CHAPEL
Senior Chapel Infraction
Typically, stuffed animals do not attend chapel. But the stuffed animals who lived at Southview were routinely not typical. They had been abducted and held for ransom, had survived swinging from the ceiling, had nearly met their demise in the swirling destruction of the toilet bowl. (See the StoryBoard topic, Women's Dorm.)
This one, belonging to Sandy Harris, had a front and center seat for her senior chapel. It was a complete surprise to her. When she stood up at the pulpit, and saw the red cowboy hat, she momentarily lost track of what she had been about to say. That, of course, was exactly what her housemates had been hoping for.
But they got a bonus. Sandy received an infraction, courtesy of Dr. Jim Porter.
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Sleepers
In the 70s, chapel seating was alphabetical, and so students sat next to the same people every morning. Sharon couldn’t help but notice the students near her who slept during chapel, some occasionally, some frequently.
One was her friend who sat in front of her. On one of the mornings that her friend nodded off, she shook his shoulder and whispered, "You’ve been called on to pray!” He struggled to his feet, only to realize that the announcements were proceeding and in fact no one had asked him to do anything.
Another time, the chapel speaker asked everyone preparing for the ministry to stand. The student sitting next to Sharon was sleeping soundly through this, so she woke him and told him he was supposed to stand, and why. Of course, she knew that by the time he stood everyone else would be seated, which is exactly what happened. As she recalls it, he did not see the humor, “but his fiancée who was sitting in front of us could hardly control her giggling.”
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That Guy Who Was Always Late
It was the start of freshman year for Larry and Sandy who were seated alphabetically next to each other in chapel. Back row, center of the row. Chapel began at 8:00, and when the chapel bell rang students had to be in their seats or they received a tardy slip. Sandy typically arrived with everyone else, getting to her seat so people wouldn’t have to get out of her way to let her to the center of the row.
Larry also typically arrived with everyone else. But he stood at the end of the row, waiting until everyone else was already in their seat. Grinning, and watching the clock, he would wait until just a few seconds remained. Then he would make his way down the row, causing everyone already there to have to stand, or to allow him to clamber over them.
Mrs. Anderson, who took attendance, did her best to stop this stunt; she lectured Larry, scowled at him, and shook her head. Each day she had her pen ready to write out the tardy slip, but each day he managed to get seated just as the bell rang.
A couple of weeks into the school year, Sandy was going to be on the platform during chapel for a presentation. The night before, she used twine to fasten Larry's chapel seat in the up position.
The next morning, a few minutes before 8:00, Sandy was on the platform with her group, having a perfect view of the back row of Larry loitering in the aisle while Mrs. Anderson lectured him. As the clock neared 8:00, Larry finally began his trek down the row. He reached his seat, as always, with a couple of seconds left. He confidently pulled down on the seat – and it didn’t move. The seconds were ticking away. Mrs. Anderson had noticed what was happening and she was advancing with her pen and tardy slips. As the bell rang, Larry was still standing. A couple seconds later he pulled hard enough to break the twine and lower the seat, just in time to receive the tardy slip Mrs. Anderson handed over his shoulder.
Assuming correctly who was responsible, Mrs. Anderson looked at the platform and waved a victory salute.
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That Guy Who Was Always Late
It was the start of freshman year for Larry and Sandy who were seated alphabetically next to each other in chapel. Back row, center of the row. Chapel began at 8:00, and when the chapel bell rang students had to be in their seats or they received a tardy slip. Sandy typically arrived with everyone else, getting to her seat so people wouldn’t have to get out of her way to let her to the center of the row.
Larry also typically arrived with everyone else. But he stood at the end of the row, waiting until everyone else was already in their seat. Grinning, and watching the clock, he would wait until just a few seconds remained. Then he would make his way down the row, causing everyone already there to have to stand, or to allow him to clamber over them.
Mrs. Anderson, who took attendance, did her best to stop this stunt; she lectured Larry, scowled at him, and shook her head. Each day she had her pen ready to write out the tardy slip, but each day he managed to get seated just as the bell rang.
A couple of weeks into the school year, Sandy was going to be on the platform during chapel for a presentation. The night before, she used twine to fasten Larry's chapel seat in the up position.
The next morning, a few minutes before 8:00, Sandy was on the platform with her group, having a perfect view of the back row of Larry loitering in the aisle while Mrs. Anderson lectured him. As the clock neared 8:00, Larry finally began his trek down the row. He reached his seat, as always, with a couple of seconds left. He confidently pulled down on the seat – and it didn’t move. The seconds were ticking away. Mrs. Anderson had noticed what was happening and she was advancing with her pen and tardy slips. As the bell rang, Larry was still standing. A couple seconds later he pulled hard enough to break the twine and lower the seat, just in time to receive the tardy slip Mrs. Anderson handed over his shoulder.
Assuming correctly who was responsible, Mrs. Anderson looked at the platform and waved a victory salute.
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"Organ"ized
Professor Mary Bellus Barnes arranged in 1975 for an organ instructor to come from Central College to give classes at Vennard. He was already coming into town to teach a few students at Penn, but we only had one organ student. It was a great favor that he would come over and teach on our campus as well. He also loaned us a harpsichord for our Coffee Cantata, and instructed his one organ student on that instrument as well.
But there was one issue that caused him great frustration. His student was not tall enough to reach all the organ pedals easily. In order to play Bach inventions, she was obliged to stand and balance on the pedals at the furthest ends and then to have to sit back down on the bench. She occasionally slipped off the pedal, losing her balance and nearly sliding off the bench altogether.
The instructor inquired of the music department about acquiring an additional, shorter, organ bench. But the budget just wouldn't allow it. That was where the student thought it would end. Then one day she arrived for her lesson to see that the instructor had set up a sawhorse and power saw in the chapel. He was halfway through the process of sawing and inch and a half off the bottom of the organ bench. He actually wanted to remove an additional inch from the bench, which would have been perfect for his student. But he knew that would be drastic enough to be noticed.
The student was more than willing to be sworn to secrecy, as she wasn't certain what the consequences would be. And she kept that secret, even when listening to senior students and faculty organists puzzling over what was off about the pedal placement.
But there was one issue that caused him great frustration. His student was not tall enough to reach all the organ pedals easily. In order to play Bach inventions, she was obliged to stand and balance on the pedals at the furthest ends and then to have to sit back down on the bench. She occasionally slipped off the pedal, losing her balance and nearly sliding off the bench altogether.
The instructor inquired of the music department about acquiring an additional, shorter, organ bench. But the budget just wouldn't allow it. That was where the student thought it would end. Then one day she arrived for her lesson to see that the instructor had set up a sawhorse and power saw in the chapel. He was halfway through the process of sawing and inch and a half off the bottom of the organ bench. He actually wanted to remove an additional inch from the bench, which would have been perfect for his student. But he knew that would be drastic enough to be noticed.
The student was more than willing to be sworn to secrecy, as she wasn't certain what the consequences would be. And she kept that secret, even when listening to senior students and faculty organists puzzling over what was off about the pedal placement.
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