Siena College - Saga Yearbook (Loudonville, NY)

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ch'em mark was almost realized when Siena opened in 1940. On June 9, l94l , seventy-six young men and women received their degrees in Gibbons Hall, in the name of the University of New York. The new gymnasium, the most modern in the State, with a capacity of over 2000, and estimated by some to have cost over $250,000, had been completed in time for the First Commencement and Graduation. The magnificent structure has been named in honor of His Excellency, Bishop Gibbons of Albany, who at times has been called the Founder of Siena . This Leader of the Church has followed the growth of the College with a paternal interestefrom its in- fancy in 1937 till today. Bloodshed and horror in Europe cast an ominous cloud of apprehension over the initiation of the fifth school year, September, 1941. Fears were justified when the disaster of Pearl Harbor hit the nation. Many Siena men enlisted or were called into imme- diate service. Nevertheless, eighty-two seniors re- ceived their academic degrees on May 20, I942, rep- resenting the first class to receive the honors from the President and Board of Trustees of Siena. This had been possible after the school received its Permanent Charter granted by the New York Board of Regents on March 20 of that year. Navy students under the V-l, V-S, and V-7 pro- grams and future Army radio technicians were among the 668 students that enrolled in the war-time ac- celerated studies of the sixth year, 1942. The Hay- wood property at the south end of the campus was purchased, a large frame house of twelve rooms, to provide billets for the Navy Pre-Flight men. lnci- dentally, Siena was to be commended as rating the first place among six colleges in the THIRD Naval District for the training of Naval Aviation Cadets. The memorandum from Commander Albert W. Rice, U.S.N., on June the third, placed the College over such schools as Union, Colgate, Syracuse, and Cornell. The war noticeably affected the ranks of the Grad- uating Class, which totaled no more than fifty in April 26, 1943. May the fifth, l943, was a great day for the School. On that day it was awarded membership in the Middle States Association of College; and, received the formal approval of the Catholic University of America. From this day onward, graduates of Siena College had an equal official standing with all member colleges for graduate work in major colleges and universities. The six-year term of Father Cyprian Mensing, O.F.M. expired on July 31, 1943. With the liwell- done of his superiors in his ear, he handed the reins of government over to Father Mark Kennedy, O.F.M., from Holy Name College, Washington, D. C. The war years of 1944 and 1945 reflected the irregular times in school activity and student com- ponent. Though civilian students were admitted, the military personnel formed a major element in Siena. No less than fourteen of the Fathers connected with Siena served God and country as Army and Navy i mas 52'1ng Fl, 1 t l, l X . . II! I 5': p chaplains. When the war ended, thirty-four Siena students had been killed in action. The shrine of the Blessed Virgin on the campus lawn commemorates these heroes. Surrender by the Japanese was the signal for an- other great period of advancement. The College was to play its greatest role now in absorbing the tre- mendous overflow of students. Only God could have foreseen, back in 1937, the dire need for a Catholic College at this time. The last three years are familiar ones. A Day Summer School was a must . No less than 2500 students registered for the Fall Semester of l947! In the early part of 1947, Siena College received in- stitutional membership in the American Council on Education, as well as constituent Membership in the National Catholic Educational Association; and, was made a member of the Association of American Colleges. Publicity efforts in the past have been proficiently managed by members of the Faculty with their Critics' Forum lCatholic Thought on Best Sellersl , Forum on Industrial Relations, Social Science Forum, and Siena Opera Forum. Needless to say, the National Anti- Communist Club has done much to bring the school into the limelight of public notice. The Siena Basketball Team has played a unique part in immortalizing the name of the school. The quintet has played magnificient basktball under the superb captaincies of men like Howard Tucker, '41, and George A. Weber, '48, under the skillful coach- ing of Dan Cunha. The latter, former Vincentian Institute mentor and with an excellent reputation at Notre Dame, took over the Varsity Basketball post left vacant by Henry Bunoski. Reflecting the admirable spirit of the school, the Alumni are very active, having formed a Club of their own. Many of these former Siena men have made good in their fields as engineers and scientists, as well as in business and arts. Need we mention that many delightful romances have budded in the halls of Siena College, and culmi- nated in truly Catholic weddings. Sien-o-rita eve- ning students are fit prey for Cupid's arrows. Today, there live at least three Sienese tots being fattened for Registration Day, 1965. A word of recognition must be tendered to Mister Joe Keehn. The thin man, complete with glasses and pipe, who keeps the modern comfort stations so spot- less, came with the building, and has been declared an institution of Siena College. Visitors are cautioned not to be disconcerted at the variegated kennel of dogs who feed off the fat of the land on Siena property. True to their founder's love for animals, the Fathers have given them a permanent haven on the premises. This is the story of Siena, the story of prodigious expansion in fame and size, the incredible story of prosperity and blessing, the result of a blind Faith in the great Teacher Himself. OId-timers agree that such vast achievement has been possible only through prayer and work. With Saint Bernardine of Siena College fast be- coming the cultural center of the New York State's Capital District, in the next ten years we can look for mighty accomplishments inspired and supported by the Indestructible Spirit of God.

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A Bishop and a priest gave up their fruitless search and returned to the Cathedral, spirits and clothes dampened by a pelting rain. They had failed, and miserably at that, to come across a suitable location for a Catholic college in central New York. The Bishop was the Most Reverend Edmund Francis Gibbons, D.D., of Albany, New York; the priest was Father Thomas Plassman, O.F.M., President of St. Bonaventure Col- lege at Allegany, New York; and, the time was ten years ago. The enterprising Bishop of Albany and Father Plassman had realized the need for an institution of higher Catholic learning in the Capital District. Both were well convinced of the apparent foolishness of attempting to start a college in an area that already boasted of old and well-known schools. But, worldly wisdom means little to men imbued with zeal for God's work. The necessity was granted, and demanded action. Come the Spring of the year l937, and, through the much appreciated efforts of Mr. James Glavin, and Mr. John M. Tracy, the Garrett estate in Loudon- ville became the property of the Friars Minor. The purchase was a diplomatic achievement in a neigh- borhood predominantly Methodist. Known today as the Friary, the little white Colonial homestead, with its thirty-eight acres, became the embryo College. Ten years after the Fathers moved in, the College today includes the imposing Georgian-Colonial red-bricked Main Building, the modern Gibbons Hall, two annex buildings, a library, a Faculty building, plus the former Haywood estate, the Navy House . More remote adjuncts that are the possession of the college are Camp Kiwassa, a house opposite the Loudonville post- office, and the former Canary Inn at the extreme north end of the campus. St. Ambrose Hall in Lathams is rented. This phenomenal growth within the short period of a decade has earned for Siena College the title of America's Fastest Growing College . To choose the patron and titular-protector of the infant College had not been difficult. Without hesi- tation, Father Plassman had suggested Saint Ber- nardine of Siena, eminent Franciscan scholar of 550 years ago, which servant of God Pius II had called a second Paul the Apostle. Today the College is pop- ularly known as Siena College. The explanation of Siena's rapid expansion is that of the ever ancient, ever new Providence of God. How else has it been possible for such an Institution to thrive without a single endowment, at a time when competition for student enrollment was very real! To build a new college was sheer business folly; but, the tools for Christ's sake paid little heed to human opinion. The bold venture met with astounding suc- cess. The modern group of buildings in existence today are the fruits of the labor, fears, and tests of Faith in God, endured by the Franciscan Fathers who pi- oneered the movement. Ninety-two students took their places in the tiny classrooms of the five-room house on the bright morn- ing of September 21, 1937. Seven priests and two brothers inaugurated the great work at St. Bernardine of Siena College. The Presidency was ably filled by Rev. Cyprian Mensing, O.F.M. The only member ol that small community here today is the popular Rev We Sm Benjamin A. Kuhn, O.F.M., a familiar figure in up- state New York. Beginnings were hard, if at times hilarious. The Loudonville police were soon to rush to the scene, on the complaints of the neighbors that the Franciscans were running around in their bathrobes. The Law de- sisted in its order to don more decent attire, when enlightened by the information that the heavy coarse brown garment was worn over the very conventional male accouterments. Those were the days when there were no benches in the Chapel, and an occasional rat hunt was launched to rid the premises of a dozen or so of the pests. Such chores as shopping for groceries were in the order of the day. Only an entire trust in God's protection and blessing sustained the Friars and students through that first trying year. The merit of the school was proven in that year. Siena College received official recognition from the Board of Regents of the University of New York, with a Provisional Charter conferred on June 17, 1938. Five months later, a solemn dedication announced the completion of the first wing of the new modern building. Credit for the design goes to Gander, Gander, and Gander of Albany, three men of unfailing cour- tesy and cooperation . The Friars gladly took over their new quarters on the fourth floor. The altar of the Chapel was of imported Italian marble with onyx trimmings, the gift of Rev. Thomas A. Quinlan, pastor of St. Mary's Church, Scituate, Massachusetts. Bright classrooms, well-ventilated laboratories, and a large cafeteria promised excellent accommodations for fu- ture student bodies. The College expanded its endeavors to the educa- tion of the fairer sex; and, a co-educational program was introduced. This was also the year radio listeners heard Fred Waring of the NBC network feature his own Song of Siena during the Chesterfield program of. De- cember 22, 1938. It proved to be great publicity for the twosyear-old school. The more martial Siena Fight Song, composed by Rev. Raymond A. Beane, O.F.M., was to replace the Waring number at a later date. Soon the Faculty was to discover that all was not too sympathetic on the educational front. Unexpected opposition arose when the school planned to present Father Hubbard, the glacier priest, at Chancellor Hall in Albany. The self-instituted New York League for the Separation of Church and State obtained an injunction restraining Dr. Frank P. Graves, State Com- missioner of Education, from permitting Siena College the use of the Hall. The case, however, was won; and, on February 15, 1939, Father Hubbard spoke to a capacity crowd. The small College was making its presence felt. Applications arrived in ever increasing numbers during the next two years. The rolls of the third year, September, l939, listed seven hundred entrants. Sev- enty of these young men enlisted in the CAA to work for their private pilot licenses under Father Cronan Mullen, O.F.M., and Doctor Nichols. The one thousand

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Joseph A. Smith s Business Manager John E. Boiiey Editor in Chief SAGA STAFF Herman Beltzer Poul Centi Robert Collins Donald Cosgro Sam Fogler Conrad Gander Kenneth Girard Maureen Healy Patricia Healy James Hopkins