COMMENCEMENT 1969

A LTHOUGH it had to be recessed for 35 minutes so the audience could move from the rain-drenched lawn of Baker Library to the protected confines of Leverone Field House, Commencement took place without any manmade hindrance on Sunday morning, June 15, and 756 seniors moved into the ranks of Dartmouth alumni.

Since the graduation exercises had been programmed to help launch the Bicentennial Year, there was disappointment that the weather did not cooperate, but for a class that demonstrated as much dislike for established procedure as 1969 did over its four-year course, perhaps the wet scurrying from Baker to the Field House was appreciated. It was, in fact, the vote of the seniors in favor of going ahead with outdoor exercises, even though the weather outlook was extremely doubtful, that tipped the decision in favor of Baker. Participatory democracy had its day and its drenching.

In addition to the 756 A.B. degrees awarded on Commencement morning, President Dickey conferred 213 advanced degrees and eight honorary degrees. Among the seniors, a single Indian - Brian Gordon Maracle of Rochester, N. Y. - personified the founding purpose of the College. Among the honorarydegree recipients, this purpose was symbolized in the award of the honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters to Frell M. Owl '27 of Cherokee, N. C., former agency superintendent in the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Other honorary-degree recipients were the Earl of Dartmouth and the Countess of Dartmouth, Doctors of Laws; Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller '30 of New York, Doctor of Civil Laws; President Kingman Brewster Jr. of Yale, Doctor of Laws; Harvey P. Hood '18 of Boston, Doctor of Laws; John H. Wolfenden, New Hampshire Professor of Chemistry Emeritus, Doctor of Science; and the Rev. Lawrence L. Durgin '40 of New York City, Doctor of Divinity. The citations accompanying their degrees will be found on Page 27.

After the honorary degrees were conferred, President Brewster extended Bicentennial greetings and Governor Rockefeller gave the Commencement Address, as summarized later in this account. As Governor Rockefeller began to speak, thirty or so seniors stood and turned their backs on him. He took this in good humor, referring to the protests he had encountered in Latin America, and then suggested that the seniors sit with their backs to him so those behind them could see.

Although the total number of advanced degrees conferred this year was somewhat smaller than last year, the growth of graduate work at the doctoral level was indicated by a new high of twenty Ph.D. degrees awarded. Two of these, for the first time, were in geology. The others were mathematics, six; physics, four; engineering sciences, three; molecular biology, three; and pharmacology and physiology, one each. Three doctorates in engineering were also conferred.

Other advanced awards were the M.B.A. degree to 102 second-year Tuck men, the Bachelor of Medical Science degree to 45 Medical School students, the Master of Arts degree to 18 and the Master of Science degree to three, the Bachelor of Engineering degree to 17, and the Master of Engineering degree to five.

Because of the reshuffling caused by the rain, and the time lost, none of the graduates was handed his diploma at the Field House exercises. Great pains are taken every year to get the diplomas and the seniors in precisely the same order, so each man will get his own diploma as he marches across the platform, but the order was hopelessly jumbled when the program moved indoors. Consequently, President Dickey conferred degrees on each standing group and diplomas were distributed afterwards at designated places - the seniors in the gym where they had originally assembled that morning.

After conferring the Bachelor degrees, President Dickey gave the traditional valedictory. He said that frustrations are for managing or banishing, not for taking out on the other fellow. He made reference to his impending retirement when he said, "As I prepare shortly to follow you, I bid you join me in leaving our frustrations behind to discover that in the Dartmouth fellowship there need be no parting."

After the singing of Men of Dartmouth and the invocation by Dean Dey, the seniors marched out and the College's 199 th consecutive Commencement since 1771 became part of Dartmouth history.

Class Day

Class Day exercises on Friday afternoon underwent a reversal in the order of things when the seniors marched first to the Old Pine for the smoking of peace pipes and then to the Bema where most of the oratory of the day took place. On the way the Class of '69 saluted four retiring faculty members who stood on the steps of Dartmouth Hall.

At the Old Pine, class president Norman Jacobs welcomed parents and guests; William Lind departed from the mood of the day by saying some good things about tradition in his Address to the Old Pine; and Arthur Fergenson of Players fame, in his Sachem Oration, did a take-off of President Dickey talking about the College in an interview over radio station WDCR.

Speakers in the Bema were John Beck, Address to the Seniors; Arnold Weingart, Class Poem; Robert Houser, Address to the College; and, as an innovation, several members of the graduating class who were given the opportunity to speak briefly about the College after the traditional addresses had been delivered. In general, the themes of the Class Day talks were those heard on campus throughout the year - frustration, the irrelevancy of traditional education, the evils of the Establishment, the hypocrisy of those in authority, the necessity for change. To show that he wished to be himself and not "a number in a herd," Beck histrionically shed his cap and gown while speaking, and had some followers, whether from the heat or his example. Most seniors, however, were able to bear up under the uniform of the day.

Friday evening's program included a Band concert in the Hopkins Center garden court; the President's reception, blessed this year with a fine evening that made the garden setting very attractive; and a Bicentennial Concert by the Glee Club. Next morning, Phi Beta Kappa held its traditional meeting and the commissioning ceremonies for ROTC graduates took place in the Bema. Eighty-six seniors received commissions in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. Guest speaker at the exercises was Brig. Gen. John H. Cushman, USA, commandant of Fort Devens in Massachu- setts.

The Commencement Luncheon given by the Trustees for the graduating class, parents, faculty, and wives occurred Saturday in Leverone Field House. The meeting of the General Association of Alumni, held in conjunction with this luncheon for many years, was transferred this year to a separate luncheon given by the Trustees in honor of the 50-Year Class and other reuning classes. The remainder of Saturday's schedule was highlighted by the afternoon program officially opening the Bicentennial Year and by the evening festivities of the Bicentennial Fanfare, both described elsewhere in this issue.

Saturday night's weather, although warm and pleasant enough, was already showing some signs of the vicissitudes to descend on the graduation exercises the next morning. The senior class valedictorian, Kenneth I. Paul, was the only Commencement speaker to give his address outdoors before the skies let loose Once the exercises had been resumed in Leverone Field House and the advanced and honorary degrees had been conferred the graduates, faculty, and guests heard addresses by President Brewster of Yale and Governor Rockefeller.

President Brewster's Remarks

President Brewster, who spoke as head of the university that produced Eleazar Wheelock, extended greetings to Dartmouth at the start of its 200 th year and stated Yale's pleasure in the part it had played, through Wheelock, in the founding of the College. The two institutions "share a common bond of resistance to the intrusions of the state upon the self-government of the college," he said, referring to the Dartmouth College Case and Daniel Webster's warning about the dangers of making educational institutions subject to the fluctuation of political opinions.

Private universities historically have enjoyed greater freedom and self-direction than their public sisters, President Brewster said, "but now there are no purely private universities anymore." Today's dependence upon government financing "brings us under the threat, both timely and timeless, of efforts to control the destiny of students and institutions by putting strings on financial aid or by threatening its withdrawal.... We need a new Dartmouth College doctrine to establish that the mere fact that the federal government supports the students or the institutions does not justify the Congress in trying to regulate local conduct by the leverage of the dollar when it could not do so constitutionally by direct federal regulation or by federal criminal law."

President Brewster concluded by reading a telegram he had just sent to Conressional leaders, pointing out the bright history of educational freedom in America and the dangers that go with any attempt at federal regulatory power over students and educators who might be non-conformist or espouse unpopular views. "However innocuous today's proposals may seem to their well-motivated authors," the wire stated, "I urge that we not start down any line which assumes the spending power justifies an extension of the regulatory power beyond its constitutional limits."

The Commencement Address

Governor Rockefeller began by congratulating Valedictorian Kenneth Paul for "a most perceptive, forthright, and indeed helpful analysis of the problems and challenges faced by the young on the campuses of America today," and said that he shared his statement that free speech must not be denied and must be inviolable.

"I would like to talk briefly about some of the frustrations, the problems, and the opportunities, facing America in the 1970s." he continued. "For those of you who have graduated today, these are the decisive years that will determine your future, the future of our country, and the future of the world. I have abiding faith in you, the on-coming generation, in your conscience, your idealism and concern, your awareness and dedication, your preparation and involvement, and most of all, your ability to shape the future. Today at this Bicentennial convocation we are given the perspective and the insight into the unique heritage that made possible the building of this great nation. The faith and vision evidenced by Lord Dartmouth's ancestor who founded the College, faith and vision in the new world, concern that all should have equal opportunities, the joy and commitment of Eleazar Wheelock who came so well fortified to his new and venturesome undertaking, the dedication and purpose of President Dickey, President Hopkins before him, who have made Dartmouth the unique institution that it is today, these qualities of faith and of vision, joy and commitment, dedication and purpose, are, perhaps, even more important now in shaping the America of the future. Therefore, let us cherish this heritage that we honor here today."

Governor Rockefeller then turned to the fiscal crisis with which state and local governments are faced and asserted that it is being compounded by the fact that two-thirds of the taxes are being collected and spent at the federal level, which "is not the level of government where the problems have to be met and solved in this nation of ours." Education and welfare are the big consumers of money, he said. During the 11 years of his governorship of New York, for example, the budget for education has risen from $600 million to $2.4 billion, and the welfare budget from $372 million to $1.22 billion. These costs continue to rise, he said, yet the taxing possibilities of state and local governments have reached the saturation point.

Governor Rockefeller urged that the federal government assume a greater share of the mounting costs of education, welfare, medical care, and urban renewal; and that there be federal standards of welfare so as to eliminate the disparity which encourages poorer families to flock to the states where they can receive the most assistance.

"This assumption of a larger share of the responsibility by the federal government for fiscal aid to state and local governments," he said, "flows from the fact that they collect the taxes. I don't like to mention figures but New York State this year is paying $22 billion in taxes to Washington and we will get back $1.4 billion. We cannot meet the problems of New York City, we cannot provide opportunities for a basis of equality for all, with only eight cents on the dollar coming back from the federal government. And, therefore, I say this is a major problem that must be faced in this nation."

Turning to the international scene, Governor Rockefeller said, "Believe me, people are as frustrated as we are at home. We have been generous and we don't understand why things don't go right. Basically, the problem, in my opinion, is that we are facing a rapidly changing world but since post-World War II the United States has lacked a clear sense of purpose and long-range objectives. We have been preoccupied with domestic growth and domestic problems and the meeting of international crises but doing so on a basis of improvisation We do not have clear goals and therefore no adequate basis for determining our own course at home or for judging evaluating and dealing with events abroad. This is no basis for leadership especially at a time when the world is getting smaller and more complex, and the gap between the haves and the have- nots is growing wider. . . . There is an explosion brewing and time is running out.

"In my opinion," he concluded, "We need new concepts, clear long-range goals, and far closer working relations with other nations and other peoples in order to meet intelligently and effectively the rapidly changing conditions, needs, and demands of the world in which we live. Again, I go back to what I said before, we have the capacity, we can meet this challenge, we can achieve respect for human dignity and social justice and freedom for all, both at home and abroad, but, let's face it, it requires a new dimension of conceptual thought, new lists of priorities in the massive mobilization and application of science and technology, and the moral strength and leadership of this nation. The western hemisphere, the new world, with our common heritage, common beliefs, and existing framework provides a unique opportunity to develop a new basis for intense national cooperation, a new basis that can become a model for the rest of the world as we move into increasingly difficult times."

It was that kind of day. A downpour interrupted Commencement 25 minutes afterthe exercises began on Baker's lawn, forcing their transfer to the Field House.

Seniors saluting retiring professors on Class Day. Shown (L to r) are Profs. JamesL. Scott, Robert A. McKennan '25, Hugh S. Morrison '26, and Warner Bentley.

Lord and Lady Dartmouth with President Dickey on Commencement morning.

The serene and dignified ROTC graduation exercises in the Bema were in sharp contrast to May's disorder.

Governor Nelson Rockefeller '30, being cited for the Doctorate of Civil Laws,shares with Robert Frost the rare distinction of holding two honorary degreesfrom Dartmouth. He received the College's honorary LL.D. twelve years ago.

President Kingman Brewster of Yale laughed with the audience when PresidentDickey in his honorary degree citation declared that the Yale leader not onlyhad married a Vassal graduate but had almost seduced Vassar itself.