UNDERGRADUATE NEWS
When College convened after the Easter vacation with the country in a state of war, there was an immediate demand by the undergraduates for quick action along the lines of military training. The plan proposed under General Orders No. 48, enlistment for which was begun before the vacation, seemed totally inadequate to deal with the new conditions, and the faculty met the problem by a special meeting at which it was voted to have twelve hours of training a week from then until June, allowing men enlisting in this training course to drop any three-hour academic course and receive credit for it at the end of the year.
Through the untiring efforts of President Hopkins and the co-operative activity of several alumni, Captain Porter Chase of the First Corps of Cadets of Boston was secured to conduct the course. Captain Chase arrived in Hanover Saturday, April 14, outlined the training to be given to nearly one thousand men in Alumni Gymnasium that afternoon, and the first organized military drill was held the following Monday afternoon. The College responded with unusual enthusiasm to the call, and aside from some 200 men who had enlisted in the regular service, and about 150 who had afternoon classes or were physically unable to take the course, practically every undergraduate enrolled in the newly formed unit within the next three days. The regiment now consists of three battalions, twelve companies and 1095 men, who drill daily from 3 until 5 in the afternoon.
In keeping with the general military atmosphere which has enveloped the College, and in recognition of the gravity of the crisis which the country is facing, all extra-curricular activities have been suspended, including the cancellation of all athletic schedules, and the abolishment of the annual Junior Promenade. Company baseball teams have been organized and will play games throughout the spring, the 16 men showing the greatest ability receiving their baseball "D's" at the end of the year.
The actual extra-curricular activities of the College were completed for this year before the Easter vacation and prior to the declaration of war which has caused the suspension of everything but classes and drill. The Dartmouth varsity debating team, although winning decisively from Williams at Hanover, lost to Brown at Providence, and Brown was again victorious at Williamstown, thus giving the Providence contingent the triangular league victory. A popular concert given by the College orchestra prior to the Easter trip of the Musical clubs, was unusually well attended and received by the College community, and three one-act plays by the dramatic association were accorded warm praise by audience and reviewer.
Under the athletic activities of the College, the freshmen were particularly successful, winning the interclass basketball finals from the juniors, and thus acquiring the title, and walking away with the final interclass indoor track meet in Alumni Gymnasium.
Directly before the vacation the faculty changed the Sunday chapel cuts for men working in eating clubs, making it necessary for them to attend only ten Instead of fifteen Sunday services during the semester. About this time, too, S. R. Walkingstick '18, was elected president of the Christian Association for next year. Then the wave of preparedness struck the College, paralyzing all other activities including studies, drill began in earnest, war talk overshadowed all other subjects of conversation, and men began enlisting in various branches of Federal service.
