Worcester State University - Oak Leaf Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

Page 20 text:

When the class of ' 58 graduated in June, we suddenly felt very important. We were the seniors! But what is this? Lunch in rooms 13 and 14? Our senior year had begun. Are these the new students? No, these are the carpenters. Our dreams of a new building for the beginning of our last year were yet to materialize. The secondaries had gone to try their ways in the field, while the elementaries remained to try their ways in the fields, woods, and pastures. Those were the days of butterfly nets and killing jars and mature seniors gaily singing the theme song of the Junior Audubon Society. The year passed on and cars still lined Chandler Street. Rumor was that soon only custodians would be permitted to use the old parking lot. And shall we ever forget Hymn 1 09 . . . registers . . . lesson plans . . . move your car . . . see Dr. Busam . . . The wide green earth . . . return your books before exams . . . Big Brother is watching . . . student lounge? . . . individual differences . . . pay your dues . . . firm, friendly, and fearless . . . where ' s the library? . . . drive carefully . . . 7:00 A.M. on WTAG . . . and finally those three precious words, We made It. Events in our senior year took place faster than we could keep track of them. First came look at the birdie and class pictures were here. The new building was open at last. Soon it was mid-terms, and we were once again together as a class. The topic of conversation now turned to contracts and the natural question: Where are you going to teach? Never to be forgotten are our days in New York, a happy-go- lucky group of students determined to set the town on Its ear. Following this excur- sion, was our Senior Tea, the time of donning caps and gowns. Then we were honored with a prom given by th e sophomores. And soon after, we were dining and dancing at the beautiful Blue Hills Country Club, for it was the night of our senior dinner- dance. Cur senior year drew to a rapid close with the three most meaningful occasions of our college life: our Class Day, our Baccalaureate, and our graduation. These were days of joy and sadness; joy to know our goals had been fulfilled, sadness to realize all that was left behind. This is our history, the story of the class of ' 59. Cur future now lies in the hands of God. 18

Page 19 text:

unoccupied buildings on Chandler Street, prepartory to mapping that otherwise uncharted area. The rest of the class prosaically mapped the whole known world. Miss Morris ' s class, obviously not stay-at-homes, made a notable geological survey of Purgatory Chasm where they also learned such things as mountain-climbing and swamp-hopping. With the cold weather came our Winter Carnival. At the Ball, our class was represented in the Queen ' s court by Arlene DeBoer. Late In the year, three days were set aside for the gruelling ordeal of Sophomore testing. How difficult it was to concentrate, sitting there In the cafeteria with such delicious odors emitting from Mrs. Whitney ' s kitchen! This was the year of the beginning of progress In the new building program. Disturbances In the west wing of the building told us that we would soon ha ve a new annex. They also reminded us that with the loss of the gym, we would have to hold our Sophomore Prom, Spring Fantasy, somewhere else. We finally decided on Wachusett and ginger ale. Much credit must be given to the President of our Sophomore class. Bob Dunne, who, because of his outstanding leadership, was retained in this office for the remainder of our college career. And so our second year was gone. Now we were juniors. We had been moved out of the lower echelons and placed in a more distinguished category of humanity. But with this elevation In rank came the Inevitable division of our class Into two groups: the elementaries and the secondaries. While the larger portion of our class trooped off to reading, writing, and ' rithmetic, our more scholarly colleagues delved into the realms of climatology, physiography, calculus, chemistry, Shakespeare, and, of course, secondary education. The elementaries really held the spotlight this year. They were snowed under by professional fitness, the football, CARMA, and making lower loop letters. Secondaries were whacked by flannel boards as they passed through the halls on their way to classes, and the melodious screeching of pitch pipes gave audible proof that the elementaries were trying to sing in key. Girls In nylons and heels and boys in jackets and ties were the clues to observa- tion days. Our first real look at actual teaching made us wonder — could we ever do that? But when mid-semesters were past and the secondaries were settled down for another semester of concentrated study, the elementaries descended upon the field of practice teaching. On Fridays, the usual salutation of Hi! gave way to How do you like it? and then to Who came this week? Our junior year cannot be considered one of only hard work and complex prob- lems; rather it was the year in which we engaged in highly successful activity. Socially, this year was highlighted by our Junor Prom, at which Helen Fitzgerald reigned as a gracious queen. As June approached, we joined again as a class to be measured for caps and gowns and to begin work on our yearbook. Elementaries said good-bye to their new friends (ages 5-12), to their very accommodating cooperating teachers, and last, but not least, to the janitors. The secondaries filed away their climate maps and worn sets of ancient history notes, to be kept safe for the day in the fall when their owners too would try their wings In a public school classroom. 17

Page 21 text:

CLASS WILL We, the Senior Class of 1959, who leave with our diplomas clutched tightly In our hands and with happy memories of four of the most marvelous years of our lives, do hereby declare this to be our last will and testament. To President Sullivan we leave the hope that his dream-school will be a reality soon. To Dr. Foster and our other supervisors we leave our deepest gratitude for their kind assistance. To our class advisers we leave our appreciation for their Interest and concern for our welfare. To our yearbook adviser. Dr. William Sullivan, we leave two good editors for next year ' s Oakleaf. To the deans and the faculty we leave four years of memories that bless and burn. RONNIE ALLEN leaves a book entitled. One Hundred Excuses For Getting Out of Class. LEROY HERMANSON leaves a good Impression on all who have known him. VIVIAN ANDRUKONIS, her great enthusiasm for economics assignments. PAULINE GNIADEK, her narcissus bulbs In Miss Wllmarth ' s room, hoping someday they will bloom. BETTY MIOKELSON leaves her love of skiing to some athletic sophomore. OHUBBY ARSENAULT gives his mechanical ability to all car fans. SANDY HICKEY supplies an extra pounding of a gavel for Incoming Student Council Presidents. JANET ASSELTA bequeaths her ability to acquire a leaf collection of house plants to all future Seniors. PAT HARAN leaves her backrow seat to anyone who hears too well In front. DON BELISLE bequeaths his ability for playing Intramural basketball to Mr. Mockler. GAIL COTTON donates to Hallmark Greeting Gards her caricature card file of quaint sayings. BEV MOHAN leaves her formula for all who have a weight-reducing problem. OINDY BARNES gives up the secret of a smile, a charm that snares upperclassmen. MOE McOARTHY leaves with a 24-hour smile. SHIRLEY STEELE renounces her diet of pastries. HELEN FITZGERALD leaves with apologies to all those she has not recognized at the proms. JANET McFarland leaves as a SIg Ep sweetheart. GINNY STRUGHKO manages to leave a vacant position In two libraries. 19