IV. MODERN DORMITORY LIFE

The dormitory has really come into its own at Hanover. It is not long since the Dartmouth dormitory was characterized chiefly as a battleground for a continuous and fascinating game of hide-and-seek between celebrating undergraduates and vigilant college inspectors, while the offcampus room was the celebrated retreat of the upperclassman.

But all that has changed now. The dormitories are enjoying their second year of virtual self-government under chairmen and committees, and they are all full to the brim, with the exception of a handful of the most expensive rooms. This great march back to the dormitories last fall took place partly as a result of considerable tightening of the list of approved off- campus rooms. But it was also due to the complete change in dormitory life and at- mosphere.

The worst feature of dormitory life under the old system was the lack of any means of controlling noise and disorder, except when an actual riot broke out. This condition of anarchy has now given way to the resident elective committee system, with the committee responsible not only for checking misdemeanors and disorderly conduct but also for limiting noise and setting all sorts of minor problems. Hand in hand with this has gone a considerable relaxing of the College rules, so that almost entire responsibility is in the hands of the student committees. Last fall an Inter- dormitory Council, composed of all dormitory chairmen, was set up to determine questions of policy, promote dormitory welfare, and maintain the confidence of the College in the system. The Council is subject to some control by Palaeopitus, the Committee on Student Residence, and the Dean.

In addition to making dormitory life more pleasant, the new system has promoted dormitory solidarity. Regular and special meetings are held and new activtiteis undertaken, such as the Carnival dormitory snow sculpture competition.