-Sophomore conference was beroming an annual affair, and this year we took charge of iL It was held in the new Cbrillian Center, and w u the culmination of many weeks of planning. After a general 30