THE UNDERGRADUATE CHAIR
IT'S often a perplexing task to begin a column of this sort, particularly when one tries to give an account of the last meeting of this year's Undergraduate Council.
We might start off with a neat paradox, one which represents an often repeated sentiment: that the UGC in its efforts to accomplish something is like a gull against the wind; it's up there but it isn't getting anywhere. Maybe this is true at times, but as a categorical statement it falls on its face.
Again we might start off with a brief summary of the activity of the meeting, a method approved in journalistic circles. But this would be like trying to boil down into one short paragraph a description of the number of ways the College has of shaking down the alumni. This is a simile made with all due respect to both those bodies, for they, like the UGC, are all honorable men.
Because the UGC meetings begin at 10 p.m., around the time most of you readers trundle off to bed with a copy of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE for a last few minutes' reading, and because we have to finish this article before the Hanover birds commence their idiotic and anachronistic chirping (3:30-4:30 a.m.) thereby making sleep silly, we decided to steal a format for this account from poor old Edward R. Murrow, who's in Washington now and won't mind.
You Are There, with Walter Winchell timekeeper.
10:00 - The meeting is called to order by Sam Bell '61, president of the UGC, in 104 McNutt Hall. Most of the members with a few significant exceptions, whether through absolute terror of Sam or in an effort to survey the proceedings in relative anonymity, are clumped together at the rear of the room.
10:03 - Notes of the previous meeting were read by Bill Burton '6l, secretary of the UGC.
10:10 - Stan Bates '61, chairman of the Academic Committee, presented the final report of his committee, which this year conducted a survey of the effects of the three-three system and participated in an evaluation of the General Reading Program for the first two years.
With regard to time spent studying under the three-three system, the committee found students in general spent more time with their books, have less time available for extracurricular activities, and somewhat less time for independent intellectual activities. Approximately the same number of students thought there was more opportunity for assimilation as there were those who thought there was less.
Advisers to extracurricular activities all seemed to agree that students were spending less time in these various activities. Since the adoption of the new system, the number of men debating for Dartmouth has decreased by about 25%. DCU hospital trips and participation in intercollegiate conferences has been severely reduced. Attendance at DCU lectures has dropped appreciably.
The Players too complain, though they do not feel inclined to attribute their difficulties to the three-three system. This year only one freshman participated in non-acting activities for The Players, though a few new men, not freshmen, have recently joined the organization. The Dartmouth and WDCR also have been hampered by a general shortage of manpower.
The Nugget reports that since the institution of the new system, there has been a decline in attendance of approximately 35,000 admissions a year, a significant percentage. No useful information was obtained by the committee on the athletic situation.
The Library reported that the reserve desk totals do not seem to have any particular correlation with the introduction of the new system, although the first year the new system was in effect saw the largest increase in the number of books circulated from the main desk in the last seven years. The Dartmouth Bookstore reports an increase in number of books sold.
In Parkhurst Hall Dean Seymour reports that the new curriculum in itself has not made standards tougher. The existence of three examination periods a year rather than two singles out a bit sooner those men who are headed for academic difficulty.
A poll conducted among the faculty did not show that the faculty thought there had been many significant changes wrought in individual courses by the new system. In general at least as much time was spent by faculty members in class preparation under the new system as under the old, and a rather large minority felt they spent more time in such preparation. Practically no one felt that he spent less time on this.
The number of faculty who felt they assigned more work over a term than over its semester equivalent equalled those who felt they assigned just as much. Only a very small number felt they assigned less work.
84% of those faculty members answering the poll felt their work was harder, while the other 16% felt there wasn't much difference. No one thought his work had been made easier.
The Academic Committee's report cautioned against attributing all the changes which have occurred to the Dartmouth educational process to the institution of the three-three system. Certainly, there is a general stepped-up tempo of the academic atmosphere, a greater pressure to get things done, but this tension is not peculiar to Dartmouth.
The report concluded with a few general remarks about the worth of extracurricular activities to the life of the individual at the College, and suggested that next year's committee examine ways to integrate more fully the extracurricular with the academic.
10:22 - Bill Obenshain '62, chairman of the Elections Committee, commented upon the paucity of candidates for several offices in this year's elections. He complained, however, that too many people were running for Green Key, with the number increasing each year. Bill added that the percentage of students voting has declined progressively over the last few years, never having recently been over 60%.
10:29 - The weather for the last three years was blamed for the poor turnout at the polls.
10:30 - Dick Lodmill '61, chairman of the Publicity Committee, explained the function of his committee and its activities over the past year as that of educating the Dartmouth student on what the UGC does, of publicizing visiting lecturers at Dartmouth both on campus and at other colleges. Dick acknowledged that much could be done in creating interest in campus elections by his committee.
10:32 - Morris Banks '61, chairman of the Traffic Committee, noted that 940 traffic violation tickets had been issued this year, a little more than one ticket per car. "Mo" allowed as how the students might have been confused as to which lot to park in. "They take risks," he explained, "and they keep getting caught." He added that the future prospects for student on-campus parking were not good, since the effort to keep Dartmouth green might shunt all vehicles to outlying areas.
Revision of a booklet "Where to Stay," originally published under the auspices of the Milton Sims Kramer Fund, was moved and approved by the UGC. The cost of the revision would be $350. The purpose of the booklet is to discourage students from making the potentially disastrous "milkrun" back to Hanover after visiting a women's college. The booklet lists places where students can stay, and advises them of the regulations of the various colleges.
10:46 - A motion was made to purchase a horror film on traffic safety for $180. The motion was discussed, the flick reviewed by several members, and the motion was defeated.
10:51 — A motion was made that two pairs of seat belts be mandatory on student cars at the College. For at least thirty minutes the seat-belt controversy raged on the floor. Alternate proposals were made and rejected. Suggestions were made to instruct students in their use and effectiveness.
The favorite argument against the motion was that students might resent being forced to install them. It was felt they might want to understand the good sense of the proposed regulation on their own rather than be told to do it by the College and the UGC.
11:23 - The seat-belt proposal was defeated.
11:25 - Gerry Kaminsky '61, chairman of the Discrimination Committee, presented a summary of this year's activity by the committee and suggested that next year's committee compile a report on the 1954 Referendum and send it to other colleges.
In further action it was then proposed that a pledge be signed by every fraternity man to the effect that his chapter was free of discrimination. The pledge read as follows:
I _____, a member of _____ fraternity, do hereby pledge on my honor without mental reservations that my chapter is free to pledge and initiate any person without discrimination on grounds of race, creed, or national origin, imposed by any national organization.
If any man refused to sign the pledge he would have a chance to present his case before the Discrimination Committee, and if necessary an investigation would be launched to check any infringement of the 1954 Referendum.
It was argued, however, that the pledge would be redundant since all 24 houses had already complied with the Referendum. Several members of the UGC felt the pledge was obnoxious, since it in effect constituted a double check on the honor of the members of the fraternities.
11:55 — The motion that the UGC implement the Referendum by requiring fraternity men to sign the pledge was defeated.
12:00 midnight - After a few general announcements, Sam Bell concluded his term of office by complimenting the UGC on its work this year. "We've accomplished," he said, "what we wanted to do."
The Dartmouth Sultans, a popular college jazz group, playing in a special Bermudiana Hotel revue in Bermuda during one of the spring College Weeks on the island.
