THE UNDERGRADUATE CHAIR
EDITOR'S NOTE: With this issue, Robert P.Fuller '57 of Beverly, Mass., assumes occupancy of The Undergraduate Chair. Heis sports editor of The Dartmouth. Hanover correspondent for The Boston Post, and publicity director for the DartmouthOuting Club. He prepared for Dartmouthat Peddie School and is a member of SigmaNu fraternity. Fuller succeeds William J.Minsch Jr. '36 of Montclair, N. J.
WITH more than a slight shaking of my knees, a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach that compares favorably with the sensation of the roller coaster, and a strong respect for the task that lies ahead, the writer launches on a new undertaking in the sea of undergraduate interpretation and reporting.
Unlimited groupings of student opinions forbid a unified conclusion on any point. Writing in the Vox Pop column of TheDaily Dartmouth on April 15 Wallace Fisher '37 challenged the editors thus:
.... "Finally, one of the greatest ob-jections I have to make against the editorialis that it does not 'in any definite way echothe opinion of the undergraduate body.We, who pride ourselves on having astudent controlled, Democratic, and enlightened newspaper, evidently have it not.It is a highly significant fact, I believe, thatstudent opinion on the campus is NOTrepresented in the editorial section. Whatis printed in 'The Dartmouth' is generallyconsidered to be the general consenus ofopinion of the students. It is only too clearthat our editorials are concocted andthrown together by a few in control."
We take the space to reprint this accusa- tion in order to question the ability of any one editorial board, or person, to echo the concensus of opinion of over 2000 students —many who think in groups, some who think individually and others who have no opinions whatever on political, sociological and serious controversies.
I for one am happy to be in a position to defend the editorial aims of the college paper. Realizing only too well that the editorial column can in no way state the opinions of all, the editors strive only to arouse some opinion in others—whether it be similar opinion or viewpoints directly opposed to theirs. For this reason I cannot see what worldly difference it can make whether The Dartmouth is pale pink or robin's egg blue, for its function has never been one of instruction but one of thoughtstimulus. If disagreements arise from editorials, no better sign of accomplishment of purpose could be forthcoming. It is a real pity that the Vox Pop column of TheDartmouth is not more generally used as the voice of those who believe they have something to offer. It is a privilege continually neglected by the majority.
Naturally we do not go to the extreme of saying there is never a 90 per cent opinion of the undergraduate body. One instance of general accord will be forthcoming as this issue goes to press. Backed by the Administration's approval and a 40-minute recess, over three-fourths of the student body is expected at the anti-war program sponsored by the Dartmouth Campus Peace Committee as part of the third "National Anti-War Movement." Some 350,000 American undergraduates will lend their presence to a united front
Last year the same movement was unfortunately called a Peace Strike. This year in the spirit of the movement the word demonstration has been correctly brought forth. It will be a demonstration by college men and women that education and the ignorance and greed that breed wars in many instances can never be logical bedfellows.
Recent European war threats, RussianJapanese tension and Italian-Ethiopian conflicts have heightened student enthusiasm for peace necessities and a greater Dartmouth demonstration will undoubtedly result.
Another convincing sign of the times during the last month arrived with the announcement that a "Young Democratic Club" will henceforth function on the campus. "Dartmouth in Politics" will certainly gain from even this small start and it is rumored that the young Republicans will follow suit shortly. May one Daniel Webster grow from the embryonic seed.
Dartmouth's Junior Honor Society, Green Key, struck a harmonious note recently which met with the accord of the students. Surplus funds approximating $4000 have been established in a Student Loan fund under the direction of Professor Francis J. A. Neef, chairman of the Committee on Scholarships and Loans. Long recognized as a unique service organization without peer in college ranks, Green Key is to be congratulated on its farsighted policy.
By way of lighter controversy, Professor Michael Choukas of the Sociology Department produced the home run hit of the month with his investigation of student scholarship. Prof. Choukas has evolved the theory that students with the greatest ability are the pessimists and those lacking in ability are the optimists nine cases out of ten. Trials in self gradation of papers handed in on examination were the basis of his conclusions.
Men with scholastic ability graded their own papers pessimistically. On the other hand, poor students generally overestimated the worth of their work. It was also true that the pessimists were less pessimistic than the optimists were optimistic. There is probably a moral to these discoveries, but just what moral, I leave to the proper authorities.
The advertising award of the month goes o the Dartmouth Players publicity department for their recent campaign to entice an audience into Webster Hall.
Daggers Flash! A Dictatorship Falls! An Empire Crumbles! Fascism Takes it on the Chin in The Players Coming ProductionMr. William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. We really don't know whether Shakespeare would view this with alarm or agree in entirety.
