SECTION TWO Freshman Edition Number 1: Volume 51 The Battalion PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF A GREATER A&M COLLEGE COLLEGE STATION (Aggieland), TEXAS, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1950 SECTION TWO Freshman Edition Price: Five Cents S *asic Division Offers Counsel, New Guidance By L. 0. TIEDT When the Class of 1952 first entered A&M, its membership was near 1,300. By the end of its fresh man year, well over 100 had dropped out. By the end of its sophomore year, however, the class had dwindled to slightly more than 900. These figures give much weight to the argument that, although the freshman year may have been more or less successfully conquer ed, during the second year—when individualized courses are met—the class’ number falls terrifically. This loss of enrollment has been attributed to a number of causes, some qf which include lack of per sonal application, perspective and sound objectives. Should Improve School administrators believe the Basic Division, beginning at the college this fall, will solve many, if not all, of these prob lems. The Division was established when school officials began to real ize the necessity of aiding stu dents who were unsure of their ob jectives in college. Too many students problems went unobserved until the student’s grades were such that his year had been wasted and he lacked inita- tive to re-attempt what had been lost the previous year. The Basic Division’s program has been divided into two general classifications for aiding- freshman students. They are for individual guidance and group guidance. Of the two, group guidance plans will be the more important to the entire class, as more stu dents will receive its benefits. Three Counsellors For individual guidance, three counsellors and the dean of the division, all professionally exper ienced with helping students solve their problems; Will be on hand. Five dormitory counsellors will also aid the more practiced coun sellors in deciding which of the students in their respective dormi- lories need individual aid and guid- ).nce. Other members of the faculty will serve under the Division’s or ganization jn presenting the pro gram of Freshman Orientation to the class. Those members of the faculty selected to aid in the Basic Division’s program will pre sent the aspects of the different schools, the college and its func tions, and methods of operation. According to John R. Bertrand, dean of the Basic Division, weekly classes will be set up for the dorm itory counsellors and faculty ad visers to give them added training- in student psychology and gui dance. Orientation Class.es Under the present set-up for Freshman Orientation classes, stu dents will attend classes in large groups in the Assembly Hall. Other sections, much smaller in size and comprised of students who have decided their choice of a major will also be organized. In these sections, faculty advisors will explain the aspects of the school which the student has se lected. If a student, after learning the broad potentialities of one of the four schools, Agriculture, Engin-1 eering, Arts and Sciences, andj Veterinary Medicine, wishes to change majors from one school to another, he may do so. He may immediately change to an orienta tion section of the school of his I new selection. However, he must end the se mester before changing courses. In | the past, a student changing ma jors from one school to another would lose credit for certain cour ses not required in his new curri culum. No Hours Lost Under a plan worked out by of ficials of the Basic Division, deans of all schools will accept courses taken in either of the other schools as advanced electives in that par ticular school. That way, students need not be afraid that they will lose valuable hours by changing- majors. A remedial reading program headed by one of the Division’s counsellors has been set up to aid either slow readers or students who are unable to interpret what they read. Part of this training will be given on the individual basis, while other parts will em phasize guidance on group levels. The operation and function of the Basic Division are ably com bined in its aims: ® to give first year students closer supervision than is ordin arily given. • to assist students who have not definitely decided on a field of study in making this decision during their first year of college work. • to give beginning college students the benefit of guidance by people professionally trained to operate a guidance program. • to supply the various schools of the college with a highly se lected group of students fully pre pared to carry on specialized train ing necessary for a profession and outstanding citizenship. New Memorial Student Center Begins Operations This Week By BILL MEBANE With the doors of the Memorial Student Center opening for Fresh man Week, the Class of 1954 will be the first class to use the Cen ter. The modern completely air- conditioned building represents many long hours of planning and construction. From the time ground-breaking ceremonies were held two years until now, the Center has grown from a mass of brick and steel to a beautiful piece of architecture. On September. 20, 1948, a dream long on paper became an actuality. President F. C. Bolton turned the first spade of dirt and construction began. Stark Began MSC Work 3 Years Ago Oceanography Course ins on Full-Scale Begi By FRANK DAVIS Offering a complete curriculum for the first time, the newly-estab lished Oceanography Department marked a year of preparatory work and planning yesterday as Dr. Dale F. Leipper’s appointment as head of the department became effec tive. When the idea for an Oceanog raphy Department was realized in September of 1949, the problem of organizing the department fell upon the shoulders of Dr. Leipper, then acting head of the depart- nient. After spending the Fall semes ter surveying the field, Dr. Leip per began releasing plans for the complete curricula as early as Jan uary 16. The curricula which puts oceanography on its feet at A&M, is now in effect. The department had been auth orized by the Board of Directors January 14, when the group met in regular session on the campus. Although the complete curricula had not been readied, two com-ses for graduate and advanced under graduate students were offered during the Spring semester. They were Introduction to Oceanography 401 and Geological Oceanography 431. Several years ago when swarms of oysters were dying on the Texas const, A&M’s Research Foundation, Dr. John R. Bertrand Dean of the Basic Division Hello there! It is good to know that you have joined us here at the A&M College of Texas. This year promises to be an eventful one in our lives. It is essential that you and the rest of us use every opportunity in making the year one during which we live fully, happily and soundly. Several years ago, printed on the back of our college catalogue here, were these words by Milton, “I call therefore a complete and generous education that which fits a man to perform justly, skillfully and magnanimously all of the offi ces, both private and public, of peace and war.” When I was your age these words had a deep meaning for me, even though conditions existing then made it impossible for me to become a Texas Aggie. These words have remained with me and, since these continue to b^ troubled times, I want to pass them on to you at the beginning of your college train ing in an institution made famous by its citizen-soldiers. What the future holds, no one can say with surety. It is known, however, that independence of thought, independence of person and independence of economy are three elements precious to our national heritage. These are also elements v/hich you need to develop and maintain in your own person. Students, former students and faculty of the A&M Col lege of Texas are anxious to help you do this. You are a member of the first entering class in four years to be on the main campus. All of us are happy that you are here. Yours is the first class to enroll in the Basic Division which was established to serve you. Well trained and understanding men are available to you for counseling and guidance purposes. However, this great school and these men, while they are sincerely anxious to serve you, can not think, make decisions or act for you. Only you can do these things for yourself. Use all of us at the A&M College of Texas as you think and act for and by yourself. Use us to help you prepare yourself to “perform justly, skillfully and magnanimously all the offices, both private and public, of peace and war.” I hope that you will let me be your good friend. Sincerely yours, John R. Bertrand Dean, The Basic Division By FRANK DAVIS “For his consistently conscien tious work and visionary planning on the Memorial Student Center,” J. Wayne Stark, director of the MSC, received one of the five an nual Battalion Awards given for 1950. Stark came to A&M as director of the Student Center in October of 1947. At that time the ground had not been broken for the new building. His job at that time was to work with the A&M System architect on plans for the Center, and to plan the business and social de partments of this center. In December of 1947 he nego tiated for the school the purchase of the equipment of Casey’s and George’s and r'enovated the stores during the Christmas Holidays. Opened Confectioneries On Jan. 4 the stores opened un der the management of the Mem orial Student Center. The purpose of these transactions was to use these businesses as “pilot plants” for the services that would be important in the Mem orial Student Center. Also, it was aimed to hire a nucleus of managerial personnel for the future Center, to establish bookkeeping and accounting pro cedure, to establish purchasing channels and selling policies, and to gain knowledge of Student Cen ter operations. Studied Other Centers During April of 1948, Stark made a comprehensive study of associate editor of The Battalion for two years, club editor of the Longhorn for one year, president of the Glee Club, and president of the Biology Club. Following his graduation from A&M, Stark entered the University of Texas where he attended law school for two years. While at the University he was elected editor of the yearbook “The Cactus”, but held office only a few weeks before he was inducted into the Army. He was the first independent edi tor (belonging to no fraternity) at the University of Texas in 21 years. Better yet, he was the first Aggie to ever have held a major office on the Texas University campus. Army Officer In June of 1941 he entered the Army and served in an anti-air craft unit for approximately three years. The next two and a half years he spent in the general staff as assistant G'-3 in the V-ll Corps which made plans for and landed with the assault forces in Nor mandy. Stark was released from active duty as a major on Dec. 31, 1945 and presently holds the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Reserve Corps. During the action in Normandy, he served under the command of Lt. General “Lightnin’ Joe” J. Lawton Collins, now Army Chief of Staff. After Stark was discharged from the Army he was employed with the business and social aspects of the Gulf Atlantic Warehouse Corn- college centers, by visiting some of the nation’s best Student Centers. Student Centers at Purdue, Uni versity of Wisconsin, University of Minnesota, and University of Ill inois were visited. After returning from the trip, Stark continued to work with the architect before the building was started, making suggestions for possible changes. In the past two years, Stark and members of his staff have made similar trips to other schools, hotels, cafes, and department stores throughout the nation. Stark was graduated from A&M with a degree in liberal arts in 1939. His birth place was Lamesa, Tex. He attended public schools, and graduated from .high school, however, at Winters, Tex. While a student at A&M he was beginning a study of marine life in the Gulf Coast area, realized that trained oceanographers were need ed for this work. At that time, Scripps Institute at La Jolla, Calif., and Woodshole on the Atlantic coast were the only maor oceanography units operat ing. Letters from Dr. A. A. Jakkula, head of the Research Foundation, to high college and system officials pointed out the need for estab- (See OCEANOGRAPHY, Page 3) Three New Staff Members Named for Basic Division By LOUISE JONES j Chairman Seminar Committee Three guidance experts have; Ur. Jacobs is chairman of the been appointed to the basic divis-1 seminar committee of the New ion for the coming year. They i York Vocational Guidance Associa- are Dr. Robert Jacobs, Dr. Albert tion. He is a member of the Amer- J. Kingston, and Clifford H. Rans- j lean Psychological Association, Na- dell. Their appointment was an nounced by Dr. John R. Bertrand, dean of the new division. Dr. Jacobs will be administra tive assistant to Dr. Arthur E. Traxler, director of the Education Records Bureau, as director of counseling for the Basic Division. From Murphysboro, Ill., he was graduated with an Education de gree from Southern Illinois Uni versity. He received his master’s from the University of Illinois and his doctor’s degree from Wayne Uni versity. At present Dr. Jacobs is teaching at the University of Ar kansas. He has taught at Wayne University, Rutgers University, and the University of Alabama. tional Vocational Guidance Asso ciation, American Educational Re search Association, American As sociation for the Advancement of bachelor of science degree. Airforce Veteran Dr. Kingston, an air force vet eran, has served as training officer for the Veterans Administration assistant in the Remedial Reading Clinic at Cornell and vocational ap praiser of the Cornell Guidance Center. A native of Kenmore, Science, the National Council on I NY., he spent four years with Measurement, and Phi Delta Kap-! q'" tis-Wr.ght Aircraft Corpora- pa, education fraternity. He served | tl0 T r J - . , j, 4.1. xr 4.- i as a clinical psychologist in the Q He f is * me ™ be , r °f the National Army for three years and did re- Soc A i( *l { ° r u St ^ of Education, eonvN m nvnhm™ fnv ^ phl Uelta Kappa. He is mar- search in personnel problems for the Ford Motor Company. Dr. Jacobs, is married and has a boy, 8, and a girl, 3. Dr. Albert Kingston was named director of remedial reading for the Basic Division. He recently re ceived his PhD in applied psychol ogy from Cornell University and also received his master’s there. He was graduated from Buffalo State Teacher’s College with a ried. Mr. Ransdell has been appointed assistant to the dean of the Basic Division. He is an associate pro fessor of engineering drawing at A&M, and was formerly assistant to the dean of the college while heading the A&M Annex at Bry an Air Field this year. He has been on the staff of A &M since graduating from Texas Technological College in 1937. pany, subsidiary of the Anderson, Clayton and Company of Houston, until coming to A&M. While stationed in Hartford, Conn., in 1942 Stark married the former Miss Jean Stinson of Con roe, Tex. Mrs. Stark is a graduate in geo logy from the University of Texas. She received her degree in 1940, and was employed by the Humble Oil and Refining Company as eval uation engineer when they were married. Mr. and Mrs. Stark, living at 229 Milner, College Station, have two children. Their boy, John, is six years old, and they have a daughter, Sallie, seven months old. J. Wayne Stark This man receives our nomination for a free supply of headache powders. As director of the Memorial Student Center, Stark will coordinate work on both the “pay” and the “play” sides of the building’s operations. The 1939 A&M graduate has been working for the past three years to ready one of the country’s largest and most modern student centers. After winding up four successful years at A&M, Stark studied law for two years at the University of Texas. Criminal Capone Isn’t Only One Monterrey Park, Calif.—UP)— Citizens did a double take when the local paper informed them: “A1 Capone in gun business here.” But upon reading further they were reassured. A1 Capone, the item continued, is not related to the late notorious gangster; and merely opened, with peaceful in tent, a gun repair shop. W. J. Lawson, president of the Former Students Association in 1942-43, told of the history of plans for the building. He traced the plans back to a meeting in Dal las which began the raising of the required money. He recalled that $51,000 was gathered during the first year. President Bolton expressed his belief that the beginning of the foundations of the Memorial Stu dent Center would also begin the foundation of a closer union of those connected with A&M. The first spade-full of earth was placed in a dragline bucket which transferred it to a dump truck. The band played, the audience cheered, and the work began. Now it is fin ished. The physical portion is end ed, that is, while the operation of the MSC just begins. The Center is a combination of the dreams of thousands of ex-stu dents, students, faculty and staff members of the college. Students began this dream over a decade ago. The Classes of ’36 and ’37 left their funds to be given to the Center whenever it opened. They had enough belief in such a building and its purpose. Their gifts of money have been used to purchase buffet silver, which will be marked “Classes of ’36 and ’37.” Although there have been forms of “student centers” on the campus for years, the MSC will be the first building to meet the entire needs of the A&M student body. The YMCA and its staff have served the col lege faithfully for many years in its limited capacity, but as the size of the college increased, it be came unable to function sufficient ly for all the students. Director of the Center is J. Wayne Stark, who graduated from A&M in 1939. Stemming from his office, the Center’s activities are divided into two main divisions. One is a business department, which handles services such as the 66 air-conditioned guest rooms, the 32 rooms in the Aggieland Inn, a deluxe dining room serving 160, coffee shop seating 85, and a foun tain room for 200. This department also handles banquet rooms, the gift shop, bowl ing alley, barber shop, post office, and telephone center. This divi sion is headed by assistant director and business manager Chris F. Gent. The other division is the social and education department, lead by Mrs. Ann Hilliard, former Center director at the Annex. The social and cultural recrea tional program includes the brows ing library, and art program, craft shop, dark rooms for photography, record room, dance areas, and housing for the bulk of the meet ings for campus groups. Center to Organize Recreation Groups By BILL MEBANE A&M’s new Memorial Student Center will be a laboratory of government and citizenship, if plans made by the entire staff come true. At the Center, for example, a student may be exposed to art ex hibits, hobby studies, and many other forms of recreation—both mental and physical. He may be in spired by one of these activities, thus blending together cultural interests and daily living. Operation and maintenance costs of the center will come from mem bership fees, profits from its ser vices, and appropriations. The ap propriations, however, must come locally, since no state money is available for the operation and maintenance of the Center. Offices Planned Most of the planning work of the directorate will be performed in its offices in the west wing of the Center, in the Council Cham ber. The committees and clubs which will be a part of the MSC program include the art gallery, games committee, house committee, browsing library, crafts, photo- grapy, music, and dance commit tees. The house committee will be a group of students to organize re ceptions, coffee hours, and wel coming parties. They will be given a budget by the council. One scope of their activities will be to give receptions in which the students and faculty of a department can get together and get acquainted on a social basis. This committee will go to the head of a department, for example and invite all the members and their wives to the reception. Then through an open letter, all of the majors of that department would be invited. Mrs. Ann Hilliard, social direct or, will put badges on the com mittee members and the house committee will introduce the stu dents and professors and help create a common bond. The browsing library committee will have a budget to buy books each month for the browsing library. The library will be for, pleasure, not for study. Noted personalities will be in vited to give book reviews, to which the public will be invited. Expenses of the reviewer while in College Station will be taken care of by the committee. Art Lovers, Too The art gallery committee will be for those who wish to appreciate art. Mrs. Ralph Terry wlil be the advisor and will offer illustra tions several times a week. The committee plans exhibits of both their work and outside work. The games committee will be composed of sub-committees of majors of that department would be invited. the different games offered. For example last year the Bridge Com mittee won the regional finals of the Intercollegiate Bridge Tpuj- nament and were given a paid trip to enter the national finals in Chi- (See CLUBS, Page 6) Quit Reserve, Called To Navy Just the Same Temple, Tex.,—