The Need of Change

The need for the change was expressed in an editorial in The Dartmouth just before the referendum was taken:

"Palaeopitus is a tradition deeply ingrained into the thought and life of Dartmouth undergraduates through several generations. Any movement to materially change the composition or functions of such a long standing institution is unconsciously greeted with a feeling of fear. Palaeopitus is so highly cherished that any misguided or ill-fated attempts at alteration which might bring it either disgrace or oblivion are not to be tolerated.

"Yet some change is necessary. For of late the tradition of Palaeopitus has become greater than Palaeopitus itself. The student body has the utmost respect and admiration for Palaeopitus members as individuals. They are the victors in lines of endeavor which many have sought vainly to achieve. But it is the individual achievement, not the actions of Palaeopitus as a group that is significant. The power is exercised by the Palaeopitus group in student affairs which originally gave that body its prestige, is long since gone.

"That Palaeopitus guides campus action or moulds undergraduate opinion in any conscious way is a legal fiction. Except on a few ceremonial occasions, the average student hardly realizes its existence. Its actions are vague and indefinite, and seldom made public. Its membership is confused, the greater part being surrounded by that high flown but meaningless title, "ex-officio." As far as the campus is concerned it is an individual honor, not an administrative council.

"It is the purpose of the proposed re-organization to restore to Palaeopitus the group power which is formerly enjoyed. How well the plans will succeed if favored by the student body is a question, but they are desering of careful trial. A glance at the campus will tell you that it is changing. If its government is not to become a worn-out and abandoned tradition, it must change with it."