FROM THE UNDERGRADUATE CHAIR

With football over, Dartmouth student interest—outside the field of study—turns to fraternity rushing. Where before the talk was of the team, now it is of this freshman and that freshman who looks good, or leans this way, or promises success. The short season, to be concluded just after the Thanksgiving vacation is being given a trial. Last year there was universal disapproval of the mid-year rushing, now discontent with the abbreviated rushing period is heard. It is not unlikely that a two year season will go into effect after this year.

Each fraternity has had one open house, and will have had another before this magazine reaches the hands of the alumni. Then comes the welcome Thanksgiving recess, and after that—chinning and bidding.

The Class of 1928, though reports indicate it low in scholarship at present, has proven satisfactory to the other classes. Its potential power is much; and if the new class seizes its opportunities, indications are that it will prove worthy.

Following the Yale game, the student body was somewhat skeptical over the football team's prospects. The general feeling prevailed that the team had power, but little brains, —spotting Yale two touchdowns as it did.

Then against Harvard, confidence was restored, the Green's 6 points proving sufficient for a win. And forthwith the report went around that the team was pretty good after all. The victory over Brown clinched the argument for the undergraduates, who now waited the clash with Cornell fervidly. Boston University gave some substitutes a chance, with the subsequent promise of good material available for next fall.

Then came the New York peerade, in which only a few of the undergraduates could take part—but which invasion was watched anxiously over the football score board. While Nate Parker and Jim Oberlander were doing their stuff in the Polo Grounds,—the student body was following each move avidly in Han- over. Tully's first pass to Dooley, scoring a touchdown brought howls of joy; which were forgotten when in the second half Cornell made the score 14 all. Then came Dooley's run from a pass formation, for a touchdown, and automatically the 1,500 voices rose in a Wah- hoo-Wah louder than those heard at Cambridge. Bjorkman's fjnal stab for another six points clinched the argument for the undergraduates, and every day since some mention has been heard of the championship team.

Now the questions are about next fall's schedule. Another stiff series of games is expected ; but, with the 1926 class still in College, all the students have implicit confidence that Coach Hawley will bring them another championship. Incidentally, the 1926 class has provided a majority for the two Hawley teams so far, and probably will repeat next year.

Any movement contributing to a closer relationship or better understanding between the faculty and undergraduate body holds the endorsement of the students. One weakness of the College keenly felt is the chasm which separates these groups, which should be in closest accord. It is for this reason that the initiative recently taken by a sub-committee of the Faculty Committee on Educational Policy in requesting a meeting with a committee of Palaeopitus has won approval. This act is construed as a manifestation of the continued willingness of the faculty to consult under- graduate opinion on matters concerning the College,—following the move in that direction last year.

A®s it happened, the question discussed at the meeting mentioned concerned a minor matter, —but the significance of the contact rests in the fact that members of the faculty invited the cooperation of undergraduates. In the past nearly every member of the faculty has been willing to discuss educational matters with the students, but the formality of initiating a meeting always has been left to the undergraduate. Last winter, when President Hopkins appointed a senior committee to consider educational questions, the first step toward consulting student opinion was . taken. But even then the undergraduates were directed to explore a cer- tain limited field; and they did not work hand 111 hand with the faculty but along different lines.

Students would like to have the faculty at least ask an undergraduate opinion when decisions affecting student welfare are pending. We do not believe that the undergraduate knows enough about matters pertaining to his welfare always to give valid suggestions; rather we only hint that an isolated observation of value might be unearthed. If only one such gem should be found in a year, then the policy of consulting undergraduate opinion would be vindicated. And one important good which would be gained notwithstanding would be an increased sympathy of aim between the faculty and the student body.

Few freshmen matriculated with an accurate conception of the fraternity situation at Dartmouth. For every man who has good reason to believe one house better than another, ten entered whose knowledge of fraternity life has been limited to fiction. In the first few weeks of study these conceptions change. Then the new men consider the good fraternity to be the one where many men wear "D" sweaters. But, as upperclassmen know, judgment formed on this basis alone is not valid.

If asked, What are the good fraternities at Dartmouth," one might honestly reply that all are good. True, classifications of big and small are made; but such classifications are anamalous at best. The true worth of a fraternity rests in the opportunities for friendship given; and at Dartmouth all fraternities have something definite to offer in friendship.

The type of friendship is different; but the quality remains the same so long as each house numbers good men, potential friends. Freshmen should determine just what sort of friend- ship they prefer, and then determine what fraternity offers it. In pledging themselves to that house, they will find themselves members of a good fraternity.

Agitation again has been started for the revision of the requirements and methods of election for Phi Beta Kappa. Don Moore '25, himself a Phi Beta Kappa student, wrote in the The Tower suggesting that the practically ex-officio method of admitting all students who average 3.2 be done away with. As a substitute he would have men averaging 2.8 in their senior year eligible, and would have admittance determined by their intellectual interests and activities plus the writing of a thesis in their major subject. On the general ability thus indicated would a man be judged, and if he so satisfies the committee in charge, he would be eligible for admittance.

Other Phi Beta Kappa men immediately indorsed the proposition, as did The Dartmouth. It is not unlikely that some definite consideration of a revision will be made in the near future.

Occasionally the legend circulates through Dartmouth that certain frank books are secreted in the College Library tower, lest undergraduates be exposed to unfit literature. This precaution—"to protect student morals," is not observed in Hanover. While a few valuable works are under lock and key, merely because students sometimes wish to keep them, the Library is willing at any time to let under- graduates take them out.

The fact that one of his students was denied Boccaccio for outside reading so incensed E. L. Raiche, a Harvard instructor, that he published a letter condemning the "juvenile" practice. I his report in Hanover immediately resulted in the rebirth of the "lock and key" legend, concerning the College Library. As a matter of fact, Boccaccio is on the reference shelf when English courses study his words,—as is Havelock Ellis, when reference is made to his studies in Psychology. At other times undergraduates who desire to read these men may obtain their books by the usual method.

At the B. U. game Saturday, November 8, the flag was at half mast in tribute to Richard Drew Hall '27 who had passed away at the hospital early that morning. Death was the result of infantile paralysis which was not so diagnosed at first although his last illness lasted' but four days. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. K. Hall of. Montclair, N. J., were immediately summoned and arrived about two hours before his death.

Richard Hall was born in Newtonville, Mass., on May 14, 1904 and prepared for college at the Hill School in Pottstown, Penn. While there he was prominent in athletics and school activities and as a freshman last year won his numerals in track. He was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon.

The undergraduates extend to the mother and to the father, who as trustee has done so much for the College, their heartfelt sympathy. "Dick's" cheering and well-wishing personality had become a part of the present college generation.

For the first time, Palaeopitus decided that all outside collections of charity would be embodied in one drive this fall,—to be known as the College Chest Drive.

Under the plan, each student's name was placed on a card, and a collector saw each undergraduate. The result . was eminently successful, more than $6,000 being collected in pledge and cash. As a result the initial donation, for the Red Cross, was $1,500, several hundred dollars over that of last year. As a matter of fact, the College Chest Fund amounts to more than 3 times the money collected for all outside charities last year.

In line with the move to make Juniors the officers of campus activities, the Outing Club has decided to make all its officers' elections for the Junior year. As a result, the man who is President of the D.O.C. in Junior year will become member of Palaeopitus in senior year. This system already is being used for the managerships.

Anthony J. Philpott, assistant editor of the Boston Globe, gave an' interesting talk to The Arts on "Psychical Research" recently. He dealt especially with the unmasking of mediums, and exposed some of the more simple tricks which people mistake for spiritual manifestations.

The visit of Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick to Hanover for a Sunday chapel sermon charmed the students very much. Dr. Fosdick, by virtue both of his sincerity and his convictions, won the admiration of his audience.

Don Bartlett '25 has been pledged to the Psi Upsilon fraternity; William Stickney '26 has been pledged to the Sigma Chi fraternity; James Mullen '27 has been pledged to the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.

Fifty members of the Glee Club are making the Thanksgiving Glee Club trip to Spring- field, Mass., Pittsfield, Mass., and Brooklyn, N. Y.

Fire briefly threatened the Kappa Sigma house recently. Little damage was done before the flames were extinguished by the Hanover Fire Department.