Gradus Ad Parnassum
THIS UNDERGRADUATE ISSUE, following a custom of some years standing, includes contributions of several feature articles by undergraduate authors. Limitations of space do not permit the editors to present anywhere near as much student work as could easily be done. It would not, in fact, be at all difficult to fill this entire issue with examples of undergraduate achievement in writing, photography, sketching, and painting. Only a sampling of student literary material can be used but it is again the pleasure of the editors to give particular emphasis to undergraduate work in one issue of the MAGAZINE this year.
About a year ago a new student literary-picture publication called Pace was first discussed by a group headed by Arnold Childs '39. Early last fall the first issue of Pace appeared but the ambitious program of monthly appearances of the new magazine failed on account of financial troubles. More recently discussions have been held between the staff of the defunct Pace and the editorial and business group of the moderately prosperous and well-established Pictorial, leading to a combination of the two magazines, with the first of the com- bined issues scheduled to appear shortly. It will be gratifying if the venture succeeds and thereby much more of the highly cred- itable literary and pictorial resources of the student body can be revealed through the new student magazine's pages.
One of the contributors to our issue this month is the editor of Pace (who with Richard Durrance '39 is co-editor of the new Pictorial). Mr. Childs has interviewed Dr. Alexander Meiklejohn, visiting professor of philosophy. There has been much interest expressed among alumni in Professor Meiklejohn's residence in Hanover during this semester. Mr. Childs, one of his philosophy students, describes the distinguished visitor's work in the College and something of his reaction to Dartmouth.
OTHER UNDERGRADUATE CONTRIBUTORS are Moreau Brown, William W. Goodman, and John Parke all of the senior class, and Gordon D. Stokes '40. In addition Ralph N. Hill '39 concludes his editorship of the Undergraduate Chair with a review of the college year.
Mr. Brown contributes a biographical sketch of Richard Hovey '85. On May 4 several alumni groups will meet in celebration of the 75th anniversary of Hovey's birth. The Hovey Room in Thayer Hall calls attention for the first time in a college building to the distinguished career of Dartmouth's poet laureate, whose major contribution to American letters was cut short by his untimely death.We are eager to have alumni well acquainted with Hovey's distinction and are able to take another step in this direction this month with the valued help of Mr. Brown.
Only brief abstracts can be reprinted from the thesis of Mr. Goodman, prepared for his sociology major work. His mixture of fact, as gathered through questionnaires to seniors, and opinion provides interesting reading on certain trends that he observes in undergraduate beliefs, customs, and attitudes. Of particular interest is his data on the growth of religious interest in the College.
Mr. Parke, a Senior Fellow, contributes one of the most interesting of the articles this month in his "Where, Oh Where—." In addition to describing the special work of each of the Senior Fellows this year, the author also analyzes the objectives of the Senior Fellowship Plan and points to certain modifications and revisions in the original basis of the plan that are being currently discussed.
A western hunting trip of a different sort is described by Mr. Stokes, who was a member of the Dartmouth Museum expedition of last summer. The results of the trip enlarged the Wilson Hall collections which are being constantly improved under the excellent management of Mr. W. W. Bowen, curator.
THE ONLY FAULT that we and perhaps others who see Professor West's monthly column can find with "Hanover Browsing" is that it makes a more-than-ordinary dent in the books budget every month. The standard of "Browsing" month by month is high and has attracted a large following among the alumni. This month Mr. West's description of his bed-side book shelf is exceedingly interesting. We predict that Damon Runyan fans will increase and that the dust will be blown off old copies of Sherlock Holmes.
MORE THAN ONE good reason exists for the widespread interest among the alumni in Hanover Holiday. Invitations to all friends of the College to attend the third annual program, June 19-24, have been published in earlier issues of the MAGAZINE and will also reach alumni by direct mail. The prospect of a holiday week in Hanover in June is attractive enough. With a program and speaking and discussion presenting exceedingly well-qualified members of the faculty, substance is added to the project that doubles its attractiveness for a week of vacationing on Hanover Plain. The complete program is published in the College News section this month. Not the least incentive to come back to Hanover for the Holiday is the schedule of special rates at the Inn.
Last year the success of Hanover Holiday led the faculty-administrative committee in charge to feel confident that an equally large or increased number of alumni and members of their families would participate this June. Prof. Herbert W. Hill, chairman of the committee on arrangements, has already had indications that the week's program of instruction (without quizzes or exams), discussion, and recreation will be enjoyed by a considerable group again this year. Whether viewed as a means of strengthening relations between the faculty and alumni or as a stimulating experience or as a pleasant holiday on the campus, we recommend June 19-24 as time-out, of a different sort, for a visit to Hanover.
BY GRADUAL PLANNING and development during some ten years of consideration, the College has approved the solution of one of its most pressing problems. An auditorium to provide a gathering place for the entire student body, faculty, visiting alumni, and members of the community in and near Hanover is greatly needed, both for use during the academic year and at Commencement. In planning the auditorium the purpose has been to make the building useful as often and widely as possible.
The planning committee appointed by President Hopkins first formed plans to provide the best possible theater; then the College's work in music, inadequately and temporarily centered in Bartlett Hall, was incorporated; then the committee visualized the building as an educational instrument not only for the College but also for the community around it, for the vacationists in New England in the summer, for all those in the country whose purposes and interests could be met through drama, music, opera, dancing, motion pictures, and radio—presented in and through the facilities of the building. A year-round program of use will be served when the new Center, or auditorium, stands on the campus at the present location of Bissell Hall.
The primary requirements in the whole project are the theater and auditorium for the College and a home for the department of music, and all allied musical activities in the student body. A decade or more ago, it will be recalled, the College hoped to build a huge structure which was to be a student union, composed of dining halls for upperclassmen and freshmen, space for all student activities, a new Graduate Club, and a theater and auditorium. In the intervening years Thayer Hall has been built and is operating successfully as an upperclass dining center; student activities are still crowded into Robinson Hall; the Graduate Club is using the old Beta House; from the entire project there remains the need of a new Webster Hall.
According to present plans of the Board of Trustees and the Alumni Council financing for the new building will be secured outside of the alumni. As in the past the Alumni Fund is considered exclusively the only campaign for financial support of the College by the alumni. The Alumni Council has repeatedly declined to authorize campaigning among alumni for any project advanced in the name of the College other than the Alumni Fund.
It is the Alumni Council's plan to strengthen the College at certain weak points through new sources of support. To enumerate all of the weak points is not our purpose here, but the new Webster Hall is by no means the only one. First and always at the top of the list is endowment. There are other needs in the way of the plant including, in particular, an addition to the physics building. Wilder Hall is certainly antiquated and inadequate.
It is not an easy matter to raise substantial funds to meet all of the various needs of the College. It may be possible to interest persons in the theater and music plan, or certain other projects, who would not be concerned about additions to endowment funds.
IN SPEAKING RECENTLY of the Dartmouth Center plan, Robert E. Sherwood, president of the Dramatists Guild and of the National Theater and Academy, expressed his conviction that responsibility for things esthetic in the world rests squarely upon the people of the United States. He spoke of the exodus to America of men of letters, artists, and musicians, from central Europe and other countries. It is Mr. Sherwood's belief, in which he is joined by distinguished colleagues, that a renaissance in all branches of the arts is not only coming in the country, it is here now.
The drama and music festival which is being planned as an event of national and international scope and importance is felt by Mr. Sherwood and coworkers on the project to offer what is hoped will be the first center of a greatly enlarged program in the arts in this country.
The use of the new building promises to extend throughout the entire year, to meet pressing requirements for the College itself and to extend the influence of the College through audiences in Hanover in the summer, and through the radio, to a wide area and a large number and variety of people. It is argued that Hanover is an isolated spot. But must we in our isolation decline to take leadership in a matter of the greatest importance in the affairs of the world and of men?
This is not the dream of a small institution; it is not the hope of one group of men. It is the definite, carefully worked out plan of a great college; it is built on the faith and vision of scores of men and women who stand ready to work for its success.
SOME PEOPLE say it isn't art; some say it is. But everybody has something to say. It is a curious thing about the new murals in Thayer Hall. The artist, Walter Humphrey '14, didn't like the Orozco frescoes and his idea for the Wheelock Murals celebrating Richard Hovey's song was something, if not entirely, in the nature of a protest against the Baker basement creation.
Now people who don't like the Orozcoes don't care for the Humphreys either, but for different reasons. Up to this month the reasons have been that Dr. Wheelock is pictured too vividly in the letter and spirit of Hovey's immortal verses. He is caricatured when he should appear on College walls, if at all, as a reverend Puritan, and not dispensing rum to savages. Now, in a letter published in this issue, the whole thing is called namby-pamby, too "effete." This alumnus does not question the idea of the Humphrey murals but rather does not approve of the Parisian squaws.
Is it art? Do you like the Orozco frescoes? The Humphrey Murals? Every man to his own taste. Apparently anyone venturing an opinion is in a fair way to have his ears knocked off. Satisfaction has been expressed in the amount of pro and con discussion stimulated by the 3,000 square feet of Orozco paintings. The Humphrey murals were designed, so far as we know, simply to illustrate the words of Dartmouth's best song in a grill room to be the very center of gastronomic delights in the village. At least their purpose was not one of starting a debating society on whether or not they are art.
In viewing the Hovey Room walls recently a visiting artist said "Very clever. I didn't think it could be done." The artist has labored long and skillfully, with exceedingly good results.
THE EDITOR.
