Page 31 - YB1935

TO THE CLASS OF 1938 ORDINARILY a Freshman Class gets scant consideration in a year book put out by Seniors. This is, of course, natural and proper. But this particular Freshman Class seems to have impressed the Seniors to such an extent that the Dean of Freshmen is asked to write a special article in honor of the class. Such consideration must be deserved. What is there about this Freshman Class that makes it worthy of a place in the annual? For one thing, its size is noteworthy. While it is not actually the largest group ever to matriculate here, it comes close to the record. And the fact that such numbers have come along only two years behind the present Junior Class, which is also a large one, has brought about unprecedented crowding in the dormitories and classrooms. But it has all been taken in a fine spirit of cooperation. I have tried hard to find some scholastic distinction peculiar to this class, but in all truthfulness it must be said that up to the present few records have been broken. It does seem to be true, however, that from a slightly poorer start, as evidenced by entrance tests, the Freshmen have made a greater advance, as indicated by first semester grades, than any other class for which data are available. I believe this indicates a better response to the efforts of the advisers than has been true in many other years. There is undoubtedly a new attitude of seriousness among college students now that did not prevail a few years ago. But I suspect the main claim of this class to a larger place in the ALOHA lies in the proficiency of its members in various extra-curricular activities. One can think at once of outstanding Freshman performers in orchestra, in choir, in Sunday School and Christian Association work, in debate, and in all the forms of athletics which are engaged in here. In everyone of these fields the performance of Freshmen has called forth the admiration of the entire student body. Personally, there is no class in recent years in which I feel a greater interest than in this one, and I wish for every member a thoroughly successful college career. One cannot think back over the year without a feeling of sadness, of course, at the untimely death of Paul Wissinger, a young man of unquestioned ability and great potentialities. We will all try to do a little more in our day to make up for the contribution he would have made. L. M. BERTHOLF, Dcan of Freshmen * 27