Courtesy of Special Collections, U.Va. Library
William Faulkner addresses a riveted audience in the Alderman Library.
The rich responses to February’s Question of the Month, “How did the U.Va. environment outside the Engineering School impact your experience here?”, inspired the E-News staff to highlight some of the quotes that illustrated how the University affected engineering students’ college experiences. These readers’ words showed a strong connection between past and present. They painted a nostalgic picture replete with formal wear, slide rules and meetings with Faulkner.
With reunion days fast approaching, more of these memories will likely come to life as alumni from the Classes of 1958, 1963, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998 and 2003 return to Grounds June 5 to 8 to recapture a taste of the glory days. Some highlights from the February responses follow:
Richard Hardison (EE ’64, Darden ’66) gave a colorful description of his U.Va. experience.
“Although I did not consider it extensively when choosing to attend the Engineering School at U.Va. in 1959, the greater U.Va. environment proved to be a critical element in my education,” Hardison wrote. “How do I place a value on meeting William Faulkner, studying sculpture, being a Phi Delta Theta, developing lifelong friendships with fellow students from all over the world, attending great polo matches, getting to know Frank Kessler, learning economics from James Buchanan, attending football games in Scott Stadium (we lost my first 20 in a row!), playing tennis on the Lady Astor courts, strolling the Lawn in the snow, shopping at Eljo’s, reading James Hay’s ‘The Honor Men,’ pausing at Poe’s room, wondering if John Mosby really fatally wounded the Rotunda clock, listening to Joe Vaughan’s tales and just plain growing up? The University of Virginia was a driving force on making me who I am.”
Marvin Hilton (Engr ’59, ’66) said the environment outside the Engineering School made a significant impact on his educational experience.
“To be mixed in with students and faculty from the other schools gives one a more diversified view of the world and the way others see and interpret different
issues,” Hilton wrote. “It is good that prospective engineers can be exposed to this kind of environment because it is more representative of that which most will be dealing with in their professional lives. A purely technical and scientific environment is not representative of the world that most graduates must fit into.”
Robert Harris (ME ’54) recalls a more formal time on Grounds when the University was still becoming a co-ed institution.
“That was a long time ago, and engineering students could be recognized by slide rules hanging from their belts, so they were probably thought to be a bit odd — certainly different,” Harris wrote. “But we were still part of the total environment, and classes such as chemistry and physics were outside of the Engineering School.
“In those ancient days, the University was not co-ed — women were restricted to third year and above, so there were very few. That was not good for the social-development aspect. Students were supposed to be gentlemen and were expected to dress the part — ties were the norm. Not any more!
“The honor system was very strong, and tests and exams were usually given without any instructors present. Some were available to be taken outside of normal class hours, so they did not take away from class time. Engineers could be found taking math exams in the drafting room on Friday nights.”
Whether it’s grueling course work or sharing in a bit of revelry with classmates, life at U.Va. continues to make a strong impact on its students. The upcoming Reunion Days in June is an excellent time to share these memories with fellow alumni. We hope we will see those of you who are able to make the trip on June 7 at the Engineering School’s lunch in Darden Court where you can enjoy good music and food, visit with the dean and reconnect with classmates. Find out more by visiting the Alumni Association’s Web site.
Responses to our monthly questions are always available for viewing at www.seas.virginia.edu/enews/qotm. |
