"Amen, Etc."
"This is by way of a retiring bow. This afternoon we moved out, the new board moved in, and tomorrow a new editor will finger the editorial typewriter. All of which is as it should be, particularly because we haven't anything left to write about. The usual gesture of the retiring editor is a graceful bow near the door together with a muttered speech about how sad it is to go. But not so with the 1924 Board. Life this past eight months has feeen too strenuous to crave for even a day longer, and we retire if not with relief then certainly with pleasure.
"Not that the year hasn't been pleasant Quite on the contrary. We've enjoyed the controversies, the opportunity of putting our ideas into print, the thrill of seeing some of them adopted, and the satisfaction of knowing that occasionally the College has stirred itself a bit because of something that we have written. But it's delightful to have it all over. The secret of a joyful life, as Wells suggests in his latest book, may be to live dangerously; but eight months at a stretch is a stomach full; and we reach out expectantly to this last month of carefree irresponsibility with an enthusiasm quite equal to that with which we took hold of the editorial policies of the paper in September.
"Were the year to be lived over again, we should have many things otherwise, of course. But one characteristic would remain the same, without a single change: we would have discussion and plenty of it. Our purpose during the past year has been to stir up thought upon some of the basic, problems of the undergraduate in relation to his college, and we have fostered controversy always even though not a few have preferred peace and comfort. Whether we have done wisely remains for Time to determine; 'hut reviewing consequences as we see them now, we stand to our guns and their controversial boomings.
"It does not follow, however, that our successor should continue to be controversial. That remains for him to determine. Our own opinion is that we've had enough controversy for a considerable time. That's why it's an excellent thing for the 1924 editors to. retire. Now that the dynamiting has been done—successfully or otherwise— the College needs undergraduate leadership which will do a constructive job. The Senior Committee on Educational Policy has been doing that kind of work for the past few months, but next year its work must be carried on, and the leadership of necessity will fall largely upon the shoulders of the editor of THE DARTMOUTH. Moreover. THE DARTMOUTH itself needs a different kind of leadership. This year we've been running to all intents and purposes, a journal of opinion, and some of the other functions of a college daily have been almost entirely ignored. We admit it with regret; and now the new editors have the task of taking hold and doing a better piece of journalism. Journalism and impersonality belong together as twins; but unfortunately we've not had impersonality this year; and that's another good reason why the retirement of the 1924 Board comes propitiously.
"But whatever the policies of the 1925 Board we bespeak for them the sympathy and cooperation of the College. Turning out a paper six days a week isn't the easiest job in the world particularly when it might easily be possible to live one's senior year more leisurely and • comfortably. Nor is filling an editorial column always the most pleasant way of spending an afternoon. The juniors who today take over the control of THE DARTMOUTH are rendering to the College a service which brings little glory and less appreciation, and the outgoing editors would urge cooperation and kindliness for them."
