Thayer School News

With the snow practically off the ground and spring vacation under way at the time this appears, Hanover and Thayer School look forward to the coming of another spring. Compared to the Thayer School news which has appeared recently in The Dartmouth, this column dwindles to a mere nothing. On the morning of March first subscribers to that worthy paper were stunned by the double column headlines, "Thayer School Dean Announces New Plan," and "Thayer School Dean Favors Student Freedom in Studies." The first of these stories was an interesting combination of fact and fancy relating to the plan adopted last year and explained briefly in this column last October, allowing seniors in college to take courses in Thayer School without requiring them to take the full Thayer School course. The second story in that morning's Dartmouth was the report of an interview which one Herbert Levine had with "the young, jovial-looking Dean" on the subject of grades and teaching methods, wherein Dean Garran's statements and Mr. Levine's ideas were indistinguishably interwoven. Both articles were interesting and worth while for the purpose of reminding the College that Bissell Hall is occupied, and that, as Dean Garran was quoted, "we are working seriously on this part of the campus."

Alumni will be interested to hear of the application of the Thayer School students for the establishment of a student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers here. This move is directly the outgrowth of a seminar course instituted by Dean Garran this year for the presentation by the students of papers on various aspects of engineering which are not specifically treated in the curriculum of the school. These papers have proved so interesting that the meetings at which they are presented are being held Thursday evenings, so that members of the College and community may attend. Considerable interest has been shown in these papers not only by the students themselves but also by outside visitors.

Harrison G. Roby '06, who is chief hydraulic engineer with the Byllesby Engineering and Management Corporation of Chicago, presented a fine paper to the Structural Division of the American Society of Civil Engineers at their annual meeting in January. This paper has been abstracted and published in the March issue of Civil Engineering under the title, "Pressure of Concrete on Forms."

Roy E. Lewis '13 visited the school the other day with a problem in sea-wall construction from his twin brother, who, although he did not attend Thayer School, is a Dartmouth graduate engaged in the contracting business. Roy Lewis, the Thayer School member of the family, is, oddly enough, not in engineering work at all, but in the hardware business in Lebanon, N. H.

Robert N. McDonough '28 visited the school recently, and reported that he has accepted a position with the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey in Alabama.

Carl Parsons '33 and B. O. McCoy '34 are with the New Hampshire Forestry Service, laying out roads and park developments in the White Mountains.

Chan Griggs '33, who is with the NewHampshire State Highway Department, visited the school recently.

Another recent visitor to the school was Walter Douglas '34, who is taking graduate work in the Harvard Engineering School.

With the Robert Fletcher Fund in operation, your correspondent is optimistic about the possibility of hearing a little news from alumni who are farther removed from Hanover.