The Peace Corps Was Also on Campus

I NEVER thought I'd come to Dartmouth and be asked to take the Pledge!" the comely Smith College lass quipped, but she and 156 other young men and women representing some 91 colleges and universities did. They pledged to speak only French in the dormitories, dining hall, and about everywhere else too, for they were preparing themselves to teach in French-speaking West Africa as Peace Corps Volunteers.

To this end these enthusiastic participants in an experimental junior-year Peace Corps program at Dartmouth this summer not only delighted officials in Hanover and Washington, D. C., with their "fantastic," "impressive" progress in mastering French but they cheerily endured four "colder than usual" days of outdoor living at the College Grant in northern New Hampshire. Under the watchful eye of D.O.C. director John Rand '38 these undaunted northwoodsmen (and women) hiked, climbed, pitched their own shelters, and slaughtered their own chickens and sheep before cooking their own meals. The chickens proved to be tougher than the southern friers but satisfying to the all-night stewers.

Although the emphasis was largely on proficiency in French (eighteen teachers, three class-hours six days a week plus language lab sessions, newscasts in French piped into Thayer meal hours, a French weekly newspaper and movies), the program had other aspects too. Major attention was given to the understanding and appreciation of the history, culture, economy, and other facets of French West African life, an area where eight African nationals and ten returned Volunteers (including John F. Murphy '58) played an important role.

The junior-year candidates were also instructed in the techniques of teaching their special subjects in West African schools. Rounding out the curriculum were courses in World Affairs and American Studies, Communism, and an invigorating daily encounter with Coach Karl Michael and his physical education staff.

Project Administrator (and Director of the College's Office of Student Counseling) Henry Helgen anticipates some 100 or more from this year's group will return next summer for Phase II of their training after graduation in June and that a group of similar size will be involved in another junior-year program.

Conversation was French only, after classes or betweenclasses as shown in this mid-morning break near Gerry.

African nationals like Ousmane Diop from Guinea, shownhere in his country's traditional garb, spoke on life in Africa.

Peace Corps tried hard but A.B.C.'s soccer boys romped.