GRADUS AD PARNASSUM
WITH THE PUBLICATION in this issue of the MAGAZINE of abstracts from the report of the Committee for Survey of Social Life in the College, the task upon which the committee of 14 embarked 16 months ago is brought to its first conclusion. The report being in the hands of the President of the College, the remaining steps in the project rest with him. The Committee has submitted a set of recommendations. It does not have any authority to see that these are carried out but has only suggested changes which promise to effect improvements in the social life of the undergraduate body.
In the first section of its report which is currently released by President Hopkins, the Committee presents its study of the fraternity system at Dartmouth. In other sections of the report which may possibly be made available to alumni at a later date, the committee reports upon a variety of other social factors in the life of the College, such as dining facilities, freshman year, dormitory life, functional organizations, entertainment in Hanover, weekending, the use of cars, and others. Of all these there will be perhaps the greatest general interest in the Committee's attack on that ancient Hanover problem—eating conditions. If ample funds were in sight to build great dining halls and to provide social rooms, both for freshmen and upperclassmen, the problem would not be so difficult. Everyone agrees that "something needs to be done," and the Committee's suggestions at this vital point are of great significance.
AT THE END O£ its long and careful study - of fraternities a majority of the Social Committee has arrived at the conclusion that the national affiliation has failed "to a very considerable degree" and consideration of the dissolution of this connection is therefore recommended to the President. Twelve members of the Committee join in this indictment of the national fraternity system at Dartmouth. Two members, unable to agree with the majority, have filed a minority report with President Hopkins. They do not find any cause for concern in the present situation and they view with alarm any suggestion of changing the statusquo.
A STUDY OF THIS fraternity, section of the X Social Report reveals that the majority and minority of the Committee differ only, at least to any major degree, on the resolution indicting national fraternity affiliations and suggesting their termination at Dartmouth. There is unanimous agreement that the appointment of an "adviser" or "director" of fraternities, to be attached to the administrative staff of the College, would promise much for the future of these social groups in Hanover. It is evident, however, that the majority feels that this fraternity adviser would succeed in the important duties of his position just as well if not better if national connections are not retained. The majority inquires what essential functions could still be taken care of by the nationals if the College is to become, to all intents and purposes, the parent of Dartmouth fraternities. The minority feel that the new officer's work would be more effective if he could also have the support of the national connection.
A more fundamental point on which there is agreement among all 14 members of the Committee is the conviction which the group arrived at during the course of its long study of the problem that a process of strengthening the fraternities would be desirable and feasible at Dartmouth. To put the matter another way—the Committee does not endorse any other plan or system of undergraduate social groups. Social clubs or fraternities offer the best means of providing social life to a majority of the student body, in contrast to the House Plan or some variation of it. This of course is an important point and a very basic one in approaching the fraternity question. According to the Committee's recommendations the College should give such aid and assistance, supervision and encouragement, to the local societies as may be necessary to infuse in them new strength and prestige. They should be integral and welcome units in the social life of the College.
It is on this clear-cut issue that reasoned debate on the question may be based. The severance of national fraternity ties might be justified if the position of Dartmouth fraternities of the future could be greatly strengthened by the Committee's recommendations for improvement. Facts will support both the majority and minority positions, personal testimony of those who have experienced fraternity membership will doubtless bear out both opinions. For it is possible to establish fact, to proceed to inference, finally to state opinion. So long as opinion is not based on emotional reactions but is rather a thoughtful decision arrived at from the perspective of knowledge of the situation and a long-time point of view, no man can quarrel with the opinion so formed.
ACCORDING TO Harold Nicolson, Dwight - Morrow's approach to a problem was to study its history. In conforming to this sound procedure, a concise but quite complete account of the history of social organizations at Dartmouth prefaces the main body of the Social Committee's report. Then follows a thorough discussion of the correct social objectives for Dartmouth, in the light of the College's history, purposes, traditions, location, and other related factors. Not until definite objectives are set up on the basis of historical experience and future promise does the Committee proceed to its arguments for and against the principal factors in the fraternity situation.
The strong dissenting opinion of two members of the group indicates that there can be no unanimity of feeling on the question of values received from national fraternity affiliation. Although the majority appear convinced that their opinion represents the majority of alumni it is a recognized fact that many alumni will differ with the majority. They will find their case ably presented by Colonel Drake and Mr. Mathes.
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE PUBLICATIONS announces the printing and availability of copies of the complete fraternity section of the Social Report, which is abstracted and described in the pages of this issue of the MAGAZINE. There will be many alumni who will want to read the complete text of the fraternity section and who will look forward to seeing other chapters of the Committee's report when and if any are made available. Most if not all of the other subjects of the Committee's Social Survey will be exclusively of Dartmouth interestto undergraduates and their parents, to faculty, and to alumni. Because of the interest, at least in the collegiate corners of the general public, in the fraternity section it is reassuring to see that the Committee has emphasized the point that this study has been made in Hanover and that it affects only the situation at Dartmouth. There is no reflection on the national fraternity as an institution beyond Hanover Plain. Every college and university in the country faces different problems. Student bodies, their characteristics and social situations, are quite different from one another.
THE IMPORTANCE of the Social Survey ranks with that excellent study of the academic side of college made by Professor L. B. Richardson some years ago, "A Study of the liberal College." In 1924 a student committee, headed by W. H. Cowley '24, also made a major contribution in this field of the proper objectives of the liberal college.
To Professor Russell Larmon 'l9 was given the responsibility of directing the study of Dartmouth's social life. President Hopkins selected a well qualified committee which has been at its labors steadily for 16 months. More than 700 pages of typed manuscript are the tangible result of this research project. In his foreword the chairman disclaims any personal glory for the work of this committee. "Cotty" Larmon and his associates richly deserve the appreciation of all friends of the College for completing this task. Progress in Hanover will surely be accelerated as a result.
COMPLIMENTS ARE again in order for the Alumni Fund on the publication and distribution of its 21st annual report. The record made last year not only in respect to the number of contributors, which nearly reached 7,000, but the total funds collected —582,454.69—is one that gives full evidence of the remarkable support which is given to the College every year by the alumni. The point may well be emphasized again here that the initiation, planning, and operation of the annual Fund campaign is entirely in the hands of the Alumni Council and that loyal group of hard workers, the class agents.
As this issue of the MAGAZINE goes to press there is already evidence of early efforts of class agents with their respective groups, although the first call for the 1936 campaign has not yet been sounded by the Fund Committee. Advance letters to classmates have brought some number of contributions through the mails to Hanover. The goal of an intensive period of solicitation by the agents from now until June 30 will be to make a better record than last year.
Although no quotas have been assigned to classes and there is no quota for the whole campaign, the effort will be to achieve a result both in number of contributors and amount of "free dollars" made available to the College that will be in excess of the final standing on June 30, a year ago. Figures compiled by the Fund Committee show that more than half of the total funds collected last year came from a relatively small group of alumni, many from the older classes. It is to the larger classes that the Committee looks for the greatest support in the matter of increasing the number of contributors, for gifts will, as always, be welcomed whether they are for very modest or more substantial amounts.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE College that the . services of a professional cameraman have been engaged to assist in the production of movies that are sent out from Hanover is welcome news to alumni clubs. The new films will also be useful to the numerous committees of alumni who are frequently called upon to provide secondary schools with views and pictorial descriptions of Dartmouth. To date the work of rejuvenation of College movies has been confined to a concentration upon winter films. There are now available three reels of 4.00-feet each showing Outing Club activities, a winter trip to Moose Cabin, the new ski tow, winter sports, and a full review of Carnival activities and events. In addition, a first step has been taken in the production of Dartmouth movies in color.
Although it is natural to emphasize the winter life of students in Hanover, by no means is the story of Dartmouth told by the activities of this popular season of the year. With professional help "Dartmouth College News," which is sponsored by the Secretaries Association, is building a set of films to interpret the year-round life, the daily activity, of Dartmouth undergraduates. It will surely be of interest to prospective students and to alumni to see the College "in motion" fom the very first days of the opening week in September to the final curtain of the academic year when seniors march out of the Bema into the "wide, wide world." It is expected that the new films will be ready for distribution early in the fall, although the winter pic. tures may now be rented at a nominal fee from the Secretary's Office. For those who are amateur cinema enthusiasts among the alumni duplicates of the films may be purchased as well as rented for private showing
THE EDITORIAL which is quoted below appeared in the Boston Herald following publication of the last issue of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE.
DARTMOUTH FRESHMEN
Daniel Webster's words in regard toMassachusetts, "There she is," are more accurate today as applied to his alma materthan his eloquent statement to the UnitedStates Supreme Court about the size of hisloved college. With its freshman class of655, it is surely not small. The tabulation inthe latest issue of the DARTMOUTH ALUMNI MAGAZINE also shows that it has become alarge institution as measured by the sourcesfrom which it draws its students. Massachusetts has contributed more men thanany other state in the last fifteen years, ourtotal being 300 greater than New York's.New Jersey is third, Illinois fourth and NewHampshire fifth. Foreign countries havesent more men than any one of a group ofthirty-three of our states, although everystate in the Union has been represented.
Looking over the statistics, a reader findssome puzzles. Why does Illinois send somany to Hanover? The total in the fifteenyear period is 660, as compared with 473from Ohio, 179 from Michigan and seventyeight from Indiana. Are the sons of the BigGreen who have settled in Illinois morepersuasive, more ardent in their academicallegiance, than their fellow-alumni in thenearby states?
In answer to the Herald's question of "Why does Illinois send so many to Hanover?" it would be agreed that no eastern college has a stronger or perhaps as strong group of alumni in Chicago and environs as does Dartmouth. The alumni club there has flourished for many years under the direction and inspiration of officers whose time, energy, and abilities have been generously given to the best interests of the College.
President Hopkins can take much satisfaction in the statistics of geographical distribution of the student body which reveal the truly national scope of the College. It was early in his administration that he set about achieving the end of bringing young men together in Hanover from every section of the United States. That every state in the Union should be represented at Dartmouth and that only highly qualified applicants should be accepted for admission have been two goals in the achievement of which Dartmouth has pioneered.
The fact that thirteen freshmen this year come from California and twelve freshmen come from across the River in Vermont is one bit of testimony to the completeness o Dartmouth's national standing.
The Editor
