Fraternity Developments

Recent developments in the Dartmouth fraternity situation, which has been the subject of widespread discussion since the publication of the Social Survey Committee's report last spring, have centered about the negotiations between Dean Lloyd K. Neidlinger and various representatives of the national fraternities. Discussions, looking toward the improvement of fraternity life in Hanover, have been held during the summer months, and other conferences will be held this fall. Officers of the College have expressed the hope that ways and means could be found for bringing about the fraternity improvements recommended by the Social Survey Committee, which, under the chairmanship of Professor Russell R. Larmon 'l9, made a detailed study of fraternities in its survey of undergraduate social life at Dartmouth.

Just what steps will be taken either by the national fraternities, by the College, or by both combined cannot be predicted, according to Dean Neidlinger. He has stated that his correspondence with Alvin Duerr, former chairman of the National Fraternity Conference and a prominent figure in the Greek Letter Society world, and his conferences with groups and individuals representing national fraternity interest have all been helpful in making progress toward adoption of certain recommendations made by the Social Survey Committee. Although no definite action has been taken, it is considered likely that the National Fraternity Conference will appoint a committee to study the Dartmouth problem and to work in collaboration with Dean Neidlinger during an experimental period.

A further development of general interest is the announcement by Richard E. Pritchard 'l4 of New Britain, Conn., president of the Alumni Council, that a special committee of the Council has been named to study the Social Survey Committee's report in respect to fraternities. It was the request of the Board of Trustees that the Alumni Council should discuss alumni aspects of the question. The special committee of the Council is headed by Clarence G. McDavitt 'OO of Boston. Associated with him in this group are Leon B. Richardson 'OO, Hanover; Edward K. Robinson 'O4, Boston; William D. Knight 'OB, Rockford, 111.; Chauncey B. Baxter 'lO, Tacoma, Wash.; John C. Sterling 'll, New York City; William B. Slater 'l4, Providence, R. I.; and Fletcher R. Andrews 'l6, Cleveland.

ROBINSON NAMED SECRETARY

Mr. Robinson has been named secretary of the committee. His address is: Ginn & Cos., 15 Ashburton Place, Boston, Mass.

As the accredited representatives of the alumni, members of the Alumni Council have been asked by President Hopkins and the Board of Trustees to study the fraternity report with its majority recommendation favoring the dissolution of national affiliations and its minority report favoring the retention of national charters at Dartmouth. The Council with its 31 members scattered throughout the country, representing all geographical and age groups in the alumni body, has long been regarded as the representative body or "senate" of Dartmouth's 17,000 alumni. In seeking alumni opinion on the much discussed fraternity question, the President and Trustees look to the Alumni Council for its advice, after study and discussion which Mr. McDavitt has stated will surely consume considerable time—a matter of months if not longer.

AT CONFERENCE OF AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION Among alumni attending the meetings in Hanover were (left to right): H. S. Odbert '30,R. W. Husband '26, C. L. Stone' 17, W. A. Hunt '28, L. W. Doob '29, and J. H. Taylor '30.