1957-06-07; Central Michigan Life

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CENTRAL   MICHIGAN
PRESS
VOL. 38        CENTRAL MICHIGAN COLLEGE, MT. PLEASANT, MICH., JUNE 7, 1957 NO. 29
Three Awards Given by M.U. Board
Luki—w1"'-'^
FRANCES FITCH
Injuries from 1946 Car Wreck
force Art Teacher to Retire
by John Bircher
A tragic automobile accident in 1946 has brought the teaching career of Frances Fitch, assistant professor in the art department, to a premature finish.
Only continued surgery has
made it possible for Miss Fitch to
continue working. Both of her
knees were smashed in the accident and doctors consider it a
miracle that she has been able to
teach for the past 11 years.
She started teaching  at ihe
college   elementary   school   in
1936. The next year she started
her 20 years of teaching in the
college  art  department,  interrupted only by two years dur-
which   she   was   convalescing
from   ihe   serious   accident   in
which  her   companion  was
killed.
Frances Fitch has studied art
at the Chicago Academy of Fine
Arts, then later at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York,
where she graduated with specialization in drawing, painting
and illustration.
Ceramic pieces have won honors for Miss Fitch at the National
Ceramic Show, held in Syracuse,
New York and Cranbrook Academy has one of her ceramics as
part of its permanent collection.
Her philosophy has been io
lead   ihe   student   io   express
Honorary Doctor of Law Degrees
fo Be Presented at Commencement
Two Dow Chemical Company administrators, an attorney,
and a University of Michigan professor will receive honorary
doctor of law degrees at the Spring Commencement June 9.
Those receiving the degrees are
Carl Allen Gerstacker and Everett N. Luce, Midland; William A.
Neithercut, Flint; and Mabel E.
Rugen, Ann Arbor.
himself in his own way rather
to impose a strict line of adherence.
She feels the greatest challenge
is in the elementary art classes
where the neophyte artist must
be greatly guided, but not pushed
along a rigid curriculum, to best
express themselves.
While she has enjoyed teaching very much. Miss Fitch
hastens to add the years to
come won't pass slowly for her.
She has so many interests thai
she won't have any spare time
on her hands.
■ Miss Fitch has always had the
desire for her own studio where
she could work in the fields of
weaving, printmaking and ceramics, and supply the gift and art
shops with her work. Her ranch
style home on the Chippewa
River has been designed toward
this eventuality.
Dr. Robert Burkhart, of the
University of Pennsylvania, will
succeed Miss Fitch in the department. He will specialize in the
elementary art courses and
ceramics.
ADIOS
History Prof to Go 'South of Border'
Francis A. Robinson, history professor, has obtained a years
leave of absence, and will leave for Mexico and Central America in September, where he will do research work, studying,
writing, and lecturing.
He will lecture on diplomatic
relations between Mexico and the
United States at the University
of Michoacon, Morelia, Mexico's
oldest university and the incubator of many revolutionists in the
past.
Mr. Robinson's research and
writing will deal largely with the
Tarascan Indians of western Mexico. He began the work before
World War II when he had the
honor of being one out of five
students annually chosen for the
Buenas Aires Convention Fellowship for research and study in
Latin America. He was nominated
for this by the University of
Michigan where he did his graduate work.
Mr. Robinson, an erudite and
interesting speaker, has become
a friend io many students in
his   11   years   at   Central.   He
came here directly after World
War II during which he had a
career in the Navy.
He was wounded while serving
in the South Atlantic, whereupon
he returned to the United States
and became a test pilot for Navy
heavy  bombers.   Later,   he  was
Gerstacker, a 1938 University
of Michigan graduate, is presently a vice president, treasurer,
and a director of Dow Chemical
in Midland.
He began working at D.ow
shortly after receiving his B.S.
degree in engineering. In addition
to his duties with the parent
company, he holds positions in
two Dow associated companies—
as treasurer of the Saran Yarns
Company of Odenton, Maryland,
and a director of Dow Corning
Corporation of Midland.
Mr. E. Luce graduated from
the University of Colorado in
1930 wiih pharmecutical chemist and bachelor of science degrees. He joined Dow immediately upon graduation and has
moved up to a position as director of East Main Laboralcr %
Luce is author and co-author of
a number of technical papers.
He was also ediior of Rubber
Reserve Manual for Siyrene
Rubber Reserve Co-poration in
1944.
Neithercut is a partner of the
Neithercut and Neithercut law
firm of Flint. He attended Central
in 1909 where he earned a temporary rural teaching certificate and
is now the national president of
the College's Alumni Association.
He served as principal of the
Michigan School for the Blind
from 1909 to 1914 and received an
L.L.B. degree from the U. of M.
Interested in education since
his days as a teacher, he has
always taken an active role in
education. In 1954 he was
awarded a Certificate of
Achievement by ihe Clare
County Board of Education for
his services to this cause.
Dr. Mabel Rugen currently is
a professor of Health Education at
the University of Michigan. She
received her bachelor's degree
from the University of Wisconsin
and her master's and doctorate
from New York University. She
is a life member of the American
Public Health Association and the
American Association for Health,
Physical Education and Recreation. These are only two of her
many organization memberships.
She has been listed in "Who's
Who in America."
Students, Dean Honored
Two students and a faculty
member have been awarded citations for their contributions and
service to Central, by the Men's
Union Board.
D.   Louise   Sharp,   Dean   of
Women; Mario Davison, Midland
senior;   and   Jim   Podoley,   Mt.
Morris senior received the special
citations Tuesday afternoon.
President Anspach and J. P.
Carey were given special recognition. Carey is a retired head
of the geography department.
Dean Sharp received the honor
citation for her recently published
book "Why Teach?" an important
contribution to the field of education.
Mario Davison gained the
award for her outstanding intercollegiate speech activities, which
won her many national honors.
Jim Podoley was honored for
his service to Central in the field
of sports. He has excelled in football and track and holds college
records in both.
transferred to the amphibious
force, and is currently checked
but for command of a destroyer
in event of another war.
In spite of these many different experiences, Mr. Robinson
says he loves teaching, and will
be back to pick up his duties as
an assistant professor in 1959.
Another Student
Injured in Traffic
Jan Mosier, Bay City freshman,
suffered leg and nose fractures
as a result of traffic accident in
Midland May 29.
Miss Mosier, .was traveling
home from Central for the Memorial Day Holiday in a car
driven by her brother, Dick, when
a truck pulled out of a Dow
Chemical driveway and hit them.
Miss Mosier is convalescing in
Bay City General Hospital. Dick
Mosier and a third passenger,
both Ferris Institute students, escaped with minor injuries and
were released from the hospital.
fraternities and Sororities Plan
to Combine Activities in 'Greek Week'
Something new in the way of activities is planned for next
year. Although still in the planning stages, the first annual Greek
Week for Central is making strides towards realization.
An entire week devoted to the
presentation of many of the
events scattered throughout the
semester at present, would presumably relieve the continual
pressure of planning for first one
thing and then another.
The actual events planned to
be included in ihis gala week
are; Chick Relays, swimming
meets, track meet, bike relay,
push-cart derby, and the tug
of war.
In addition, the week would begin on Sunday with a Parents
Day. The day would be climaxed
with the Greek Sing. As the
high point of the week, a semi-
formal dance for all students,
sponsored by Greeks, and with a
name-band would be held on Saturday night.
There are still problems to be
solved. The plan has not yet been
i 	
—— DOWN _HAT DARN RADIO» Cries Vicki Van
Wieren. Vicki helps her father Gordon, LIFE photographer, to
puUhe finishing touches on his "ponies" tot the big week com-
ing up.
submitted to the Inter-Fraternity
Council. Carolyn Taylor, of the
Pan-Hel Council, is chairman of
the committee from that group.
Opinions/and suggestions from
the student body are solicited by
the committee and LIFE. Address your replies to Carolyn
Taylor, Sloan, or drop them in
the LIFE office or mailbox.
Housing Payments
Increased Again
An increase in room and board
rates was announced earlier in
the year, when it was thought to
include only the residence halls.
At this time the figures stated
were an extra $35 spread over a
period of 36 weeks, making a
total of $609 for the year. Now it
is announced that there will be an
additional $18 per semester added
to that, making the final room
and board total for the year $645.
This increase affects the apartments too, where rates will be
raised $5 per month.
The last two increases were
made to offset utility costs. Norvall C. Bovee, vice president of
business and finance, said, "The
decision has been made by the
legislature that seltfrliquidpting
units must bear part of the utility
cost. Previously the cost was paid
for entirely out of state funds."
Koos to Study Piano
in New York for Year
Ray Koos, assistant professor
of music, will have a year's leave
of absence to study piano in New
York.
He will study as an artist student with Madame Olga Strou-
millo.
At Michigan State University
he studied with Frank Mann-
heimer and Ernst Wolff. During
army service he studied in England with Tobias Matthay.
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