St Ignatius High School - Ignatian Yearbook (Cleveland, OH)

Page 10 text:

Fr. Tom Leonhard! Mr. Gary Wright Acceptance ot longer hair. such as Larry TomsicK's. Fr. Ed Flint Mr. Bob Buchta outside of school was the major argument for an alternative to the hair code. Four Teachers Fired, Reinstated; Answer Reached On December 8. 1972, a faculty meeting was called to clarify the policy and to confirm it as final. After much discussion the policy remained standing that those faculty members who would not enforce the code would be fired, and students who were in violation would be placed in indefinite detention and eventually suspended. During the following weekend Frs. Leonhardt and Flint and Messrs. Buchta and Wright turned in separate letters stating that they would not comply with such a policy. Upon inquiring. they were told by Fr. Siegfried not to appear in their classrooms on Monday. The next week brought with it a great deal of confusion. One hundred and ninctyonc students were without counselors and seventeen class periods without teachers. The classes were proctored by teachers with free periods or even administrators, but most made no progress academically during this time. The gap left by the four missing teachers was loo wide to be filled quickly, and there was some fear that the firings would make it impossible to get more Jesuit teachers in the future. The following weekend was filled with conferences held at the request ofFr. Miday. Monday the eighteenth was a brighter day for all when a compromise was announced. I he solution was a form to be signed by students' parents which would release them from complying with the hair code. Technically, the rule still stood for those who did not turn in a signed form, but practically the years-old issue of hair was fast fading into oblivion. 6 KMilK I tt

Page 9 text:

r During the great hair purge. Mr. Pennock's office was flooded with students curious as to whether they would serve indefinite detentions. Fr. Paul Siegfried and Fr. John Miday determined a policy which can he termed a get-tough move. The alternatives offered were either that the students and teachers must fully support the policies of the school or they would be asked to leave Ignatius. This policy was announced to the faculty on the sixth of December and to the student body the following day. School administrators thought that this would end the controversy. I he announcement of the new policy brought the already tense situation to a head. Students were angered to the point where they engaged in verbal battles with faculty members and administrators. Much hair remained uncut, and many students, especially seniors, spoke of further dissenting action. But except for passive resistance by some, nothing ever came from all the talking. Holding a bagful of his own sheared locks. Ken Kmeick displays definite proof of a previously doubtful haircut. Just under fifty percent of the student body, including John Tonkewicz. were originally in violation of the hair rule OS it Stood in early December KI-BIR I II 5

Page 11 text:

Big Brothers Crutch Frosh In Need Desire to team about the school community in which he lives is reflected m the face of Pete Corrigan as he intently receives the Baffled, befuddled and bemud-dled faces deluged info the Sullivan Gym. where they were greeted by enlightened and experienced seniors. It was freshmen orientation-registration day, a da) normally set aside for aspirins and Alka-Selzcrs. However, the Big Brothers, under the organization of Joe l oner, turned the operation into, as moderator Fr. Joseph Scltarf S.J. remarked, the smoothest running orientation day we’ve ever had.” Starting the day off with a mass, these seniors helped the frosh surv ive the ordeals of paying tuition buying books, and finding lockers. After this, each freshman homeroom was equipped with I wo Big Brother Chairmen. These seniors along with informing the class of the idiosyncrasies of Ignatius life, assisted in Student Council elections, freshman retreats, selling spirit buttons, and transporting the class to the Saint Hdwards football game. It was originally hoped that each freshman would have his own Big Brother, like last year. However, the shortening of homeroom period from 30 to 10 minutes unfortunately made this plan unfeasable. Apparently Big Brother Terry Bugos doesn't think his comment was that funny, but Frank Greenland quickly observes the reaction of a fellow classmate