1938

This column is a report on that greatest of all "The Rites of Spring," the annual return to Hanover for Class Officers weekend.

The weekend started with registration of Friday afternoon, April 30. After the drive up from Long Island, wife Pat and I were relieved to be assigned to a room at the Norwich Inn annex where we cleaned up for the reception, the reception to be held at 5:30. This reception in the form of a cocktail party is held at the gigantic lounge at Hopkins Center which accommodates the officers of fifty years of Dartmouth classes and a large percentage of wives. The reception runs right into the banquet also held at the Hop in Alumni Hall, and it was at this time that the '38ers met and assembled; Gil and Fran Tannis, Gusand Sandy Southworth, Bob Manegold,Bob Hallock, and Pat and I.

Next on the program was an address by President Kemeny in #105 Dartmouth Hall remembered by most of us as the lecture room for Herb West's Comp. Lit. class. Most of us trickled over from the banquet just to hear the President, and also because this gathering has come to be known as the forum for lively dialogue between the Administration and the Alumni Body.

The meeting was chaired by Thomas J. Swartz, Jr. '49, President of the Class Secretaries Association. He introduced Dr. Kemeny, who, with the brilliance, wit, and old world charm that has become his hallmark, proceeded to outline the accomplishments of his first full year of office. It was in effect "A State of the College" address. He suggested that programs would be instituted to provide full use of the college plant on an all-year 'round basis with classes for alumni and their families.

In this connection, he announced the appointment of Gil Tanis as Director of Continuing Education. The concluding subject of the speech was the report of the President's Committee on Coeducation. The statistics, surveys, and reports he quoted had announced the Trustees' plans for women at Dartmouth by 1972.

As the President was obviously approaching the end of his speech, a gentleman from the audience quietly and respectfully requested to have the floor. Dr. Kemeny gave him the floor without hesitation so that he might read aloud to the audience a resolution pertaining to the coeducation issue. The resolution was a long one and many of us, replete as we were with food and some drink, felt it was too long, but as the "whereas's" rolled on seemingly interminably, the audience began to sense that this was the dedicated work of someone who loved the College and felt it might be precipitous in acting on the subject of "greater feminine presence." When challenged to identify himself, he proved to be Dick Montgomery, Secretary of the Class of 1935 and a resident of Deerfield, Ill. He also stated that his career was in advertising and dealt largely with statistics, surveys, and reports, and in his resolution he proved how dangerous it would be to draw conclusions from the surveys on coeducation. Had it not been for the studious, low-keyed, respectful manner of his presentation, the audience would have been polarized into a shouting match. The speech was concluded and can be summarized as a strong plea to reconsider the coed issue and, if after due deliberation, the Trustees wanted to go ahead, then there should be an organized effort to sell the idea to the alumni beforehand.

Due to the lateness of the hour, it was decided by the Chair to adjourn without taking any action of the resolution until the following day. There followed substantial applause which, I felt, was intended for Dr. Kemeny, Dick Montgomery, and the whole democratic process.

At the general meeting and roll call for all Class Officers on Saturday A.M. at 9 o'clock, it was immediately apparent that the Administration had worked far into the night to do its homework. George Colton '35, Vice President of the College, announced that the Trustees were offering to send representatives to any group of alumni who should request information on the coeducation issue. George also came up with his own resolution; i.e., that at each of the class officers' meeting, each Association would name two representatives to constitute an advisory alumni group which would work with the Trustees in communicating with the alumni regarding co-education.

At the luncheon meeting, the final event, it was announced that the above delegates had all been named and the general feeling seemed to be that win or lose the question of women at Dartmouth would be given a long hard look and alumni sentiment, in the long run, be the controlling factor. On this note of goodwill the weekend program concluded and all alumni will be furnished with a list of the said delegates and their addresses.

Secretary, 64 Cormack Court Babylon, N. Y. 11702

Class Agent, 15 Damon Rd. Holden, Mass. 01520