The Class Officers Weekend
DARTMOUTH class officers representing 1884 through 1959 met in Hanover on the weekend of May 4-5 for their annual gathering as guests of the College. Nearly 150 men attended the sessions for class chairmen and presidents; class secretaries, treasurers and Alumni Fund agents; memorial fund chairmen; and reunion chairmen and newsletter editors of this year's reunion classes.
Under a new plan, the Dartmouth club secretaries did not meet with the class officers this spring. Their separate gathering, with regional enrollment leaders included, will take place on the weekend of September 28-29.
The class officers' weekend opened Friday, May 4, with a pre-dinner reception given by Acting President and Mrs. John R. McLane '07 and Trustee and Mrs. Ralph W. Hunter '31 for the visiting alumni and their wives. After dinners at the Hanover Inn and Outing Club House, a joint meeting of all class officers and their wives took place in the old Commons in College Hall. Dr. Herbert S. Talbot '25, president of the Dartmouth Secretaries Association, was the presiding officer.
Selections by the Dartmouth Glee Club, under the direction of Prof. Paul R. Zeller, and the roll call were followed by four brief talks by College officers. Edward T. Chamberlain '36, acting director of admissions, spoke on "The Class of i960," whose members received notification of their admission immediately after the weekend. Albert I. Dickerson '30 spoke on the work of the Trustees Planning Committee, of which he is the executive director. He concluded his talk with the announcement of a new sub-committee, headed by Guy P. Wallick '21 of San Francisco, to study all phases of Dartmouth's alumni program.
"Educational Program Studies" was the subject of the talk by Prof. Donald H. Morrison, Provost of the College, who discussed the work now going on toward the goal of an improved curriculum and better teaching. He touched upon some of the broader aspects of the educational experience at Dartmouth, and in this connection mentioned the disadvantages of the old, barracks type of dormitory. "What we are saying basically in trying to plan ahead on our physical plant in respect to education," he said, "is simply this: that we should accept the proposition that the dormitory and social facilities for the undergraduate should reinforce and contribute to the strengthening of the total educational and social development of the student and not weaken and detract from it. And if one asks this question or puts this test, as many of you have when you've stayed in dormitory rooms during reunions, then it is clear that we are on sound ground in beginning to wonder if there may not be some other way, some better way, of housing students in a residential college."
What is believed to be a better way was next discussed by Prof. John P. Amsden '20, chairman of the Advisory Committee on Plant Development, who spoke on "A Plan for Dormitory Living." This plan concerns the new dormitories to be built at Dartmouth during the coming year. Because of general alumni interest in this new residential unit, Professor Amsden's explanation of the planning and the objectives behind it is printed in full in the article following this one.
On Saturday morning, May 5, various group meetings were held. Dr. Talbot presided at the joint meeting of class chairmen, presidents and secretaries. H. Donald Norstrand '26, president of the Dartmouth Treasurers Association, presided over the annual meeting of that group; and Joshua B. Clark '11, president of the Class Agents Association, was in the chair at the separate session of the class Fund leaders. Luncheon meetings were held by the class memorial fund chairmen and the reunion chairmen.
The annual joint dinner of all officers took place at the Inn on Saturday evening, with Dr. Talbot as toastmaster. Speakers were Russell W. Brace '56, president of the Undergraduate Council; Head Football Coach Robert L. Blackman; and Prof. Joseph L. McDonald, Dean of the College, who gave the principal talk on "Trials and Tribulations of a Dean."
As a traditional part of the dinner program, awards were made to the Class Secretary and the Class Treasurer o£ the Year, who were, respectively, Edward B. Redman '06 and Charles S. Batchelder '14.
Association officers for 1956-57 were elected as follows:
SECRETARIES ASSOCIATION: President, George W. Rand '19; Vice President, Scott C. Olin '50; Secretary-Treasurer, Sidney C. Hayward '26; Assistant Secretary, Michael McGean '49; Editor of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE, Charles E. Widmayer '30; Executive Committee, Messrs. Rand, Olin, Hayward, Carleton G. Broer '27 and Norman L. Simpson '44; Member 01 the Alumni Council for a three-year term to June 30, 1959, Milburn McCarty '35; Member of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE Advisory Board for three years, Frank A. Hutchins '22.
TREASURERS ASSOCIATION: President, Russell J. Rice '15; Vice President, C. Carlton Coffin '16; Executive Committee, Messrs. Rice, Coffin, Frank T. Weston '36 and John S. Fenno '48.
CLASS AGENTS ASSOCIATION: President, John R. Scotford Jr. '38; Vice President, Alexander J. Jardine '16; Member of the Nominating Committee, Frederick M. Daley '19.
Association presidents for the coming year are (l to r) George W. Rand '19, who heads the class secretaries; John R. Scotford Jr. '38, who heads the class agents; and Rassell J. Rice 15, who heads the class treasurers.
