THE COLLEGE YEAR
A year of destruction abroad has, naturally, not been characterized by large constructive progress at home. In outward appearance, at least, Dartmouth College is much the same today as it was twelve months ago. At that time, however, Tuck Drive was little more than begun. Today it is a favorite thoroughfare, not only for those who drive, but for those who merely saunter of a Sunday afternoon. A good deal of planting was done this spring along the Drive, and the heavy summer rains have encouraged an unusual growth of lawn and shrubbery. Already vines are beginning to drop down over stone retaining walls and to clamber on granite posts, giving a pleasing air of mellowness to the construction.
New enterprises have been mainly connected with affairs out of doors. Mr. Hilton signalized the conclusion of his term of service as trustee of the College and added lustre to the twenty-fifth reunion of his class at the recent Commencement, by presenting to Dartmouth funds for the purchase of the Hanover Country Club property, which will, henceforth, be known as Hilton Field, in recognition of the generosity of the donor.
Beyond Hilton Field, on the Pine Park grounds, the unceasing liberality of the Reverend John E. Johnson '66, has enabled the complete construction of a toboggan chute and ski-jump, together with a terracing of the surrounding hills that insures a brilliant opportunity not only for winter sports but for the satisfactory observation of them,
The emphasis upon these out-of-door developments does not at all argue that Dartmouth is degenerating into a mere country club. For years, the opportunities which the Hanover location has afforded have been under-developed: now their value is being appreciated. Mr. Hilton's gift, involving some seven thousand dollars, is not simply a tribute to golf. The keen foresight of the business man recognizes that the integrity of the College demands the retention of a large acreage of open territory. A country college must not be cramped. Mr. Hilton's work has been seconded by gifts aggregating $1000 from Seymour Coman '73 in behalf of improvements to the playing field.
Mr. Johnson has spent time and money in developing the idea of winter sports, and in providing means for their adequate enjoyment. The arena in Pine Park is, in many ways, his most significant work: it is certainly the most spectacular. It is fortunate that the carrying out of his plan should have been possible in such close proximity to Hilton Field. The eventual construction of an adequate club house on the Field will make the entire territory unique in its centralized accessibility for certain kinds of sports for the entire Hanover community.
Some day there will, no doubt, appear a benefactor who will perceive the interesting opportunities which the half completed athletic field affords. The fascination and the despair of Dartmouth lie in its limitless possibilities.
Robinson Hall, which has been in operation for a year, has justified the expectations of its donor. It has conserved and developed those phases of student life that make for refinement and culture. The usefulness of the building is likely to show steady increase as time goes on.
If the outward aspect of things has shown no astounding alterations, there have been internal shiftings of considerable immediate consequence. When, at the close of his second term as alumni trustee, Mr. Hilton declined a third nomination, on the ground that he considered that true alumni representation demanded frequent rotation, he established an important precedent. This has since been made written law by action of the Alumni Association. The College is poorer for the loss of Mr. Hilton's services!; but the principle which he established is nevertheless valuable. Henceforth there will be more frequent changes in the personnel of the Board of Trustees than has heretofore been the case. Just what will be the effect of this no one can say. Much will depend upon the type of men who are chosen. It is at this point that the growing importance of the Alumni Council becomes apparent. This body will choose the candidates from among whom the alumni will select one to serve as trustee.
When, next October, the trustees meet together, one-fourth of the members will be new to their duties. Henry L. Moore '77, succeeds H. H. Hilton; Henry B. Thayer '79, has been elected to complete the term of the late Charles F. Mathewson. Between now and October, the alumni must choose an elective trustee to succeed Lewis Parkhurst, who has now become life member of the Board to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Samuel Powers. In so small a body as that of the Trustees of Dartmouth College—twelve men in all — the responsibility of individuals is considerable. In the case of Dartmouth, too, the development of alumni support depends largely upon the measure of alumni confidence in the conduct of affairs. The alumni Icrok primarily to the trustees for information as to College policies and for explanation of the College needs. Hence the trustees must know intimately the affairs of the College on the one hand; and the interests, ambitions, and prejudices of the alumni on the other. Theirs is, consequently, anything but a simple role.
Nomination of alumni trustees by the Council should go far toward bringing to bear the alumni knowledge of men the country over. In time, too, the tendency of men thus nominated will be to utilize the Council more and more as a means of gauging or of affecting sentiment among the alumni at large.
It is, indeed, important that the Council should not be looked upon as solely a money-raising body. Its general function is to organize all alumni relations to the College. One of these relations happens to be financial; since the alumni can scarcely claim any privileges, even those of criticism, in connection with the College unless they are prepared to assume a share of the responsibility. Added to this, too, is the fact that every man who attends college and has derived benefit from its endowment owes something in return. But the Council is, after all, the epitomized alumni. Its concern is everything which interests any graduate of the College.
In registration the College continues to grow: the freshman class of the fall of 1914 was the largest in the history of the institution. With the growth In student members has come, naturally, a considerable increase in the faculty. The scholarly standing of the teaching force is a matter of natural satisfaction to the administration. Few are the meetings of learned societies where Dartmouth is not liberally represented.
Whether or not an increasing student enrollment is to be constantly desirable is a question to which there will always be many answers. The trustees are, at present, committed to a policy of expansion, if expansion is forced upon them. There is, however, nothing to prevent their change of policy should the necessity for it become apparent.
The chief difficulty in any restrictive process is to make it logically effective. The mere setting up of barriers when a given number has been reached is, of necessity, unsatisfactory. The so-called raising of standards by increasing entrance requirements is, under present conditions, calculated to produce results other than might be wished. Possibly a clearer definition to itself and to the public of the specific functions of a given college might result in the evolution of a selective process that would keep numbers to a determinable minimum and more closely insure a given quality of product.
Financially the past year has been notable mainly for well directed economy. The deficit shown on the books of the Treasurer will be not more than $3000, and this has been met by an appropriation from income of. the Alumni Fund.
The outlook for the year to come is less reassuring. The necessity for meeting certain urgent educational demands will considerably increase the budget. At the same time the State appropriation, which, for some years past, has been $20,000 per annum has, for the next two years, been cut in halves. This means, of course, that the fiscal year 1915-1916 starts with an income reduction of $10,000. It is the hope of the Alumni Council that this reduction may be met by the proceeds of the Alumni Fund. The situation is one to test the quality of Dartmouth loyalty and the genuineness of Dartmouth spirit.
Just how to interpret the action of the New Hampshire legislature in cutting the Dartmouth appropriation it is difficult to say. If it meant simply an excess of economy, there is no reason for serious regret beyond that occasioned by the immediate financial embarrassment entailed. If it meant any considable weakening of State interest and pride in the State's most venerable and still most important institution, the fact gives food for serious consideration; the reasons should be sought and critically analyzed.
When the future historian of Dartmouth College views the year 1914-1915, if he characterizes it at all, he will probably characterize it as the year of alumni awakening. An alumnus and retiring trustee, Mr. Hilton, gives $7000 for a specific purpose. His gift is seconded by another from toman of $1000. Another alumnus, Mr. Johnson, gives some $2000 for specific purposes. The Class of '85 rounds out its previous gift at the time of its twenty-fifth reunion by an addition that makes a total of. $10,000. The Class of '84 is about to turn over to the College money for the establishment of a loan fund. The Council, through operation of the Dartmouth College Alumni Fund, has brought together more than $6500, not to mention accretions from special class funds. This has enabled the Council, in the name of the alumni, to meet the College deficit for 1914-1915.
All this is not remarkable in terms of dollars and cents. Many institutions can show greater things in terms of money. But there is here a spirit at work whose influence is bound to be a growing one. A little more organization and unification and the new alumni movement is likely to show financial reults of considerable magnitude. Add to this the indefatigable interest of the men who constitute the trustees, the council, and various committees and organizations of the alumni scattered throughout the country. It is being manifested variously but constantly. The whole constitutes a potent force, whose application has only just begun.
