Cleveland Dinner

A record breaking attendance of about 85 alumni greeted President Hopkins and Al Dickerson at Cleveland's Annual Dinner at the University Club on March 19th. An enthusiastic gathering it was in true Cleveland style. A table consisting of Hank Haserot, Bob Keeler, Bob Carpenter, Dave Johnson, Walter Greenwood, Bob Stecher and others that don't readily come to mind provided the usual razzings and interruptions and Fletch Andrews, as is his custom, made a bigger hit from the floor than did the disconcerted speakers who tried to say a few words before Al and Prexy were given a chance. The latter two were, however, given perfect attention.

Al talked particularly concerning the study of undergraduate life and told us how far the survey has progressed and what the committee hopes to accomplish.

Most of the President's informative and extremely interesting speech was devoted to Dartmouth problems and the College's work and progress. Several times, however, he discussed general educational problems.

He said that the undergraduate of today is more of a thinking man than perhaps any that American colleges have known.

"Undergraduates today are intent on analyzing current situations. The men in my time, and in yours, took the College, its principles and its policies for granted. But now we are dealing with a group which is thinking for itself. "Some people view this with alarm, but not I."

He said that two of the most important things a liberal arts college could give its students were "geographical and economic impacts on the youthful mind."

"Dartmouth and many other colleges, no doubt," he explained "could solve their financial problems overnight by merely admitting students with established economic backgrounds.

"But, in a liberal arts college, in my opinion, there must be representatives of different economic strata, because of the impact of youthful mind on youthful mind. The undergraduate brought up in a particular circumstance must realize that there are persons who have been brought up under different circumstances. That is why we have scholarship programs."

Dr. Hopkins said the weakness of many preparatory schools was that the students represented the same economic background and therefore made no different contacts.

"The same argument may be used for geographical backgrounds," he said. "These two items, I believe, are just as important parts of the general education picture as a good faculty or good buildings." A majority of the group stayed until the early morning hours to visit and talk of Dartmouth and a few last hangers-on bid Prexy and Al a hearty farewell on a 2:17 A.M. train. We enjoyed their visit, appreciate their coming and hope for an early return.