1952's 15th

On Friday, lune 21 many members of the Class of '52 engaged in a dialogue with a group of leaders from the black community. Under the banner of Great Issues Updated these group sessions resulted in a certain new awareness of some of the many problems faced in a divided urban populace.

As a result of this and some homework by Alan Reich the class meeting on Saturday, June 22 became a time of commitment to an active involvement in the problems of the times. Thanks to the prodding of retiring chairman Boyle, Reich, Bud Sawyer,Kayo Cox and others, it was resolved that the new executive committee is enjoined: 1) to urge upon the college administration a program of dialogues, such as that held on Friday, around the nation; and 2) to discuss and decide on. a program for class participation in the uphill struggle for understanding between the white and black communities.

It was a purposeful and serious meeting and let us all hope that we will look back on this 15th Reunion as the time when the Class faced up to its responsibility as a considerable force for social good.

The rest of the weekend was quite jolly despite the weatherman. George Hibben and his reunion staff did a marvelous job of arranging for accommodations, uniforms ('52 tee shirts for boys, sailor hats for girls), entertainment for kids as well as grown-ups, and food.

The turnout in terms of classmates was somewhat disappointing in that only 153 of them showed up. But there were over 100 wives and more than 160 kinder, so there were over 400 bodies present — a record for the Class. But we failed, for the first time, to win an attendance cup of any kind.

The Friday evening festivities featured a groovy, though aging, rock group. It played at the class cocktail party before the alumni dinner in the Leverone Fieldhouse, and didn't give up afterwards until the early hours of Saturday.

A couple of the features of this party were Betty Schiffenhaus' loose-hipped fruging and .Tim Flom's invention of a new dance called "The Header."

Gene Teevens carried the celebration through to Saturday unbroken.

As mentioned before, Reunion Chairman Hibben's only failure was the weather. The Class was rained out of its picnic with '53 and '54 which was to be held at Storrs Pond. To add insult to the injury Mr. Weather dragged the sun out of hiding just as the first members of the Class were queueing up for their grilled burgers at the substitute camp grounds under the eaves of Leverone Fieldhouse. Still it was a success as the aggregate of ten hamburgers-hot dogs consumed by the two Blakemore boys will attest.

For some of us then it was off for a little sack time before traipsing across to Thayer Hall for the '52 Banquet.

Retiring chairman Boyle introduced the new class officers as follows: President, John Barto; Secretary, Gene Teevens; Head Agent Ed Finerty; Treasurer, Roy Abbot; with the Newsletter Editor yet to be announced. But the M.C. of the evening E.John Rosenwald exhibited such a wit that it is hoped Chairman Barto can prevail on him to accept that post.

The rest of the evening was taken up with dancing and/or general carousing back at Leverone Fieldhouse and, of course, an informal gathering at the '52 tent

Highlight of this was a good old-fashioned songfest with Mrs. Trautwien at the piano and Teevens leading the singers. This one lasted into the wee hours too, for the keg had not run dry with the inevitable rising of the sun over Balch Hill.

Sunday was a time of gathering up and going home. It was a rather gray day and people seemed to take a cue from this to get an early start home.

It was a good reunion. The kids especially enjoyed it. They swam in the new Olympic-size pool at the gym, saw many cartoons, played many organized games.

Yep. It was a good reunion. But how could it be anything else when '52 gets together?

RETIRING CLASS SECRETARY