Springfield College BULLETIN The Springfield College Bulletin is published four times per year in September, November, February, and May by Springfield College 263 Alden Street, Springfield, Mass., 01109. Second-class postage paid at Springfield, Mass. Editor Kenneth J. Wildes, Jr. '69 Associate Editor Sandra A. MacFadyen '73 Contributing Editors Howard M. Davis Brian J. Ladouceur Photography Mercury Studio Alumni Director Vernon W. Cox '44 Aillmni Flind Director Herbert B. Zenat}' '50 Alumni COllncil President Dr. John R. Savoia '59 Alumni F lind Chairman Robert I. Wakeley '48 Aillmni Tmstees Dr. Jack F. George' 37 V. Seeley Romaine '50 Dr. Michael A. West '65 Blllletin Editorial Advisor Dr. Edward J. Sims '51 Spriugfield College BULLETIN Volume 53, Number 1 Aruba. The name conjures up visions of sand, surf, bikinis, and a host of wonderful 'sun and fun' activities. Picture yourself on the white expansive beaches with that rich Caribbean sun beating down, tempered by warm zephyrs known as the trade winds. It's absolute heaven. Alas, our interest in the lovely island isn't 'pleasure.' You see, Aruba is the scene of a unique 'sports exchange' between Springfield and the Aruba Sports Elizabeth C. Zeiter '79 from Springvale, N. Y. Union; an exchange which has seen five of Springfield's most successful coaches and physical educators take time from their many and varied Springfield assignments to assist Roy Van Putten '60 in the task of training Aruban coaches and athletes. ARTICLES AND DEPARTMENTS This isn't Springfield's first 'hands across the water' experience in international 2 Aruba - Hands Across the Water physical education, but it may very well The 'returns' have yet to be officially tabulated, but it seems certain be among the most successful. that Springfield's latest international venture will be listed as an Brian Ladouceur, an accomplished unqualified success. feature-writer and photographer and my right-hand man for six years, visited Aruba in May. His assignment: stop, 7 Oh, Those Strawberries look, listen and file a series of 'reports' Reunion Weekend seems to get better with age - much like the grads based upon his experience. The first in who return to campus. Vern Cox reports on this year's record turnout. that series (which will include features in several nationally-known magazines) appears in this issue of the Bulletin. Undoubtedly, you've already noticed 11 Sports Desk Brian's cover photo. I encourage you to Howie Davis, our man on the 'sports scene' reports that '78 may be a take a moment to read his feature piece. I vintage year for Springfield's men's and women's teams. Here's the can't help but think you'll be excited latest along with a new sports update called, 'Athletic Hodge-Podge'. about what your Alma Mater is doing for the 60,000 inhabitants of Aruba. By the way, Brian was absolutely forbidden to come back to Springfield 14 'A Day Camp in Japan' with a tan. He failed. Vin and Susan Totero have brought an exciting day camping program to the 'land of the rising sun'. Here's a byline feature reprinted with permission from Camping Magazine. 19 Parade of the Classes There's a wealth of interesting material in this issue. Give us a few moments of your time and we'll bring you up-to-date on the latest Kenneth). Wildes, Jr., Editor alumni news from around the world. 1 has prompted the ASU to take a ". long hard look ..." at its sports pro­ grams, channeling some of its attention from traditional 'adult-oriented' prog­ ramming to 'yputh-oriented' activities. As the ASU went about upgrading athletic and recreational offerings and improving physical facilities (there were no youth playgrounds and only one little league field) on the island, the School di Deporte tackled its task of training lead­ ers to supervise these new youth activi­ ties. Van Putten and the ASU executive board felt their young people would best be guided by a corps of volunteers who, after an ". extensive training . ." process, would be ready to work with the island's young people. The problem: Training. Van Putten knew that realis­ tically, these volunteers - dedicated though they were - could not leave homes and jobs for extended periods of time to participate in 'study-abroad' pro­ fessional programs. He also knew the training - sound training - was essen­ tial to the success of the ASU youth They listened carefully and asked sound questions . .. effort. "As we considered the prospects, it made more and more economic sense to Aruba - Hands Across the Water bring the 'teachers to the students' for intensive 3D-day learning periods rather than send 25 (or more) students to Springfield for the longer periods of time It began just over a year ago as Roy Van PUllen '60 and his colleagues from Aruba - required to accomplish essentially the Dominico Fleming andJohannes Wauben - came to The United States to enlist the same goal," says Van Putten. support and assistance of Springfield faculty in a unique I hands across the ocean' And thus it was that Springfield fa­ program. culty began making their way to Aruba by Brian Ladouceur to conduct classroom sessions, prac­ ticum drills, and work with both the Charlie Roys and Diane Potter have the &hool di Deporce, which he directs island's volunteer corps of coaches, and 'touched base' there. for the Aruba Sports Union (ASU). many of the island's athletes. Jack Neumann gave them the 'run The &hool di Deporte is a relatively The 'marriage' has been ". ex­ around.' new venture for Aruba and the Sports tremely successful ..." Ken Klatka 'relayed' his thoughts. Union, the governing body for all ath­ "It's been very, very well received," Ed Bilik 'bounced around' a bit (and letic activity on this lovely resort island say Van Putten. "Springfield faculty then a bit more). located in the Netherlands Antilles, leave Aruba following the completion of And Charlie Smith plans to 'dive' in some 15 miles off the coast of Venezuela. their respective assignments, but leave later this year. Social and economic changes, due behind highly-trained volunteers whose All this activity has taken place in the largely to the continued growth of the expertise can be shared with hundreds of warm embrace of the tiny island of oil and tourist industries on the island, our young athletes for extended periods Aruba where Roy Van Putten '60 has have influenced and changed the at­ of time. ''I'm very pleased." brought the talent and expertise of these titude of its 60,000 residents on how to Springfield College faculty members to spend their leisure time. This, in curn, Continued on Page 3 2 Continued from Page 2 petitive," notes Van Putten. In time, he have excellent abilities, good speed, and feels, this will result in an overall im­ great desire. Couple this with more play­ Diane Potter '57 (associate professor provement in basic skills for the newly ing time and the insatiable desire for of physical education', SC's veteran trained Aruban coaches to build on. new strategies and techniques and it's softball mentor, got the ASU ball roll­ Coach Roys agrees. just a matter of time until they become ing with a low-key softball program. "There's a great deal of talent among high-calibre players." Charlie Roys '61, (associate professor of the young athletes on the island," he The" insatiable" desire of the Aruban physical education), newly named SC says. They just haven't had the technical coaches to learn and master new tech­ baseball coach, spent a month fine­ training to utilize it completely." Roys niques might be due, in part, to the tuning the skills of Aruban baseball adds that the young athletes are "very environment in which they are taught. coaches. coachable and their enthusiasm is con­ "If we sent our students to the States, Joggers became almost as familiar as tag ious. They respond very, very well." they no doubt would have felt somewhat Aruba's divi divi trees after Jack According to Coach Potter one of the overwhelmed in a classroom filled with Neumann '51 (associate professor of entities missing from the women's American physical education students, physical education) combined some softball program on the island is ". and would have pursued a somewhat conditioning training with his lectures quite easily obtained." 'passive' education, I'm sure," says Van on athletic administration. And, the Experience! Putten. ASU officials went out and 'jury-rigged' "The natural talent is there," she says, The experience in Aruba has th us far a track and field facility for SC track and but because the women's program is re­ been anything but passive according to field coach Ken Klatka's (assistan t pro­ ally just beginning, the skill level at this the 'Springfield Five' who have made fessor of physical education) '69 visit. time is predictably low . "The women their way there. And newly appointed varsity swim Continued on Page 4 coach (and associate professor of physical education) Charlie Smith '55 will, no doubt, make a 'big splash' when he jour­ neys to the island later this year. During their month-long stay, each of the SC coaches has been provided with a car, living expenses and an apartment. The majority of the coaching and train­ ing sessions take place at night and on weekends when the 'volunteers' are free to meet with them (it's also cooler). This arrangement allows time for 'island tours' to a variety of points of interest including the Natural Bridge, the Pi­ rate's Castle, the giant Lago oil refinery or the island's fabulous abandoned gold mine; and some well-deserved R&R with golfing, snorkling, sailing, water skiing, or just plain 'beaching it' high on the priority list.