What Role for the Alumni?

SECRETARY OF THE COLLEGE

AT a recent conference in Crosby Hall including several young associates on alumni and public relations, one of them remarked, "By the time of Dartmouth's 200th anniversary in 1969, we won't recognize our class reunions, they'll be so different."

"How's that again?" we asked.

"Well," he said, "there won't be any reunion tents around the dormitories, or any pianos, kids and baby-sitter plans, dance platforms, kegs of beer, class costumes, and so on. There will be a lot more emphasis on Hanover Holiday programs • the continuing education of alumni, without neglecting the fellowship aspects of reunions."

That came at the end of a long discussion about future plans at the College. With the lunch hour at hand, and in line with our faithful efforts to refrain from some sort of wet blanket reply, it seemed best to adjourn the meeting and continue another time.

It was mid-March in Hanover and just the right day for a winter picnic with a warm sun shrinking ice and snow away from paths and walks along which throngs of students moved from Dartmouth Hall across the campus heading for lunch in Thayer and Main Street restaurants. Baker chimes rang as we got a sandwich at The Beefeater and drove toward the hills back of Norwich where the Land Rover pushed through inches of mud loosening deep frost of winter, and where beyond Cossingham's near Tuss McLaughry's farm a lovely vista spread across the Connecticut Valley, like a Paul Sample landscape. In the distance rose the tall white spire of the library marking the very heart of the intellectual life of the College.

Thinking about that morning conference and the future programs that could be challenging and exciting to alumni and their wives and families returning to Hanover, we could clearly see a trend in planning and in events that would change reunions. We thought of the pioneer work of many decades - starting with Dr. Tucker laying the foundations of the serious alumni program at Dartmouth; of President Hopkins constantly seeking full understanding of the College by the alumni; and these past sixteen years when President Dickey has traveled the length and breadth of the land with only one message: better to have some 30,000 Dartmouth men fully appreciate the liberating educational work of the College and to share and participate in it throughout their lives.

In the two-year study of Guy Wallick's Committee on Alumni Relations (CAR), a sub-group of the Trustees Planning Committee, those fourteen alumni leaders concluded: "Broaden the base of Hanover reunions with more emphasis on intellectual activities and attendance at Hanover Holiday programs" ... and also recommended giving alumni "a thorough re-acquaintance with what is going on in Hanover with major emphasis on what the College is doing intellectually

The CAR committee, we reflected up there above Norwich sitting in the nice early spring sun, certainly went all out in aiming direction signs at a more complete and satisfying two-way relationship between alumni and the College. It could be — not only the Bicentennial program in 1969 but class reunions before then - could be keyed to renewing actual participation of alumni in the work of the College. Fellowship among Dartmouth men will never be lost but their understanding of changes will not be a full understanding except during times of physical reunion with the College, in and out of Hanover.

A UNIQUE DARTMOUTH QUALITY

It is a good thing to look at the alumni role in the Dartmouth of the future when there's no crisis, and when alumni affairs were never stronger than they are today. The alumni program is surely among the unique qualities of this college. Devotion of alumni to Dartmouth and their participation and sharing in its work have become widely recognized as points of unusual strength. More than 4,000 alumni are serving actively in class or alumni

club positions, on the Board of Trustees, Alumni Council, and other groups. In such a far-flung and important activity as enrollment and interviewing for admissions - to name only one among many projects sponsored by the Alumni Council - there are hundreds of alumni seeking to strengthen the College in the quality of its student body. Emphasis is given here to the extraordinary service of Dartmouth men, which astounds and arouses the envy of most other collegiate institutions, because fears are sometimes expressed that those who pay the piper may call the tune: in other words, that alumni will through their participation interfere in affairs more rightly the concern of others. There is so little basis for concern on this point that the great advantage of enthusiastic and informed alumni is clear.

On this policy of non-interference in affairs not within the jurisdiction of alumni, we recall the introduction at an Alumni Council meeting of a resolution to study "the fraternity question" —at a time when fraternities were under discussion with critics and defenders taking sides. A special Council committee later reported that so far as the alumni are concerned this prop osal "can best be carried out by pursuing a policy of inaction." The Council has always - as have other alumni groups and individuals question the President of the College or others on current policies and problems on the campus but the final studies and decisions are left to those responsible - the faculty, undergraduates, administration, and to the ultimate authority in the Board of Trustees. If they don't like the architecture, the alumni are promptly heard from, but they are equally willing to accept a reasoned and fully explained decision.

BECAUSE THEY CARE DEEPLY

Why so much emphasis on this particular aspect of alumni relations on the cooperative and understanding attitude of alumni as partners in the enterprise of the College? For several reasons: first, because this indicates something of the depth of their feeling for the College. If they didn't care very much they wouldn't be so concerned about things in Hanover wanting to be informed, eager to keep pace themselves with what is going on, and reassured when the highest competence is available to Dartmouth, whether in their own alumni leaders, in teachers, administrators, students, or facilities. So, we reflected, this great body of men that will grow to more than 34,000 by 1969, will wish to be closer to the College in every way possible and to participate even more in achieving its objectives.

We thought about the increasing importance of regional alumni club activities. Dartmouth's distribution of its student body is truly national, and international. But the activity of alumni groups across the country does not uniformly reflect this important point of strength. The CAR committee found class organization far ahead of regional activity in which Dartmouth is weak compared with our competi- tion (the beloved sister institutions).

A total of 129 alumni clubs cover the country and several centers overseas, with about 95% of all alumni on the mailing lists of the various clubs. Perhaps two-thirds of the groups function regularly with a strong program. Areas of activity where the regional clubs have large responsibility include enrollment and admission, and also the developing program of Alumni Club Scholarships which are administered in Hanover.

It is our feeling that the variety of events now sponsored by alumni clubs will increase; that the number of speakers from the College, including more of the faculty, will exceed the 143 appearances of last year; and that the statement of purpose for a Dartmouth club will be more fully achieved: "It is not then the Alumni Association's only purpose to work for the welfare of the College, or to encourage social life among its members, but also to serve the general public as an influence and agency that can always be counted upon for helpful and constructive effort."

TWO-WAY COMMUNICATIONS

Of the greatest importance now and in the future are the two-way lines of communication that need constantly to be kept open between the College and the alumni, and among the alumni. Almost 100% circulation is achieved by the ALUMNI MAGAZINE every month and here is such a valued medium for carrying the College to the alumni that its role is bound to increase through the years.

It is predictable that more films, even more appearances of the College on television and radio (where there have been a number of major programs recently), will enhance the image, or concept, of the College in the public mind. The objective of Dartmouth public relations is to describe, interpret, and secure recognition for the educational work and all other aspects of the College. This is a large order but one of utmost significance to the high position that Dartmouth enjoys in the educational world which needs increasingly to be more widely recognized.

In its particular location, removed from metropolitan centers, communication with all its constituents and friends, and with the general public, is especially important.

BACK TO WORK

Just about then, as we were enjoying that across-the-valley view of Baker Tower and these reflections, a farmer came down off the wooded hill driving a shaggy horse (the farmer shaggy too with winter whiskers) pulling a sled carrying 40-quart milk cans full of maple sap for boiling. Time to get back to work. ... Driving up West Wheelock Street into Hanover we saw a student in a fourth floor window of Middle Mass catching snowballs thrown by a gathering crowd of those high-I.Q. young men who throw snowballs just as well as you or I, probably better. In fact their glee club, their teams, Players shows, and everything else are setting new records, on top of elevated scholastic aptitudes and achievement. But human nature doesn't change, or the high spirits of youth, and we'll bet the Third Century won't change either. It may have even deeper roots from which their devotion will grow.

The view across the snow-covered campus, bright with sun and filled with students carrying notebooks and books, struck us anew in its beauty. The Hopkins Center stands back from the campus, filling the entire block east of the Hanover Inn. At the staff conference in the morning there were frequent mentions of this large complex of connecting buildings as a center of alumni interest and activity in the future. That reunion program in 1969, perhaps sooner, could bring many hundreds of alumni and wives into the Hopkins Center, rather than into tents. There would be visits to other new buildings and facilities. There would be seminars on a variety of interesting subjects by outstanding members of the faculty, an address on the State of the College, discussions led by authorities in various fields, class gatherings and dinners, drama and music in the Center. Right now class reunions are attended by an average of only 20-30% of the class. With a more appealing and worthwhile program that number can be doubled.

The role of alumni in the future? To strengthen in every possible way their own organization, in class and regional alumni clubs and in other groups, for without planning and direction their interest, understanding, and support will be of no avail. Also fully to recognize the . acceptance by the alumnus of the primacy of the College's educational work and mission, and of his desire to participate in it. All else will follow. All else will succeed if the objectives and the work of the College are understood and shared by the alumni.

Sidney C. Hay ward '26