DARTMOUTH'S V-12 UNIT for the next term, starting March 1, will probably be just as large as the unit of 1,832 men which started the present Winter Term, President Hopkins disclosed last month when interviewed by the Dartmouth Log. President Hopkins expressed his opinion on the basis of tentative information received from the Navy Department and thereby scotched campus rumors that had the Dartmouth Unit anywhere from halved in size to disappearing completely.
In addition to a larger entering class of V-12 and V-12A (aviation) men than in November, the College anticipates a sizable group of third-term deck candidates from other colleges not able to offer this advanced prescribed curriculum. It was also disclosed that Tuck School is likely to be designated by the Navy to offer the preSupply curriculum to a group of third-term V-12's. This will be a four-term course on top of two basic terms and will lead to Supply School elsewhere.
President Hopkins continued his personal speculation to the extent of stating that the Marine Corps detachment would doubtless continue as an important part of the Dartmouth Unit. Although some replacements are expected in March, graduation of approximately 200 Marines on February 24 and other attrition this term will mean a March detachment about three-fourths the size of the present 400 Marine students.
The total number of V-12's completing the course in February will be about 400, to which will be added a sizeable group of V-12A men who will complete their second and final term, some students who will be transferred to other colleges for advanced curricula not offered at Dartmouth, such as NROTC and engineering specialties, and finally the group of V-12's detached because of academic failures this term.
President Hopkins also disclosed that there is considerable variation in estimates of what the civilian enrollment will be next term. The consensus seems to be about 200 civilian undergraduates, as compared with 225 at present. This figure includes a small number of freshmen in the Class of 1948 who will enter College in the March term.