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THE RECORD
Friday, October 22, 1954
Too Modest?
This school year, as always, began with everyone patiently facing and overcoming the ordeals of registration. Before too many books were' soiled, the Homecoming week-end had come and gone, leaving only thoughts of the approaching mid-semester holiday.
With both political parties in the state again claiming their traditional pre-election sweep of offices, St. John's is again fortunate in being able to view both sides of the political scene. The position of the Democrats was voiced at a convocation held Oct. 13, while that of the Republicans will be heard next Wednesday, Oct. 27. Very few convos do more to stimulate the student body than these election-year political forums.
Unlike the stimulating political activity that usually precedes state and national elections, local student government is characterized by a lack of candidates, scarcity of enthusiasm and absence of campaign issues. ^Maybe this is just an offshoot of the "do it yourself craze'7 that is sweeping the country. It is hoped that this fall's balloting for the five vacant Student Council posts (one representative each from St. Mary's Hall, St. Benet's Hall, St. AnselnVs Hall, the Freshmen class and the day students) to be held November 11 will be heavier than usual.
Certainly not every student is obliged to run for the Student Council. The amount of participation that each individual contributes to campus affairs naturally depends on his own individual personality and qualifications. Nevertheless there is a tendency growing in local circles toward inactivity.
In our present situation we find that the typical "student" is either too busy to concern himself about the affairs of students or too modest about his ability to contribute to the well-being of the community. It's about time that some of the habitual drifters get off their chairs and on their feet. J. S.
That Is The Question
TV Or Not TV
#The newest extracurricular on campus, TV viewing, is one of the
few outside activities popular with nearly 60 of the Johnnies according to a TV poll taken
THE RECORD Poll of Student Opinion
by Tom
Matchie
last week.
Here are the . results obtained from asking a cross-section of the student body the question: Is TV a good thing for St. John's?
Definitely Definitely Indifferent, Approved Disapproved Doubtful
St. Mary's
8
1
1
St. Benet
3
5
2
St. Anselm
3
0
7
Day Hops
9
0
1
St. Joseph
6
2
2
Decorators Get Cash Prizes
#The wonderful display of homecoming decorations on the campus were judged and winners got cash for their achievements. Window decoration winners were John Franz from St. Paul, a sophomore, won first with his painting of St. John the Baptist, in contest with St. Thomas Aquinas. John Schlumpberger, a junior, won second prize with his "Tom" Menu.
Homecoming campus displays were won by the I.B..O. with a portrait of coach Gagliardi on the east side of the auditorium. Second prize went to Anselm Hall for the decoration of the gym and third went to the Day-Hops for their contribution.
Now to read between the lines! Nobody can deny that the lower lounge, St. Mary's Hall, "ain't what it used to be." And the closer people are to the place the better they like it.
Of the thirty students who approved of the set, twenty-one (70%) go there for entertainment or to put their minds at ease. One out of five (20%) said he watches TV for educational purposes. And the other 3 (10%) go to the lounge either to kill time or for curiosity's sake.
Among the negative voters a ratio of one out of every four (25%) thought the set interfered with study habits. An identical number of 2 (25%) noted the disturbances caused by the set—too close to M-14. Other complaints included upkeep, time consumption, and the fact that it keeps desired friends occupied.
In the ranks of the indifferent and doubtful, six (40%) didn't know the set was there and consequently didn't pass a definite opinion. Five of these (36%) doubted the positive effect of TV on academic life. And the remaining 2 (18%) thought it should be strictly up to the individual.
In general, the student body suggested that a larger room be provided for the set, such as the cafeteria or the Gold Star Lounge. Still others advise more sets— among these were residents of Benet, Anselm, and J-27.
At present there are two TV cabinets in the lower lounge. After a trial period, one of these two will be purchased.
Published semi-monthly from October through May and • monthly in June, July, August and September by students of St. John's University, Collegeville, Minn.
Subscription rate $1.00 a year.
Entered as second-class matter January 30, 1925, at the post office at Oollegeville, Minn., under the act of March 3, 1879.
EDITOR ..................................Jerry Schreiber
NEWS EDITOR ............................Tom McGraw
COPY EDITOR .............................. Pat Roche
SPORTS EDITOR ......................Dave Durenberger
ALUMNI EDITOR ..................'.,......Dave Pfeffer
MAKE-UP EDITORS.......Dick Baenen and Roger Schweiters
REPORTERS: Tom Matchie, Paul Umhoefer, Jim Clemens, Dick Heinzkill, Dick Borzyskowski, Tom Egerman, Herb Schmieg, Jim Cesnik, Lee Hanley, Bill Mueller, Neal Olson, Ed Wensman, Al Eisele, Vince Hamman, Claire Norman, Bernard Galm, Ralph Kilzer and Tom Wollner. ADVISORS: Father Boniface Axtman, OSB Mr. Stephen Hurnphrey
COLLEGEVILLE FIRE DEPT. Brother John Anderl, OSB, here shown beside his well-groomed and ever-ready fire-wagon. Although it rarely has to go into real action, the equipment gets many a workout on dry-runs.
No Bucket Brigade
Brothers Man Firewagon
By Bernard Galm ^Burning night clubs, forest fires, or perhaps only a wood-pile
fire—the St. John's Fire Department is on the job. St. John's boasts of having the only religious-manned fire department in Minnesota or perhaps the Middle West. Seconds after the fire whistle has blown, a fire truck loaded down with clerics and brothers clinging to its sides makes its way out from behind the infirmary.
A fire department at St. John's is no new foundation. The present fire department has been in existence nearly as long as St. John's Abbey and is older than the St. Joseph Fire Department.
Among the other oddities that surround our fire department is the fact that the truck used on
fire calls is largely home-made. After the present carpenter shop was gutted by flames in the winter of '38, the abbey saw the need for better fire fighting equipment on campus. Before this time, blazes were fought with the aid of reel carts which were pushed to the site of the fire.
Purchasing a Ford chassis and water pump in Minneapolis, the brothers of the community began work on what is now the present fire truck. The truck is an excellent example of a community project. The front flood-lights were removed from a Plymouth car "rolled" by one of the Fathers. The St. Cloud Fire Department donated the main siren for the truck and a fender siren was mustered from a retired ambulance. Ingenuity, work and a
second-hand junk dealer helped to develop the chassis into a first-rate fire engine.
At present, Brother Edward Zwak, OSB, is chief of a 46-man crew of brothers and clerics, including five brothers specially trained in fire-fighting. Last spring was the last time the black-robed fire crew was seen in action by the campus populace. After a noon-hour battle against a blazing woodpile, it was brought under control.
The St. John's Fire Department is not only a service to the college and abbey, but it also provides aid to the surrounding country-side. The local department was instrumental (with great relief to the student body) in combating a fire several years ago at the El Paso, a favorite night spot in St. Joseph.
Busy As Bees
Sculptors Move To New Hive
By Bill Mueller
#"It is said/' one of the Johnny artists remarked, "that Vincent Van Gogh cut off one of his ears for a girl. But," he added, ''we're not sticking to convention."
Just how true that is can be seen in the bee-house—oops!— new sculpture class. To avoid cluttering up the art department, Mr. Joseph O'Connell, new instructor from Chicago, decided
to move the sculptors to the bee-house.
In the beginning of the semester Mr. O'Connell and his students began to work on the bee-house. They removed a section of the floor that had rotted and poured in concrete, tore away the plaster on the walls, and then ¦ installed new tables. Among the discarded antiques was an 1860 Fire King No. 31 Stove. It is
BUSY AS A BEE in the old bee-hive recently converted to a sculpture shop is Mr. Joseph O'Connell, who joined the art department faculty this year as instructor and resident sculptor.
doubtful whether any of the bees would now recognize their old home.
At present most of the students are working in wood. Oak, apple, and walnut and amaranth wood, which is imported from the Guianas, are their materials, while the chisel and mall are their tools. Many of the students have been working for three weeks and do not expect to complete their intricate designs for at least three or four more weeks. Patience, determination, a strong right arm and a vivid imagination are prerequisites in sculpturing.
By knocking out one of the interior walls, Mr. O'Connell hopes to expand and make room for clay and stone-work. Until more new benches arrive and the wall is eliminated the boys (five of them) work in an area of about 5 ft. by 7 ft., obviously not an ideal atmosphere for a temperamental sculptor.
The course in sculpture is the third feature of the three divisions of the art department. St. John's now offers the art student courses in two-dimensional design (painting and architecture) and three-dimensional structure (sculpture) besides the courses in basic history and appreciation of art.
Exactly what do the bees think of the whole situation? Some are bitter, some are still confused. If you happen to see a couple of bewildered bees buzzing around, have pity; they're either lost or homeless. And if 'you meet a sculptor with a few welts on his head, they're occupational hazards for St. John's sculptors.
