St Francis College - Motus Yearbook (Biddeford, ME)

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college becomes fully accredited Dean Fink has a few remarks for the Janu- ary gathering. Dr. Hugh L. Hennedy, Professor of English, reminds everyone to strive fur academic excellence future. 16 in the . 0 God, our help in ages past . 1 Towards the end of March, 1966, we had three very important people visit our campus. These visitors formed an evalua- tion committee that represented the New England Association of Colleges and Sec- ondary Schools, and they were here to see if Saint Francis College met the re- quirements for accreditation. When the committee left, everyone was confident that the college had measured up, and measured up well, in the three day study. Then, the ohicial word came: ttThe trus- tees of Saint Francis College take great pleasure in announcing that the College has been accepted for membership in and accredited by the New England Associa- tion of Colleges and Secondary Schools at its annual meeting December 2, 1966. Following this announcement, an Ad- ministrative Memo was released inviting everyone to a general assembly ttto under- line our recent accreditation. No one expected the news that was to come at this assembly. President Laplante explains the reasons for the appointing of Saint Francis College's first lay president. Telling of his sincere interest in Saint Fran- cis is Dr. Edward Blewett, president of 'Wosthrcmk Junior College. Rev. Conrad L'Heurenx, the first Sin; dent to enroll at Saint Francis 11.! Scheul, reads the Prayer of 53' The Glee Club implores God for aid Francis In close tht- assmnhly. and guidam'v for the future of the college.

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library, and Friary. F ollowing these reno- vations, the Barbara House was razed and the last building of the original cam- pus passed into oblivion. In .1962, the college was again faced with a housing shortage. So, later in that academic year, Frederick Hall was built to accommodate eighty students. This dormitory was designed by and named for Father Frederick Belanger, O.F.M., one of the founders of the high school and the first president of the college. Within a year three more dormitories had been built, each housing seventy stu- dents. In keeping with the tradition of the founders, these residence halls hear the names of prominent towns in Fran- ciscan history: Assisi, Padua, and Siena. The college was still striving for its goal of full accreditation. Nineteen sixty-five was a year of reno- vation. The iisoph wing of Saint Francis Hall tthe third floor of the original high school huildingl was done over to pro- vide some desperately needed physics labs. The iifriaryi, section of this same building t the first HoorJ was converted to faculty oHices. The student center taf- fectionately called tithe hangU was given a modern facelifting as well as a new name e College Spa. Extensive land- scaping was carried out, new parking lots were installed, and paved walk-ways criss- crossed the campus. The gymnasium was enlarged to include a stage and a small storage space, and recognition was given to the Decary Brothers when Saint Francis Hall was renamed for them. Last but not least, the chairs in the cafeteria were all painted bright rainbow colors. The Planning and Development Com- mittee announced an expansion program that they had been working on for some time. This was not a flimsy, haphazard eplan; rather, it was a realistic develop- ment program, the result of prolonged study and assiduous deliberation on pos- sible future problems. The plan included a seventy-five thousand volume library, a student center, and a gymnasium. How- ever, these buildings will come only after additional dormitories are built. This photo, taken forty-six years ago, shows the Jnrdan-Tattersun House which was to become Stella Maris Ilullt Construction proueeds on the three new Vrry Rev. 1? lugence Boisvert, 0.F.M. dorms iPadua, Siena, Assisi? in 1963. ivaincial Superinrl, blesses Frederick Hull in 1963. Ht: i:- assistod by Father Frederick Hl and Father Clarence. Frederick Hall, the first nf lln: nvw dnruls, was t-mnplaivd in 1963. 15

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PIOSidentel , eat Dr. Richard J. Spath addresaes an as- :fig'llly that officially welcomed him to Saint Francis mg hm January visit. naiather Clarence Laplante, 0.F.M., aui- tio need that he was vacating his p051- prg'as College President in August. The 0e S'dfmt went on to explain that his suc- SS01' Wlll be Dr. Richard J. Spath who :5 Serving as Dean of the Graduate ool at John Carroll University in nOeVeland. Father Clarence also an- runced that, starting in the fall, Saint anClS College would accept qualified emale students on a commuting basis. histo, 1967 is an important year in the pan ??? 0f Samt Francis College. The ex- rai $10n drlve tin the form of a fund haSmg appeall is in high gear; we will awe a lay prescient; and we are fully Sin redlted. We have come a long way Ce that cold November in 1933, but Dr: Cfmnot rest because we still have to InlSes to -keep. If we are faithful reallour Promises, we will achieve the e .goal. of Saint Francis College: aca- mlc distinction. dr. richarcl i. spath appointed first lay president Rev. Luke Clmlmt, 0.1:.Ms, Prm-im-inl ml Saint Juxtlph'x Pmrinm- n! H . ls'mnvim-uns and Chairman of llll' Hoard of lrustm's, rt'minisn'l-H :zlmut llu- varly lli'l's 0f Saint Francis. 17