Throwing Out the Gauntlet.

The whitegarbed seniors in Palaeopitus have taken a hard look at Wet Down and have decided upon some changes in the traditional spring ceremony. After weeks of debate the student body leaders decided to eliminate the running of the gauntlet (when seniors swatted juniors with belts and seniors and juniors swatted sophomores, etc.) and to cut back on the award presentations.

Richard W. Glapp '67, Palaeopitus chairman, announced that the entire ceremony will take place at the Old Pine and that only the broader awards will be made. Athletic awards, previously made at Wet Down, will be presented at team banquets.

Not all the undegraduates agreed with Palaeopitus's decision. One student, Benjamin Benner '69, wrote in his letter to The Dartmouth: "It is amazing, the speed at which the Dartmouth Man is losing the great heritage which has taken nearly 200 years of rugged individualism to amass."

Palaeopitus replied: "We have interpreted this (being 'generally responsible for College traditions') as a responsibility to keep these traditions meaningful; only when it is clear that they have outlived their usefulness would we recommend their elimination."