Tuck School

This is our last news column for the current year and by the time you read it you will have already read about the dramatic events that caused the temporary suspension of normal academic pursuits at the Tuck School and changed, for a period of time, the academic focus of the School. At this writing, the drama is still unfolding. Classes returned to normal schedule on May 11, following a week of curtailed classes attended on a voluntary basis after President Kemeny's decision to suspend regular academic activities for one week to enable the Dartmouth community to concentrate on national issues troubling the nation.

The Tuck Faculty at the end of the first week voted to carry on classes as usual for the balance of the academic year but to make attendance optional and allow each student to choose from several options regarding grades. These options, prepared by the faculty, were designed with graduation requirements in mind as well as the certification for the second year at Tuck. At the present time, it is not known which options will be selected, but the School is expected to continue as usual for those students who wish to follow the normal academic program and yet to allow those who wish to pursue outside activities the opportunity to do so.

For the present, may I simply assure you that the Tuck School students responded to this crisis in a completely responsible manner. The important thing for Tuck Alumni to understand is that these men, older, more experienced and more mature than their undergraduate Counterparts all over the country, reacted in united front with the undergraduates after having given the entire situation a great deal of thought, reason and debate. Though it was not unanimous, the majority of students in both Tuck classes wanted to become involved in the nationwide effort to make the student population in the United States heard and understood. Though their thinking was not as charged with emotion as was the case with some of their younger counterparts, their determination and commitment was just as strong, perhaps more so.

Whether one agrees or "disagrees with their principles and philosophies, one must nevertheless be aware of and proud of their sincerity. Most of these young men are about to join alumni in various business concerns around the country, and it is to the benefit of all who will come in contact with them to know that these men have thought out the issues, taken a stand, and worked hard and intelligently to make their voices and their reasons heard.

Deans Hennessey and Kimball enjoyed another pleasant alumni dinner, this time in Boston early in May. President Dan Goggin T'62 and Treasurer Don White T'58 provided a new meeting place on the outskirts of Boston rather than in the city and the pleasant surroundings made for an enjoyable affair. Dean Hennessey brought the Boston alumni up to date on a wide variety of subjects concerning the Tuck School and gob Kimball discussed the present placement situation. A great many questions opened up lively discussion. Don White was elected President of the Association for the coming year.

On the news front, Donald P. Mix T'56, who left New England Telephone in 1968 to join Connecticut Bank and Trust Co., was elected an assistant secretary recently. Don is portfolio manager in trust administration.

Leonard S. Silk, an Overseer of the Tuck School, has been appointed to the editorial board of The New York Times. Mr. Silk has been a Senior Fellow of the Brookings Institution in Washington for the past year, and previously served as an editor of Business Week for 15 years.

It was interesting to read a long feature article about Jack Ketchum T'55 in a Kennebunk, Maine, newspaper. Starting at Procter & Gamble, Jack left business in 1959 to become a farmer, and though he was quite successful in this pursuit, decided to go back into industry and joined Mutual Life Insurance Co. of Portland. Jack's story is too long to repeat in this column but his latest appointment was to vice president of financial management for the company in February 1970 and he is also president of Union Equity Corp., a venture capital subsidiary of the parent company.

That wraps it up for 1969-70. It has been a pleasure bringing this news to you and we shall now sit back and accumulate the clippings until fall.

A pleasant summer to all, and best regards from the hills.