An "A" Man in Orientation

Kent Morton '62 was deeply involved in college business several days before the first freshman showed up in Hanover this fall. By the time classes began Kent might well have gone home for a deserved rest. At that point he had just finished directing a lion's share of the safe and peaceful orientation of 806 members of the new Class of 1965.

Sturdy, stocky Kent Morton did not head home, of course. Orientation was just the first of a number of outsized assignments he will face during the year in his position as President of the Inter dormitory Council. However, no matter how you slice it, orientation is the major undertaking of the IDC President, and it does not get much easier with the passing classes. Yet each year it gets closer to letter perfect. This year's program seemed to take a giant step in that direction. Faculty advisers and others concerned have marveled at the orderly and gentlemanly conduct of the Class of 1965. Such early sophistication is rare. The credit for this should certainly be spread around, but Morton and his band of 140 IDC men deserve a large share of the kudos.

Mr. Morton seems to be a natural administrator. His success in orientation was achieved through his natural efficiency, his interest and hard labor, and his talent for delegating responsibility. Kent operated out of the UGC office in the basement of College Hall, and this spot became the nerve center of the orientation program. This writer called Morton once during orientation and asked a favor. Then, like the female of our species, I changed my mind. I called Morton back ten minutes later, but I was too late. Three men were off and working on the assignment. With the same apparent ease, Kent granted my revised wish and put a stop to the project. Such efficiency scares me, and later calls were made only after a good bit of beforehand consideration.

Kent is both a quick doer and a quick thinker. When addressing faculty advisers early in the orientation process, he got himself in a bit of a bind by saying how pleasant it was to be starting anew with a fresh and better group of advisers than ever before. His remarks seemed to indicate that all the advisers of former years had been done away with. However, the audience was full of old hands with many years of service. Realizing his error, Kent had a word for this group without a moment's hesitation: "In your case, gentlemen, it is a matter of the survival of the fittest." Few undergraduates operate with this sort of composure when addressing a similar audience.

During his three years in Hanover, Kent Morton has had his fair share of honors and offices. Last year he was Chairman of the Judiciary Committee of the IDC. He has won his letter in wrestling and is a member of Palaeopitus, Delta Upsilon, and C & G. Born in Pueblo, Colorado, Kent has lived most of his life in California. Home is now Menlo Park, in suburban San Francisco. After graduation Kent will return to the West. If his draft board is willing, he would like to work for a while, travel to Europe, then fulfill his military commitment, and then go to graduate school at Stanford University. Kent's major at Dartmouth is economics and he is strongly considering the possibility of becoming a secondary school teacher. During his college summers he has been an instructor at a swimming and tennis club at home, and finds the teaching process challenging and satisfying.

Teaching or orienting or whatever, Mr. Morton will be up to the task and will do it extremely well. Kent is both capable and likeable. He will not be at the College next September to oversee the student end of orientation; however, he leaves behind a legacy who may well follow in his footsteps. Younger brother Tom is a '65, and is all properly oriented.

Kent Morton '62