THE UNDERGRADUATE MONTH
Early in the fall "The Bema" announced its change from an essentially literary publication to an illustrated monthly. It is true that this was by no means so marked an innovation as might appear, for the last three or four years had seen a rapidly developing tendency in this direction, so much so that the formal announcement of such a policy was all that was needed to make the transformation complete. "The Dartmouth" this June completed its first full year as a daily newspaper. The feasibility of such a project was at the first of the year a matter of no little concern, but "The Dartmouth" showed that it could be done and the college showed that it wanted it. Thus a daily paper seems assured for the future.
The only new publication of the year was "The Scrip," the official organ of the Dartmouth Poetry Society. The two issues of the year show that the society is at least alive. What its future will be is uncertain; at any rate it intends to keep publishing.
Nor have The Players been in the background. Although they did not follow strictly their proposed plan of a play a month, yet the quality of their productions has been of the highest order, without a single exception. The dramatic laboratory instituted this year and barely put into operation, bids fair to become a great asset to Dartmouth dramatics if continued.
Debating has been conducted on a larger scale than during the past few years, Dartmouth winning three out of the five held. Also argumentative in nature is the recently formed Liberal Club. What will be their success and the direction of their activities is a thing which the future alone can decide.
A new cabin at Moose and the acquisition of a tract of land on Lake Stinson mark the material expansion of the Outing Club. Its other activities need no mention; while large they were not new. The Ledyard Canoe Club, however, is the greatest advance in the outdoor branch of student activity. Beginning the year as an organization which the average undergraduate regarded with tolerance and curiosity, the club has come to occupy a real place in student life. The possession of 12 boats and the erection of a cabin on the third island have put the club on a firm basis. It is not the momentary fad of a few; it is now a permanent organization, so popular that not as many as wish to join may do so.
A review of the year would not be complete without some mention of the effect which the increased enrollment has had on student life. It seems to be the general undergraduate opinion that the college ought not to expand further. It is doubted as to whether or not a larger incoming class could be properly assimilated. At the same time there is no suggestion that the college is now too large The poor spirit shown by the freshmen during the picture contest suggested to some that "the old spirit" was dead, but the comeback which the class of 1924 made in the push ball rush quelled all fears. The college is not yet too large but cannot stand further expansion, says the average undergraduate.
