Salisbury University - Evergreen Yearbook (Salisbury, MD)

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Just Before Christina Christmas everywhere is the best-loved holiday because of the rich tradition that surrounds it. Since 1925 S. T. C. lias been establishing a large number of customs. So it is that every year as the first of December rolls around, wherever there are freshmen gathered with upper classmen there are stories of other Christmases at the college. This year holiday eve was begun with a turkey dinner during which red candles shed their pleasant light on the white table and illuminated the faces of the diners. When the last bit of mince pie had been eaten, the group separated — the Glee Club members to render Christmas music for the Rotarv Club and other students to attend to nu¬ merous last-minute details such as gift-wrap¬ ping, suitcase packing or, perhaps, even les¬ son preparation. Since the changed date for going home meant elimination of some of the usual events, this night had to be a full one. By eight o’clock visitors from town had begun to fill up the chairs placed for them around the edges of the social room and the college men and women stood in the hall waiting to begin the candle-lighting ceremony. Follow¬ ing a prelude played by a distant trumpet and carols sung by the junior and sophomore trios, the Glee Club singing “O, Come All Ye Faithful” led the procession into the room past the large candle from which those stu¬ dents who lighted their small candles re¬ ceived the spirit of Christmas at S. T. C. Representatives of day and dorm student groups placed boxes of toys collected for or¬ phan children under the glowing Christmas tree trimmed the day before by the freshmen. Seated on the floor, the Glee Club led in singing many Christmas carols both old and new, and even the skies themselves seemed to have caught the spirit of the occasion, for outside the snow began to fall just as “White Christmas” was being sung. As is traditional, the St. Luke version of the Christmas story was read, and then everyone joined in the reading of “Twas the Night Before Christ¬ mas” and the eating of candy canes. One thing was changed — students of a war vear were more serious and ended with “Silent Night” rather than the usual more jubilant carols. Christmas is one time of year when it makes no difference whether one rightfully belongs to the Home, Men’s, or Day Students Association. There is enough to do for all to have a part. Cooperation is particularly valuable in collecting boxes of Christmas for the children cared for by the Welfare Board. 2 9

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The men, too, feel a need for banding together in order to promote their common interests. They have given tone to their conduct by increased self-government and helped school proj¬ ects to go forward by working in harmony with the two girls’ organizations. The Men’s Association is an asset as a promoter of cooperation. W hen Mr. Benn Maggs left us for the Navy, the men lost not only their coach but also their Dean of Men. It became neces¬ sary for the group to resort to temporary self- government until a new dean could be found. Mr. William Strauglm was the answer to this problem, and the members of the Asso¬ ciation feel especially fortunate in his fine leadership which went on with never a grouch or grumble and always a willingness to lend help and guidance. Following the election made necessary bv the departure of the officers chosen last spring, Ben Nelson took up his duties as president of the Association. Wayne Caw¬ ley, Dan Williams, and Elwood Day became the other officials. It was decided that a defi¬ nite plan for government of the men students was needed, so a committee consisting of one member from each class was appointed to draw up a set of by-laws. Ben Nelson from At desk — Williams, Nelson. Front row, seated — Barnes, W. Murphy, Seidel, Langrall, Duffy, Cawley, W. Potter, Garvin, Collins, Clark, Moore. Second row, seated — Groton, R. Potter, Senter, Stuart, Gibson, Porter, Colgain, Massey, Parks. Standing — Krabill, Cropper, Parsons, Smith, Cullen, Martin, Derby, Vollmer, II. Mikclait, Tyndall, MeNeal, Day, C. Libis, Russell, Winfree, Mittleman, Matthews, Chatham. the Senior Class; Harry Collins, Junior Class; Marshall Moore, Sophomore Class, and George Stevenson, Freshman Class, served in this capacity. One of the most interesting activities of the Men’s Association was the assembly pro¬ gram which it staged. Contrary to the play¬ lets depicting just an average fun-filled day given by the day girls and the dormitory stu¬ dents, the men decided to give a “Woman- less Wedding.” Those who saw the skit hold hilarious memories of the romantic court¬ ship and the beautiful chorus girls who ca¬ pered across the stage. The cast was espe¬ cially well picked with Myron Smith and “Pat” Garvin as Mom and Pop, Jack Matth¬ ews as flower girl, Bobby Martin as the bride’s little brother, and Orland Langrall as the preacher who handcuffed “Dopey” Libis to his bride, Robert Linkins.

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The third week after Christmas might well cause one to think that the organization of a Society for the Prevention of Overworked Students would be a worthwhile project. That is the week that we are on trial for our grades and the questioning we must endure is un¬ equalled by that in any court in the land. Hear It Not, Duncan” For King Duncan the ringing of a bell sig¬ naled the blow that was to cause his soul to seek its destined resting place. The contrast between Duncan’s possible destinations is no greater than that in the mind of a student between the delight that accompanies the word “pass” and the gloom that surrounds the word “fail.” The bells that ring during exam week summon anxious students away from last-minute note reading to the papers that are to decide their fate. First symptom of that dread malady known officially as “final examinations” and familiarly as “exams” was the chart labelled “Examination Schedule, First Semester, 1942-’43” which appeared on the right-hand bulletin board. The disease took a normal course with the majority of students flocking And Just After immediately to the hall to copy their sched¬ ule, and a few others waiting until the last minute but eventually becoming victims of the contagion. Treatment for this term-end fever included study, review, hard work, and in desperate cases, “cramming.” Echoes from the library, from the day students’ room, from the dorm, and even from the halls and stairways proved that the larger number of students could make some sort of enumeration of the facts they didn ' t know! “Who was Aristocrates?” “Did Ibsen write The Wild Goose or was it The Lame Duck? “ ‘But if you mouth it, as many of the players do’ hey, what comes next? Does anybody have a copy here?” “What would you do if a victim had a broken leg, three cuts on his skull, frostbite, sunburn, poison ivy, and had been bitten by a rattlesnake and a mad dog — that is, be¬ sides treating for shock and calling a phy¬ sician?” “Did you ever hear of main trunk activities? Sounds like phys. ed. to me, but she says its sociology.” “Sav, did you pass your music test? I have to go back and do 6 8 time all over again! The pianos around this school must get awfully tired of the way we make them work!” Yet, it is just such a nervous hub-bub that decides what shall go down opposite the space marked “Grade” on the class cards that the instructors turn in to the office. Once they are in, students heave a sigh of grief or relief and enter into the carefree first days of a new semester. Then everyone has a clean slate, another chance, and plenty of time for loafing with June exams eighteen weeks away. 3 °