Salisbury University - Evergreen Yearbook (Salisbury, MD)

Page 10 text:

By the end of the second week of school all freshmen were sure of one thing 99.44% of all sophomore activities were to exhibit superior qualities to little brothers and sisters. The first week they used the technique of welcome and guidance, but after that-! a Proud of Being Freshmen” A glimpse into the heart of a freshman during that first strange week would show a picture of college life not altogether pleas¬ ant and happy. Long corridors, darkened now with blackout shields, and new, diffi¬ cult courses in elusive classrooms do not in¬ spire cheerfulness when one is feeling alone and maybe a trifle homesick. To add to the confusion, there is the art of “signing the book,” which must be mastered, as well as the meaning of the various bell signals and the direction of the library, gymnasium and dining hall. Then when our freshman is just beginning to make order out of the chaotic state of his emotions and to experience a little of the joys of college, comes the order from the Sophomore War Council for Rat Week to begin. “How can anyone be so cruel? Why, if our own good American college can do such things, what can’t the Nazi youth do?” (That is the reaction of a mature junior to the Rat Rules posted by the sophomores. Juniors were sophomores once, but that was a whole year ago.) “Guess that will fix ’em. Here’s where we have our fun!” (The sophomores survey their handiwork.) “Uh-h-h”. (Nervous freshmen read the upper class communique and wonder if there is any way to avoid the miserable state of “rodenthood.” Oddly dressed freshmen marching through assembly, speeches on such subjects as “Nothing” or “How Far is Far,” the inev¬ itable Chinese prayer, counting of the posts around the driveway, paddles, sandburrs, blindfolds, and tea parties are onlv a begin¬ ning of the list of tortures originated by fer¬ tile sophomore brains to make poor little freshmen dream of fiendish monsters. Even sophomores, however, cannot be cruel for¬ ever, and Rat Week had a happy ending in the informal dance given to welcome the now full-fledged freshmen. With the sophomore gestapo no longer a threat, the freshmen were ready for some class organization. Orland Langrall became president; Ernest Cullen, vice-president; Ann Adkins, secretary; and Orville Parks, treasurer. Hubert Duffy and Myron Smith were elected to represent the class on the Student Council, and when Hubert with¬ drew from school, Sheldon Seidel was chosen to fill the vacancy. The class quite appropriatelv chose Mr. William Straughn, Jr., our freshman faculty member, as its advisor. When it came time for joining various student organizations, the freshmen were among those present. The Sophanes Players, College Orchestra, Christian Association, Glee Club, and Publication’s Staff were glad to accept freshman talent, and the Men’s Chorus found that a large part of its person¬ nel was freshmen. The soccer and basketball teams were reinforced by this freshman host, and certain members of the class showed studious inclinations which foretold of a place on the Honor Roll. For the freshmen, school was not all work. On February 12 they decked the gym with red and white streamers and scarlet hearts, and danced to sweet music while white paper Cupids pointed their arrows at the gay couples. During the year several freshmen men were called to the armed forces. We miss them, but we know they went to do a neces- 6

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Then after only three weeks’ vacation we returned to begin a new year. Wise but wily sophomores and all-knowing juniors mingled with timid and frightened freshmen, guiding them to dormitory rooms or cafeteria tables. Only the great and mighty seniors — to be found in the teaching world — were needed to complete the picture. September 8 was registration day but not just for “rats.” No self-respecting “rat” ever made that much noise on the first day! Those were upper classmen who trooped gaily through the waiting doors, clapping each other on the back, laughing at the recall of last year’s jokes, tossing suitcases and tennis racquets around the halls, wringing each other’s hands and making the dear old build¬ ing ring with their shouts of greeting. On the surface school looked about the same as usual — Miss Ruth standing in the hall to greet the noisy crowd; Dr. Blackwell ready with his cordial handshake; Miss Gard¬ ner eager to begin the task of registering; and here and there an office opened by some fac¬ ulty member wishing to get off to an early start. However, in spite of this familiar atmos¬ phere of enthusiasm there was an undercur¬ rent of change created by rumors that some of our faculty members would soon leave for the Army. Students learned that Mr. Paul The Open Boon Hyde of the Campus Elementary School and Coach Benn Maggs would be leaving in a very few weeks. They saw a different Mr. Straughn ascending the stairs to the chem¬ istry “lab,” for Mr. William Straughn, Jr. had taken the place of his brother, Dr. Lloyd Straughn who this year accepted a position at Western Maryland College. Among the students themselves all was not as usual. The sophomores who enrolled in September were already found in the groove of their academic pursuits, and the juniors, unlike their predecessors, had some idea of the “meaning of teaching.” These students had been to summer school! Could it be that the editors have forgotten the grand and mighty seniors? Were not they a part of this opening day scene? Not this year, for they had already gone in the wide world each into his own classroom to teach his own small charges. Here at the college was a junior class dignified a year earlv by the prestige of being the upper classmen. 5

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First row, seated — Reaves, R. Cropper, Hutson, Vincen t, C. Pusey, Hutton, Richards, Allen, Mr. Straughn, Wilson, Zeigler, Whaley, Troy, Eliz. Wilson, W. Potter. Second row seated — E. Brown, Hyde, Kemp, A. Cropper, Mills, Wheatley, Rayne, Adkins, Hearne, Widdowson, Serman, Taylor, M. Mikelait, Matthews. Standing — Krabill, W. Cropper, W. Murphy, Benson, Parsons, Linkins, Seidel, Tyndall, Cottingham, S. Smith, Porter, Barnes, O. Parks, Duffy, Langrall, Cullen, Powell, M. Smith, C. Libis, Horsman, McNutt, Dashiell, II. Mikelait, Roe, Derby, Martin, Stuart, Massey, Laws, Stevenson. sary job. The youngest group in school made its contribution, and its members were listed with men of greater age and experience, among them some of our faculty members. And what shall we remember about them? What characteristics make them unforget- ably a part of our year? Is it Janice’s giggles, Ruth Cropper’s noise after ten o’clock, Anne Hutton’s quiet gentleness, Phyllis Vincent’s aloof charm, Charlie Law’s bashfulness, Cul¬ len’s slowness, “Cider’s” four-word vocabu¬ lary (stupid, revolting, disgusting, repul¬ sive) , the contrast between Libis and Link- ins, Krabill’s rhythmic compulsions, Potter’s mischievous noise, Troy’s athletic ability, Ann Adkins’ solos, “Milly’s” posters, Jack Matthew’s lovable personality, Orland Lan- grall’s poise and leadership, Tyndall’s instruc¬ tive jitterbugging, “Smitty’s” ability to carry on the family traditions, “Steeve’s” aloofness, Joanne Whaley’s nonchalance, Orville’s de¬ votion to Eleanor Jeanne, Eloise’s studious¬ ness, I Iarriet Wheatley’s intellectual argu¬ ments, and David Reaves’ camera and inevit¬ able greeting (Hi, beautiful) ? All was forgiven, however, by the end of September when freshmen students met with parents and faculty in their annual banquet. The class president proved his worthiness by his address, and the Glee Club gave its first public performance. 7