color, declaring them “relics of the past” and strongly endorsed their elimination. Many of the fraternities made progress toward this end. Changing undergraduate attitudes, marked by a growing stress on academic and outside interests, brought a new approach to the athletic program. It was with general student approval that the traditional Syracuse-Colgate football rivalry ended in 1961. As one senior wrote soon after
In the past twenty years, much has been added to Colgate’s ‘athletic creed’. It is the increasing emphasis upon selecting men who will be a credit to their school both on and off the field. Every athlete recognizes that his primary responsibilities lie in the classroom…. A man who practices a sport for three hours a day has just that much less time to meet his academic requirements. Under these conditions every victory is held dearly.
The last two decades have been exciting ones for the Colgate athlete. Almost every team has had its ups and downs. But in the final analysis, the Colgate letterman of 1961 has the unparalleled respect of his fellow students. It is a respect for the added work and not the granted privilege. *
The 125th anniversary of the incorporation of the Baptist Education Society, the University’s Charter Day, was not allowed to go unnoticed in 1944 despite war-time conditions. On March 4th a special program was broadcast, through the courtesy of the National Broadcasting Company and its independent affiliated stations, to alumni luncheons throughout the country and by short wave to Colgate men in the armed forces overseas. Speaking on that occasion to the theme, “The American College: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” were Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick, ’00, pastor of the Riverside Church, New York City; Lt. Gen. Alexander A. Vandegrift, Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps; and President James Phinney Baxter III of Williams College. At commencement in June and Founders’ Day convocation in September, President Alan Valentine of the University of Rochester and Chancellor William P. Tolley of Syracuse University respectively added their tributes. Dr. Paul F. Swarthout, ’21, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Hamilton, delivered a brief address commemorating the Thirteen Men at a vesper service on September 24th. Thereafter Founders’ Day was observed in conjunction with the fall convocation.
*Quoted in Colgate Alumni News (February, 1962), p. 17.
