Simmons College - Microcosm Yearbook (Boston, MA)

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Dean Eleanor Clifton Microcosm is tradition in its true form. Occasion- ally, in this rather traditionless modern age its con- tinued existence has caused expressions of wonder. Those who regard a yearbook'l as a rather senti- mental prop to memory may choose to think of it as a reference book of college experiences. With its help you will remember that the Class of 1961 arrived at Simmons College-311 carefully chosen members, on September 16, 1957, representing 205 secondary schools. You will recall that it included among its mem- bers, June Yamauchi, a freshman from Hawaii who lived in Longwood House, who, according to NEWS, was the envy of every girl at Simmons for she has or- chids growing in her own front yard. Then there was Jackie Denizard from Haiti, who found woolen clothes a novel experience for she had never seen snow! It is unlikely that even though the members of 1961 gave some thought to the subject they might have anticipated that before Jackie wit- nessed her first Boston blizzard, the world would enter a new era-The Space Age. Ahnost a month to the day after your arrival at Simmons, the first man-made satel- lite, known as Sputnik, encircled the earth. Over- night our planet seemed to shrink perceptibly and you found yourself in the center of a new national emphasis. Everyone began to talk and think about education. In spite of sensational articles and speeches about space. science and missiles, however, your activities in the classroom and on the campus followed rather close- ly the pattern of previous classes. There was change on the Residence Campus, though. Simmons Hall opened its doors to 179 students, a new Director of Students, and a new Resident Head. In November you elected your first Class President, Marjorie Frost, and in December you witnessed your first Olde English Dinner, as waitresses for the Class of 1958. The early months of the new year found you making your ap- pearance in the latest from Paris, 'Ale saque, and plan- ning your first social whirl as a Class, Cloud '61, the Freshman Prom. On April 23, 1959, you watched as Mr. Park broke ground for the new library, but it was difficult for you to realize that this was the culmination of a dream of fifty years' duration. May of that year saw you enjoying early morning strawberry shortcake at your first Sophomore-Senior May Breakfast. And when you returned to campus in September 1959, the First Annual Convocation of the College was held be- tween Evans and Arnold Halls. NEWS announced in February of 1960 that your own Maxine Lavine would be Stu-G President for 1960-61. March 11th of that year was the day on which you paid Homage to Camus. With typical facility, in April you turned your attention to things social and enjoyed your Junior Prom at the Longwood Towers. You know how swiftly the fall of 1960 followed, with your return to Simmons as Seniors. You could hardly believe it! All of the events you had an- ticipated since September 1957 began to happen, rapidly, and finally there it was-your own Senior Week in June, Commencement Rehearsal, the final hand- shake and your leather bound diploma. You will enjoy the reminders you have assembled here between the covers of your MIC It will mean all the human, usual things that make up dear old nostalgiaf, and it will mean other personal things that belong just to you. It records the thrill you experienced in discovering new ideas in the laboratory, in your reading, in intense discussions, and in all of your con- tacts. Most of all, then, the meaning of MIC is depicted in your own growth. New ways of thinking came with this discovering and growing which we hope will continue to serve you and, through your leader- ship, people everywhere.

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President William E. Park It is extraordinary in this life how attached one can become to people and places. Because your class -1961-is such a fine one, the faculty and staff of Simmons College have formed affectionate ties with you, so that we feel bad to think you are leaving us. But, in the same way, we are sure that you have become at- tached to Simmons College so that you feel sad to be leaving. However, along with this natural reluctance to face the changes that must come-a reluctance I feel each year as another class graduates-there are many rea- sons to be happy. During your years at Simmons you have achieved a solid foundation of general education and professional training which will give you a start in an interesting and productive career. You have made many friends among the faculty and student body, friends who will be a source of com- fort and stimulation to you always. You have learned a great deal about the art of living happily in a large community made up of people of varying backgrounds and interests. I feel sure that this experience, though perhaps difficult at times, will be of inestimable value to you throughout your lives. Most of all, you have the satisfaction of having started on a course of action which you carried through to a successful outcome. In other words, the joys that are rightly yours as a result of your years at Simmons far outweigh the natural sadness in making a change to a new way of life. Do not forget that we who remain at Simmons Col- lege shall follow the course of your lives with great interest. We hope that you will want to support and help your college in the years ahead. I regret that your class did not have the benefit of the new library build- ing which will open next fall, but I do want to remind you that it was the devotion and the hard work of the graduates of our College which made this greatly needed addition to our Campus possible. We shall be calling on you as graduates to help strengthen Simmons in other ways, so that your ties with us need never be broken. I salute the members of the Class of 1961, feeling sad that you are leaving, glad for our years together.

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J. GARTON NEEDHAM, Vice President and Dean of Instruction WYLIE SYPHER, Dean of the Graduate Division and Chairman of the Division of Language, Literature, and the Arts The Forces That Direct... Mr. Sypher and Mr. Needham are twoaactive forces behind Simmons' life. Their work is directed not only to the college as a whole, but to each girl who seeks their help, whether it be a paper on Keats, or a rec- ommendation for graduate school, or advice concern- ing a problem change. Mr. Sypher made us pursue rather than tolerate liberal arts, he made Shakespeare live. His integration of English, philosophy, and art uniiied our thought. Mr. Needhanfs friendly, easy manner was known to many of us who came to admire his excellence as psychology instructor, vice-president, and advisor, The enthusiasm and understanding of both men will be remembered by each of us. I l