Student Spectator
By NOEL YOUNG
Our first, and perhaps last,
wartime Easter holidays have
passed, happily uneventful.
Tile beaches, especially La¬
guna, became seasonal Coney
Islands, and the usual surre¬
alist portrait might be drawn
of sun lotions, chaotic beach
houses, dozing chaperones
and sand fleas.
Little changed on the surface,
but undercurrents did drift
about. Sun baskers often eyed
the listing ocean, more as a re¬
flex action, on lookout for a
periscope; many anxious par¬
ents demanded nightly checkup
phone calls; and girls put the
desirability of being caught in
a blackout at the head of their
list of prerequisites for an
Easter week date. Moreover,
war news was markedly shun¬
ned. The psychology of escaping
worldly vexations was foremost
in vacationers’ minds.
New this year, were the
service men. The ten-mile
stretch between Balboa and
Laguna teemed with hitch¬
hiking sailors and soldiers on
leave. Scarcely a house was
without uniformed guests,
most being alumni of the re¬
spective clubs.
And there were the defense
workers, of every shift, who
bolstered the ranks of pleasure
seekers. Dozens shuttled back
and forth from Lockheed, Doug¬
las and Vega to get in a few
hours’ respite at the beach. On
the whole they were staunch
men. Those on the day shift
would drive down in time for
dinner, partake an evening’s
late hour frivolity, and roll out
at dawn, ready for work after
four hours of slumber.
Cars were notably less prev¬
alent this year and Hender¬
son’s code for safe driving
was rather closely observed.
Traffic police accordingly had
an easy time of it. Not an un¬
common sight were tire-con¬
scious vacationists in full
beach regalia, trundling in
direction of the breakers, a
good mile or so away. They
had left their cars home.
There was one word the stu¬
dents will say in unison— that
the holidays afforded them a
welcome breather in the middle
of a tedious semester and gave
them an opportunity to return
with renewed vigor.
For many, Easter week
served dually— as spring and
summer vacations. With the
colleges inaugurating an all-
year schedule this June, there
will be little chance for an¬
other recess for a highly un¬
predictable period of time.
Fully realizing this, students
and defense workers alike
shoved war grievances onto
another planet last week and
strived nobly to simulate
peacetime conditions, the last
perhaps for many years.
It all was a tonic to a wor¬
ried people, and a heartened,
spirited group, such as they be¬
came, will immeasureably bolst¬
er the morale.
Twin Assembl ies
ROBERTA JOHNSON— Changes Role
Russian Stand Against
Germany In Forum Topic
Significance of the Russian stand against Germany on
her western front will be analyzed by Dr. Melborne Graham
in his talk at the Tuesday Evening Forum next week. His
talk will be entitled “The Fronts in Eastern Europe.”
ROTC In Army Parade
The first ROTC battalion and
30 Bulldog bandsmen paid their
respects to the U.S. Army last
Monday, parading alongside a
contingent of regulars and oth¬
er civic defense groups in an¬
nual Army Day demonstration.
Dr. Graham, professor of po¬
litical science at UCLA, has ap¬
peared in the Sexson Audito¬
rium before. He was among the
first in America to forsee the
magnitude of Hitler’s ambition
and to predict his policy of con¬
quest. His books deal chiefly
with Central and Eastern Eu¬
rope.
A Blue Ribbon: Debators
Return From Missouri
Bill Humphrey returned victorius from Excelsior Springs,
Missouri, after attending the Phi Rho Pi National Convention with
three other debators from PJC, where he tied for first place in a
panel discussion of the topic: “Churchill-Roosevelt Atlantic Char¬
ter.’’ A certificate of merit was presented to Bill upon winning this
distinction.
Monday morning the four debators returned to Pasadena from
attending the convention where 100 students from 20 schools
throughout the nation were present. Jim Redding, Bill Humphrey,
Carl Harford, and Betty Bloom, along with Mr .and Mrs. Reeder,
attended the convention. Two debate teams were formed, the girls
and the boys. Topic for this debate was: “Federal Control of La¬
bor.” There were six rounds of debate beginning March 30 and con¬
tinuing through April 2.
During the trip the group visited the Wentworth Military
Academy, the oldest west of the Mississippi. The debaors were
guests at a banquet and dance at the Academy.
Featured Today
Talent Show Held In Gym
Vocalists Occupy Stage
PJC’s vocal groups take the stage today, during the
weekly assembly period, to present a varied program of
modern, light numbers. While the assembly is progressing
in the auditorium, the class of ’45 will hold a talent show in
the men’s gym of both campuses.
Variations upon both popular and classical themes will
be treated by the school’s singers in the auditorium; those
Miss Rhythm
Reigns Over
Jam Session
Latest “Swing Serenade” hit,
Roberta Johnson was presented
to the Student Body last Wed¬
nesday as popular new music
queen “Miss Rhythm.” Chosen
from four contestants by the
East Campus Production Guild,
Roberta will reign over the
weekly swing program, serving
as official representative for
PJC music fans.
An 11-1, Queen Roberta is lit¬
erally “crazy about swing, danc¬
ing, and the stage.” A drama
major, she hopes to spread her
interest over sundry extra-cur¬
ricular fields while at PJC with
chief interest centered upon
dramatics.
Classes Observe
Pan-American Day
Classes in History of the
Americas will join the Pan-
American Union in celebration
of the 459th anniversary of the
discovery of the New World by
presenting a program in the
Odd Fellows Temple next
Thursday evening, April 16.
This will mark the ninth year
of observance of Pan-American
Day by PJC students who are
taking the Pan-American High¬
way as the theme for their pro¬
gram next week. Audience mem¬
bers will be taken along 17,000
miles in this stretch of roadway
from Fairbanks, Alaska, to Rio
de Janerio in Brazil and will
hear of the landscape and of
the activities of the people,
watch the colorful dances, and
listen to the Latin American
rhythms.
Daily Men's Gym Classes
Compulsory Next Sept.
Cooperating with the national
physical fitness program Wil¬
liam K. Dunn, director of ath¬
letics, announced that daily
physical education classes would
be required of all men starting
next semester. This is being
done in accordance with a na¬
tion-wide movement to prepare
all men for military service or
fortitude in defense industries.
No exceptions will be made to
this plan and the number of
units will remain the same. The
course of action is effective for
only the duration of the war
and then will return to its pres¬
ent status.
participating are A Cappella
Choir group, Nysaeans, Euter-
peans, and combined Men’s and
Women’s Glee Clubs.
As a special feature, Mr. Al-
sop of the American Red Cross,
has prepared a talk relative to
blood donations. The need for a
steady and increasing supply of
various blood types will be
stressed.
In charge of assembly details
is Mary Ellen Murchison, Sec¬
retary of Activities.
Purpose of the special talent
show is to introduce new class
officers and council members,
and to offer students opportu¬
nity for furthering acquaint¬
anceships. Tuck Menning, last
semester’s freshman president,
will be presented with a service
badge for work rendered. Plans
for future activities will be dis¬
cussed openly, with students ex¬
changing viewpoints.
Members of class of ’45 ,are
urged to attend the show by
reigning president, Vinnie Heu-
blein, to do “their bit” for the
class.
'Go Native*
Dance Tonight
Tonight students may “go
native” at Sequoias’ annual open
dance. Tropical moonbeams, or
at least their semblance, sug¬
gestive music and costumes
promise to lend allure to the is¬
land atmosphere. Sarongs and
grass skirts have formerly deck¬
ed students in their attempts to
similate the darker tribes.
Scene of the event is laid at
Pasadena Shakespearean club
at 8:30. All students are invited
and bids may be purchased
for $1.10.
Campus Club Life Topic
Of WRICC Panel Monday
Pros ana cons of campus club
life will form the nucleus for
Monday’s WRICC panel discus¬
sion, a compulsory meeting for
all women restrictive club mem¬
bers. Prominent students and
club advisors compose the panel ■
group and will introduce issues
to be debated. WRICC presi¬
dent, Alice Graham, leader of
day’s discussion, Betty Hether-
ington, Mrs. Gladys Young and
Mrs. Gladys Rinehart have been
chosen by council members as
part of panel, _three speakers
being undecided.
Busses will leave for West
Campus at 3:00 p.m., from East
Campus Sierra Bonita entrance.
Members will meet in room
212 (W).
