University of Pennsylvania - Record Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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VALEDIETUHY Webster defines graduate to admit to an academic degree at the end of a course. All of us are aware of the value of this degree we are about to receive. But how many have thought seriously of the greater sig- nificance of arriving at the end of a course? We are apt to become engrossed in the excitement of these approaching days: Tensions are released, examinations terminatedg responsibilities vanish. At such a time it is easy to under-value the privilege of four years of uni- versity experience. Let us not allow this moment in our lives to pass without the honest appraisal, that its importance demands. One who comes to the end of a course has the oppor- tunity to look back. Much has happened since those first days at Freshman Camp. The delightful language of poetry and of music has been learned. Outstanding per- sonalities have opened our minds to the vistas of great art and literature, To us has come the pleasant surprise of seeing for the 'first time the shape -of the mist that shrouds some of the 'enigmas of life. Countless oppor- tunities have been available to develop our talents. The University community has offered association with many persons differing in religion, race, and ideas, Rewarding friendships have been formed. Brief thoughts are these, but each Pennsylvania girl has cut her own pattern and must weave her own unique memories. Four years in retrospect must summon more than an enumeration of events, Inherent in such a review is the challenge to evaluate these experiences and choose wisely those values that will long outlive our undergraduate days. Basically, college has been a preparation for enjoy- ing productive lives. There must be an increasing aware- ness of the fundamentals of living. Their importance demands that three of these fundamentals be noted. The enthusiasm for life developed in youth is a priceless quality to carry into later years. Those wise will recog- nize the virtue of honest wofkg for persevering labor is the common factor in all great successes. And these two are built upon the third which is freedom: freedom that makes opportunities and abilities meaningfulg freedom that recognizes religious tolerance and racial integrityg freedom that allows stimulating interchange of ideas and pursuit of truth, As prospective Pennsyl- wania graduates it is our right to look back and mark well the merits of this fine experience. The end of a course is also and inevitably a beginning, And every beginning centers attention on what lies ahead. Never was there a time when the future was more doubtful or seemed less inescapable. Much of the strife in the past half-century has not entered our sheltered lives. But the day is past when power politics is a phrase meaningful to statesmen only. Although the foreshadow- ing of the future may be frightening, youth need not cower. Youth that knows the heritage of the past and the great values of the future is fortified with hope- with courage. As graduates we shall be assuming new and untried roles. In them there will be opportunity to translate our faith into action, to redeem our times and buy a better future for ourselves than our elders are wont to bequeath us. It is useful to look back, unavoidable to look ahead, but life is lived neither in the past nor the future. By all means come to terms with the present. Time provides a frame for the accomplishments of man. What better satisfaction than to trade time for accomplishments? Thoreau said in his immortal book, Walden: I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor. If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. A success unexpected in common hours is possible for those who refuse to permit a darkening future to rob them of the present-for those who capi- talize upon the contributions to character and skill made by the four years that are about to end. Nancy Horlacher

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TIME . . . Marches on TIME-1976 PLACE-La Guardia Airport DESTINATION-Iceburg in the Aleutians Separated by wind, time, and water the class of '51 has at last decided to have a little get together at some convenient location. All rush to the scene of departure. Flight 1951 scheduled to leave La Guardia Airport for the Aleutians at 2500 will now leave at 2550. The voice of Nancy Horlacher came clearly over the PA system from the control tower. Up in the tower they were having all sorts of aeronautical difficulties, However, with the aid of Janice Auritt, the two managed to get the feet of the pilot, Doris Cherksey, down to earth. Cherk was anxious to take off but Nancy and Janice finally persuaded her to wait for her passengers. Down the runway Ruth Woll, the co-pilot, was taking a straw vote among the mechanics as to whether or not they would take a fire extinguisher on board. All decided in favor of the idea when they realized how many Balls of Fire would be on board. In the radio room Tina Janeway was handling live wires who were becoming Stars on Broadway, while Betty McKaig, the very able navigator, shot these stars with her sextant to plot our course. The plane was fabulous. The designer, Joan Williams, had installed all of the most modern conveniences, and had fitted each passenger with a special mink-lined iceburg suit to be put on just before arrival. All passengers for Flight 1951 may now board plane at Gate 12. People started showing their tickets to Betty Pike, the gate attendant, who directed Elaine Shocket, Joan McAdoo, Mary Jo Kindig and the others towards the stewardess, Helen Hogg. Last call for Flight l95l. Whoops, here comes Janet Harper who left a U.N, con- ference early with Helen Shapiro to make the flight. Inside the plane Peggy Hill, the other stewardess, was handing out dramamine pills like mad, especially to such landlubbers as Demetra Chios, Sally Burden, and Anne Hayes. Just before the take off, Pat Hofman helped her seatnlate Ella Batiste fasten her safety-belt, because Ella was 'all thumbs at the prospect of soon seeing Mary Donis, Rosemary Skelly, and Jean Thomp- son, Joyce MacMullen and Joann Binns, co-winners of the Nobel prize, were chatting intently about pathogens. As the plane gained altitude, there could be heard the clickety-clack of two typewriters as their owners attacked them with vigor. One was lKristin Eggleston's, world famous poetess who was pounding out an epic or two, while the other's was Struthers Joyce's, author of the latest history text- The Bubonic Teutonicf' Sue Budd, who was sitting next to first lady of the land, Joan Robinette, was clutching the cardboard container holding her prize painted turtle. The turtle, Sue called to Lea Day, was a high jumping, speedy reflection of the age, having just won the Kentucky Derby, Asked by sports enthusiast Gayle Meacham for the turtle's pedigree, Sue told her he was Ulcers out of Neuroses by Frustration. Seated at the other end of the plane quietly talking to her agent Mildred Payne, was Evelyn Punchard, famed illustrator of three childrens' magazines. Nearby, Warren Shafer, the brains of Tin Pan Alley chatted with Thelma Barab, the Voice of Tomorrow, about the phenomenal operatic success of Muriel Remaley, as Isolde. Up with the navigator, Nancy Beane and Posy Matzke were engineering the pick-up of several thespians who couldn't make the airport due to their various tours. They skillfully lowered a rope ladder over Pocatello, Idaho to haul up Jane Borden and lowered it again over Vancouver for Evelyn Tabachnick. Quite a group was gathered around the water cooler gabbing about days at the Penn Lunch. Among them were Janet in from Maine, Shand, and Margie the car' Jones. All were delighted that Gloria Kleinman's daughter had just made Phi Bete. Polly Shook, Ambassa- dor to France, came up with Tike Smith, National Mortar Board President, who kept wondering why the wings didn't flop up and down. The light flashed on to fasten seat belts and to stop smoking as the plane was circling to land, Veteran flyer, Betty Gosnay reminded Angie Manno to suck a life saver so her ears wouldn't bother her when they lost altitude. All of a sudden, Dottie Bickert shouted there's an iceberg! Lettuce see retorted comic Ginny Beaumont. As the door opened, the cold Aleutian air rushed into the plane, but nothing could dampen the spirits of the Class of,'51. Coming to warmly greet us, and thank goodness, for baby it's cold outside! was Jane Gladfelter, head of the welcoming and welfare committee, ably assisted by Elizabeth Peterson, oilicial hostess, and Joan Giambalvo, chairman of cheer, Also on hand were Rocky Nelson and Marty Rice, co-coaches of the Iceberg Snowball League, and Joann Diehl, searcher of sociological significance with her assistant Faith Lillibridge, The Snowball League hadn't had any worry about filling up the teams since Helen Mother of the Year Sterling had been keeping it supplied from her brood of twelve. All accommodations were made in advance by Carolyn Simon, manager of the Tiltin' Hilton Hotel. Featured in the hotel's famous Icebox Room were dancers Joan Kielholz and Mimi Hemphill from the Frigid Follies, produced by Claire Mamourian and Mary Ellen Musser. Everything was grandly planned That week of talk and mirth, And to quote the mighty Barnum 'Twas the grandest show on earth. And as they left, each homeward bound, So chic, so smart, such style, Their old friends viewed, their youth renewed, Each faced the future with a smile. Tina Janeway and Doris Cherksey