Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Peddler Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

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The Halls of Ivy Jack and Jill went up the ‘HUT When shadows fall The Tech Council was busy reviewing major campus problems in its chambers. Tbe questions of early registra¬ tion and summer reading examinations were of major importance. The Goat’s Head was still an active open subject and the question of revision of the Constitution was a serious matter under consideration. The idea of having the elected representatives meet every week to carry on the business of the Tech Council between regu¬ lar meetings was accepted as a very favorable suggestion. While the Tech Council heard speeches of various types, the Debating team was making its own speeches throughout New England in several intercollegiate de¬ bate tournaments. The team fared unusually well at the Vermont Tournament, finishing in a tie for first place out of ninety competing teams. Though January usually is a relatively inactive month due to examinations, it proved to be filled with all types of goings on. The AIEE and IRE held their annual Sparks party amidst the sparking of various electric giants. Masque presented its annual one act play in an assembly, choosing for its first endeavor of the year a marine melo¬ drama, “Submerged.” The ROTC was active, too, announcing its list of offi¬ cers and beginning a series of extra curricular leadership training classes. Various lectures were given by guests and former military men on the faculty. Page lourtcen Strife

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The Head The second effect that the increasing demand for engi¬ neers had on the Tech campus, was the increased activity of the placement office. Senior placement activity began as early as last spring, continuing through the summer, and found all dates on the school calendar filled with interview assignments. The record number of 225 com¬ panies whose representatives interviewed last year’s sen¬ iors was exceeded. Salary offers ranged from S3,500 to S5,000 with a slight rise in the average starting pay from S4,100 to S4,200. The much needed structural alterations in the Alumni Gymnasium, financed in part by the Alumni Association, were finally finished. They included such important items as a new trophy display area, visitors’ locker room, and laundry facilities. The main corridor on the first floor now doubles as a display area for the trophies. Cabinets built into the walls for this purpose afford a view to the visitors upon entry. The old trophy room no longer ex¬ ists as such, but now doubles for a visitors’ locker room as well as providing storage room for athletic equipment in a separate adjoining room. The change which will be most appreciated by the fairer sex is the installation of a brand new powder room on the second floor of the gym. The Christmas season in Worcester was marked by the traditional decorations, last minute shopping, and the inevitable round of hour exams just before vacation time. The fraternities all held their annual orphan Christmas parties and this, coupled with the Christmas assembly, ably staffed by the joint glee clubs of Becker and Tech, was a fitting send-off for the holiday season. The New Year brought some new ideas about campus publications. A new Tech News staff gave the campus an enlarged, more interesting newspaper. With the support and encouragement of President-elect Cormeny’s desire to see a free expression of student opinion, the News began a program of careful reporting of student opinions on controversial campus matters. The Peddler staff began making its new ideas about publications also noticed and the slogan ‘More in ’54’ became a by-word around cam¬ pus. earn. party Page Thirteen

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As the last fling before finals, the Tech Carnival, mak¬ ing its 38th annual attempt to be the greatest show since the “Ziegfeld Follies”, demonstrated the thespian talents of the embryonic engineer. The Soph’s contribution, ‘A New Year’s Orgy’, proved to be good enough for second place; while the Freshman’s skit with a Dragnet theme was the choice of the judges. “Westward Ha”, the faculty contribution, added a fitting complement to the under¬ graduate dramatic attempts and the Technicords rounded out a fitting evening before examinations. The arrival of mid-year finals brought a conspicuous increase in the light consumption of the various campus residence halls, and a pronounced up-swing in the sale of No-doz pills was reported by the local drug stores. The weather man didn’t make the ‘final hours’ any more pleasant either. The unusual “New English” cold spell brought the common sniffle and running nose to both faculty and student. The future Edisons and Marconis on campus began to take decisive steps towards the eventual formation of a student-run radio station. The support of the student body and the fraternities was assured and plans for future steps were carefully mapped out. Plans to transmit cam¬ pus news, away games, I.F. Sports, uninterrupted music during study hours and the activities of some of the school clubs such as the Masque, Glee Club and debating Society were made. Returning from a mid-year vacation Tech men began to prepare for the Inaugural Ball. Planned by the senior class this dance proved to be an outstanding social event of the year. Representatives from all walks of campus life participated in the affair. Other campus alterations greeted the returning fresh¬ man in the dorm. Besides having their ranks depleted slightly, as is usual, the frosh residents found the reno¬ vation of the dorm rooms well under way. Wooden bunks fabricated from doors which previously served to separate the closet from the study room, were an exciting change. The roomers found their rooms bigger and lighter be¬ cause of the changes. The future plans for the dorm called for fifty more residents to be housed. No one can classify the experience which has been Tech into any prescribed pattern, any more than one would attempt to define the great intangible known as the Tech spirit. The significance of four years on the ‘Hill’ will be determined only when the values and the morals which each individual person has acquired from life here are applied to the ever changing complexities of the outside world. Th e meaning and impressions which Tech has in¬ stilled will be the same for no two men, in spite of the stability of environment and community of experience which has been ours during these years. Rather, it will be changed over and over, according to the demands which life in the years ahead will make upon each Tech man, wherever he may go. The uncertainty of world conditions today presents a challenge to each of us as we prepare for the transition from the microcosmic society of a college community into a great society of all mankind. How each man will meet that challenge will best be determined by himself, and his decisions will, in large measure, be shaped by the experiences and impressions gathered over the span of college life. Henry M. Strage Mr. President Page fifteen Let Voices Ring Winterset