FAVOR LOCAL FRATERNITIES
Of number one importance was the vote cast by the seniors on the much discussed fraternity problem. Ninety-eight seniors favored the abolition of national charters and sixty-eight voted to the contrary.
Here, at least, is the answer of the majority from those best qualified to pass judgment on the national affiliations of Dartmouth fraternities. Nine men out of ten also feel that there is little concrete evidence of the necessity for any control of Dartmouth fraternities other than local. Balancing on one side the value of brotherhood among other colleges through national fraternities, against a stronger college unity among the fraternities at Dartmouth, the general desire lies in the field of closer unity at home.
This, of course, is at best only a brief resume of the existing sentiments, for the financial expense of national privileges is critically viewed from every angle. Recognized difficulties have not been lightly overlooked, either, by fraternity men who fully consider the position of the alumni members to the nth degree. At the same time, practically every fraternity man agrees that although there is much to be said for national fraternities, Dartmouth, in the end, might benefit from purely local chapters and any movement to complete this program will receive the endorsement of Dartmouth fraternities.
In an even greater majority the seniors voted one hundred and sixteen to fifty-two for the abolishment of the cut system. Granting that the three lower classes could not vote unbiasedly on this decision, it would appear that the seniors voted in the interest of a better education program. The writer has had neither the time nor the locomotion to interview every senior on the logic behind his vote on the cut system, but many seniors were reached with the following common ideas: The question as presented was not inclusive enough to show that we feel cuts should be abolished for juniors and seniors and not for freshmen and sophomores. At the present time limited cuts put no responsibility on the individual except the responsibility of attendance, which in itself is a most desirable responsibility until one considers attendance comes through fear of nonconformity rather than the search for education. In short, many seniors believe that they have lost something because they have never been given the full load of their own task.
On the other side of the fence stand other seniors who do not credit the undergraduate with the ability to acquire grades without cuts. This group believes the abuses that would follow a free lance attendance at classes would not justify the added experience of individual responsibility.
The seniors also voiced through their ballots that the greatest need of Dartmouth is a daily paper (ouch), that Smith is the institution doing the most for Dartmouth, that Dartmouth shouldn't be co-ed (98-68), and that extensive extra-curricular activity is worthwhile. Over half the class would marry for money and the same majority intend to marry before the age of thirty. After graduation what? Ninety-two seniors expect jobs immediately after graduation and fifty-two voted their doubts. During the first year after graduation the class members expect nothing in the way of salary, and after five years hope for $2OOO a year. This expectation when compared to the hopes of classes graduating in the late twenties and early thirties shows to some extent that Hanover is not a harbor of dreamers.
In fact, this spring in Hanover has been enough to take the dream completely out of the student mind. Rain and cold weather have combined expertly to spoil part of every day in the last month with one or two delightful exceptions. So far there has been little to beckon the students to a swim, a sun bath, or spring recreations. If one really wants to know why the championship Dartmouth baseball nine has taken its unexpected slump this season, the weather can truly be held in account. Head colds, sore arms, and subsequent lack of enthusiasm have been paid for through results, the final blow arriving when Joe Kiernan '37 became ill with pneumonia on the evening of the Columbia doubleheader.
In the meanwhile, political interest among the undergraduates has fluctuated iip and down the scale. The high point of something or other came when the Democrats met with violent opposition at their first open meeting. Besides booing the speaker, the opposition hid instruments belonging to members of the Band, and otherwise acted in the political spirit of the nineties. The young Republicans came through as predicted during the month with an organization. Dartmouth may witness a real political sideshow when the Presidential election arrives during the next school year.
