Villanova University - Belle Air Yearbook (Villanova, PA)

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Tin- establishment of the eouiteil supplied a want that has long been felt, that is, the need of one great big organization including the wlio-’e college, and in which all students can meet as brothers, be they engineers, classicals, philosophers or pre-meds. The Knights of Columbus do not dominate Col lege activities, but they are evident in everything that is done, and where anything at all is lacking, the knights are there to supply the want. There was but one dark cloud in the clear sky of June, the resignation of Professor Howland. Professor Howland bad won a friend in every stud «•lit,—to '22, he had become a near idol. Mis departure caused a bitter grief, but the memories he left with us, and the ideals lie gave us will a1 ways be amongst our most sacred treasures. June «•nee more brought with it the dream of every spring-fevered youth,—Vacation, yes, and this the last. Hut there was no vacation for Villanova. One more innovation that the class of '22 had the distinction of witnessing is the Summer School. After we departed, nuns from all Orders and from al! parts of the country began to arrive to attend the Villanova Summer School. And the co-ed, the very thought of whom would have shocked Villanova a decade ago, found her way hither. This class indeed has witnessed miraculous transformations. During this summer also, the School of Business Administration was created. A course in Radio Operation was added to the curriculum with Mr. Rafferty, (). S. A. as instructor. Two recreation rooms were outfitted in the basement; the Machine Shop was completely remodeled; the Dynamo Laboratory was moved from the basement into the west wing of the college huihling where formerly had been the Gymnasium; the Photometry Labora- tory was moved to the room behind the Dynamo Lab., and the old Photometry Lab. was converted into a Photography Laboratory. The Physics Labora- tory was moved from the Main Floor to the Second Floor into what was formerly the Library. The Electrical Testing Laboratory was enlarged to fill the entire north side of the Main Floor. A new reception room was furnished on the Main Floor; the Library was moved to the Monastery where more space was available; the Study Hall was converted into a Drafting Room; and the old Drafting Rooms were mad into Chemical Laboratories. The old Chemical Laboratories on the Main Floor were added to the Assay- ing Laboratory. Special mention must be made of Mr. Rafferty who «levoted all his time during the summer to enlarging and improving the Radio station in preparation for the coming school term. The college building was com- pletely repainted, many of tin- class-rooms were remodeled, and a tile-floor was laid in the corridor of the Main Floor. All these things were going on while we were away «luring the summer vacation months,—when we returned 20

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Discipline, with l ather Grelis as the Prefeet of Studies. If the student |,o ly had been asked to cliocse its own College President, or had hern asked to select for itself a Prefect of Discipline, there is not the slightest doubt hut that the very same men would have been chosen. Father Frank had long before taken his pi ace in the long line of eops, firemen, presidents gen- erals and our other heroes; and Father O'Meara’s snide had from the very first moment won everyone of us as a friend, unconditionally. With this change in Administration, Villa nova’s phenomenal growth began. One of Father Driscoll s first nets, was to divide the college Into departments, placing at the bead of each, a Departmental Dean who was entirely responsible for the operation of his department. This one step was an enormous stride toward rapid expansion and a never before dreamed of efficiency. 'I’lie effects were apparent almost immediately. Father Grelis was created Dean of the Classical Department, Father Fink, Dean of tlu- Pre-Medical Department, and Professor Humphrey. Dean of the School of Technology, and all the energies of these men were bent toward systemati ing and organizing the work of their respective departments. A |»erfeet coordination of classes and schedules, and an almost complete elimination of those troublesome tilings known as conflicts” was an immediate result. Oil October 28, 1920, Alumni Hall was dedicated. 'Phis day marked the completion of a work that had engrossed the attention of the aiithori ties for many years past; there were many difficulties to be overcome, there were many obstacles to be surmounted, before “Finis could be written to the undertaking, but the same spirit that bad acquired Belle Air, the same spirit that had built Villanova, that same spirit of dare and do triumphed in the beautiful Alumni Hall. Its dedication was made one grand gala day. Not since before the war had there been such demonstrations of class spirit. The day was chosen for the annual Freshman-Sophomore Football game; the Alumni Banquet was given in the gymnasium that occupies the ground floor of the east wing: there was a Dance in the evening—the otherwise idle hours of the day were devoted to class fights. The Juniors, of course, were in all of it, and fared probably no better, and certainly no worse than the others. In May of this V ear, the Vi llano va College Council (2288) of the Knights of Columbus was established. The first three Degrees of the Order were conferred on a class of candidates composed exclusively of college men. during this month. The Third Degree is still spoken of in knight hood circles, and those who were admitted on that occasion have bail a rare good fortune. Perhaps no other single thing in the history of the College has had such an immediate and far reaching effect on College activities. 28

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during the summer vacation months,--when wc returned in September it was difficult to rc.'ognixc the school ns the one we had left in June. AM these improvements speak eloquently of the energy of those who were re- sponsible for them. The tendencies are toward a greater Villanova. hut sometimes the advances are so rapid, the changes become quite startling. Finally, after a very brief summer we found ourselves again hack at Villanova. now dignified Seniors. What a vast difference it makes. For the first time the Jong school year appear too short. Just a few months of study, just a few examinations, and wc leave Villanova forever. Involun- tarily, wc sometimes think,—this is the last time I II do this, or, this is tin last time I'll witness that. No matter how much we dislike doing a thing, if we have grown accustomed to doing it, the last performance of that act always brings with it a feeling of regret. Soon we will go out to represent Villanova. A grave responsibility lies on uss Four years we s|K-nt under her fostering care, and just as our bodily growth proceeds by almost infinitesimal in rements of tissue, so we have been growing, not by large dose.s of lessons and much reading of text hooks, hut hv small additions of strength-fibres to our character to make us strong, to our wills to make us will to be just, and to our hearts to tuak us want to love God and Truth, and to our intellects to make us, not know ing, but wise. The year has passed all too rapidly, mid here we are at graduation. W c have learned much from each other, we have both given ami received, and when we part, we part each to the other a debtor. 1 he real history of the Class cannot be written on the pages of a printed book, but it is written on the hearts of all of us, nnd just as we study history to trace cause from effect, and for guidance in future problems, let us from the history of our brief life here together, draw our inspirations to guide us in the future. —Charles A. Bel 30