Somerville High School - Radiator Yearbook (Somerville, MA)

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BOYS’ STATE —1964 Benjamin N. Levy ’65 Massachusetts Boys’ State of 196-4 was held from Friday, June 19, to Saturday, June 27. Its purpose, as stated in the Americanism Manual of The American Legion, was “to educate our youth in the duties, rights, and responsibilities of American citizenship.” To effect this end, the local American Legion posts sponsored Salvatore Trapani, Gerard Cavanaugh, Kent Solberg, and Benjamin Levy to attend this 18th session at the Am- herst campus of the University of Massachu- setts. We were struck upon our arrival in Am- herst by the massiveness of the campus, so big and so green. And in the week to come this huge size impressed us even more as we hiked all over it in the oppressive 100 heat. This did not deter us, however, from gaining much knowledge about the law and govern- ment in the Commonwealth. On the first evening, Senator and former Secretary of State Joseph Ward administered the pledge to the Boys’ Staters. On subse- quent evenings we heard then Department Commander of the A. L., Thomas Abely; State Commissioner cf Education, Owen B. Kiernan; Chairman of the Auburn School Committee, Robert LeBaire; the late State Auditor, Thomas Buckley; Tufts University Dean Richard A. Kelley; a West Point cadet; and then Registrar of Motor Vehicles, James Lawton. All the fellows were divided into cities or towns and counties. The quartet from S.H.S. found themselves in Eisenhower and Mac- Arthur Counties and the Cities of Aisne, Bel- leau, and Normandy. The first order of busi- ness was a division of the entire group into two political parties, the Federalists and the Nationalists. Then came the election of city officials, followed by the formation of the county and state governments. Emotion reached a i cak at the party nominating con- ventions, which were held coincidentally on the same day as the Massachusetts Demo- cratic Convention in Pittsfield, a short dis- tance away. Somerville did fine,with Sal’s be- coming a Governor’s Councillor, Gerry’s elec- tion as Mayor of Belleau, Kent’s nomination as city party chairman, and Ben’s becoming layout editor of the daily Boys’ State news- paper. High point of the week was the visit of the Governor of Girls’ State, which had been held the week before. Our governor pinned a corsage on her, as a gift from all the boys. She received a standing ovation and gave us a very informative talk on patriotism. This event occasioned much preparation, includ- ing the washing of several hundred Boys' State T-shirts!! The 1964 Boys’ State was an excellent opportunity for us to learn much about our state and local governments and about our privileges under the law and responsibilities as citizens. It is really too bad that more bays could not have attended. We would like to thank the Legion posts who sponsored us and express our hope that they will be able to send many more boys in the future. MASSACHUSETTS GIRLS’ STATE Dianne Clark ’65 Massachusetts Girls’ State is sponsored annually by The American Legion Auxiliary. A high school junior from each city or town is sent by the local Auxiliary Unit. It is held each year at the campus of Bridgewater Teachers’ College for one week in June. “Learn by Doing” is the motto and the girls certainly had a busy schedule of things to do. Governments were formed on the town or city, county, and state levels. Each girl was assigned a city, a county, and as a member of one of the parties. I was assigned to the City of Tolerance, County of Understanding and I was a member of the Federal Party. In the city elections held the second day I was de- feated for the office of Mayor, but appointed the Chief of Police by a very gracious op- ponent. After that election was over, we had t) elect party officials. Then we had to elect our state officials. Judy Broder of South- bridge was elected governor in a campaign that the Republicans and Democrats would have had to try hard to beat. When rallies and Thirteen

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NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP QUALIFYING TEST Somerville High is proud to call attention to the four seniors who have been honored for their high performance on the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test which was given last spring. Gerard Cavanaugh, Allan Howe, and An- drew D'Agostino each received a formal Letter of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, for their high scores. In addition to the three Letters of Com- mendation, Somerville High also had one student Benjamin Levy in the semi-finals. We are all proud of these four seniors who have brought credit to S.H.S. THE NATIONAL CONVENTION OF STUDENT COUNCILS The National Convention of Student Coun- cils is held as an effort to unite the individual Student Councils into a closer bond. We at Somerville High School are proud to think that Ricky Lepore, president of our own Stu- dent Council, was able to attend such an en- joyable and educational affair through his office as President of the Student Councils of Eastern Massachusetts. As luck would have it, Rick did not have to travel far, for this year’s convention was held in Bangor, Maine. The date of departure was Sunday, June 28. By mid-afternoon he had registered at the Municipal Auditorium in Bangor and was on his way to the home of Dr. Wadsworth, his host for five days. To end a hectic first day, Rick, along with his three roommates from Texas, Virginia and Staten Island attended a cook-out. By Monday morning the Convention had gotten into full swing. In the Memorial Gym at the University of Maine, five-hundred dele- gates gathered for the first General Session. These delegates, comprised chiefly of district officers from all fifty states, Mexico and England, were cordially greeted by Gov. John II. Reed’s introductory speech. After this hour and a half “ice-breaking” cere- mony, the delegates emerged as friends, not as strangers. At Tuesday’s General Session an impres- sive speech was delivered by Count Adle- mann, the head of N.A.T.O. The delegates were then divided into discussion groups which discussed ways of improving Student Council relations. This was followed by a pleasurable bus trip to Bar Harbor, Maine and that night, a cook-out and dance were held for the delegates. F. C. Stukenbroken, agent of the F.B.I., was the guest speaker at Wednesday’s Session. Again there were discussion groups but the topic was evaluating the role of the Student Council and ways to improve school and council spirit. As an added attraction, Bangor High School put on its “Talent Show” featuring a segment of “Alice in Wonder- land” which was the same act that had been highly praised at the World’s Fair. The president of the student councils of Maine opened the fourth and final General Session on Thursday. At this meeting it was announced that next year’s National Con- vention would be held in Kentucky and the following year’s in the state of Washington. At the conclusion of the meeting, everybody crossed and joined hands in a “friendship circle” signifying a union, strength, and wealth that money does not give. Twelve

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campaign speeches were over, we settled down to business. The Senate and the House of Representatives, to which I was elected, passed bills making college tuition tax de- ductible. Although the week was filled by elections and state business, we had many interesting speakers. Among them were judges, lawyers, teachers, nurses, senators, representatives, Peace Corps workers, aviators, officials of states, cities and towns, and many others. When not involved in a heated campaign or listening to lectures, our time was spent working on the paper, singing in the glee club, or swimming in the pool. Although there was always plenty to do, we had time to make new friends from every corner of the state. The best time to talk with girls was after the lights were sup- posed to be out and you were supposedly in bed. This time was also used for the studying that was to have been done hours before. Sneaking down to the recreation room to get Cokes and cookies at 12:30 without waking the counselors was one feat that everyone tried but without much success. Friday morning we were presented with diplomas and the girls who would represent Massachusetts at Girls’ Nation were chosen. Awards were presented, then it was time to say good by. The only bad features are that more girls can’t attend and that the week was over too soon after it began. OPINIONS ON THE NEW YORK WORLD’S FAIR Nancy Wiswall ’65 In the newspapers and magazines this past year, there has been a lot of material about the 1964-1965 World's Fair in Flushing, New York. Many of the articles have criti- cized the Fair, as have many people whom I have discussed it with. I spent four days this past July at the Fair, and I found very little to criticize and very much to praise. First I admired the tremendous job that Robert Moses, creator of the Fair, and his associates did. After Mr. Moses had been elected to serve as head of the project, he learned that the Fair Planning Committee had decided to erect only one huge circular building in which the various entrants would rent a section. How very glad I am that Mr. Moses persuaded them to do otherwise! The Fair was laid out as a well-planned city. Seen from the sky, it presented an exotic pattern of circular greens, fountains, and streets, several of the streets leading to the center of attraction, the Unisphere. Critics have disparaged the architecture of the Fair, saying it is just a mumble-jumble of buildings representing no specific culture. It wasn’t supposed to. Each pavilion repre- sents something distinct. Architectural unity was not intended. Why should it be! The buildings, many of them ultra-modern, have a grandeur and beauty of their own. The Fourteen