Fall 2025 Winners
Winning Captions
“URI Class of 1940: Majoring in chemistry, minoring in buffoonery.”
—Patrick Murray Koleszar ’15
“URI physics professor Adam Splitter (right) computed the half-life of the new fashion craze—short pants and a wide, garish, fluffy bow tie—at 48 minutes.”
—Al Larson ’77
Runner-Up
“When it’s over 60 degrees on the Quad, and everyone isn’t sure how to dress.”
—Sarah Spellman ’19, ’22
Fashion Forward
This vintage photo came from a newspaper clipping in a personal scrapbook that was donated to URI. Although the date and source were clipped out, we estimate the date of this photo to be the early 1930s. This caption was included with the clipping:
SCHOOL DAYS OF THE GAY NINETY PERIOD? No, just a picture of students on Rhode Island State College campus when members of Delta Alpha Psi fraternity were enjoying “hell week” at the expense of their freshmen [sic] pledges who were forced to attend classes in the garb shown here. The “young man” on the right, Zenas W. Bliss of Providence, member of the board of managers of the institution, seeing the picture being taken, stepped in to pose with the boys. The pledges, left to right, are: James Schola, Providence; Anthony Ferri, Thornton; Fred McCarthy, four-sport athlete from South Portland, Me.; and Robert Huels of Providence.
We were especially amused by the handwritten note, “Sled” next to McCarthy, and can’t help but imagine this “four-sport athlete” must’ve been known as “Fred the Sled.”
Zenas Bliss, the gentleman on the right, is the namesake of Bliss Hall, which was built in 1928 to house the College of Engineering.
PHOTO: URI ARCHIVES
Share your vintage URI Photos!
Would you consider sharing some of those vintage photos for the photo caption contest—or just for fun? If so, we’d love to consider sharing your photos in URI Magazine. Please scan or take a good-quality photo of your snapshot and mail to urimag@uri.edu.