SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1941 YMCA, Known as the "Y”, Holds Coveted Spot in Aggies’ Heart Ask any Aggie what the out standing single organization for do ing good is on the campus and he will answer, “The Y. M. C. A.” For the “Y,” as it is commonly known, truly holds a coveted spot in Aggie hearts. The Y. M. C. A. at A. & M. is controlled by a hoard of directors consisting of a dean, three faculty members, and the secretary of the association. This body employs the personnel, approves the program, TODAY ONLY SAT. PREVUE SUN. - MON. ►draws up the budget, and directs the policies of the organization. The Y program puts special em phasis on work with freshmen. A freshman .cabinet of 200 members meets weekly for socials, informal discussions, and inspirational talks. In the fal la series of discussion groups is conducted by faculty members for the freshmen in the dormitory rooms. These discussions on campus problems give the fresh men a chance to become better ac quainted with the faculty members and to share their problems with them. A senior cabinet, composed of approximately sixty upperclassmen selected for their leadership, char acter, and Christian principles is responsible for the formation and execution of the Y. M. C. A. pro gram. Each year before the opening of school the Y sends the Student’s Handbook to all boys who have in dicated their intention of enroll ing at A. & M. for the first time. This handbook contains informa tion concerning the college and its organizations which is very help ful to new students. The Y. M. C. A. operates four shows a week in the Assembly Hall besides a free show each Sun day afternoon. The pictures are the very best obtainable but are run somewhat later than the cur rent release. Two buildings and a dormitory lounge are operated by the organization. The Y proper is located in the heart of the campus and many of the student activities center about it. It conains bowling alleys, billiard tables, ping pong, dominoes, and checkers. Copies of twelve daily newspapers are avail able for students to read. Another building is maintained near the new dormitories for the conven ience of students in that area. The Kiest Lounge is a special reception room for parents and guests. The Y. M. C. A. staff consists of M. L. Cashion, recently honored Congratulations! \ Campus Theater “Serving the Texas Aggies” To the Class of '42 Date: May 12-13-14 Place: Uniform Tailor Shop Occasion: To Order Famous Lucchese Boots. Lucchese Boots are pace setters because for 58 years Lucchese has made each boot better than the last one. The Perfect Ankle Break Boot LUCCHESE BOOT CO. 101 W. Travis San Antonio THE BATTALION Signal Corps Seniors’ Favorite At a banquet before the Composite Regiment Ball which the entire Signal battalion attended, the seniors of the Signal Corps presented a Savage .300 rifle to Sgt. Ross F. Snider (above), who has been stationed at A. & M. for some years aiding in instruction of Signal Corps military science. Below is the plaque on the butt of the gun which bears the proper inscription. Senior Ring, Tradition Bound in Design and Uses, Is Ever-Visible Identification of Aggie Graduates The massive Aggie senior ring, that ever visible characteristic of an A. & M. graduate, is so tra dition bound in both its design and uses that the origins of some of the designs have almost been lost. But the meanings themselves re main with their full symbolism, having only become stronger through the years. For embodied in that ring are symbols of everything that this school stands for. The entire ring stands for much more and its wearing denotes traditions that Aggies hold dear. Cast of heavy yellow gold, the shanks and crown of the ring bear base relief cuts of symbols ingrained in the history of this school. By its appearance and what it represents, an Aggie graduate is constantly reminded of the four years he spent here. On the right shank of the heavy rings are military symbols with which every Aggies has been asso ciated. The regulation army rifle, the barrel of an old artillery field piece, and an officer’s saber are crossed through their centers. These three weapons are superim posed on the crossed staves of the flags of the two political sovereign ties which their force of arms may have to defend—the United States and the State of Texas. The left shank contains figures which designate the school as a Texas institution. The state seal of the radiating star, surrounded by a wreath of olive and oak branches, is placed on this side, also super imposed on the two flags. A heavily carved spread eagle Texas Forest Service Emphasizes Conservation of Texas Timberlands “Service” to the farmer, to the- large timberland owner, to the for est industries, to forest communi ties and to other forestry interests in Texas is the driving principle behind the Texas Forest Service, a division of A. & M. college. Conservation is the key-word in the service rendered by the Forest Service. The thousands of acres of beautiful and useful timberlands of this state must not only be pre served and protected from fires and exploitation, but also wisely used, in order that they can be bet ter cut into products useful to mankind. •silvicultural research, over 30 dif ferent projects are underway in protection, management, nursery practice, plantations and genetics. The Service has established a division of forest products research erecting a well equipped laboratory at Lufkin from which to carry on this special research activity. This division will seek to work out new and better methods in the manu facture of forest products and to find new uses for present commer cial tree species and for the many other Texas trees which now have little or no commercial value. with a shield on its breast, part of the seal of the United States, is on the crown of the ring. The eagle is perched on the numerals of the year of the student’s grad uation, this year the figure 41. In a circle around the eagle are the words “A. & M. College of Texas, 1876.” To add a further militaris tic appearance, each shank is sep arated at its base from the finger hand by two inverted service chev rons. Besides the symbolism of the designs, the wearing of the com plete ring has rock-bound tradition behind it. Each student purchases his ring during his senior year at the college and wears it during that year with the graduation nu meral on the top, for the numeral turned down signifies graduation. The ceremony of turning the ring around also is bsed on tradition. The Senior Ring dance, “the” dance of the year for prospective grad uates, is always held the week end of Mother’s Day. Every senior has his mother and his date come down to the college for the festivities. At the senior banquet, the cadet and his date step into a huge rep lica of the ring. The girl then re moves the ring, turns it around, and the couple embrace before step ping down to dance. Added meaning of the ring is shown by the fact that for the past two years the senior classes have used the crown of the ring as favor pins for senior dates, and this will probably be continued. Yet the ring has not always had all of the designs on it that it now contains, although there have been There are eleven and a quarter million acres in East Texas under the protection of the Forest Ser vice, where, out in the piny woods, 72 lookout towers hold vigilant forestmen. Fires can be quickly located by these lookout towers, so that fire fighting crews can control their damage. Main protection headquarters are located at Luf kin. Congratulations Timber cutting demonstrations and field meetings are held in many parts of the piney woods to show the owners how to manage their timber for profit. Educational as sistants with motion picture trucks give lectures and shows to thou sands of school children and grown ups each year. Surveys of timber tracts are made and cooperation is offered wood working industries. Five State Forests managed by the Texas Forest Service are used as field laboratories for research and demonstration. In the field of PALACE, QUEEN, AND DIXIE THEATERS for his fifteen years of service at A. & M., General Secretary; J. Gordon Gay and Alfred Payne, As sistant Secretaries; and R. D. Low- rey, Business Secretary. If you come to A. & M. you’ll like the Y. Bryan Page 3 no major changes in its appear ance. Prior to 1935 the field piece on the right shank was placed across the top. The chevrons were not on the ring, nor was the circle containing the printing. All these changes have added to the beauty of the ring. E. E. McQuillen, secretary of the former student’s association, ap pointed a committee in 1935 which ♦ , The Tools Your Eyes Work With Be sure they’re up-to-date and efficient. The glasses prescribed for you here by a Registered Op tometrist will help your eyes do better work. made these changes and made pro visions for the distribution of the rings. The coveted rings can only be ordered through the registrar’s office, which accepts orders only from classified seniors. With such a history based on tradition which covers every part of the ring, it is easy to under stand why it is the former Aggie’s most valued possession. DR. J. W. PAYNE Bryan 109 S. Main f > The YMC.A. WELCOMES YOU to A. & M. College The Y.M.C.A. is always open for your use. Come by and see us. MOVIES - BOWLING - PING-PONG OTHER RECREATION Assembly Hall TODAY ONLY - 6:45 & 8:30 The Clever “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” with CAROLE LOMBARD and ROBERT MONTGOMERY SPORTS - MICKEY MOUSE MONDAY and TUESDAY 3:30 and 6:45 P. M. ACTION! THRILLS! DRAMA! “High Sierra” Featuring IDA LUPINO and HUMPHREY BOGART —and— CARTOON — ORCHESTRA — NEWS —