Special hour exams before Christmas vacation were given to enable early departers to get credit for the term, as the impending loss of most of the student body was "viewed with alarm" by University Hall.
During reading period, on January 5, Harvard's President Emeritus Abbott Lawrence Lowell '77, died at the age of 86.
The University's first mid-year commencement was a tradition-shattering ceremony; included was a valedictory service in homage to her sons about to enter the armed forces.
On January 25 the Crimson had a birthday, its seventieth, with a delayed message from Franklin D. Roosevelt '04, absent at the meeting in Africa; to congratulate the undergraduate journalists.
With the start of the new term the old students heard the worst about marks, and the new freshmen, 85 more '46- ers saw the worst about Harvard. Around the middle of the month the ERC left and quite a few empty rooms dotted the houses.
Concurrently the announcement of the three regular terms which were to comprise the next year came out of University Hall and things began to look pretty Martian.
The winter sports season went on almost at full tilt, although Athletic director Bill Bingham, following Coach Dick Harlow who went into the navy, had joined the Army as Major. Hockey was the big sport with John Chase's boys losing only three times. Twice they bowed to the over-strong Dartmouth sextet, tying them once. Once they lost to Yale, but twice they beat them soundly to take the series.
The Crimson, seeing its fellow college papers ceasing operation in wart me, decided to insure the continuance of its name, and began in February to print the HARVARD SERVICE NEWS.
The spring approached with two sets of hour exams again and a complicated business called cumulative grades which left everybody floored, temporarily. The Student Council had some draft trouble, but it ran the gamut of four presidents through the term and finally came out with a few men left over.
Spring!
As the leaves budded, and the birds twittered, Harvard headed for the river. No town-gown tangles marred the tranquil scene. Elections continued with '45 choosing its class officers just two years ahead of time. As exams approached students were leaving Harvard at the rate of more than 15 a week; prospects looked dim for the civilian college.
With the V-1, V-7, V-12, and so on, group the only large bunch of College men to return in uniform, prospects looked dim, but life went on. Final exams struck. Commencement came with Harvard's only honorary degree for the year going to Joseph Clark Grew '02; in attendance were 4000 service men who received certificates of training from the University.
This week begins its greatest transition.