University of Massachusetts Amherst - Index Yearbook (Amherst, MA)

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THE PRESIDENT We were ready — we are serving is Massa- chusetts State College ' s proud message to the world. Our college has been among the leaders in planning and mobilizing for national defense and for allied victory. War, declared in September, 1939, dragged along as a token war. In June, 1940, France fell. At that time, while America still spoke of keeping out of a fighting war, this college prepared and sent to Governor Saltonstall a complete summary of how this college could aid in defending America. A College Defense CouncU was then appointed to study and report on the matter. Since Pearl Harbor and our subsequent entry into the war, we have adopted an accel- erated program. This includes shortened semesters with Commencement coming on May 17th, and a twelve weeks ' summer session which will continue each year through the duration of the war. This will give students their fullest college experience before they are called to industrial or military service. [16]

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Spring and Campus Customs Spring came early to State and with it the good old American custom of baseball, but spring sports were overshadowed by the short- ened semester and the compulsory physical education program set up for all men students. Spring track and tennis were the other usual out- standing spring varsity sports. Perhaps in- cluded in spring sports should be the weekly Tuesday morning R. O. T. C. reviews when a young army paraded up and down campus. Then came the Inter-Greek Ball, cramming the two spring balls of tradition into one evening, Greek maidens wailed when both they and their men had to buy tickets. Mothers ' Day came the first of May, one week earlier than the national day, and had enthusiastic approval as students chose a typical mother. While the rest of the campus was so happily concerned with the present, some students were thinking of the future and taking care of a Freshman Handbook to guide next year ' s freshmen. Reward for merit was taken care of at the end of the year: at the Academic Activities Convocation, late in April, medal awards were made; at the Senior Convocation new Adel- phians were tapped; and at the Junior-Senior Processional, Isogonians tapped new members. The sound of the chimes at 5:15, cokes at the college store. Collegians after convo, bull sessions in the Libe — but days were too full for remembering as Commencement was telescoped into two short days. Senior Convocation and the Senior Banquet as usual prepared the way for Commencement: The Horse Show, the Flint Oratorical Contest, Alumni Homecoming and parade to the baseball game, the Roister Bolster play. Torch Bearers, Roister Doister, Academic Activities, and Varsity Breakfasts, Baccalaureate, President ' s Reception, and Graduation — beloved Campus traditions were kept for the class of 1942. And on the evening of May 18, came their last ball — Soph-Senior Hop complete with the Chapel chimes concert. So with shoulders square and eyes straight ahead, M. S. C. marched through ' 41- ' 42 not to the tune of Heil Hitler but of There is a cer- tain valley by a river ' s golden stream. . . . Qreek maidtni wailed. . . Reward for merit. . . Beloved traditioni kept. [15]

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rHE COLLECiE . . . ANn THE WAR . . President and Mrs. Baker still devote evenings to social affairs such as the 1941 Soph-Senior Hop receiving line pictured above; but this year finds the President much concerned in the College ' s part in national defense 171