PAGE SIX
THE MCHIGAN DAILY
SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 1955
PAGE SIX THE MICHIGAN DAILY SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 1955
Mm
'U' PERSONIFIED:
Alumni Director Recalls Unique Career
By JANE HOWARD". 4" ,ne~
With greying hair topping aF 'I
genial grin, the man who's directed
Michigan alumni affairs for 33 ..............roc { t "° '*,
years. recalls that he's partially an<
alumnus of another university.
T. Hawley Tapping, '16L, got his =.
AB in 1911 from Iowa University
-but two earlierAnn Arbor years4h
and time later spent here working
toward a law degree have made
him what some onlookers call "the ,:r f4
personification of Michigan spir- .
It."
They have a point-Tapping is
never found without an 'M' but-
ton in his lapel, and few of his ac-
tivities take him far off his con-
stant track of coordinating and ex-
panding the affairs of the Univer-
sity's 150,000 alumni.
Twists of Fate
Lighting a cigaret in his Alumni
Memorial Hall office, the loqua-
cious Tapping pointed out that
he owes many of the experiences
in his unique career to "twists of
fate."
It was a matter of parking space,
for instance, that determined his
choice of an editorial career over
law. ("My dad," he explains,
"wanted me to be a lawyer - I
didn't.")
On the fateful morning of his
occupation decision ,no parking
space was available in -front of
the law office he nearly entered-
but he found a spot near the Pe-
oria (Ill.) Transcript office, and
began a lifetime journalistic ca-
reer.
"Editorial work," he claims, "is
the only kind of thing I'd really
be happy with."
Memorized Eye Chart
A newspaper acquaintance with
an Army recruiting officer helped
the extremely nearsighted Tap-
ping to launch a brief Army cap-
tain's career - by "memorizing
the eye chart"--with full consent
of 'the authorities.
Michigan beckone.d to Tapping
after'the war and gained him the
State Editor's post on the Grand
Rapids Press, followed by a job
as Ann Arbor correspondent for
the Booth Newspapers of Michi-
gan. .
Ii 1923 the former Acacia fra-
ternity national editor changed
and moved into the work he's had
ever since, then as Alumni Associ-
ation Field Secretary.
Crest of Change
During his years with alumni
work -he's seen the number of
Michigan alumni clubs multiply by
ten, with a network now of more
than 200 clubs throughout the
world. "I've ridden on the crest of
terrific change in the Association,"
he remarks.
Known as "Tap" to friends'
throughout the world ("friends,
you might say, are my hobby -
that's what I've got the most of")
Tapping has hit upon essential
techniques in building up his As-
T. HAWLEY TAPPING
"... plenty of cause for pride"
sociation. "You've got to remem-
ber," he grins, "that it's impor-
tant to hand out titles and re-
sponsibility as widely as you can.
"And don't forget," he adds,
"that the guys 1,000 miles away
are just as important in alumni
work as the fellows here in Ann
Arbor."
He stresses that the Association,
while emphasizing sentimental
Michigan ties, is chiefly informa-
tive - fund-raising activities are
delegated to the Development
Council and Alumni Fund, both
Alumni Association outgrowths
which have originated during Tap-
ping's career.
Honoraries Listed
Editor of the Michigan Alum-
nus, Tapping enjoys looking
through old Michiganensians -
and reminiscing about the campus
as he first knew it. The yearbooks
show his own name frequently,
showing his membership in Toast-
masters, Michigamua, M i m e s,
Scabbard and Blade, Archons,
Griffins and Owls.
The latter three are now-extinct
honoraries, known to the campus
of other days as patrons of Joe's
and the Orient, whose ' revival
here would please Tapping.
Has alumni-enthusiasm changed
during his term here? Tapping,
onetime director and president of
the American Alumni Council,
thinks so. "First the enthusiasm
was based," he says, "on the frothy
traditions of campus-but today
it's more than emotional: it's a
loyalty based on the achievements
and prestige of the University.
"And," he adds, "there's plenty'
of cause for pride around here."
He disagrees with frequent
claims that t'adition is a thing of
the campus' past. "We've got two
important traditions going strong
here," he declared: "students'
pride in the scholastic demands
made on them-no matter how
they may complain - and de-
mocracy."
Former national president of
Sigma Delta Chi journalistic fra-
ternity, Tapping has a son teach-I
ing in Manchester, Mich. and two
grandchildren-"perfect boys," he
laughs, "unless I'm babysitting
with them."
His schedule now, as gleaned
from the long-distance phone con-
versations which often interrupt
interviews, is packed with meet-
ings and dinners of alumni groups
all over Michigan and throughout
the country.
Vice: Observing Coeds
A lifetime Republican ("but
lately I've done a lot of splitting")
Tapping declined to comment on
the Michigan State name change
--"I've been too closely wrapped
up with it," he explained.
Vices? Tapping smiled, and lit
another cigaret-and claimed he
has few, "unless you can count
looking at beautiful coeds." Quite
emphatically he overru-les the old
"four out of five girls .are beauti-
ful"-legend.
"I try to study each recurring
generation of Michigan students,"
he added, "and I'm convinced that
the University today is producing
alumni far superior in their inter-
est and value to the University
than at any previous time."
'U' Students
Not Upset
About MSU
By LOU SAUER
On July 1, Michigan State Col-
lege will officially become a Uni-
versity and a sampling of students
at its reputed arch-rival school,
the University of Michigan, were
not particularly rpset about the
change.
A Little Philosophy
Jane Long, '57, used a little
Shakespearian philosophy in mak-
ing her reply. She closed her copy
of "Romeo and Juliet" and slowly
removed her glasses before an-
swering, "Michigan State College
by any other name will still smell
like an agricultural school."
A unique suggestion was offered
too late to be of aid to MSC by
Alan Drebin, '57. He said, "I think
it was a prestige move, and if they,
wanted prestige why didn't they
call themselves Harvard?"
A quiet little coed walking slow-
ly across the diag, thinking of the
change in the school's initials, an-
swered wistfully, "Just think of r
all the outdated pennants."
Debbie Linett, '57, felt that
"they have all the physical attri-
butes necessary for University rat-
ing, but I don't think the atmos-
phere surrounding the campus
warrants such distinction."
Jere Thomas, '58, was a little
sarcastic in his answer. "I'm not
surprised. MSC had to do some-
thing to make up for the absence
of their Rose Bowl team."
Confusion at Lansing
Margie Denawetz, '58, took a
unique approach among students
questioned by considering- State's
side of the issue. "I wonder about
the confusion angle," she said.
"We seem to be horrified at the
idea of being further confused
with State, but I think students
from East Lansing will be just as
indignant when home - town
friends say to them, 'Oh, you go
to MSU? How are things in Ann
Arbor?'"
Glore To Conclude
Freedom Week
Leroy Gore, originator of the
"Joe Must Go" campaign will talk
on "Freedom is Not a One-Way
Street" at 7 p.m. tomorrow in Au-
ditorium B, Angell Hall.
The speech will conclude Uni-
versity Academic Freedom Week
festivities.
Once a supporter of Sen. Joseph
R. McCarthy (R-Wis), Gore asked
for a recall of the Wisconsin sena-
tor March 19, 1954.
The movement snowballed and
narrowly missed collecting the
403,000 signatures necessary to re-
call Sen. McCarthy.
Plan Open House
As part of University Day the Engineering College will hold open
house from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today.
To accommodate the many high school visitors and the in-
terested students on campus, the Engineering Council in conjunction
with the Engineering College's technical societies is sponsoring var-
ious exhibits, displays and tours in the engineering school.
One hour tours of East and West Engineering Bldgs. are being
arranged for the visitors.
View Various Aspects
Visitors will have a chance to view many of the aspects of engi-
neering as they are conducted through the buildings. In the Naval
Tank room, they will be given a ride to the end of the tank on the
towing car. The side of the tank is lined with models which can be
observed as the car travels to the far end of the tank.
The world's fastest lathe will also be demonstrated. Tools meas-
uring in millionths of an inch, displays of gauges, demonstration of
metal curring research procedures, and, displays of instrumentation
laboratory equipment will ,all be a part of the open house.
A tour of the foundry will show visitors some of the machines
with an explanation of each by the guide of the tour.
Drawing Display
The engineering drawing classes will have a display of materials
covered in this course.
In the Materials Laboratory, a smoke tunnel has been set up
so that the flow of smoke about objects in the tunnel may be observed.
Other displays include parking meters, accident pictures, ex-
hibits from the State Highway Department, aerial photographs, min-
iature construction equipment, water treatment plant, and a work-
ing demonstration of the medium velocity air stream in a centri-
fugal fan.
DAILY, PHOTO FEATURE
Story by GAIL GOLDSTEI N
Pictures-Courtesy JERRY DAVENPORT
ENGINEERS:
t
4
Today
.1
NEW LABORATORY machine which runs a combined test to
determine strength properties of glass specimens.
41
f
ELABORATE EQUIPMENT is needed for analyzing minute
quantities of gases dissolved in metals.
SHOCK AND TENSION tests for aircraft landing gear
Jerry Loucks
asks:
I
What sort of
work would I do
on my first.
assignment
with Du Pont?
R. GERALD LOUCKS is currently working toward his M.S.. in
Chemical Engineering at Carnegie Institute of Technology. Jerry
has served as president of his student chapter of A. I. Ch. E. and
participated in intramural sports-besides finding time to play
the trumpet in the R.O.T.C. and Kiltie bands. Right now, Jerry
is giving a lot of thought to the selection of an employer.
Charlie Lounsbury answers:
DETERMINING SPRAY characteristics of a turbo-jet engine TYPICAL ECONOMY TEST of an internal combustion engine to
' nozzle to find the best design, measure how much power a given gasoline will produce.
f
a
CHARLES W. LOUNSBURY, Jr., worked at
Du Pont's Chambers Works for three summers
before he received his B.S. in Chemical Engi-
neering from Rensselaer Poly. Inst. in 1940.
Since then he has taken an M.S. from Carnegie
Tech., and has been continuously employed on
interesting assignments at various Du Pont
plants. Today Charlie Lounsbury is Technical
Superintendent of the Grasselli, N. J., plant of
Du Pont's Grasselli Chemicals Department.
WANT TO KNOW MORE about working with
Du Pont? Send for a free copy of "Chemical
Engineers at Dui Pont," a booklet that tells
youl about nionppiner work being done in
There is a great variety of first assignments at Du Pont,
Jerry, depending on a man's field of training and the gen-
eral area of work he has selected. For example, I under-
stand you're interested in plastics, and you might start in
development work on plastics, as I did. I worked with a team
of more experienced engineers to increase the capacity of
equipment used'in producing "Lucite" acrylic molding
powder. This was a natural prelude to my next major
assignment, where I acted as a liaison between Du Pont's
Design Division and the plant group-on the design of a
new plant for making another form of "Lucite" plastic.
Or take research work. Here a new man is generally
assigned to minor research problems until he becomes fa-
miliar with the general features and requirements of an
industrial research program.
A young man interested in sales may start in a plant or
laboratory dealing with the products he will later sell; or
he may join a group of trainees to learn selling techniques
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