1960: Big, Bright, Lots of Them
SINCE late spring it has been known that the Class of 1960 would be by far the largest entering class in Dartmouth's history. The only question was how many of the 850 men who sent in acceptances of admission would be lost by summer attrition - at least fifty, the College hoped. Just prior to actual matriculation last month, there were 815 men still on the "active" list, and apparently the official size of the class would not be far off that figure. Palaeopitus was planning on an extra-long piece of rope for the freshmansophomore tug of war.
A freshman class of about 815 compares with 757 entering men last fall, and is a good fifty men ahead of the record total of 760 who matriculated with the Class of 1955.
As many alumni have already heard, admission was offered to 75 fewer men this year than last, and 735 to 750 men was the target for the class; yet acceptances came in at a record rate, thereby sending into the discard the numerical formulas that the Admissions Office had found foolproof for some years. Director of Admissions Edward T. Chamberlain '36 still doesn't know for sure what happened, and a careful study of the new class is being made: but everyone feels certain that a big factor is Dartmouth's national enrollment program, manned by the alumni, which is fast picking up effectiveness. A good case in point is Montana which in the last three entering classes has raised its representation from one to three to fourteen.
The Class of i960 comes from forty different states and sixteen foreign lands, and sets a new mark by representing over 500 different schools. On top of its record size, 1960 on the basis of College Board tests may also be the brightest class ever to enter Dartmouth. It contains more students of extremely high academic poten- tial than any prior class, according to Mr. Chamberlain. In extracurricular prowess it is reputed to be no slouch. Crew coach Thad Seymour, looking over the records so he could get in touch with freshmen 6' 2" or over, discovered that about a third of the class is 6 feet tall.
This year's freshman class was chosen from a total of 5600 applicants, 3600 of whom completed all the forms and were active applicants right up to the wire. The way admission pressure is growing is indicated by the fact that last month the application list for next year was already ten per cent larger than it was at the same time last year.
A typical freshman group about to set off with their leader, Bill Brigiani 59 (right), on the DOC Freshman Trip. The '60 men (l to r) are Jim Graham, Cincinnati; Bob McManus, Berkeley, Calif.; Earle Patterson, Pittsburgh; Steve Vaughan, Richmond, Calif.; and Bill Hitchcock, Rye, N. Y.
Another 1980 group awaiting transportation into the North Country
President Dickey enjoys several '60 tablemates for supper at the Ravine Lodge
Bob Monahan '59 (right), one of 40 DOC leaders for the Fresh man Trip, hiking his men along the Etna Road to Fred Harris Cabin
Albert I. Dickerson '30, the new Dean of Freshmen, chatting at the Ravine Lodge with members of the first class under his wing.
Old South Hall (extreme right) has been reopened as a dorm to take care of some men in the unexpectedly large freshman class. The view is up South College Street which the College has asked the Precinct to close off in order to provide extra space for the Hopkins Center.
