University of Montana Western - Chinook Yearbook (Dillon, MT)

Page 31 text:

( The May Festival The May Festival, one of the most beautiful of our college traditions, is held each year on the campus in the middle of May. The May Queen, who is a senior, is elected by th school. She is escorted to her flower-decked throne by her pages and flower girls, who strew her path with flowers. Here she is crowned Queen of the May.” For her pleasure a program, consisting of dances, is given, in which the gymnasium classes of the college and the children from the training school take part. Last year the program was woven about the theme of Pandora, who let the trouble out of the box. This year's festival had as its theme. Spring.” N

Page 30 text:

 M” Day Another day, which like the “Go” starts out with pleasureable expectations and ends with painful backs and sunburns, is “M” Day. It is something more delightful to look forward to than to look back upon. Spring fever proves too much for the students, and excitement and enthusiasm reign supreme when it is announced by a senior committee that whitewashing the “M” and not studying is the order of the day. To the assembled students in hiking clothes, a few simple laws and directions are given. Policemen are appointed to detect and report any violation of these laws. The hike to the foot of the “M” hill is a pleasure, the climb is work, and the process of restoring and beautifying the “M is very near drudgery before it is finished. The juniors carry rocks and water, while the seniors do the actual whitewashing. At noon all activities cease while the hungry workers form the “grub line.” In the evening the tired, sunburned, blistered students assemble on the College steps to see the Kangaroo Court mete out punishment to the unfortunates for every possible offense. A —22—

Page 32 text:

f A ( i i The Pow Wow Every year the junior squawmen and the senior tribesmen hold a pow wow around the campfire preparatory to the squawmen being admitted into the tribe and acquiring the seniors’ hunting grounds. Those taking part are painted and dressed in Indian robes. They dance around the fire which has been lighted by flames brought down from heaven by the medicine man. The squawmen then go through ordeals to prove they are worthy of taking over the senior grounds. The chief of the squawmen addresses the tribesmen, saying. You have had these grounds a long time, Give them to us. We are brave and can hold them.” The chief of the tribesmen answers: “We will move on. We are old. but we are not afraid of you. There is a better and larger place for us so we will leave this place. Guard it as we have.” The Indians sit around the fire and smoke the peace pipe. Upon leaving they throw a peace offering Into the fire, and the seniors go off to a new place. ; —24—