The Undergraduate Chair
THE NAME of this department indicates to some extent the purpose which it is supposed to fulfill—that of bringing to the alumni body some of the actions and thoughts of the undergraduates. In this, my first edition, I wish to say that any suggestions from alumni as to how I may improve the column will be greatly appreciated. The job was taken with a feeling akin to that of a sophomore accepting a fraternity bid—pleasure mingled with misgivings—and help will be appreciated.
Spring vacation is over and it is fine to be back in Hanover. The winter was notoriously bad as far as skiing snow was concerned, but even the die-hards who will now go to Mt. Washington for the weekends are glad to find the ground almost bare and green showing in the grass where the steam pipe goes between Webster Hall and the Inn. Looking around at faces, it is apparent that fully a third of the college either went skiing or south during the vacation. Some of these tans were acquired by members of the three Dartmouth teams which were starting spring schedules with southern games during vacation.
Looking back before vacation, some important and interesting things come to mind. Dr. Bruening, Ex-Chancellor of Germany, came to Hanover on March 14, and on the 16th gave the first of his series of lectures. The lectures, given under the Guernsey Center Moore Foundation, were entitled "The Antagonism Between the Totalitarian and Democratic Principles," but despite the title there was a large attendance at all of them. Dr. Bruening's delightful voice and polished style charmed his audience.
While Dr. Bruening was here the class officer elections were being held. The fact that the three upper classes "did not find time" to vote on the first day of the election caused much popular comment, amused or sarcastic. John Rourke, of West Roxbury, Mass., was elected president of the freshman class; and then, after an exhortation from Palaeopitus, the upper classes finally voted in large enough pro. portion to make a majority. After the discussion about the slowness in upper-class voting, it was interesting that Gordon Bennett, of Swampscott, Mass., and Joseph Kiernan, of Washington, D. C., tied for the presidency of the senior class. Merrill Davis, of Bradford, Pennsylvania, and Walter Magee, of Passaic, New Jersey, were elected presidents of the junior and sophomore classes.
Despite the fact that The Dartmouth ran the brief editorial: "Will the Senior who failed, yesterday, to remark 'Just think, if I'd voted the other way I'd have swung the election' kindly call at The Dartmouth office between 3 and 4 today to receive his $10 gold piece," there was some serious talk about "the indifference of the three upper classes." This "indifference," as it was called, was not, we feel, a simple question of not caring, nor can we deny that the in terest in voting was unduly slight. No other system of class officer selection would be acceptable, but the three upper classes did not show that they were anxious to state their choice. However, it would be better to attribute this poor first-day polling to preoccupation or laziness than to claim that the undergraduate no longer cares about his class officers.
VARIETY NIGHT A SUCCESS
On Friday night, the 19th, the annual Variety Night show was given in Webster Hall. Pre-show publicity in The Dartmouth built up suspense by telling of the secrecy which veiled the whole program. The lively audience that assembled Friday night was not disappointed, because the musical numbers, individual performances and skits were well done and amusing. We noted one officer of the College in the audience who carefully waited until the whole house was rocking with student laughter before he let himself laugh at many lines which "officially" he would not have felt amusing. The evening was successful in every way.
In serious contrast, we find that there was a Vox Pop which discussed the possibility of giving unlimited cuts to the students. The original article attacked the present cut system on the grounds that students are now forced to attend classes whereas, if they didn't attend classes voluntarily, they shouldn't be in college, and since we are here, since we were chosen by a selective process, and since this is a liberal arts college, we shouldn't be forced to go to classes. An editorial in The Dartmouth followed this Vox Pop and, agreeing with it in substance, proposed a limited cut system for the first two years and then unlimited cuts for Juniors and Seniors who show, by their marks and efforts, that they are worthy of the freedom. This freedom, it is felt, would increase individual initiative and perhaps improve the output of the undergraduate body.
As spring vacation approached, things became a little more festive. Marion Anderson, Negro contralto, sang in Webster Hall on the 23rd to conclude the year's concert series. Miss Anderson's opening group was composed entirely of Handel selections. Next, in a number of Schubert songs, she reached the peak of her program. Verdi, Sibelius and Kilpinen songs, and several Negro spirituals concluded the program which was to many the high-light of this year's series.
FRATERNITY QUESTION REVIVED
The question as to the place of fraternities at Dartmouth has been receiving renewed attention of late. President Hopkins, in a series of evening talks at various houses, has discussed the situation and the Interfraternity Council has worked hard to find a field for improvement or a beneficial change. We were asked, during the vacation, just what the fraternity meant to us personally. The reply was that our closest friends, most inspiring companions, pleasantest associations, and best hopes for friends after college were found in the fraternity. That, to us, is enough. Many agree that this is enough to justify the existence of fraternities, but they go on to say that a fraternity could give up its national charter, become a local club, and still offer these things. Therein lies the essential point of dispute—would it be better to have local clubs than the present local chapters of national fraternities? We feel that since clubs of some sort would remain in any event, it is better to go to the additional expense of paying dues to the national organizations because by so doing we have our clubs and we also have a common meeting ground with undergraduates of other colleges.
Important news just before the vacation was the announcement that Benny Goodman would come to Hanover to play for the Green Key Prom. The promenade this year comes on May 1. On the night before there will be a freshman dance as an innovation this year.
The undergraduate body returned to Hanover on April 6, and though some knew of it before, many were distressed to learn of the death of Dean William R. Gray of Tuck School. Dean Gray, in addition to being Dean of the business school which, under his guidance, has gained a national reputation as one of the finest schools of its kind in America, was also a trustee of the College. As a Dartmouth man who has served the College in many capacities since his graduation in 1904, his loss will be deeply felt.
Despite the fading snow, skiing events are still being won by Dartmouth men. The news that the entire Dartmouth contingent placed in the first ten in the eastern slalom championships appeared in the first post-vacation issue of The Dartmouth. Rumor has it that Walter Prager, new Dartmouth ski coach, has changed his date of sailing for Germany from June to May. He is quoted as saying, "I want to ski; here you have nothing but rain." The winter, we must admit, has been discouraging, but a full Tuckerman's Ravine may give him a better impression of American snow. The college has been active in skiing even more this winter than ever before, not only in competitions, but also in the "unskilled" class. Evidence of this is the fact that three new clubs have sprung up in Hanover. "The Sahara Ski Club" and the "Hell Divers" were formed this year, and the "Ski Club Carcajou," formed last year, grew in strength this year. It is of interest to the skiing alumni of Dartmouth that the "Ski Club Carcajou" is attempting and planning to become the graduate ski club of Dartmouth's ranking skiers, comparable to the "Hochgebirges" of Boston and the "Red Birds" of McGill.
SKIING CONTROL NEEDED
In this connection, the serious injury of James Seaver '3B, of Bronxville, N. Y., who received a fractured skull and other injuries while skiing on Oak Hill, has made many feel that the time has come when something must be done to make skiing safer on the crowded slopes. We were there the day Seaver was hurt, and had it not been for a group standing in the middle of the course he had planned to take, he would not have been forced into the rocks near the base of the hill. Hanover is sufficiently important in skiing circles to inaugurate the idea of traffic control on these hills. Areas might be set aside for climbing, and men skiing too fast might be warned. Something must be done in the future, because with the popularity of the sport increasing and all the slopes having ski tows becoming more crowded, accidents will increase proportionately.
As the MAGAZINE goes to press spring is coming to Hanover. The duckboards are still out, the sand hasn't been swept off the streets yet, the maple trees are still gaunt and have not started the delightful process of sending out those small leaves that make them lace-like against the sky. The Junior blazers are not here yet, but Senior canes have made their 1937 bow. It is not spring yet, but it is on the way, and by the time of the next issue the pre-graduation nostalgia and sentimentality will be coming into the talk of the day.
MILESTONES
Basketball Insignia: 1937, John H. Dingle Jr., Highland Park, 111.; Donald C. McKinlay, Chicago; Harold C. Parachini, New York, N. Y. 1938, William K. Thomas, Hollis, N. Y. 1939, Joseph H. Batchelder Jr., Peoria, 111., Joseph E. Cottone, Hartford, Conn., Roger G. Dudis, Athol, Mass., Robert F. MacLeod, Glen Ellyn, 111.
Swimming Itisignia: 1937, W. F. Graf, Palm Beach, Fla.; F. W. Young, Lima, Ohio. 1938, H. J. Carey, Hutchinson, Kan.; C. R. Fletcher, Minneapolis; R. A. Gilbert, Evanston, 111.; J. T. Llewellyn, Winnetka, 111.; F. C. Mills, Cleveland Heights, Ohio; J. R. Whitcomb, Portland, Me.; E. K. White, Belmont, Mass. 1939, R. Cushman, Winchester, Mass.; E. F. Fetske, Elizabeth, N. J.; J. S. Goldman, Chicago, 111.; A. N. Shrodes, Tulsa, Okla.; I. F. Stein Jr., Chicago; R. G. White, Highland Park, 111.
Freshman Hockey Numerals: R. H. Brooks, Minneapolis; S. M. Chase, Andover, Mass.: R. B. Conant Jr., Dedham, Mass.; M. A. Cross, Maplewood, N. J.; W. M. Daniels, Newtonville, Mass.; E. M. Deems, Forest Hills, N. Y.; R. H. Dingwall, Scarsdale, N. Y.; J. H. Heneage, Hanover; D. J. McCaffrey, Haverhill, Mass.; J. F. O'Brien, Boston; J. J. O'Hare, Boston; J. W. Powell, Hamden, Conn.; S. H. Snow, Braintree, Mass.; E. Sterling, Greenwich, Conn.; G. R. Stevenson, Duluth, Mich.; D. J. Sullivan Jr., Enosburg Falls, Vt.; J. S. Ward, Summit, N. J.
Athletic Managerial Heelers: S. M. Anderson, Detroit; E. A. Basquin, Richmond Hill, N. Y.; J. M. Bird, Maplewood, N. J.; C. S. Bowie, Washington, D. C.; R. P. Bunker, New Rochelle, N. Y.; G. C. Burliegh, Brookline, Mass.; R. H. Castle, Potsdam, N. Y.; I. L. Chipman, Wilmington, Del.; E. H. Cockley, Cleveland Heights, Ohio; J. H. Cooke, Burlington, Vt.; J. L. Cowan, Duluth, Minn.; W. D. Dance, Nahant, Mass.; W. M. Daniels, Newtonville, Mass.; J. M. de Seiyes, Washington, D. C.; C. A. Ferguson Jr., Maplewood, N. J.; A. Gutman, Philadelphia; K. Hamilton, Springfield, Vt.; N. B. Hamilton, Ardmore, Pa.; R. S. Kinsman, Framingham, Mass.; D. W. Leake, Garden City, N. Y.; J. R. Leech Jr., Washington, D. C.; E. R. Lender, Wallingford, Conn.; H. C. McAllister Jr., Manchester, N. H.; K. H. McCotter, Montclair, N. J.; P. J. McCoy, Sand Point, Idaho; J. H. McMahon, New York, N. Y.; J. E. D. Peacock, Longmeadow, Mass.; H. C. Power Jr., Portland, Me.; D. R. Rectanus, Middletown, Ohio; S. A. Rogers Jr., St. Clair, Ohio; J. P. Scott, Auburn, N. Y.; A. J. Smith, Detroit; K. C. Steele, Springfield, Mass.; J. D. Tredup, Chicago; S. G. Valensi, Larchmont, N. Y.; W. R. Watson Jr., Greenwich, Conn.; G. K. Wentworth, Auburndale, Mass.; J. R. Wheaton, Barre, Vt.; S. C. Williams Jr., West Orange, N. J.; R. H. York, Somerville, Mass.
Editor's Note: With this issue, Ben AmesWilliams Jr. '38 of Chestnut Hill, Mass.,assumes occupancy of The UndergraduateChair. Recently appointed a Senior Fellowfor next year, he is an honors student inEnglish, a member of the "C" ski team,Ledyard Canoe Club, Bait and Bullet, andPsi Upsilon fraternity. He is the son ofBen Ames Williams '10, and as undergraduate editor of the MAGAZINE succeeds William B. Rotch '37, son of Arthur B. Rotch'08.
