Student Government at Dartmouth

IN HIS MOST RECENT TALK to the Alumni Council, President Dickey said that "the development of self-government among the students at Dartmouth is a tremendous story in this postwar period." Alumni are not fully enough acquainted with the work of the Undergraduate Council, the central agency in this development, and to fill in some of that void the editors present here a statement by Russell W. Brace '56, UGC president, and photographs of some of the Council's activities.

THE Undergraduate Council was organized in 1947 by the President and the veterans, who requested some form of representative student government. The UGC consists of 61 members who are representatives from student organizations, class officers, or members-atlarge. Since its inception, the Council has brought before the College and its officers many issues which before were neglected for lack of expression and communication of student feeling.

The primary aim of the Council is to define and interpret the interests of the student body and to coordinate these with the educational objectives of Dartmouth. To further this aim, Palaeopitus has taken a new light from the older days. It is now the senior executive committee of the Council and has responsibility for such business as falls within the lines of policy established by the UGC, and also considers urgent matters which may require action between the meetings of the Council.

Most of the success of the UGC depends on the subcommittees within the organization. The range of the Council's accomplishments extends from social functions and control, such as dances and car registration, to academic and judicial deliberations of proposed changes within the curriculum and recommendations of disciplinary action to the Administration on students who have violated college regulations. Each year the Council sponsors an inter-college conference on politics, which last year had Senator Case of New Jersey as its principal speaker and seminar leader. The annual College-wide Chest Drive provides funds for charity organizations throughout the country. Although Palaeopitus is responsible for the important orientation program at the beginning of each year, the Council assists foreign students personally and financially.

In addition, the UGC this year will consider presentation of an Honor System to Dartmouth, express student feeling regarding the new Thayer Hall renovations, consider heavily the aftermath of the discrimination referendum of last year, and assist town officials of Hanover on current problems directly associated with the student body. The work of the UGC impregnates nearly every aspect of College life.

It is not uncommon for an officer of the Council to consider a college-wide problem with members of the Administration and Faculty. A day never goes by that the Council is not active in some part of college life-much of this "behind the scenes" work never is brought before the student body. The relationship which exists between the four components of the college community - Faculty, Administration, Students, and Townspeople - is the main reason why the principal aims of the College are in part attained each year.

A meeting of the Undergraduate Council in 13 Carpenter. The speaker at the right is Wilton S. Sogg '56 of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, representative of COSO.

Freshmen getting soaked in the annual tug-of-war, supervised by Palaeopitus

The important Judiciary Committee, dealing with disciplinary cases, is headed by Robert K. Faulkner Jr. '56, Rochester, N. Y.

President Dickey was host to the Undergrauate Council at a dinner in the Inn Ski Hut this fall. With him (l to r) are Don H. Collins '56, Eatonsville, Md.; George D. Robison '56, Glen Ridger, N. J.; and Chester A. Zinn Jr. '56, York, Pa.

Meeting of the UGC committee studying aspects of a proposed Honor System for students. Chairman George M. Yeager '56, Pelham, N. Y., is at the head of the table.

Undergraduate Council president and chief executive of the whole student government is Russell W. Brace '56, Belfast, Me.

At the Instigation of Palaeopitus, a special meeting of the freshman class, here being addressed by Dean Stearns Morse in Rollins Chapel, was called following 1959's rush on The Nugget, resulting in property damage and ruffled Main Street feelings.

One of the UGC's major working groups is the Academic Committee, dealing with the curriculum and allied matters. Here, Prof. Joseph F. Marsh Jr. '47 is shown at a meeting with William A. Zales '56 (left), Stamford, Conn., and Chairman Richard Rubottom '56 (right), Tampa, Fla.

Robert M. Grossman '56 of Chicago, who is chairman of Palaeopitus and editor-in-chief of "The Dartmouth," talks with a freshman at Activities Night, held in the gymnasium during Orientation Week in September.