of such other members of the faculty as shall be elected by the unanimous vote of the active student members,
provided that no more than one faculty member be elected each year.
In 1931-32, for example, its faculty membership included; Dr. Joseph Rowe, president of the
College; Dean John A. Ross, Jr.; Dean Frederick C. Wilson; Professors Carl Michel, Lucius
Russell, A. Raymond Powers, Truman Hamlin, Charles Hecker, and Donald Kennedy.
This society merged with Tau Beta Pi on December 4, 1941, when Clarkson became the
76th chapter of Tau Beta Pi, national engineering honor society that had begun at Lehigh
University in 1885. (See 1941) It remains one of the nation's most important honor societies,
along with Phi Beta Kappa in liberal arts, Sigma Xi in scientific research, and Phi Kappa Phi in
all academic fields of university scope. Clarkson also has chapters of the latter two.
Intercollegiate Athletics.
In January, William Farrisee represented Clarkson at a meeting at the
University Club in Utica to form the New York Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Delegates
to the conference represented Hamilton, Rochester, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, St.
Lawrence, Hobart, Niagara, Buffalo, and Clarkson. Final approval occurred in February, as the
group agreed basically to adopt and modify the Ohio Athletic Conference constitution and rules
to suit the needs of New York teams.
Student Events.
In April, the Athletic Board of Control was first organized to oversee all
athletic events. In May, Jerry Akins formed the Clarkson College Band; its members always
performed wearing tuxedos. Students again were given the week off during November to work
on the athletic field.
Lambda Iota Ball.
The Lambda Iota Ball held in the Civic Center on April 17, 1925, was rated
as one of the best of the decade. At 8:30 p.m., the reception took place followed by the grand
march at nine o'clock. Music provided by the Prince of Wales Orchestra supplied excellent
support. It had the shortest pauses between dances, the best music, and the fewest repetitions of
songs that anyone attending could remember.
Requiring 15 hours to put up, the decorations significantly helped set the atmosphere for
the dance. From each ceiling lamp, 15 streamers were hung, curving gracefully to the walls.
The chandeliers themselves were lined with rose and were enclosed in alternating red and white
tassels. Interwoven red and white paper ribbon latticework enclosed the balcony, as was the
orchestra pit with arched openings every few feet, and a canopy of red and white streamers.
Two of the three fraternity owls were placed on the mantlepiece; the third on the wall. The
fraternity emblem, a large onyx shield surrounded by 20 pearl lamps set in gilt, hung over the
middle door. Floor lamps, lounges, and easy chairs completed the furnishings for the hall.
At the close of the grand march, programs and favors were distributed. The men's
programs consisted of a gray leather folder with the Lambda seal and 1925 embossed on the
front. The ladies' programs were paper inserts in small silver folders of intricate design and
bearing the Lambda seal.
Dancing until midnight, the couples paused for refreshments of salad, sandwiches,
coffee, rolls, ice cream, and cake. Then, thoroughly refreshed, they resumed dancing until three
o'clock. Someone passed the hat to collect money for the orchestra to continue playing, and it
did. At four a.m., the patronesses, Mrs. Brooks, Trayser, Hamlin, Piper, and Farrisee, and the
other guests, brought the evening's pleasures to an end.
