The Undergraduate Chair

AS THE MAGAZINE goes to press Dartmouth is still suffering from shock. St. Peter, who sends us the beautiful snow in the winter, failed to bless Hanover for the Carnival week-end. It's too bad, because it made a lot of difference. As we sat, thinking of past Carnivals, and of how much difference the lack of snow did make, we found ourselves looking back over the year, and we discovered that there have been many ways wherein Dartmouth life has shown signs of change.

Arbitrarily dividing "Dartmouth Life" into three sections: social, outdoor, and indoor—leaving the discussion of the curriculum developments of the year for discussion in another section of the MAGAZINE —we will start by considering the changes in the social life of Dartmouth this year.

The Social Survey Report, which was presented in April, 1936, after a year of exhaustive study by a splendid committee, recommended, among other things, that something be done to improve the eating facilities in Hanover. The tangible outcome of that recommendation is Thayer Hall, the excellent new dining hall operated by the Dartmouth Dining Association. The fact that the "Colonial Room," where more leisurely and expensive meals may be had, is full, and that the Cafeteria works at capacity, morning, noon, and night, and that students are willing to stand in line in order to eat in this building proves that the recommendation was sound and that its suggestions have been successfully followed by the College. Thayer Hall has not only given the students a better place in which to eat; it has also done away with what were in many instances undesirable eating clubs.

Another recommendation by the Social Survey Committee which had its effect on the social life of Dartmouth was that which criticised the fraternities. It was felt that the fraternities had lapsed from the point of usefulness which they should maintain; and it was urged that a campaign be instituted to bring about an internal revitalization. This effort is already bearing fruit, and the fraternities, faced with the problem of proving their worth, have made successful efforts to give their existence a more active justification. A greater awareness of the responsibility each member should feel for the well-being and the proper development of his fellows is one of the things that has been stressed.

Dormitories are another field touched by any discussion of the changes in the social life of Dartmouth. Last year the dormitory committees were given complete charge of the dormitories, with the Administration acting as adviser. Thus it was that last year at Carnival time the students in the dormitory chosen to house the competitors objected to the request that they vacate their rooms, with the result that the competitors had to be given accommodations down in the gymnasium. This revolt on the part of the members of the dormitory was evidence of the fact that through their committees they were indeed self-governing. This year, the initial action having been taken by the Interdormitory Council, the College has been successfully petitioned to build social rooms in those dormitories that are not already so equipped, and to make other minor improvements. In short, the men living in the dormitories are finding that by concerted action they can make their quarters more comfortable and can direct the formation of the rules and regulations under which they shall live.

WHAT CAN BE KEEPING THEM? Dartmouth undergraduates impatiently await the arrival of Carnival dates at theHanover-Norwich station across the river.