GRANTED VOICE

The quest for "student power" has been quietly carried on at the College, with demonstrations against ROTC and College backing of allegedly racist corporations the only examples of open conflict. The student body seemed either too apathetic to push hard for student power or too confident it would be granted power sooner or later to risk open confrontation. Whichever philosophy was more evident, it became clear at the beginning of the year that students had finally been granted a voice in decisionmaking.

At Convocation, President Dickey announced the formation of the Campus Conference, a committee of students, faculty, administrators and Trustees designed to hash out some of the conflicts that might have resulted in confrontation and to create better communication among what Dickey called "the principal constituencies" on campus.

For over a year, the administration has been criticized for failing to anticipate student demands and thus permitting an atmosphere where demands might be translated into a show of force. Apparently Mr. Dickey was listening, since the Campus Conference, though aimed more at communication than policy-making, goes beyond most of the responsible student demands.

Mr. Dickey said he felt increased communication would permit the establish- ment of more mature student protest. Unfortunately, there is no group on campus which really represents the undergraduate body, and leaders of the much-maligned student government were placed on the committee. The outlook, however, is sanguine. The other "principal constituencies" seem to recognize the need to find representatives more in tune with the rest of the students than the "student government jocks."

With this issue Christopher O. Kern '69 of Leonia, N. J., assumes occupancy of The Undergraduate Chair. He is Associate Editor of The Dartmouth and last May wrote our lead article on student dissent. A government major and former special events director of WDCR, he is the son of Eugene O. Kern '36, Voice of America official in New York.