Thayer School

THE annual dinner meeting for Thayer School alumni in the New England area was held at the University Club in Boston on April 5, with a total attendance of 35 including four members of the faculty: John Minnich '29 and Ed Brown '35, professors of civil engineering; Russ Stearns '3B, assistant professor of civil engineering; and your correspondent. The meeting was arranged by a committee consisting of Paul Breck '43, J a Woodward '42 and Howard Wright '20 and was voted a big success. The following alumni were in attendance: W. A. Sanborn DC'07, R. J. Rice '16, R. H. Ellis '17, J. H. Wright '20, E. H. Lawson '21, L. P. Farnham '23, K. P. Coykendall '26, B. O. McCoy '34, F. W. Sturm '34, I. K. Besse '35, A. W. Doolittle, Jr. '37, C. T. Main, 2nd '39, R. C. Tousley '42, J. A. Woodward '42, P. B. Breck '43, R. K. Muller '43, P. R. Jackson '44, L. M. Cahoon '47N, C. H. Gurney TT'47, A. G. Wilson, Jr. '47, T. U. Chace '49. L- S. Davis, Jr. '49, M. P. Lewis, Jr. '49, G, F. Spinney '49, W. F. Daniell. Jr. CE'50, G. H. Hartmann ME'50, N. J. Sullivan CE'50, G. D. Sarno CE'51, J. J. Sarno '51, T. M. Porter TT'52.

An Open House was held at the School during the evening of March 22 to which all members of the College and community were invited. Although we have no exact count of the attendance, our best estimate is about 500, including quite a large number of undergraduates, a good delegation of Tuck students, many residents of Hanover and nearby towns, and a scattering of College faculty. The most remarkable feature of this event was the unanimity of effort by the students and the staff. First- and second-year Thayer and TuckThayer students, faculty, research and office staffs number 72, and of these 70 actually participated in the preparations for the Open House and in the evening's program. One of the missing students had been called for a Navy physical examination and the other was confined to the hospital! This display of 100% cooperation made the Open House both possible and successful. All the laboratories were manned by students with the apparatus on display and typical pieces of equipment in actual operation. Interesting industrial exhibits were provided by the New Departure Division of General Motors, the General Electric Company, Jones and Lamson, and the Split Ball Bearing Company. A program of motion pictures, typical of those used for instruction purposes in our classes, was offered throughout the evening, and half-hour informal discussion groups were led by Professors Brown, Morgan, and Kimball on selected engineering topics.

After a careful analysis of the many considerations connected with the possible "acceleration" of the Thayer, Tuck-Thayer, and Tuck programs, the two schools announced jointly in March that they would offer no special summer session courses this year and probably not in 1952 unless the national situation worsens to full emergency conditions. In the latter event, of course, it is generally expected that all colleges would go to a "three-semester" schedule. In the meantime, however, we feel that compulsory acceleration is not justified, and it is clear that neither Thayer nor Tuck could operate on the optional acceleration plan which is practicable for the College as a whole.

During the past year, an Internal Improvements Committee has been at work in Thayer School under the chairmanship of George Taylor, assistant professor of engineering and management. The committee has undertaken a number of projects aimed toward improving the appearance and increasing the interest value of our buildings. One of the most effective projects has been the framing of all available class pictures mounted on mats with all students and faculty members identified. The committee has asked me to broadcast a general SOS through this column for pictures, or other graphic displays appropriate for framing, of any subjects pertaining to civil, electrical, or mechanical engineering, or related industries. Size is no consideration as far as we are concerned. We can find room for the largest and we can effectively feature the smallest. All contributions will be gratefully received.

Our brief note in the January column to the effect that Don Phinney '34 had gone to Venezuela as chief engineer on a tunnel job brought in a fine dividend in the form of an enthusias- tic letter telling about his work. It seems they are now engaged in building houses, trailers and bachelor quarters for the staff near the site of the tunnels, but in the meantime have to make a round trip of 80 kilometers every day between the job and Caracas where Don and his family are living ... "and Caracas traffic is something you don't see every day, even in Times Square at five o'clock in the afternoon. The narrow streets, the complete disregard or traffic rules, is making all our heads gray quickly." Don's job consists of driving three rock tunnels, 420 meters, 300 meters, and 1050 meters long, and he expects the job to last two or three years.

The January Bulletin of the General Contractors Association announced the election of Jack Macdonald 'l4 as first vice-president of the association for 1951. Jack has been active in the association for many years and is currently a member of the Finance Committee.

The February 22 issue of Engineering NewsRecord carried the announcement that HerbDarling '27 has been elected president of the Buffalo, New York, Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Jack Helsell ME'50 sent Ed Sherrard, assist- ant professor of mechanical engineering, news of his activities and whereabouts on a Christ- mas card which was interesting enough to ap- peal to me as "better late than never" news for this column. Said Jack, "I am working for a company just outside Seattle called the Pacific Car and Foundry Company. I am in a group doing experimental work on an amphibious vehicle for the Marines.... My job so far has been purely machine design and welded struc- tures. ... I just finished designing a gear hous- ing and gears and thought of you and JohnHatch (assistant professor of mechanical en- gineering). I think Thayer School gave us a very good foundation. The machine shop course has been invaluable to me because you have to figure out just how they are going to make everything you design. For my work, I would like to know more about foundry prac- tice, but I am learning it now.... I have been working overtime for quite some time because our work is becoming more essential as the war becomes tougher. It is nice to be paid for it, in contrast to Thayer School. (Ed: I suppose he means being a student at Thayer School. Or does he?) You might mention to Professor Brown that his course in metallurgy is won- derful. That is my long suit where I work." Thanks, Jack, for such a good report. After contributing nothing at all last month (the flu hit Hanover, too) I am probably en- croaching on the editor's space rather heavily this month, so will hold other news for the June issue.