1940

With alumni scattered all. over the globe, particularly those of the younger classes, with class reunions and many other alumni meetings postponed for the duration, and yet with many problems of paramount importance now in the first attack and discussion stage, the administration and the faculty of the College have many decisions to make without much of the alumni help which has always been a large factor in the building of Dartmouth and which, it is felt, is one of the distinguishing points which have made the Dartmouth we knew and loved.

Recent issues of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE, bulletins and information in various forms which come from Hanover, have indicated that the administration and faculty are keenly aware of the difficulties which they face, of the need, for alumni discussion and expression of opinion, and of the difficulty in wartime of adequately achieving these.

Particularly of interest to us, and top on the Hanover list today, are plans for postwar Dartmouth. This year's Alumni Fund is aimed directly at reducing the financial burden of the first years of the postwar period. Above that problem, and worthy of extended consideration by the alumni, is the problem of rebuilding, through the curriculum and the program for extracurricular activities, a Dartmouth which will fit its graduates for active participation in the world to be. The faculty Committee on Educational Policy has already presented a tentative report containing proposals for the postwar curriculum. Alumni opinion will have much to do with the consideration of these proposals. It is, then, the secretary's suggestion that you, class of 1940, get on the ball if you have thoughts on this. Hanover will listen, and your opinions, joined to those of other alumni, can be a moving force in setting our College on the path to renewed success in the changed setting of postwar circumstances.

Specific problems which might be considered by you were presented by Alexander Laing '25, Assistant Librarian, in a recent discussion of the postwar College. Some of these questions were: Should the College retain a four year curriculum for all undergraduates? Should the five course setup be kept or can we split college learning into fewer parts? Should there be a more intensive orientation and first training period to be certain that each man is qualified for upper- class work? Should we concentrate classwork into the first two years and allow more qualified men to take up individual study in the last two? Hop to it, you birds, the College can use your thinking on these problems.

At this point this month's news comes into its own. Apologies for using so much of your space for the discussion above, but most of you will appreciate my feeling in calling your attention in '4o's own column to something which may have skipped you in the more general sections of the MAGAZINE.

News this month, as usual, is primarily about '4o's 80% in the services, rather than the civilian 20 still left behind..

First is from A 1 McKernan, still running an armed guard gun crew on a merchant ship. Lt. Henry Holman, who left us after junior year, is reported at Drew Field, Tampa, where he is a bombardier. The ranks of the bemedaled swelled by one this month when Bill Squier received the Air Medal for attacks on enemy shipping in the Southwest Pacific area.

Home on furlough, and newly upped to Captain, Bob O'Brien gave an extended description of life as bombardier with the Eighth Air Force. Bob received his furlough after 25 missions with his Liberator squadron, and ten months as lead bombardier. He was commended for his leading of the Eighth Air Force bombing of Bordeaux where he, in the first plane over, hit the target on the nose from 21,000 feet with heavy flak all around.

Another recently made Captain, Frank Reeves, is now at the Field Artillery Replacement Center, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Tom Braden and Ted Ellsworth reached New York on their way back to join the British Eighth Army when the transfers they had been after came through. They are now first lieutenants in the infantry of the U. S. Army, stationed for the moment at Camp Shelby, Mississippi.

Hugh Schwarz, happily though impecuniously married, is in Boston with National Research Corporation. Hugh lives in Brooklineand saw Herb Landsman on several occasionswhile Herb was visiting his home in Boston onshort hops from his temporary station at NewLondon.

OFFSPRING

The benedicts welcome this month Bob Dibble, Lt. (jg), and Bruce Espy, Lt., who were married to, respectively, Faith Kirkbride of Millburn, N. J. and Marian Honan of Newtown, Conn. The benedicts-to-be group was joined by Ken McCotter, whose engagement with Sara Traver of Boston has been announced. Ken is an ensign, now stationed at Jacksonville, and evidently became engaged following his graduation from the Harvard Navy Supply School.

Promotions: To Captain: Bob Castle, John Reitzell, Keith Benson, Joe O'Hare, and Derrill Trenholm; to Lieutenant: Joe Duncan, Bob Skinner, Bob Myers, Bob Welborn and Dick Weil; to Lieutenant (jg): Bill Shea, Jordan Van Cleve, Dick Campbell, Mel Wax, Dick York, Danny Sullivan, and Bill Holman; and to Second Lieutenant: Bruce Miller.

Up to May 8, the class had reached 45% in number of contributors and 115% of its financial objective in the Alumni Fund. Good, as Dick says, but in need of improvement. We've come from near the bottom of the heap to second, with 1941 still ahead by some 500 bucks. So, you 350 who haven't shelled out, get the stuff going to Hanover, or to Dick or Jack or me right now. The deadline is June 30. Your dough is needed.

ENS. VERNON F. TAYLOR '39 was recently commissioned at Corpus Christi, Texas.

Acting Secretary, i Terrace St., Montpelier, Vt.