Whose Concern?

A READER, WHO DOES NOT want his letter published, raises a question of such importance that we wish to use his comments as the basis for stating the position of the editors on controversial matters. In so doing we do not violate any confidences and respect his preference not to have his letter appear in our columns.

His question concerns the propriety of taking a stand on this country's part in the war. In these columns of editorial comment we have not hesitated to point to the menace of Naziism and Hitlerism and last month we supported the position of the Dartmouth Defense Group in calling for a national policy of "vigorous action for the destruction of the Nazi tyranny." The reader objects to reprinting part of President Hopkins' opening address in our editorial columns last month under the head- ing: "Is this the concern of the College?" because it gives the impression that it was an editorial and therefore represents the opinion of the publishers. He asks: "Are not the alumni the publishers?"

And the letter continues: "I could not object to the article on page 8 containing a statement of the Dartmouth Defense Group for it is news of the College and that is what we want. But please let's not have an 'editorial policy' on such questions —controversial issues."

He concludes: "Editorial policy or no, I'll continue to look forward each month to the best alumni magazine in the country"—which is a friendly and warmly appreciated, but undeserved, conclusion.

IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, the alumni are the publishers of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE. Their elected representatives, however, the members of the Dartmouth Secretaries' Association (secretaries of classes, alumni clubs and associations) are the publishers, and have authority in editorial and business matters which may be expressed at the annual meetings in Hanover or through the Advisory Board, elected by the Association.

CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES, by and large, do not in our opinion have a place in these columns except when concerned with education. The ALUMNI MAGAZINE has not taken a partisan stand on national questions. The editor's personal politics have not been reflected in the ALUMNI MAGAZINE. (It appears he has concealed them so well that some readers have got him entirely wrong!) But if politics of any variety should threaten the freedom or reasonable security of the liberal arts, privately endowed college it would be our obligation to seek the truth and state the problem and the dangers to education inherent in it.

The lively discussion about the work of Harold O. Rugg 'OB is a case in point. The editors invited him to state the objectives of his textbooks. The opinions of alumni readers were expressed pro and con in subsequent numbers of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE. In the process of giving full innings to both sides, or all sides, of the question there has been (in general) more light than heat. The issues under discussion were directly concerned with education and the editors defended the man and his work. Because of our expressed position in the matter we may have leaned over backward in an effort to give critics a fair and full hearing.

Is the war the concern of the College? In our opinion the answer is "yes." If there is any group of people on the earth that should see clearly, and understand at their worst, the barbaric ambitions of the world-conquering Nazis, it is the college group. Freedom is in the very foundations of the colleges and universities, and free- dom is gravely threatened here. It has disappeared in Axis-dominated countries.

For two years and longer President Hopkins has courageously and with prophetic vision urged greater awareness of the world crisis. In reprinting that part of his opening address most closely related to the position of the colleges in the emergency we endorsed 100% his statements that this is our concern.

As editorial objectives we seek to report news, publish comment, describe the problems, policies, and achievements, and servethe spirit of the liberal college whose name the DARTMOUTH ALUMNI MAGAZINE bears. Controversy may require expression of varying opinions. We only ask readers to accept the limitation that subjects shall be related to Dartmouth's primary purposeeducation—and that discussions in these columns shall not interfere with friendly associations between Dartmouth men.