Villanova University - Belle Air Yearbook (Villanova, PA)

Page 20 text:

TODAY Two thousand students crowded Villanova for the opening of the 1946 fall semester, while one thosuand more enrolled in the Saturday and Evening sessions. Some confusion naturally resulted from this large influx—on increase of over one thousand regular students. The arranging of schedules became complicated, and long lines in the corridors were unavoidable. As classes were held from eight in the morning until eight in the evening, it was now commonploce to see students leaving for home or dormitory long after darkness had fallen. The consequent acute housing problem forced students to use the Field House for living quarters while surplus army barracks were being assembled. Most dormitory rooms, used for two men before the war. now housed twice that number. The cafeteria wos taxed to the limit as long lines, much to the chagrin of veterans, formed at all meal hours. With the country encountering the molt terioui shortage of educa- tional facilities in history, the college odministrotors started lost year to secure additional housing facilities for votorans. When it become evident lost summer that these projects would not be com- pleted for the opening of the fall semoster. further steps were token. The huge main floor of the Field House was transformed into o temporary dormitory while work on the barracks wos ex- pedited as much os possible.

Page 22 text:

PEACE BRINGS MANY VETS Other chonges were brought obout because of the unprecedentedly high enrollment. Chapel services were held separately for freshmen and upperclassmen, two evenings a week for each. The infirmary, now entirely too small was moved from Mendel Hall to larger quorters in Middleton Hall The book store was moved to a more spacious section in the west wing of Mendel Hall Eighteen professors were added to faculty, among whom were a number of recent Villonovo graduates. A new Pie Shop was planned to meet the increased demands of a doubled day-student enrollment Expansion was also carried into the field of sports. With a football and basketball team, both far stronger thon any others since 1942, Villonovo again climbed to its heights of pre-war years. Since both of these teams were composed mainly of freshmen, the prospects for the future seem, indeed, to be bright. For the first time since early in 1943 formol dances were returned to the campus social life. The Senior dances were held in January, while those of the Junior class took place, os formerly, in early Spring. However, despite the rapid return of the regular college program, reminders of the war days were to be found in the weekly Mosses offered for the sixty-one Villonovo stu- dents who had given their lives for their country. Though Villonovo has experienced many changes in o few years, it still retains that particular beauty and atmosphere which is port of a small college. True to her heritage of more thon one hundred years, she looks for- ward today, os she has during all her existence, to more and more years of continued service in the cause of Catholic education, and in the cause of Christ, whose message she insists on as vital to a still struggling America. Registration soared to new heights os over 1900 students crowded the campus for the opening of the fall term. As a necessary result of this, long lines formed in front of the offices of the Registrar Dean, and Veterans' Administrator, filled the main corridor of Mendel Holl and overflowed to the front drive. A major problem was evaluating credits obtained by applicants from other colleges and service schools. It became necessary to rearrange the schedule for chapel services in order to accommodate the greatly enlarged student body. In contrast to previous years when one service sufficed for the entire school, separate devotions are conducted for freshmen and upper- classmen. Several Masses are held doily ot various hours in the morning so thot all students, including non-residents, will hove an opportunity to attend.