Letters to the Editor

Let the Elders Speak Up

TO THE EDITOR

Recent editions of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE have offered stimulating thought regarding the need for the College to mold a graduate who is informed and concerned about contemporary issues and hence committed to become involved in solutions. It is notable that wise thoughts have been expressed by writers ranging from the Undergraduate Editor and other undergraduates to Secretary John W. Gardner, of the Department of HEW.

That the Great Issues course has of late been a subject of controversy and now is disbanded is of little concern to me. The course itself was a favorite of mine because it dealt with current problems and brought knowledgeable personalities to Dartmouth, yet surely the same material can be kept alive on campus through more creative and flexible means.

What does concern me are the specific remarks by Richard Bathrick '66, which strike a familiar note, as he describes the College's administration and faculty, from President Dickey on down, as silent and aloof from expressing their personal views on today's important issues.

I concur with Bathrick that faculty, or, if you will, elders who have had the luxury of more years to observe and experience human events, ought to share their views and biases with student activists. It is partially their silence that reenforces the pervading undergraduate code, that to be outspoken or active in the larger-than-campus issues is to be a "screamer" or "loser."

Secretary Gardner wrote of the need to create men who can lead, that is help shape and make decisions. Recently Defense Secretary Robert McNamara proposed that more if not all of the youth of America be involved in "national service" in the Peace Corps, domestic, or military service. In light of these directives and the undergraduates' increased awareness of current issues, increased to the point that the relevance of a Great Issues type course is questioned, I believe it is essential that Dartmouth elders not only teach or administer their assigned specialty but that they also join in and encourage the debate over the great issues outside the classroom.

Philadelphia, Pa.

Misconceptions Enumerated

TO THE EDITOR:

In response to Richard A. Bathrick's article entitled "Student Activism at Dartmouth" I would like to point out a few of his misconceptions.

(1) The College administration, i.e. President Dickey, various deans, etc. are running a college. It is not their function to constantly speak out on controversial issues such as Vietnam, which is what Mr. Bathrick seems to be unhappy about.

(2) Commencement speakers do not have to be controversial. Messieurs Lesage, Udall, and Macy are well known in their fields and I am sure each imparted an adequate message to his audience.

(3) There is absolutely no reason why an honorary degree must be bestowed on some issue-oriented social reformer every year as the author implies. U Thant received one in 1963 and some similar benefactor of mankind may be the recipient of such a degree either this year or sometime in the future.

(4) The Dartmouth does not have to cover as much territory as Mr. Bathrick implies. It is an adequate newspaper and is to be used as an adjunct to other dailies. It is not the sole source of news in Hanover by any means and should not be expected to have the editorial page of The New YorkTimes.

(5) Great Issues is a very informative course and I see nothing wrong with compulsory attendance. After all, the speakers are giving up time and effort by traveling to Hanover and are entitled to be heard even if the students disagree with their points of view. This can arouse the controversy the author is seeking.

(6) The mere fact that one joins a fraternity does not mean that a person's individualism is curtailed. Fraternities at Dartmouth have been de-emphasized and no one forces anyone to join.

Mr. Bathrick's entire thesis seems to be based on his concern over the war in Vietnam. He appears to want everyone at Dartmouth to protest our involvement in Vietnam and appears to be predicating his beliefs on this criterion. There is a tremendous tone of illogical thinking pervading his article.

Fort Lee, N. J.

An Affront to Medical Science

TO THE EDITOR:

Professor John Masland's statement in "Dissension at the Medical School," in the May 1966 issue of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE is an affront to the intelligence of all thinking men, and does discredit to Dartmouth. Provost Masland says that "The men who are leaving are competent scientists, but it is significant that to the best of our knowledge they are not going to medical schools but to graduate departments or institutes of biology or related fields, or into research."

Intimating that these men belong elsewhere than in a medical school faculty is a disservice to Dartmouth, and to medical science. In a century which has seen the breaking of the genetic code it is unfortunate that the provost of a leading college should choose to justify the loss of admittedly competent scientists by proclaiming it "significant" that they are leaving for "graduate departments or institutes of biology... or research."

Whatever the facts behind the discord at Dartmouth Medical School, nothing is accomplished by publishing innuendoes which display only nebulous thinking and ignorance. To expect your readers to accept such statements does us all an injustice. Dartmouth is surely worthy of better defense.

The Rockefeller University

New York, N. Y.

G.I. Behavior

TO THE EDITOR:

This note concerns Larry Geiger's "Undergraduate Chair" in the April issue. Perhaps I am reading something into his column that isn't there, or that Larry didn't mean to put there, but when he states that Dean Unsworth was perfectly justified, in the position of lecturer, to demand attention from his audience and that the seniors are justified in demanding an interesting, informative, well-presented lecture from a speaker, I have to take exception.

Dean Unsworth, or any other speaker, should be accorded the attention of his audience. The seniors are there to be educated, and making demands on their se- lected speakers seems wholly inconsistent with this process. Perhaps I've suddenly become old-fashioned.

My class was probably as rude and dis- respectful as the current crop. However, I believe we complained about the speakers, yet took our medicine when caught and never blamed our behavior on the ability of the speaker.

It concerns me to think of the reasons why seniors might feel they can demand:

(1) "We're paying for it."

(2) "We're pretty smart now and this selectivity is part of our sophistication."

It bothers me that Larry Geiger feels the way he does.

Cape Elizabeth, Maine

Helping Indian Boys

TO THE EDITOR

I have read and reread with great interest the article on Wheelock's Dream and his Indian pupils in the ALUMNI MAGAZINE of November 1965 by John Hurd '21 and the several letters since then adding names to Hurd's list. More will probably turn up.

Dartmouth's early interest in American Indians is well known. At the present time an occasional news flash or TV appearance stirs up momentary interest but gives little understanding of the real problems faced by these people today. Generalization is difficult, each region and each tribe has its special problems. It is important, however, that these people have in common many traits of unquestioned value. When given a decent chance they have succeeded in a wide variety of occupations: aviation, ranching, high steel construction, the fine arts and top executive positions. To adjust to a dominant alien culture without becoming subservient or losing identity is not easy. Nobody likes to be pushed around, even if the intent is benevolent.

I notice that in the last (1964-1965) Financial Report of the Endowment Funds of the College there is a fund amounting to over $21,000, with income in that year of over $19OO, listed as "Moor's Charity School," and I wonder if that income is used for Indian scholarships and if more is available from other funds of the College, in other words - what is the College that was founded for American Indians doing to perpetuate that service?

Milton, Mass.

The Moor's Charity School Fund, theincome from which is used for general College purposes, was originally the State ofVermont's grant to the Charity School uponits removal to Hanover. The grant, consisting of the Town of Wheelock, Vt., war conveyed to the College in 1913 upon dissolution of the School corporation.

Dartmouth has no endowment fundsspecifically earmarked for Indian scholarships, nor is it true, as is so commonly believed, that free tuition is automaticallyavailable to any Indian boy qualified tomatriculate at the College. But Dartmouthdoes most definitely have a special interestin enrolling qualified Indian students, andthose needing scholarship help are giventhe fullest possible consideration by theCollege's Office of Financial Aid.

An Idea for "Saving" the Inn

TO THE EDITOR:

It is with feelings of some regret to me that the old Inn must soon depart this world and a new edifice built to take its place. Others must have the same nostalgic feelings for the Hanover Inn that I have.

The old Inn will live forever in the memories of the older alumni, but it could be made to be a really live thing to all classes with a little effort.

I have suggested that some of the timbers be saved as the Inn is wrecked and that the wood be turned into gavels. I think each class President or Chairman would prize such a memento of the Inn. Would this not be a fitting use to which to put this structure?

The Inn then would truly live forever as each class opened its reunion meetings with the bang of the gavel from the old Hanover Inn! Each bang would echo the historic past of a venerable structure close to many of the older alumni who have enjoyed its hospitality over the years.

I wonder what other class officers might think?

Washington, D. C.