Gradus Ad Parnassum

BECAUSE OF THE wide mention made in the press of President Conant's report for 1936-37, recently submitted to the Board of Overseers at Harvard, it is not necessary to summarize here his discussion of the particular problems that he sees ahead for the higher education of the country. Nor is it possible to give an adequate summary in this column except to indicate briefly some of the principal points under discussion, and to quote a comment on the subject made by President Hopkins at the request of the Boston Transcript.

President Conant emphasized, in the report, his contention that higher education is a privilege and that care must be taken to make its advantages available to the boy who needs financial aid in his college course and also to the boy who may not be endowed with superlatively fine intellectual talents. He stated, and truly in our opinion, that undue emphasis must not be placed, in granting admission, on "those qualities which are of primary importance to the able lawyer and less essential to a novelist or a musician. Above all, the fatal error must be avoided of excluding a promising man of unilateral power." Broadly interpreted, it seems fair to assume that Harvard is just as interested in the "average man"as Dartmouth has always been interested in the boy of all-around achievement and promise, given a proven ability to do work of college grade.

This conception of the desirable balance which a college admissions office should strive to achieve in its decisions recalls the opinion of the late H. B. Thayer '79, long a trustee of the College, that the "average boy" must not be overlooked. His argument could not be refuted, for he spoke of numerous examples of highly successful men who never gave the promise in college days of what were their achievements in later life. Mr. Thayer rose from the ranks of the Telephone Company to become its president. "If you don't believe my theory," he said, with a smile, "look at me!"

OF THE NEED for more adequate scholarship funds in colleges President Conant said: "I think few who know the situation can doubt that the learned professions suffer because they have failed to recruit from all economic levels of society When you consider that probably three-quarters of the families of this country receive an annual income of $2,500 or less, the inadequacies of small scholarships amounting to a quarter or a half of the total expense become manifest. It is our ambition to extend the National Scholarships for boys entering Harvard College to all parts of the country."

The Dartmouth Alumni Council has lately embarked on a program of encouraging alumni groups in all parts of the country to establish Alumni or Regional Scholarships. The plan is for funds so secured to be held by the College with awards made by the proper officers of the College, but nominations for the awards may or may not be submitted by the alumni clubs concerned.

This is an extension of President Hopkins' keen desire, first expressed more than ten years ago, for the establishment of a number of Regional Scholarships that could be awarded to outstanding boys from all sections of the nation, and that would be large enough in annual amount to meet all expenses, including traveling expense from more distant states. Mr. Hopkins was the first of the college presidents to state the great need for this development in college policies. Almost immediately the William Pierce Johnson (Class of 1880) bequest of $lOO,OOO founded two annual scholarships of $7OO each from California. The only other major steps that have been taken toward the President's objective have been the establishment of similar regional scholarships from Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, and Chicago, the latter through the Chicago Alumni Scholarship Plan.

It is encouraging however to learn that a drive is in progress in the state of Wisconsin, sponsored by the alumni association there, to establish a substantial scholarship fund, and a similar effort is being made by the alumni in Colorado. Promising beginnings have been made within the past year for Regional Alumni Scholarship or Loan Funds in the following alumni centers: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Wellesley (Mass.), Bridgeport, Detroit, Albany, Manchester and Concord (N. H.), and Cincinnati. And the Dartmouth Educational Association of Boston continues to be very helpful.

A GREAT DEAL, however, remains to be done before the Alumni Council can feel that its efforts to extend President Hopkins' plans have been successful. Meanwhile, if anyone questions the seriousness with which other institutions in the east are attacking the problem, here is a further quotation from the Harvard report: "Those of our staff engaged actively in the selection of scholarship holders who have travelled in the different states interviewing applicants have been impressed with the large number of able youths throughout many sections of this country whose financial resources are too scanty to allow them to proceed with a first-class education."

The average total amount devoted annually to scholarships and loans in Hanover is about $140,000 (not including waiting on table, positions in the library, etc.). About 20% of the total enrollment receives financial aid. It is the opinion of Professor Neef, director of the financial aid program for the College, that the problem to be solved is to give more help to the 20%, rather than to spread available funds more thinly over a larger number of undergraduates. Among the needs of the College none appears more pressing than additions to endowment to provide increased scholarship and loan funds.

REFERRING BACK to the Harvard report, President Hopkins was requested by the Jioston Transcript to comment on it and to state Dartmouth's position on the question of the most effective policy of admissions. The President replied:

"I am completely in agreement with President Conant that the opportunity for higher education is a privilege. I believe that this opportunity, moreover, ought to be restricted to those who recognize it to be a privilege and will therefore utilize it to maximum advantage both for themselves and for the benefit of society at large. Dartmouth committed itself to this principle a decade and a half ago in adopting a policy of rigidly limiting the number whom it would accept into its undergraduate body, and in undertaking to develop a Selective Process which should give it an undergraduate body capable of utilizing the advantages which the College offers. It takes a long time in educational work to prove anything but on the basis of all of the evidence which we have at hand we feel optimistic in regard to our progress. Certainly a situation throughout the country wherein the values of higher education should be restricted to those disposed to recognize those values would be beneficial not simply to our colleges and universities but even more so to the society which they serve."

QUITE A FEW different names have been given to formalized efforts by some colleges and universities to provide their graduates with a continuing process of education after graduation. It has been variously called "Adult Education," "Alumni Education," "Post College Education" etc. Nothing of this entirely formal nature has ever been attempted for, or with, Dartmouth alumni nor is it contemplated. Nevertheless, the College recognizes an obligation to do something about helping to continue the intellectual life of its alumni.

"Hanover Holiday," or the "Alumni College," described by Professor Hill in this issue, is a sincere attempt by a group of officers of the faculty and administration to bring interested alumni into touch with a representative and highly qualified group of teachers. The plan was reasonably successful last June in its first appearance. Professor Hill and his collaborating committee have given careful attention to every detail of the second "Alumni College." Let him state the purpose:

"The general idea of the Hanover Holi.day is to get the alumni back to Hanoverwith their families or without, at Hanover's very best time of year, to renewacquaintances with the town, the facultyand current intellectual developmentsWe offer ten of the best talks—not "lec.tures"—we can think of, by good speakerson interesting and controversial subjectsthat beg for discussion from the floorThose who came last year would agreethat the contributions made by the alumnifrom all over the country were of greatvalue to all present, including the faculty! Contacts of just this sort between theCollege and alumni are highly desirableand indeed a partial fulfillment by theCollege of its duty to its graduates."

To provide the balance that the undergraduates themselves enjoy there will be time out periods for recreation and all the outdoor life of June in Hanover. Very special rates for the occasion are offered by the Inn. Replies received by Professor Hill from several reunion chairmen already indicate that "Hanover Holiday" will be an important event of the postreunion week. Here is the arrangement that many of you have dreamed of and longed for—a return, briefly, to college days. But with no examinations!

IF EXPOSURE to the educational processes of the College has "taken," the influence should continue as a constant factor in later life. It is not easy, however, in the workaday world and the short hours of precious leisure time, to do the reading, or writing, or otherwise accomplish the worthwhile things that one is always promising himself will shortly be undertaken and done. The College is interested, and keenly so, in influencing the lives of its alumni in intellectual pursuits over a period of the lifetime, not solely the undergraduate career. It is in this spirit, and with this in mind, that the editors of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE endeavor to publish material of substance and real merit in the course of the year. It is likewise the hope of those who are planning the "Hanover Holiday" program that an actual physical reunion with the intellectual life of the College will provide stimulation of the sort that best represents the College.

It was some years ago, at an alumni dinner in Philadelphia, that President Hopkins was speaking in the vein which holds his alumni audiences in rapt attention. His address—stimulating, philosophical, and deeply sincere—left the large crowd, as always, deeply moved. One of the younger men remarked, a characteristic tribute from those who hear the President speak: "I'm a better man than I was an hour ago.

An institution fortunate enough to possess the inspiring leadership that distinguishes Dartmouth has a long start on continuing to influence the lives of its men with the best of its spirit and traditions.

THE UNDER SECRETARY of the Treasury, "the New Deal's No. 2 Fiscal officer" according to Time, is Roswell Magill of the class of 1916, as readers of Time learned in the January 31 issue. The cover for that issue was distinguished by the countenance, a color portrait, of the scholarly Mr. Magill. Time relates the story: "Once when he appeared before a committee the Congressmen were so impressed by his learning that they asked whether they should not address him as 'Doctor.' Said the Under Secretary, smiling, 'Mister Magill, please.' "

As an undergraduate in Hanover Dr. (or Mr.) Magill gave much promise, through both academic and extra-curricula achievements, of success in later life. He was a Rufus Choate Scholar. He received honorable mention for final departmental honors in Political Science, being edged out for first honors by Carl Merryman, also a talented and versatile member of the class of 'l6.

In 1916 the editorials in The Dartmouth were largely concerned with comment on the internal affairs of the College. The editors of that era probably figured that the Boston and New York newspapers, and other periodicals read in Hanover, could and would adequately editorialize on national and international affairs and would not comment on the educational policy of Dartmouth College, the affairs of student government, and other important details of life in the College. Without ignoring the outside world the editor of earlier years devoted himself to careful scrutiny of all aspects of the College. As editor-in-chief in 1915-16 Roswell Magill did a notable job. His thoughtful editorials, and those of many other student editors before and since his time, played a significant part in shaping the constant development of the College through the years. The tradition of undergraduate participation in curriculum planning is an example.

BY ARRANGEMENT with the Alumni Fund Committee this issues goes to many alumni who are not subscribers to the MAGAZINE. In these pages this month will be found statistical summaries of the fine achievement of the Fund last year and also the complete lists, by classes, of all contributors whose names, added together, brought the amazing total of 7,94 a subscribers to the support of the College in 1937. This figure represents about 7 out of 10 graduates contributing to the Fund.

It is no secret, nor do we need to be overmodest about it, that the relationships existing between the alumni and the College are the object of admiration, and the envy, of other institutions. The loyalty of alumni, and their, devotion to the ideals of their institutions, is a distinguishing characteristic of the American college. But nowhere is there a stronger tradition of serious interest in and concern for their college than is recognized to exist, and thrive, among Dartmouth men.

Tradition is a tremendous force in collegiate life, whether in undergraduate days or the years following graduation. Tradition cannot be manufactured overnight. It is not subject to high pressure promotion methods. It is cumulative and acquires the strength and permanence over a period of years that is required of any spiritual quality if it is truly enduring. Of such stuff is a good traditioxr formed.

No finer tribute to the Alumni Fund can be paid, nor a better appreciation of its spirit given, than to say what is truethat it is a deep-rooted tradition of the College. .Nearly eight thousand Dartmouth men sent their gifts to Hanover last year. In the next few weeks the class agents will sound the call for 1938. The response, we are confident, will again be a surge of support from widely scattered sons. The response will give substantial support to the College and it will also give renewed spirit to a great tradition.

THE UNTIMELY DEATH of Richard Hovey at 36 tragically shortened the brilliant career of one of the College's most distinguished men of letters. A handful of his intimate friends of college times survive. They like to recall the days in Reed Hall when Hovey scribbled verses that are now famous on scraps of paper and read them to a roomful of convivial companions. Whatever claims Dartmouth may have to a group of distinctive songs rest largely on the stirring verses written by its great Hovey.

The year before his death, in 1900, the College honored Richard Hovey with the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters. Since that time his fame has mounted with the passing years not, of course, solely because of his Dartmouth songs but on the basis of widely recognized excellence as an American poet.

It is doubtful, however, if very many among the younger alumni of the College have any conception of the true greatness of Hovey. His college, of which he was a most devoted son, must memorialize his name and give permanence to the "record of his fame" if it is to be done anywhere, or by anyone. Occasional mention is made of the obligation that exists to recognize the fame of certain alumni in the buildings of the College. Here is one name that demands recognition and preservation. It is a tradition—Richard Hovey.

THE OUTING CLUB has scored another hit with its aBth Winter Carnivalthis time, and for the first time, without benefit of the customary gift from Heaven, a fresh and ample fall of snow. The largest crowds in Carnival history were handled efficiently and competition was extremely keen in all events. Splendid athletic victories helped to make the week-end a memorable one. "It Can Happen Here"— an Icy, but Snowless Carnival.

The Editor

(Left) I-lerluf V. Olsen '22, Dean of TuckSchool; (Center) Prof. Robert A. McKennan '25, chairman of the Department of Sociology; (Right) Prof. Richard H. GoddardDirector of Shattuck Observatory.THREE YOUNGER ALUMNI OF THE COLLEGE WHO HOLD POSITIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY IN THEIR DEPARTMENTS OF THE FACULTY