NOTES ON THE FACULTY
HERE IS A little material which might be titled "As Others See Us." Last year, D. L. Bassett of the senior class set out to interview each of his teachers on the subjects nearest to their hearts. As he says:
"To be in contact with these men personally, to talk to them frankly and sincerelyabout worthwhile subjects,—these were myambitions just as much as it has been toachieve a liberal education, and as a resultof these associations, I now feel that I cantruthfully state they have instilled in me animpetus for learning, fully as great as havethe subjects I have taken during these pastfour years."
And now for the professors,—do their words sound familiar?
PROF. NUMBER 1
" . . . . and when you've had your glorious day of Dartmouth Commencement you go back to your old room, you finish your last bit of packing, you look one last time at the men around you who have become your best friends during your short four-years. There is more there between you than meets the eye, and more there than any one else can ever comprehend unless he too has been under the protecting wing....and then you get in your auto—you drive down Webster Avenue and you look at Baker .... it is a part of y0u.... and then you turn down Main Street past the book store, past the clothing store, the drug store, past the bank and the post office. You look back up the street. Baker is still a part of you,— then you drop over the hill toward Mink Brook, and then it is all gone,—and then, sir, it is ALL GONE.
NUMBER 2
"I certainly don't maintain that men come to me because they are discouraged ... .it isn't that which brings them to call on me. Instead it is a momentary loneliness which they experience now and then, and they need someone a little older to talk to them. You see, many of them have never before been away from home much,so naturally enough when the freshman begins a new life at Dartmouth, he needs a helping hand from time to time.... they often come just to sit down quietly, to smoke a cigaraette and talk. I hope I am really of some aid to them, because, after all, that is my job. I like them, and I hope that they like me."
NUMBER 3
"You don't realize what a grave situation we're in. There are more than ten million people unemployed, and there must be something done. Promoting social welfare has become a business with us, a permanent business it seems, and, don't you see? you are the men who will run this business. Remember that most of you are very fortunate because you,—that is: most of you, come from the upper brackets of society. Realize if you can, that there are thousands like you in most ways, who have no beds. Don't lie around and bask in the sun. Help those around you after you have left Dartmouth, and you will have rewarded your college for the patience she has had with you."
NUMBER 4
"If your father asks what Sociology is I don't believe you can give him any concise definition unless perhaps you tell him that you are studying the "culture of man,"but this naturally is very vague. Sociology is really much more than just the study of man's culture. .. .it comprises also the study of man's environment,—how in primitive man, simple groups were limited because of geography,—how in the present day with a complex society, man looks upon his surroundings as a hazard which he can conquer Sociology then is also the study of man's culture as governed by his surroundings. This is why no two cultures are really similar because no two environments are sufficiently similar to bring it about I could go on for weeks and weeks,—better tell him as best you-can."
NUMBER 5
"I like the type of man that knows just what profession he is heading for. Some students waste so much time fooling around on their Dad's money for the first year or two of college when they could be preparing themselves for their life's work. Seniors often return from Easter vacation without the faintest notion of what they are going to do on graduation, and speaking of graduation, some even have only poor prospects in mind for that! You will say this sounds like the same old story, but frankly, I don't believe its importance can be overemphasized. Often I must admit, a boy gets entirely different conceptions of life while in college,—he may change plans previously made,—while in preparatory school, let us say. This is fine, but when he enters college he should have an objective in mind, an objective means incentive, and this is the beginning of his thirst for knowledge."
P.S. As certain condensations were necessary, the writer of this column will assume responsibility. But, reader, please remember that these statements come from outside the faculty and not directly from it. If it contains any material which helps to establish any better understanding between students and professors or between alumni and faculty it will have served its purpose.
