Kansas City Conference

PRESIDENT John Sloan Dickey climaxed the 1954 Dartmouth Regional Conference held in Kansas City November 12 and 13 when he stressed, at the concluding banquet, that the purpose of Dartmouth College is to develop both competence and conscience in our undergraduates.

Alumni delegates from twenty cities and ten states met in Kansas City to participate with five representatives from the College in a two-day enrollment conference at the Bellerive Hotel. This conference, under the auspices of the Alumni Council, and the fourth of its kind since inception of the national enrollment program, gave renewed impetus to Mr. Dickey's words. The Kansas City conference was tailored to alumni enrollment activities west of the Mississippi and concentrated upon admissions, enrollment, and financial aid.

Creighton C. Hart '28, general chairman of the Host Committee, opened the conference by welcoming all delegates to Kansas City and by introducing Sidney C. Hayward '26, Secretary of the College, as the first speaker on the program. Mr. Hayward outlined Dartmouth's alumni organization and then opened the session to questions from the floor.

Albert I. Dickerson '30, Director of the Offices of Admission and Financial Aid, led a discussion about "Admissions" in which he used an actual record folder of an anonymous undergraduate to explain, step by step, the care with which each applicant's record is examined in order to determine whether or not he is to be accepted at Dartmouth College. Moderator of that session was Albert W. Gordon Jr. '41, of Omaha, Nebraska.

Financial aid, a topic of great importance with all colleges, drew many questions from delegates as Robert K. Hage '35, executive secretary of the Committee on Scholarships and Loans, armed the delegates with an increased knowledge about Dartmouth's expanding program of scholarships and other aid to students. Everett H. Parker '16, of Denver, presided at this session.

Edgar R. Oppenheim '39, Oklahoma City, conducted an informative discussion of "Enrollment Organization and Activity" in which Edward T. Chamberlain '36, Acting Director of Admissions and secretary of the Alumni Council Committee on Enrollment and Admissions, presented a broad resume of College policy concerning enrollment activities, and Donald C. McKinlay '37, of Denver, chairman of the Alumni Council Committee on Enrollment and Admissions, translated policy into practical action by describing the organization and procedure used by Denver's enrollment committee.

One of the most spirited sessions was an informal discussion after dinner at the Kansas City Club Friday evening, November is, when Pete Barnes '26, Kansas City, sparked a lively controversy as he posed a question about delegation of power to local alumni with respect to enrollment decisions. Those on the panel of the afterdinner session were Al Dickerson '30, Eddie Chamberlain '36, Bob Hage '35, Don McKinlay '37, and Jack W. Schrage '39, chairman of the Kansas City Enrollment Committee.

A feature of the conference was a fifteen-minute appearance on a local television program by Eddie Chamberlain '36, Hanover, and Robert S. Thompson '40, Kansas City. These two performers helped publicize the fact that Dartmouth was in town and gave TV viewers a chance to see something of Dartmouth life by watching a film "Dartmouth Outdoors."

The working sessions of the conference closed Saturday morning, November 13, with Donald R. Elliott '46, Kansas City, presiding over a panel discussion of "Dartmouth College." An outstanding spokesman in this session was Guy P. Wallick '21, San Francisco. Members of the panel were Howard J. Mullin '27, Alumni Council member, St. Louis; Al Dickerson '30; and Sid Hayward '26. President Dickey ended the session by speaking to the delegates about the growing number of faculty members who soon will be eligible for retirement and the replacement steps being taken by the College to insure a continuance of traditionally high quality instruction.

Two receptions were held during the conference, to which all alumni, wives, and parents of undergraduates were invited as guests. R. Hugh (Pat) Uhlmann '37 and Mrs. Uhlmann entertained at their home on the opening day of the conference, and Frederic P. Barnes '26, Creighton. C. Hart '28, and F. Forsha Russell '31, with their wives, entertained at the University Club preceding the ban- quet Saturday night.

More than 140 delegates and other alumni, wives, and parents of undergraduates crowded the banquet room at the University Club to hear President Dickey's address. Walter B. McCray '29, president of the Kansas City Alumni Association, was master of ceremonies and George J. Winger '25, Kansas City, introduced President Dickey.

Several wives accompanied their husband-delegates to Kansas City and demonstrated a lively interest in sharing the work which their husbands are doing with enrollment committees. The Women's Committee arranged for entertainment of wives, including a luncheon at a country club and a visit to Nelson Art Gallery.

The workers on Kansas City's Host Committee were: Creighton C. Hart '28, general chairman; Joseph W. Holliday '24, entertainment; Frederic P. Barnes '26, reservations and transportation; Jack W. Schrage '39 and Robert A. Closser '51, enrollment; George A. Rogers '45, program; Donald J. Hall '50, publicity; Paul R. O'Brien '39, and Donald R. Elliott '46, attendance. Alexander R. McPherson '44, secretary of the Kansas City Association, was in charge of registration of delegates.

Denver's delegation of six men was the largest group to attend the conference from out of town and St. Louis was second with three men. Delegates, other than those from Kansas City, were: Charles M. Thompson '36, Albuquerque; Philip G. Eckels '34, Atchison, Kans.; John J. Bell '35, Boonville, Mo.; Eugene Hotchkiss '22, Chicago; Peter K. New '49, Columbia, Mo.; Hart D. Gilchrist '31, Donald C. McKinlay '37, Everett H. Parker '16, Neil F. Roberts '35, Arthur T. Smith Jr. '31, and Norris E. Williamson '26, Denver; George E. Paine '16, Hutchinson, Kans.; Richard M. Hoar '49, Lawrence, Kans.; Edgar R. Oppenheim '39, Oklahoma City; Alfred W. Gordon Jr. '41, Omaha; Thomas C. Reck '37, St. Joseph, Mo.; James C. Jones '38, Howard J. Mullin '27, and Robert S. Turner '33, St. Louis; Guy P. Wallick '21, San Francisco; George C. Nickum '31, Seattle; Donald V. Lawder Jr. '39, Topeka; Edward R. Patterson '41 and Grover C. Spillers Jr. '39, Tulsa; and Richard M. Leslie '49, Wichita.

In conjunction with the conference, a luncheon for college counselors of ten Kansas City high schools was held Thursday, November 11, at the University Club. Two members of the College delegation, Al Dickerson and Bob Hage, spoke at this luncheon and answered questions from the school officials.

Also, on Sunday afternoon, November 14, a large group of prospective students from Kansas City schools and their fathers met at the home of Joseph W. Holliday for an informal meeting with Eddie Cham- berlain and Bob Hage.

Kansas City alumni with President Dickey at last month's enrollment conference Seated(l to r): Creiehton C. Hart '28, President Dickey, Walter B. McCray '29, Robert S. Thomp-son'40. Standing: Charles Yancey '46, Joseph W. Holliday '24, Richard H. Strait 24,R. Hugh Uhlmann '37, Donald R. Elliott '46, William Schopflin '38, Frederic P. Barnes'26, George J. Winger '25, and F. Forsha Russell

Members of the Alumni Council who participated in the conference were (l to r) DonaldC. McKinlay '57, Denver; George C. Nickum '31, Seattle; Everett H. Packer 16 Denv ,Guy P. Wallick '2l, San Francisco; Alfred W. Gordon Jr. 41, Omaha; Howard J. Mullin'27, St. Louis; and Sidney C. Hayward '26, Hanover.