University of Miami - Ibis Yearbook (Coral Gables, FL)

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 College Life in the Tropics ... is like college life wherever you go - but O, the moon, the sailboats on the bay, the beach, those horses. by HETTY HAYES From Maine to California, from Washington to Florida we find an endless chain of colleges and universities all sizes, shapes, and varieties. Hut on the southernmost point of the United States, on a promontory pointing like a finger to the continent of South America we find the most unique of them all. a typical tropical university. Live with us for a day, wander through the halls and surrounding countryside, listen, and capture the spirit of the tropics. Ours is not a school of imposing buildings and stretches of beautiful campus, but it possesses an atmosphere all its own. Perhaps this is due to the foresight of the founders who based the University of Miami on a spirit of Pan-Americanism, to weld a link Ixtween the Americas. A gesture of goodwill and friendship, and hearty welcome to our southern neighbors. The patio is the Ixginning of all things at the University. Ideas are born beside the pool that shelters coral rocks, botanical specimens, and Joe the Turtle: friendships are former! and lessons are learned beneath the spreading palm trees, and romance finds a beginning on the many benches. Soft grass offers solace to weary siesta-seekers, and the banana tree forms an ideal background for snapshots to send home to Mother, while brilliant sunshine and tropical flowers cast vividness and unreality over all. The patio is the centra! meeting place around which the University literally and figuratively revolves. Classroom life is typical of that of any of the thousands of other schools in the United States, but when the last l cll rings the similarity ends. Ordinarily it would be an unusual sight to see students headed for a few hard sets of tennis, a swim, or a round of golf on a January day. But not so in Miami. At any time one may see happy groups on their way to the beach, sailing, bicycling, picnicking, or fishing. Dawn of many Saturday mornings finds the marine zoology class leaving for a day of deep sea diving from some distant island in search of specimens, or other natural science classes departing in the direction of the Everglades. The beach is also a focal point in the life of the University. Classes seem to adjourn, only to meet again shortly in an atmosphere of sand, bright sunshine and pounding surf, while classes are sometimes abandoned in favor of a lazy day under the sun. Twilight, strains of dinner music from the cafeteria, a soft murmur of Spanish from lingering groups, and the scent of night blooming jasmine are one of the most beautiful parts of the University. Night, and the Miami moon. But night must fall: ami after the last rosy cloud in the darkening sky turns to a silhouette, the typical student returns to resume his intellectual pursuits. Scantily clad, he props his book on the window-sill, and gazes out at the moonlit scene. His roommate also gazes for a few moments before he wistfully wishes that he asked that blond for a date. This leads to a discussion of women in general, who dates who, and what they think of each other. Before the discussion reaches this point, the other students in the building drop in and a bull-session rages on until someone discovers it is time for Cinderella to depart; so the uninvited guests take their leave, and our roommates finally study. But all is not beauty and light. Spring fever often reigns supreme from September until June, and the constant lure of the beach and other equally inviting places makes life one grand bout with temptation. A brilliant moon, smooth waters of the bay, and a wailing sailboat make even the most conscientious student forget his work. Yes, life at the Univesritv is very hard indeed. But beneath the lazy serenity of the tropics is a rush of activity in a forward movement that will eventually place the University of Miami near the top of the collegiate list—the typical tropical University. [16]

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Su Kiippu Tim: I'lilllips. I‘age, Mogga, Young. Golf. Mllllnion. Connor. Ismic activities, and service to the University. No more than nine new members are selected each year. These members are notified of their selection at a general assembly of the student body of the University held during the early part of the semester. It has become customary for the active and alumnae numbers of Xu Kappa Tau to wear black caps and gowns during the public ceremony of selection. An orange scarf is draped about the necks of the new members as a symbol of notification. Charter Members: Keva Albury, '37: Sarah Bergh. '37; Xcdra Brown, '37: Elizabeth Curran. ’38: Julie Davitt, '37; Mary Frohl erg. '38; Marcia Hargrove. '38: Marie Reichard. '38: Audrey Rothcoberg, 38. Members Selected in the Spring of 1938: Helene Couch, '38; Florence Fowler. '38: Rubilou Jackson. '39; Eleanor Matteson, '39: Jane Mercer. '38: Arlene Richardson. 38: Margaret Shillington. '39: Freda Speizman, '39; Fay Taylor. '38. Members Selected this Year: Mollie Conner. '40: Betty Goff, '39; Evelyn Isaac. '39; Charlotte Meggs. '40: Berenice Milliman, '40: Doris Page. '39; Selma Lee Phillips. '40; Pearl Waldorf. ‘39; Ruth K. Young, '39. FRESH MAX HO SO R SOCIETY Someone has said that, “Tasks without vision are drudgery, that Yision without tasks is a dream : that “Vision and tasks are the world’s blessings. The Freshman Honor Society extends membership to those students who have learned early in their University life to combine vision and tasks, and who have given proof of this by their outstanding scholastic records. To lie eligible for membership, freshmen must have the grade of “A in at least fifty percent of credits earned, must have no grade below “B. and must carry a minimum of twelve hours each term, in residence at the University. Great truths do not spring from the slightest mental bidding but result from daily struggles with books. It is only from the combination of this struggle and vision that the student will receive the world’s blessing, an education. Because the University deems it wise to encourage freshmen to continue their early scholastic endeavors, the Freshman Honor Society opens its membership to them. Students selected from the class of 1941 are: Catherine Hefinger. Seymour Simon. Ronald Kerfoot. Phyllis Salter, Clarice Schnatterbeck. William Feldman, and I .aura Green. Those in the class of 1940 are: Berenice Milliman, Algerine Price, Hilda Ringbloom. J. J. (Hickman. Sara Butler. Mary Creel, and Sylvia Raicheck. From the class of 1939 were selected: Sarah H. I'rear. Margaret Shillington, Ruth Emilie Young, Wilma Audrey Hammer, Maude S. Walton. Sydney R. Rubin, and Norman Worthington. HrfliiKT. Mlllliiiji . Krrfo.il, Own, Simon. Schnntlrrbrrl.. Horn I nr. lUitlrr, Worlhlimtnn, ShllliiiKlmi [15]

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 The Student Refund Drive by FOSTER E. ALTER Apter a Supreme Court decision ordered the Florida Power and Light Company to refund excessive rates charged citizens of Miami and Coconut Grove, there began a movement fostered by prominent citizens to interest the refundees in assigning part or all of their refunds to the University of Miami. Phis resulted in the formation of the Fullbacks’ Committee with Attorney D. H. Redfearn as chairman, and in the adoption of a single purpose—to build a greater University. From the Committee's headquarters in the new DuPont Building. 38.000 letters were sent out to consumers of electricity in Miami and Coconut Grove. After sending the letter, members of the committee appeared Indore civic clubs throughout Miami, presented the proposition, and received favorable reactions in the form of resolutions by the clubs to cooperate by personally helping with the project. N'ews-pajKTS. radio stations, theatres—all offered their facilities. But in spite of this, the results were not particularly fruitful. While the committee was pondering the question, a group of undergraduates approached President Ashe to offer their help by personally contacting those to whom the letter had been sent. This meant laying the groundwork with a student committee, the absorption of organization leaders on the campus, and creation of general interest in the student body. The students selected their executive committee consisting of Brad Boyle, chairman; Joe Thomas, Bob Olsen. Lew Duff, Al Teeter. Jack Madigan, Maxwell Marvin, and Charles Guimento. . .. meant more than soliciting funds. Personalities developed; new acquaintances made; closer friendships knit. The committee and others received practical exper-ience by participating in the house-to-house campaign. After several weeks of experimentation. March 21 and 22 were set aside as “Student Refund Days. Orange and green teams were organized to create a competitive spirit. On the morning of March 21, nearly 600 students reported in 275 cars decorated with school colors. They went out in a serious attempt to increase the facilities of the University. The results were gratifying. for the students returned sufficient assignment cards to build an addition already planned by the administration but necessarily withheld. 32,000 citizens in Miami and Coconut Grove were told the story of the University of Miami in as fine a demonstration as any student body has ever given. For the students themselves, it meant that timid personalities developed confidence and assurance, new acquaintances were made, closer friendships were knit. There is yet much to Ik done in the way of follow-up. but the spirit of the entire student movement has been so commendable that completion of the enteqjrise is assured. Kach student who participated in the refund drive may feel justly proud that he has contributed a share in the task of building a greater University of Miami. One may rightly say, “We build ourselves at the University of Miami in many ways. [17] KiilhiiklnMIc ivtuilMit ill llw refund drive rally.