Ricker Classical Institute - Aquilo Yearbook (Houlton, ME)

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The Aquilo dation for further professional study in the fields of law, medicine, engin- eering, nursing, dentistry, and others. The pre-professional curricula are broad and inclusive enough so that, should a student for any reason decide to change his field of application and continue his education in another field, he can do so without encountering too great a difficulty. Two courses in Business Administration are offered-one for the student who plans to continue his studies later at a four-year college and take a degree and one for the student who does not plan to go on and take a degree but plans to end his education at Ricker. This course can be adjusted to fit the needs of the individual student. The refresher curriculum is adjustable and can be changed to meet the needs of a student also. It is set up primar- ily for those students, veterans, and others, who have been out of high school for some years and need to refresh their high school courses before going into college work. It is also suited to the needs of those who did not complete their high school work and now wish to finish as soon as possible. These courses carry no college credit, but may be used for college admis- sion and high school graduation credits. High school subjects may be chosen in order to complete the required number of units for graduation or for college admission. Yes, Ricker has grown year by year as a student proceeds from year to year in school. It has had its triumphs, failures, hardships, but like all good things is coming out right. It would not be right to say like all good things it comes out right in the end for Ricker's end is a long way off. Ricker today is a school from which students are proud to be graduates and one which they in turn would want their children to graduate from too. Leora Glazier '48 Friday - The Thirteenth I always have detested Friday-the-Thirteenth, I still detest Friday- the-Thirteenth, and I always will detest that unbearable day which comes once a year to haunt me and to leave its scars to haunt me for the follow- ing days. 'Why must such an obstacle Cas this abominable day isj have to appear in the course of any human life? Friday-the-Thirteenth is much like Thursday-the-Twelfth, or Satur- day-the-Fourteenth in many respects. For example, the sun comes up, a mild wind blows, and the weather seems to be perfect. In spite of all visible perfection, I have learned from experience that this perfection is but a tool in the hand of that sinister Being who spends its day haunting innocent human beings and who flits about throwing its curse on every unfortunate person it comes in contact with. We humans are easily tricked by the spirits floating about us. In spite of extensive education, we do not learn to think as we should, The spirits are very much aware of our stupidity. That Being who rules all activities on Friday-the-Thirteenth takes advantage of the weather. It knows that unsuspecting humans will eagerly make plans for the day as they look out their windows and see the sun sending forth its Warm rays. Why wouldn't one decide to go for a walk on such an agreeable day? C273

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The Aquilo ing a loss of S125,000. Records almost a century old were burned. It marked the end of a 56 year old landmark of not only Ricker but of Houl- ton. Many facilities were at Ricker's disposal for use as classrooms, among these were the Meduxnekeag Club, Elks Club, several churches, and Watson Hall. Facilities of the high school were also offered. No sooner had the remaining ashes of Wording Hall cooled than the trustees were having meetings and discussions over a new building. Plans were worked out, but the results were not made public. Meanwhile, the classes were go- ing along as well as possible in the improvised school rooms. Through the years of 1945-46-47 and still in the present year of 1948, a new modern, spacious classroom building was built, replacing the one so suddenly lost in 1944. Classes commenced in the new building in the autumn of '46, Also a new gym was planned and commenced as another new building for a part of Ricker's campus. The present campus covers an area of about eight acres upon which stand five buildings-a classroom building, administration building and library, president's home, and two dormitories. Besides this campus the college has acquired several buildings at the Houlton Air Base for the pur- pose of housing and feeding the college students. The classroom building, being new and modern, is completely fireproof. It contains a large study hall, complete and separate departments for home economics, physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering drawing. It can accommodate at least 450 students. The men's dormitory is on the campus. It contains several rooms and apartments for teachers, a kitchen, a dining hall where all on- campus students eat, and rooms for about 50 men. The building has a sprinkler system for protection against fire. Few college men can be housed there. The girl's dormitory, Haskell Hall, is a fine, residential home with well furnished rooms. A house mother is in residence at all times. The administration building is of brick construction. It contains a library, president's office, treasurer's office, a women's lounge, and apartment for the faculty proctor, and rooms for 12 college women. The newest addition to the campus is a gymnasium-auditorium which was completed early in 1948. It will serve as a social center for the whole student body. This build- ing was constructed by means of a grant of money from the Community Facilities Bureau and F W A. The building contains a large stage, a stan- dard baskebtall court, seats for 1,000 fans, and facilities for lockers, show- er rooms, team rooms, and athletic storage. Ricker is a member of the National Association of College and Second- ary Schools and of the New England Junior College Council. It is fullv ac- credited by the Department of Education of the State of Maine. Ricker Junior College confers the degree of Associate in Arts. Work satisfactor- ily completed by students is accepted for credit by other institutions of higher learning. During the past years students have transferred with advanced standing to Bates, Boston University, Bowdoin, Colby, Defiance, Mt. Allinson, Northeastern, Tufts, University of Ohio, Katherine Gibbs, Temple University, Rhode Island State, University of Miami, Massachu- setts School of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, University of Illinois, University of Texas, Gordon College, and others. For several years great emphasis has been placed upon a broad train- ing in education as well as vocational need for such training. In prepara- tion for this training Ricker Junior College offers courses such as, Pre- medical, Pre-Dental, Pre-Nursing, Pre-Legal, Engineering, Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Secretarial, and Refresher courses. The Liberal Arts Curriculum can be adapted to provide the necessary educational foun- : C262 c

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The Aquilo - We have scarcely started on our way when mischievous little winds seize our hats and send them flying through the air. But the spirits are not content to merely tease us. They are having too much fun to stop at this point. Even the clouds above smile tantalizingly down at us and the trees whisper to one another and wave their bare branches to and fro in ex- citement. As we continue on our way, the winds push us and we fall down on the ice and break an arm or an ankle. These incidents are just coinciden- ces? Certainly they are not, since it is Friday-the-Thirteenth, the answer is obvious. What can be done to remedy this appalling situation? Friday-the- Thirteenth should be forever banished from our calendars. Lena Sloat '49 A Moment of Beauty There are days which occur in this climate, at almost any season of the year, in which the world attains its perfection, when the air, the heav- enly bodies and the earth, make a true harmony. At these times, the feel- ing of harmony seems to color every mortal's attitude, and people every- where go about with tranquil thoughts and love in their hearts. The world is at peace with itself! These rare and unusual days may be looked for with greater assurance in that pure October weather which we distinguish by the name of Indian summer. Time seems endless and unmoving as soft, languid sunshine sleeps over the broad hills and warm, wide fields. To be able to live through these infinite, sunny hours seems ectasy enough. The solitary places, al- ways so restful, are not quite lonely. At the gates of the forest, the surprised man of the world is forced to leave his city estimates of great and small, wise and foolish. Here is majesty which shames our religions, and truth which discredits our knowl- edge. We come out of close and crowded quarters into the sanctuaries of Nature and see what majestic beauties would daily grace our eyes and thoughts if we could but comprehend them. How willingly we would over- come the barriers which render them impotent and remote, and let Nature entrance and comfort us! The shadowed light of the forest is like a perpet- ual dawn in which all things are clean and new and pure. The magical, oft- reported spells of these places creep silently upon us. The spirits of the mysterious, incommunicable trees begin to persuade us to quit our life of solemn trifles and come and live with them, a truer, more meaningful life. Here no history, or church, or state, will be found to spread the pestilence of human fraility and ignorance. So we may walk, arm in arm, for one brief moment with the deep and ageless truth of Nature-and truth is beauty. Gilbert Sewell '48 I 28 l-