Queens College - Silhouette Yearbook (Queens, NY)

Page 139 text:

SPEED UP! Going full gear in its project to place its resources at the disposal of the United Nations, Queens College early in the Spring Semester announced a three-year plan to speed up education production. At the same time, disclosure was made of a new pre-engineering curriculum to facilitate the training of technical men needed so much in war industry. In the regular curriculum itself, War left its customarily vivid im- pression. Advanced Naval history, radio communication, Morse code, first aid, leadership and civilian defense took their places next to science survey and contemporary civilization. Extension courses, too, came in for their share of remodeling. Prac- tical navigation, radio, analysis of the chronicle of the war for arm- chair admirals and grandstand generals. . and fashion note Slacks were more modish too after Pearl Harbor, with 'ustilication .I and rationalization aplenty. Long-legged and skinny, or plumpy and dumpy, Queens co-eds argued-and reasonably, we suppose-that slacks were necessar ' for first aid classes. There is even the stor bruited Y Y about that Dean Kiel ' was seen Walkmf from eflferson Hall to Y 5 Whitman Hall in a pair of spotless black slacks. The editor of a local paper heard of this and demanded pictures, but the Dean demurely and firmly niX'd the idea. Slacks, she maintained-or so the story goes - were for first aid classes only and not for publicity. The editor is said to have been ver cha frined. Y S 135

Page 138 text:

The A Cappella choir on lhe U.S.S. Prairie State. Lislening 11051. Mobilization of the 'ihuman resourcesy' of Queens College began at a furious pace two days after the Jap back-stabbing. By the scores men and Women flocked to the recruiting stations set up in Thomas Jefferson Hall. And at the end of a Week nearly l,000 students had volunteered to help in one way or another. Motorcyclists to keep in touch with police-artists to draw morale posters- ham radio operators to intercept short-wave warnings-pub licity men to stir up sentiment-all these took their places with student air raid wardens and firemen. Seasoned radio listeners to intercept air raid alarms were assigned to radios in the registrar's oflice . . . but after that Tuesday, they only heard Bach, beauteous babes and lots of blarney. Specific evidence of QC work: Thirty Mitchell Field soldiers were invited to attend a sorority hop . . . on February 22, the A Cappella Choir sang for ensigns aboard the Navy training ship, the U.S.S. Pmirie State.

Page 140 text:

Laggards for defense. E. WAS HE DY Even U11 'Natinrial Defense llay It was pretty much of a joke back in September 1941, when the faculty donned fire hats and learned to knot ropes in the city-wide drive to enlist volunteer firemen and air raid wardens. But as far back as then Queens College was demonstrating that it was not lagging in its duties as a public-minded people's college. Queens College was not caught unawares by Pearl Harbor, Dr. Barry Commoner of the Committee for Civilian Defense declared at the De- cember 9 rally. Augmenting their work as wardens and firemen, 55 faculty mem- bers surrendered part of their Christmas vacation to take an intensive training course conducted by Army, Police and Fire Department offi- cials. Before Pearl Harbor, too, four faculty members were already busy as speakers with the Oflice of Civilian Defense. 136