NEWSLETTER - OCTOBER 1989 The Seismic Observatory. The science of earthquakes began to be studied at Fordham in 1910 in the basement of the Administration Building. Rumblings from the offices of the University President apparently disturbed the sensitive instruments, and in 1923 William Spain donated a new seismic observatory dedicated to the memory of his son William. The observatory was built on the site now occupied by Loyola Hall and was moved first to the site of Keating Hall in 1927 and in 1931 to the present site east of Freeman Hall. According to Dan Kern '30, for several years no machinery was used to cut grass in the area of the observatory because the grass cutting machinery would have disturbed the instruments. Instead, a horse was kept on campus for the specific purpose of trimming the grass in the area of the observatory. The Campus and Security. In response to a meeting held in 1847 by the Know-Nothings on Fordham Heights, called to burn down Fordham's St. John College, local authorities furnished the college with twelve muskets for the better defense of the institution. The attack never took place, and in later years, the muskets were used in dramatic performances. One allegedly is still preserved in the office of the University President Joseph O'Hare, S.J. The Old Maroon. The Fordham Debating Society first selected maroon as the College's color in 1870. In 1893, "The Old Maroon" was formally adopted by the administration. We have collectively worn, or used, or waived, or read a seemingly unending supply of maroon caps, badges, sweaters, pins, pennants, yearbooks, and uniforms since. The New Gym. The Rose Hill Gym was an athletic palace of its day. The Gym was dedicated on January 16, 1924 by University President Edward P. Tivnan, S.J. who earlier had been so outraged by "the commercial element" in college athletics that he had advocated a ten-year ban on all intercollegiate athletics. Fr. Tivnan undoubtedly would have been proud of Fordham's present graduation rate (96%) of its student athletes which is third-highest all colleges and universities in the nation. The Sesquicentennial. During the celebration of Fordham's 150th Anniversary from September 1990 to September 1991, the University,, together with the world-wide Jesuit community, will celebrate the 500th Birthday of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the Founder of the Society of Jesus, on April 22, 1991. All Jesuit school graduates in the metropolitan area will be invited to the celebration. Pursuant to previously announced University policy in such matters, birthday hats and cake will be provided at the event; however, celebrants are requested to bring their own noisemakers and party games.