Springfield College - Massasoit Yearbook (Springfield, MA)

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THE MASSASOIT 1922 Senior Class History When the spacious gates of Old Springfield were flung open in the autumn of 1918 the College was at war. Scarcely an upper-classman remained, many members of the faculty had already offered their services to their country, and the entering class now thronging the campus was impatiently eager to be in-- ducted into the S. A. T. C., which was about to be organized. When our first roll call was taken we were found to be eighty-four strong. In that number were men representing fourteen states of the Union, coming from the North, the South, the East, and the West, as well as from one foreign country. Thus out of our varied environments we were about to be welded into the Class of '22. We had not sojourned long in our long-looked-for land of promise nor long enjoyed, even with fear and trembling, the fellowship of those who had preceded us one year, before we received announcement of the time when the Springfield Spirit would be informally introduced to us. The memories of that eventful September evening will never be forgotten, for the impressions then made upon the mind were even greater than those made upon the body. Such remaining essentials as were necessary to make us true sons of Old Springfield the formal reception supplied on the following evening, when, with all solemnity we swore allegiance to King Massasoit and were formally introduced to and greeted by the faculty. lt was not long before practically all of us were members of the S. A. T. C., being then primarily soldiers and secondarily students. Our life was very much a routine of drill, classes, mess, and more drill,although much might be said of our numerous battles in the barracks after 10 P.M., in which such weapons as shoes, tin cans, icicles, and pills were employed as our instruments of warfare and destruction. Our S. A. T. C. experience terminated in December and we were dispersed to our homes, returning at the opening of the winter term to take, for the first time, our places as students in Springfield, and likewise, for the first time, to create and develop a class consciousness, which, spontaneous as it was, and perhaps crude in its manifestations, served as a nucleus for the splendid develop- ment, as evidenced in the records made for ourselves during that first year of our college career. In the realm of sports we contributed very materially and qualitatively to the varsity teams, as well as being the victors in the inter-class competition in swimming, track, and baseball. A resume of our First year of college life is hardly complete without men- tioning that night of nights when the Class of '22 held its first banquet at the Burns Hotel in Palmer, unmolested and undisturbed. As sophisticated Sophomores we felt it our first duty to instruct the in- coming class in the nature of the spirit and traditions of Springfield. ln this we were exceedingly diligent, even to the extent of expending tremendous energies, but not without results, we believe. This year our greatest achievements were along lines other than those of athletic competition, although we were repre- sented on varsity teams by a goodly number of our valiant athletes, as well as being inter-class champions in wrestling. The really great and distinctive honor gained by the Class of '22, however, was the Winning of the most significant 2 3

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THE MASSASOIT 1922 A A- A'3'4 - 1 . 4, , ,M -. A- f U' 'zxt SENIOR CLASS '22 - 1 SENIOR CLASS OFFICERS 22

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THE MASSASOIT 1922 inter-class contest of the year-the Totem Rush. For fully an hour the fight- ing instinct had full sway and human blood flowed freely, but when a halt was called our swarthy heroes were found to be in possession of the valued treasure. After such a victory we were not slow to announce that the Class of '22 had added its link to that chain within the Totem casket, which binds together those classes which have been likewise distinguished for their valor. One other incident worthy of recording is the frustration of the elaborate plans of 1923 to make our banquet a failure. It is with pride that we recall the strategic maneuvers on our part, which culminated in the assembling of each member at his appointed place around the banquet in The Bridgway on that memorable evening. In the fall of 1920 when we reassembled for the beginning of what we felt to he the home stretch in our course of higher learning, we found our ranks to be scarcely unbroken, with the exception of that group of country lovers, who, by reason of the nature of their course of study, are required to make of Aggie their foster Alma Mater for their Junior year. In spite of our splendid contribution to varsity athletics we were able to capture the all-round Fall Sports Championship and become class champions in boxing and basketball, not to mention being 1'Lll'll'lC1'S-Llp in both football and soccer, losing the former to the Freshmen by a narrow margin and the latter to the Seniors in two extra periods. The custom in vogue here before the war of having a Junior Trip was revived by us and proved to be a very jovial event, as well as being of decided educational value. Perhaps the most convivial event of the trip was the 1922 Banquet held at the Turk's Head Club in Providence. In spite of the magnitude and grandeur of all our admirable achievements thus far recorded, we may say that the crowning success of our Junior year was the Junior Prom. Although this was an event for upper-classmen alone, we had the support and co-operation of the entire student body and faculty in making it a success. It was a time when one had born anew in his heart the love and admiration for his Alma Mater. The fellowship of those days was superb. All rivalry, all class consciousness, all malcontent, was entirely hushed until one felt all had been amalgamated into one great whole, which fairly effer- vesced with that joy of fellowship which we call the Springfield Spirit. Thus we have trod the path of learning until now we End ourselves Seniors. For many of us that means the close of our educational careers, so far as definite connections with an educational institution is concerned. Gthers of us, how- ever, are planning to pursue our studies elsewhere after graduation. So far this year we have earnestly tried to maintain and perpetuate the ideals of Old Springfield. We are conscious of our position as Seniors and desire above all else to conduct ourselves as true Springfield men. To this end we direct our course. As we think of leaving this beloved spot we have mingled emotions of sad- ness and joy. We have taken from Springfield the best that she has to offer, we stand ready now to give in return of our best. And so when the ninth of June shall have come and we shall have been graduated, may we ever retain in our hearts this spirit of the Senior Song:- And' dear old Alma Mater, we'll hold thy standards high Until the sun of life goes down and we must say good-bye. 24