St Francis College - Franciscan Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

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JAMES BRITT DONOVAN, New York attorney internationally known for his role in the Powers-Ahel spy exchange, led the College’s Board of Regents for half of the year. Here he accepts award for meritorious service. Adding honor to award, Mr. Dono¬ van, in early fall, was appointed as Vice President of the Board of New York City Education. BROTHER COSMAS’ student teaching program tripled in enroll- . 1962 - J i,n Do le viewed above is in action at Nathan Hale High School. The program was initiated to fulfill state certifica¬ tion requirements for permanent New York City teaching licenses. DR. JOSEPH ELLIS on the rocks. During summer research in preparation for his foundation of a Latin American Studies Program, Dr. Ellis pauses with guide at the lava-covered ruins of Paricutin, Mexico. All that remains of this ancient volcanic tragedy is the protruding steeple of the town’s church. 18

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national figures widen social science horizons T he Social Science Division of 1962 will be particularly remem¬ bered at Saint Francis for its presentation of a battery of nationally prominent personalities. Among these were Senators Jacob Javits and Kenneth Keating as well as Congressman Hugh L. Carey. In addition to these federal leaders, Saint Francis College also felt the heat of the local campaigns when candidates Paul Screvane and Paul Fino debated prior to the Mayoralty election. Sargent Shriver, head of the Peace Corps, and James Donovan, liaison for the U-2 pilot “Powers-Abel” spy exchange, were also on the scene. Dedicated to the practical aspects of Social Science, this Division, with Dr. James J. Flynn as its newly appointed Chairman, initiated a program aimed at broadening the political, social and economic vistas of the Franciscan student. The outstanding mani¬ festation of this plan was the creation of a Bachelor of Arts degree in Latin American studies. With Dr. Joseph A. Ellis as Director, the program in Latin American Studies emphasized developing an intelligent under¬ standing of Latin America—its history, problems, cultural insti¬ tutions, and the hopes and aspi¬ rations of its people. The Pro¬ gram necessarily cuts across several College departments to achieve its goal of historical, economic, political, religious and literary insights. Through an in¬ ternship program, the summer of the Junior year will be spent abroad; thus the student will come into direct contact with the culture and people of Latin America. Applications are now being accepted for the coming academic year. The Latin America Studies Program sparked other expan¬ sions within the Social Science Division. In February, the Eco¬ nomics Department, with Brother Leon, O.S.F. as Chairman, was 17

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SOCIAL STUDIES continued incorporated within this Social Science Division. Later, the Social Science Di¬ vision became Affiliates in the Citizenship Clearing House of New York. This enabled history and political science students to participate in politics in a prac¬ tical manner. Under the sponsor¬ ship of the Citizenship Clearing House, participants visited the State Capital in February. In¬ cluded in the itinerary were a visit to the Attorney General’s Office and an interview with Govenor Rockefeller. Concluding the journey was an observation of a night session of the State Legis¬ lature. In an effort to recognize scho¬ lastic excellence, the History Department established a chap¬ ter of Phi Alpha Theta, a national history fraternity. Seven charter members of this honorary organi¬ zation were inducted. Further, the curriculum of this Division was enlarged and re¬ vised as the quantity and quality of majors increased. Four new courses in the field of history were added while revisions in the government curriculum took place. In the Education Department, the student teacher training pro¬ gram dispatched numerous stu¬ dents into the public schools of our Borough. The aim of this practical training program is for the student to gain experience and knowledge of contemporary classroom conditions. Finally, Saint Francis College reinforced its close union with the community through student participation in such diverse or¬ ganizations as the Family Insti¬ tute, the Downtown Area Re¬ newal Effort and the Brooklyn Historical Institute. 19