American Universities and Colleges:
Stan Cartin, Al Gratton, Ed Fiesinger, Bill Chase, and Len
Dover.
Faculty Changes.
Dr. Chester Buxton joined the faculty to teach mathematics. He came to
Clarkson from Case School in Cleveland. Archie Sutherland retired after teaching shop at
Clarkson for 35 years. He was replaced by Mr. Tyler who had graduated from Watertown High,
received advanced training at the New York State Merchant Marine Academy, and had served
with the Grace Passenger Ship Line.
Freshmen Pledging Rules.
To protect the freshmen from undue pressure, the Interfraternity
Council modified rushing rules. No longer could pledge pins be handed out within the first 24
hours that a freshman was in town. No freshman could be rushed for the first six weeks of the
fall semester. During the seventh week, however, freshmen could be rushed by the fraternities
at parties, dinners, and smokers.
Football.
Clarkson played a seven-game schedule, opening against Syracuse in Syracuse on
October 1. Then, in Potsdam, the team faced Niagara at Niagara Falls; Boston University in
Watertown; Ithaca College; Hartwick; and Alfred; and closed the season against St. Lawrence
at Canton on November 13. Syracuse defeated Clarkson 26-6, as did Niagara 28-6, and Boston
U. 35-2. Clarkson broke the losing streak, however, by overturning Ithaca 13-7 and continued
its winning ways by outscoring Hartwick 14-2. Facing an undefeated Alfred team on Saturday,
November 6, Clarkson fought bravely but lost 12-6.
At the Wednesday convocation before the St. Lawrence game, Dr. Seelye, president of
SLU, spoke to Clarkson students on the subject of sportsmanship in the upcoming football
contest between the two rivals. His opening words carried the full impact of his address:
I don't care what happens on Saturday when the men of Clarkson face the men of St. Lawrence because
whatever happens, win, lose, or draw, it will all be forgotten in the next 12 months. What I am primarily interested
in is what those men, both in uniforms and not in uniforms, will be doing in the battle of civilization 10 or 15 years
from now. What takes place then cannot be washed away in a few months but leaves a stain on the memories of
civilization for a lifetime.
Second Generation at CCT.
Seven second-generation students attended Clarkson in the fall of
1937, including one set of brothers. Gerald F. Cain and Morrison Cain, Jr., of Kenmore, entered
in the Class of 1941. Their father, Morrison Cain, Sr., graduated in 1911. Robert Danforth
Walser was the son of Lena Eliza Danforth, Clarkson 1907, a member of the last group of
women majoring in domestic science. Richard H. Morse was the son of Glenn Morse '11, the
secretary of the Board of Trustees. John Dart, Class of 1941, was the son of William A. Dart,
1914, professor of electrical engineering at Clarkson. Nelson Ward Smith, Jr., of Adams, was
the son of Nelson Adams, Sr., Class of 1912. William Perkins of Ithaca was the seventh of
second generation students; his father, Byron Perkins, graduated in 1916.
Pre-game Bonfire.
Hoping to keep alive the winning streak against the Larries by a rousing
show of support of the football team, the annual bonfire celebration began with over 200
students meeting in front of Old Main at 7:30 on a chilly Friday, November 12. Even though
appearing in the required pajamas over warm clothes, the freshmen soon got into the swing of
the evening by joining the rest of the Techers in trying to invade the sorority houses of
