REPORT CARD

Students Give the Alumni College a Straight A

ALMOST the common denominator I saw among the faculty and supporting cast was pipes," a Dartmouth Alumni College student wrote in explanation of why he was sending a gross of corncobs as a gesture of appreciation. His act is typical of the attitude of the alumni and wives who attended. Not only did they contribute to a substantial farewell gift to the Alumni College but they also responded thoughtfully to questionnaires asking their help in evaluating the program.

Many suggestions for improvements, from readings and course materials to supervision of children, were made and will be considered carefully by the 1965 Alumni College planners. The students were also most emphatic in their approval of the Alumni College in concept and performance as these quotations indicate:

IMPRESSIONS

"I felt more alive intellectually."

"I had almost forgotten what it is like to hear serious topics seriously discussed by informed people."

"I was so pleased to be treated as an intelligent person - and not patronized. This came as a wonderful surprise to me. I have too often in my contacts with educators been treated as a not too bright parent."

"The atmosphere was undeniably charged with intellectual excitement."

"I wanted to learn and I did. I wanted to know what I was missing and I found out (some things). It was a most satisfying experience - over-all."

"Really a shock to find myself studying and thinking without relationship to job performance. Which proves how badly I needed such an experience, and hence the value of it."

PROFESSORS

"Professor Harris' grasp of the great challenges on science and on space theories was impressive. He was both interesting and articulate in his presentation. And so modest!"

"Professor Bond's enthusiasm and wisdom were magnetic. Since returning home I have written my first 'essay.'"

"I found Professor Cusick extremely helpful on many puzzling national issues and economic policies in general; I name him because I doubt if many lecturers could have made it so clear! (Whether one agrees with Galbraith is beside the point.)"

"Professor Duggan made me re-examine the beliefs of a lifetime and alter some of them."

FELLOWSHIP

"One of the greatest values was the rather intimate contact with other alumni and their wives who were interested in attending Alumni College. They were very interesting, stimulating, and attractive people. The variation in age was a valuable feature."

"I especially enjoyed eating all together with so many different groups - there were no cliques. We met so many wonderfully interesting people."

"Intellectual climate put each person in the proper frame of mind for discussion. We like the friendly 'give and take' of the group. The fact that men and women were working on the same problems provided unusual background for conversation outside of class, particularly at meals."

"What I miss most since I have been home are my fellow students to continue discussion on the lectures we were hearing and the books we were studying. I think I am a little smarter and slightly better informed for having attended Alumni College."

"Personally I have not been so excited or stimulated by anything we have done for a long time. The long heated discussions which took place when any of our numbers gathered together were a delight. It was such fun being with people who were interested in thinking."

VALUE DEFINED

"I thought the program was of tremendous value as an enjoyable, worthwhile vacation; reasonably, and almost 'bargain,' priced; education in the sense of renewal of interests and academic contacts; new friendships which widen the Dartmouth fellowship even more."

"This program accomplished what so many 'retreats' and conferences fail to do. There was plenty of time - nobody preached - there was no 'hard sell.' People were there because they wanted to be. They were friendly, interested, ready to learn and the faculty really moved in!"

"I hope it will go and on 'forever' - it's a logical and valuable extension of the functions of a liberal college."

Prof. Tim Duggan gets discussion group rolling. He wasalso one of the four lecturers.

Al Fisher '29 makes his point ...

... so does Prof. Harry Bond '42.

Conversation was lively at the mid-morning coffee break on Center terrace.

Classroom attire was as colorful and individual as the opinions expressed.