CORNELL ALUMNI NEW JUNE 19, 1941 VOLUME 43 NUMBER 33 Thank You Cornellίans! K|OT in ten years has Cornell been so generously supported with contributions ίrom her alumni as in these last few weeks. Since the first of May you have kept the Alumni Fund office staff busy receiving and acknowledging your gifts for the University and its work. Such a fine record in these troubled times is unquestionably the result of untiring efforts by the 1500 Cornellians on Class committees all over the country who are loyally at work acquainting their Classmates with the urgent needs of Cornell. This simple message is to thank you all — Class workers and you who have contributed — for your generous support of your University. CORNELL ALUMNI FUND COUNCIL Executive Committee For 1940-41 In spite of the fine record thus far, not as many Cornellians have yet con? tributed to the Alumni Fund as in some previous years. To make this year's Fund the best yet, eleven days remain before the books are closed June 30. If your gift has not been mailed, your check with this coupon, Christopher W. Wilson '00, President sent now, will be credited to your Class total in this year's Fund. Walter C. Heasley, Jr. '30, Executive Sec'y Willis H. Carrier Όl Julian A. Pollak '07 Harold T. Edwards ΊO Here is My Gift of $ Jansen Noyes ΊO Katherine R. Buckley Όl To the Cornell Alumni Fund Robert P. Butler '05 Edward E. Goodwillie ΊO Harold L. Bache Ί6 Name- Class Henry W. Roden '18 Roger W. Hooker '21 Caesar A. Grasselli '22 Address Walter W. Buckley '26 Bertel W. Antell '28 Make checks payable to Cornell University; attach to this blank and mail to Cornell Alumni Fund, 3 East Avenue, Ithaca, N. Y. CORNELL ALU NEWS Subscription price $4 a year. Entered as second class matter, Ithaca, N. Y. Published weekly during the college year and monthly in July and August VOL. XLIII, NO. 33 ITHACA, NEW YORK, JUNE 19, 1941 PRICE, 15 CENTS UNIVERSITY GRADUATES LARGEST CLASS President Day Calls for Firm Decisions as America Faces Its Destiny Seventy-third Commencement of the continental Europe. Heavy seas rake the bow called for deliberate national conviction and University, June 16, brought to the Class and make progress at the moment well nigh determined national policy, that time is now. impossible. Leaking seams let water into the One and all, we have no option but to take a of '41 a larger number of degrees than hold and give us a sense of uneasiness about the stand and to initiate an appropriate course of in any previous year. The Campus was seaworthiness of our vessel. The ship pitches action. crowded with parents and friends, and and rolls; the propellers occasionally race in the If such a stand and course are to be firmly some 5,000 braved rain to fill the seating air and shake the hull from stem to stern. The based, they must rest upon three prior consider- engines are slowed far below their potential ations: first, a determination or the essential capacity of Barton Hall for the cere- power. The port of destination is known to all: values in terms of which individually and col- monies. To the flower-decked platform it is the Port of Peace on the well-known Con- lectively we propose to spend our lives; second, marched the Trustees and Faculty in color- tinent of Liberty. But the course to be steered an understanding of the bearing of present ful academic hoods, between standing in safely reaching this port is exceedingly dif- world forces upon these essential values of ficult to determine. Dangerous shores lie all ours; third, a clear-cut formulation of our own rows of graduates garbed in somber black. about. Raiders range the open sea. The storm individual roles in the evolving social order An orchestra led by George L. Coleman may become even worse; its duration .cannot through which further progress in our time '95 accompanied the singing of " Amer- be predicted. Under these conditions it is not has to be effected. ica," and the invocation was pronounced surprising that on the bridge of the ship there First, we must take a position as to what is manifest indecision. values in life make it worth the living. Some by the Rev. John D. W. Fetter, who is Destiny has a way of overcoming indecision. people try to avoid this issue, but this just completing twenty-five years as Baptist It does not long tolerate vacillation. Sooner or cannot be done. A position as to ultimate student pastor. later, and frequently soon, it forces the issue. values has to be taken by every living soul; if President Edmund E. Day conferred de- Right now, America is facing destiny. The the position is not thought through, it still is immediate need is for decision and action. But lived through. The only question is, will you grees upon the candidates, presented by it must not be ill-considered decision nor im- take your position thoughtfully and prayer- their respective Deans: Robert M. Ogden petuous and frenzied action. If any time ever fully, or will you take it heedlessly and cal- Όo, Arts and Sciences; Carl E. Ladd Ίi, lously? Each one of you in due course will make Agriculture and Home Economics; Wil- answer to that question. liam A. Hagan, MS '17, Veterinary; Gil- DEGREES GRANTED 1940-41 Individuals Must Answer more D. Clarke '13, Architecture; S. C. First June Feb. Sept. Total In essence, your answer will look in one of Hollister, Engineering; and George H. Degrees: 1941 1941 1940 two directions: the material and self-indulgent, AB 331 35 14 380 or the spiritual and altruistic. These are the Sabine '03, Graduate School. 1 BChem 31 3 opposite poles of human striving. At the one President Addresses Graduates BS(Agr.) 150 2-7 II 2.88 pole lie sensuousness, selfishness, force, brutal- BS(H.E.) no 7 4 12.1 ity, war, oppression, exploitation, arrogance, Reminding the Class of 1941 that he 1 BS(Hotel) 63 5 3 7 treachery, indifference to individual hopes and too was completing four years at Cor- DVM 38 38 ambitions, claims of racial superiority, the nell, President Day said that these are BArch 9 12. dictatorship of the party or of the State. At the times that call for firm decisions, both BLA i other pole lie peace, kindliness, helpfulness, BFA 2. by the nation and by individuals. His considerate cultivation of human aspirations, CE 4 a will to alleviate human pain and distress, a address follows: BCE 19 2.2. passion for universal justice, a continuing The company of young graduates I face on ME 8 9 sense of human brotherhood, an unswerving this occasion is a company toward which I BME 40 4° belief in common folk: in the people. America EE 8 have special feelings. The Class of 1941 entered 13 has long since taken its stand as between these Cornell University, as I did, in 1937. Its in- BEE 15 15 opposite poles of ideal and purpose in human BSinAE 56 61 dividual members over the last four years have affairs. As a people we abhor what is mean and ChemE 16 had to learn, as I have had to learn, to meet a 17 cruel and treacherous, even if it is perpetrated wide variety of tests, to develop a wide variety in the name and for the glory of the State. But Total looi 87 42, 1130 of new capacities. Together we have had to do it is time we reaffirmed this belief of ours in no our best to grow in wisdom and in skill; in all- Advanced Degrees: uncertain terms. On the issue of authoritar- ianism versus democracy there can be no com- round individual stature. The fact that we are AM 35 6 2.4 65 promise. As individuals and as a nation we here gathered together affords evidence that in AM in Educ.... 2. 2. must put first things first. We believe in free- a measure we have succeeded. True, the record MS 39 2.2. 32. 93 dom, yes; but in freedom with a purpose, with is not all that it might have been. Another MS in Educ 8 i 17 2.6 a responsibility. For freedom is not an end in time, we could make it better. But upon the MS in Agr 13 i 4 18 itself. It is* but a necessary condition to a whole, I think we may view our accomplish- MArch i i worthy and ennobling way of life. The great ments together over these four years with MS in Eng 8 15 13 privileges we Americans enjoy—if you will, genuine satisfaction. Certainly we may now MCE 2. 3 5 the racial and other superiorities we Ameri- reasonably claim that we of 1941 have together MME 2. 2. cans possess—give us no license to conquer and at last become certified Cornellians. MChemE i i to exploit. Instead, they put us under great The period during which we have been as- LLB 52. 52. sociated on this high Campus has been one of obligations to cooperate and to serve. "Above LLM i i all nations, stands humanity." God grant that appalling external disturbance. Inside the PhD 90 2.3 54 167 we may keep this country of ours still in free- University, accustomed ways have been sub- MD 63 63 stantially maintained; the experiences here dom and in humane service the hope of all mankind.