The Undergraduate Chair
This Winter Is Transition Period for the College And for Students Awaiting Calls to Active Duty
EDITOR'S NOTE—A new UndergraduateEditor of the MAGAZINE makes his bow withthis issue. He is George H. Tilton Ill '44,son of George H. Tilton Jr. 'l4 of Littleton, N. H. A graduate of St. George'sSchool, the new incumbent of the Chair isFeature Editor of The Dartmouth and isenlisted in the V-i class of the Naval Reserve Corps. Tilton succeeds William C. S.Remsen '43 who graduated in December.
THE WINTER HAS BEEN a time of waiting. Many no longer wait. The winter has been a time of suspense. For many there is no longer suspense. The winter has been a time of cold, of wet, of slush. And for many there is still cold, wet, slush, —waiting and suspense.
First, there was the waiting. It would be broken by a rumor. The rumor fostered suspense. Unattached hints floated in the air. They grew and rumor became reality. Dead-sure confirmation came with a long, slim letter from the Army or the Navy or the Marines or the Air Corps. And Pete or Joe or Mike would be leaving in a few days. His friends said to other friends, "Have you heard about Pete?" And Pete or Joe or Mike would give a shaky laugh and wonder about trunks and railroad tickets.
For there are 761 Dartmouth students in the Reserves. 249 are in the Army Reserve. 421 are in the Navy Reserve. 91 are in the Marine Reserve. Only 78 of 1259 undergraduates are not registered. In other words, practically every Dartmouth student has signed on the government's dotted line. The Reserves guarantee nothing. Yes, there are guarded promises, hopes, speculation. But nothing is sure.
On February 9 between 25 and 30 men in the Army Air Corps were ordered to report. The next day there were more. And the next day more.
The Naval Reserves are expected to go on active duty soon. When? This is still in the rumor stage. Will the Army Enlisted Reserve go before the end of the semester? Only hints. The Marine Reserve? Only suspense.
The Military Notices in The Dartmouth showed the turn of the times. MountainTroops: Men interested may find the latestinformation Dartmouth's background of skis and snow were an asset. AERC Unassigned: Will those men plarming to major in electrical engineering, electronics, orphysics report to The scientific mind had opportunities. V-i: The College isobliged to report to Headquarters men whoare delinquent in requirements. All menin V-i, therefore, who have not as yet takena year of college mathe?natics and a yearof college physics should see to it that. .. .
The boys were taking orders. Men under18 who are interested in joining a Reserveshould call at... .Everyone was effected. All V-5 men interested in joining Dartmouth Unit... .They wanted to fly over Tokio together. Navy Movies for Reserves:Tonight at 8:30 in 105 Dartmouth, "Military Customs and Courtesy," "UsefulKnots," and....The local movie theater had competition. To All V-i, V-5, and V-7Men: Ten or more men are needed tobuild models of ships, deck gear, guns, etc.,for training purposes at the DartmouthNaval Training School. Blueprints, instructions and materials will be. .. .Some even toyed with the actual implements of war.
Then there were the Physical Ability Tests. They were the big joke of last fall. There was something rather droll about watching a beer-guzzling, bridge-playing, Nugget fan struggle to hoist his dilapidated body up a fifteen foot rope, to see him bruise a delicate shin as he crawled over impossible objects in the obstacle race, to watch him hang limp after two chins on the horizontal bar, to gaze at him gasping for air in the swimming pool. Some enjoyed laughing so much they didn't bother to take the tests. The Physical Education Department mumbled something about the results going on record at the various Reserve Headquarters but only a few paid much attention.
The tests were taken more seriously this winter. A few had heard tales of grinding work-outs from friends in the service. The few who still felt like laughing them off received a shock. Headlines in The Dartmouth proclaimed, "Slackers Will BeForced To Take Body Building." (Body Building is a polite phrase for an hour of torture five afternoons a week.) The word "slackers" made a nasty shiver tingle the spine of many a beer-guzzler.
The increasing shortages and war restrictions had their natural reflection in Hanover. The cost and quality of food occasioned the biggest gripe. There was just a minor grumbling till Mac's, a well-known eatery, went out of business because of the meat shortage. Mac, the proprietor, apparently was not on the best of terms with his competitors. He didn't leave without registering a few pointed complaints about the varied methods of meat distribution. Murmurs of "black market" were heard. This led to remarks about the possibility of diseased meat and dirty kitchens. Nothing happened.
This was a time that used to be set aside for a ritual known as Winter Carnival. But Winter Carnival was a dead duck last year. It's a really buried duck this year. At least they sold posters a year ago. The only reminder was a traditional week-end of rain and slushy streets. A number of men had dates up to witness a heavy schedule of sports events. But that was about all they could see except a movie. Stricter fraternity rules pop up periodically. At this point "beer and light wines" are the most potent beverages allowed in the houses. One group resurrected Carnival to the extent of creating a snow sculpture depicting a coffin, which signified the death of the occasion. That was all. The rest is a memory for the duration.
Undergraduate organizations ran on a contracted basis. But they still ran. TheDartmouth was cut down to tabloid form and came out five days a week. Lack of advertising and a manpower shortage were the chief reasons. Jacko is planning at least one more issue. It was difficult to persuade a freshman to heel for a publication when he was expecting to be in uniform at any moment. Some had the spunk and initiative to try it. I don't believe it will have been in vain.
The Players are still going full blast. Following up on their successful "The Eve of St. Mark" which preceded the Broadway opening, they gave "Arsenic and Old Lace." The reception was more than favorable.
The Naval Officers here have become completely integrated into the Hanover scene. People no longer look in the direction of the snappy "hup-2-3-4's" as they march to classes, meals and drill. Students step aside as a marching file occupies a whole width of sidewalk. On particularly icy days they are watched to see how well formation is kept on the slippery paths. However, the presence of the Navy is a constant reminder of regimentation to come. Which is a good thing to keep in mind.
Academic activity is most noticeably altered. Almost half the enrollment is taking mathematics. Physics hold a strong position; likewise Chemistry. Map reading, Aeronautical Ground Training, and Naval Orientation are new war courses with heavy support. The Reserves make most take these science courses and it is sometimes a bit bewildering for the English or Economics major. The Tuck School man is slightly confused by the incongruity of corporation statistics and the wig-wagging of semaphor flags. The Classics student finds it disturbing to reconcile Plato with the manipulations of a sextant. The English scholar has difficulty mixing James Joyce with Ohm's Law.
But the winter is a time of transition. The liberal arts part of Dartmouth is narrowing down. This is the half-way period. And as each day goes by it becomes more and more the final round in the whirl of a man's college years. Students still go to classes and they still have a good time. But they know the days are numbered. There is no great melancholy. The laughs are still here. With the rest of the nation, undergraduates followed the case of Errol Flynn religiously. And when a movie of his came to the Nugget they cheered him and cracked jokes—and laughed. The best sign of all. But on top of everything there is the waiting—for the long, slim letter.
"In Pace Requiescat"
