University of Rhode Island - Renaissance / Grist Yearbook (Kingston, RI)

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Class History The class of February 1946 could easily be called the most distinctive class ever to graduate from Rhode Island State Col- lege, for “change is the key word of our college career. No other class can boast that it entered under peace-time condi- tions, lived on a war-time campus, saw peace declared, and graduated as the pen- dulum swung back to a normal campus life. The greatest number of us entered in the fall of 1942, War’s touch was imper- ceptible, and we were able to enjoy almost a semester and a half of traditional col- lege life. As the greater part of civilian men dis- appeared in droves, so the army entered, in the same manner. We were an ASTP campus for almost a year. How life changed! Instead of the usual sounder to class we found ourselves hut, hutting to them in rhythm with the sections. In- stead of a quick bridge game after dinner, we flocked to the new Union to dance up- stairs and eat down, and Y-J days were celebrated with much hilarity and ringing of the bells at Davis. The world was at peace and the change was noticed even on our quiet bit of acreage. The freshman class was enormous once more and the percentage of men grew larger — many of them veter- ans. The class of ’46 saw the changes and felt it was time to do something about them. The time had come to renew those traditional organizations and affairs which were forced to subside during the war. Phi Delta, Scroll, Rhode Island Review, and the Mayoralty contest were some of them which we helped to revive. We have now completed our last se- mester on R, I, State campus. Peacetime campus life is once again in full swing. Football was revived and with it the bon- fire and rally. The Union is to be a per- manent fixture, and the drive for a new building, the Memorial Union for those who served in the Armed Forces during World War II, has been started. Under the co-leadership of our class directors, Bruce Fogwell and Paula McQuaid, our Senior Week and graduation are again traditional or as near to it as possible. It is with happiness that we leave our campus once again in its normal academic yet gay atmosphere. It is with sadness that we realize we can no longer take part in its function, but we know that we are leaving it in safe hands, those of the un- derclassmen. 27 •-