Letters to the Editor

Pardonable Sin

TO THE EDITOR:

I was in Nova Scotia when the radio told me of Rocky's nomination. I turned to my wife and said, "I know it's wrong but I can't help it: a Wah Hoo Wah for both Jerry and Rocky." Giving a rouse seemed completely inadequate for such a momentous occasion.

Abington, Mass.

Bravely into the Sunset

TO THE EDITOR

Although I am generally suspicious of statistics, I admit being impressed by the figures cited by President Kemeny in your June issue.

It's often amusing and sometimes informative to make pictures of information of this kind; so, with pencil, ruler, and semi-log paper (the "in" media, I believe, for growth predictions) I marked points representing the Kemeny data relative to years 1940 and 1974. Other sources provided points for the student populations.

A few straight lines between pairs of these points gave interesting results.

For instance, the slope (rate of increase) for administrators is more than four times that for undergraduate faculty; hence, about mid-year 1975-1976, there will be about one administrator for each faculty member. This arrangement clearly overloads the administrators who must also pay some attention to the students.

However, the picture shows that with a little patience the condition of overwork will be corrected; for, at the indicated rate of growth the year 2044 will see one administrator for each student, or some 12,000 administrators.

True, this same year will see the faculty relatively impoverished in the matter of administrative supervision, and the 700 faculty members will have to shift for themselves.

Again let us exercise a little patience, for in a couple of more years - say 2046 - each faculty member will also have his administrative mentor, and the ideal college will have been achieved.

I am happy to learn that the year 2046 is not far from the crucial time projected by the Meadows team. It is comforting to know that, when the Meadows Debacle occurs, each Dartmouth student and each Dartmouth faculty member will be protected and guided by his own administrator, and we shall see each student and each faculty member trustfully holding the hand of an administrator as they bravely walk into the sunset.

Hanover, N.H.

Giveth and Taketh Away

TO THE EDITOR:

I noted with disgust that Justice Douglas was given a Doctor of Laws degree from Dartmouth.

I can't think of anyone who deserves it less. Why our distinguished president should select the poorest jurist on the Supreme Court for this honor passes my understanding.

Here is a man who admittedly signed checks for the Parvin Corporation, a corporation connected with underworld characters, and who also takes a fee from this corporation while serving as a Justice of the Supreme Court.

To me, it is a slap in the face to decent people, and I resent it.

Dallas, Texas

TO THE EDITOR:

Just who was responsible for the selection of William Orville Douglas, of all people, for an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws?

It makes me ashamed of being an alumnus of Dartmouth College.

Salisbury, Conn.

(All members of the Dartmouth communitymay make recommendations to the Committeeon Honorary Degrees. Final determination ismade by the Board of Trustees. Ed.)

TO THE EDITOR:

To soften the cries of outrage now reaching you by the scores over the omission of an honorary '29er of distinction if still remembered by this generation let me recall the conversation (as best I can) of be-cap-and-gowned seniors waiting for the Commencement procession to begin:

"And who are they, the small group of elderly men with fancy hoods, off by themselves (toward Dartmouth Hall)?" There followed some questioning up and down the line of seniors, and back came the judgement, "Someone says they're getting honorary degrees." Then the next question, "Who's the one with the crutches?" A longer interrogation up and down the line and, finally, "Someone says he's the Governor of New York; name's Roosevelt."

If, to date of your receipt of this note, there have been no cries of outrage, then I modify my comment merely to ask if the deletion was policy!

Berkeley, Calif.

(No cries of outrage, but plenty of embarrassment. Ed.)

TO THE EDITOR:

I know you will label me a nitpicker for sure. However, in the interest of accuracy the story on honorary degrees on page 16 of the July issue contains a serious error of omission. You mention six Presidents of the U.S. as recipients. You have overlooked Franklin D. Roosevelt who was so honored in 1929 when he was Governor of New York. I have a picture of him with President Hopkins, which I clipped from the ALUMNI MAGAZINE, taken at the time the degree was bestowed.

Greenwich, Conn.

Perceptions

TO THE EDITOR:

The purpose of this letter is to register two gripes:

(1) With all the other changes that are taking place, for better and for worse, at the College, is it really necessary to continually change the color of the magazine cover? It is a minor point, but green has been the official color of the College, and couldn't we at least retain that small amount of institutional heritage?

(2) Enclosed is a picture of our reunion quarters on the fourth floor of North Fayerweather this June. I live in the woods a good part of the summer and can assure you they are far cleaner. We will avoid horrifying you with specifics on just how dirty things were, but suffice it to say that our three children's enthusiasm for applying to the College someday will have to be completely rekindled and my motivation for assuming that task may be somewhat less than it used to be.

Some of us do have traditional views about conserving the College's heritage, and it is most discouraging that the administration seems as though they could care less.

Seattle, Wash.

TO THE EDITOR

Your last two covers, Dartmouth Hall and the hotel verandah in green, were beautiful. Such grace and dignity in an age of slovenly, often dirty creatures everywhere.

Someone has pointed out that animals keep themselves clean and sleek unless diseased.

How glad I was to see the protest letter from Robert Sandoe '46 [July issue], I too, a 1911 wife, have been disturbed at the imperceptive, reactionary views alas, common to no period expressed in letters to the editor. Dartmouth looks badly educated.

My husband, so widely informed and tolerantly understanding, must have acquired it in after-college life I have really felt at times. Yet he and I have loved Dartmouth.

The letters make me sad usually. Now, with Arthur O'Brien '31 in praise of Bancroft Brown, two great letters on one page.

Is perception born in us? Can it be acquired? What jolts us into observing, listening, seeing?

Daytona Beach, Fla.

The Fund

TO THE EDITOR:

At the time I write this (June 24) I do not know how other classes, graduated 45 years or more, are performing with respect to the Alumni Fund, but members of my class have had letters from our Class President and Class Agent within the past couple of weeks, saying that our contributions are lagging and exhorting us to make extra effort. The letters have led to the following thoughts.

I suppose that a plurality of the Class of '27 have spent all or a large part of their working years as employees of large corporations and, as such, were retired on annuities in 1970, give or take a year.

At the time of their retirement, what with their annuities, stock accumulated under options, and other savings, they no doubt felt well positioned to maintain their customary living standard.

And what has happened in the few years since their retirement? Double-digit inflation!

Everyone complains about inflation, of course, but those who are still employed do not fare too badly: blue-collar workers have their unions which negotiate contracts every two or three years that take the depreciated dollar into account; and the salaries of corporation executives are reviewed annually and adjusted appropriately.

It's the people on fixed incomes who have little recourse against the bind.

The consumers price index has risen 25 per cent since 1970, and the outlook is for more to come. Thus, those who retired on annuities around 1970 may well feel that they have to trim all their discretionary outlays, including donations.

Having myself taken early retirement fron-. corporate life and set up as a consultant, I eon- tinue to have earned income, and no doubf others of the class followed a similar course. Bui for reasons of desire or of disability, I may retire: one day, so I think a lot about the inflation! problem.

My corporate alma mater increased annuities some months ago but not by a percentage thai remotely approached the rate of inflation in even the past year alone.

It seems to me that people on fixed incomes should be contemplating some sort of concerted effort to assure that, in the adjustments that are now taking place and will have to continue in order to compensate for the loss of purchasing power wrought by inflation, they do not end up as forgotten men and women.

I confess I have no concrete ideas. Hence I am curious about what our classmates and other alumni around our age have to say on this subject.

Lakeville, Conn.

TO THE EDITOR:

I, and I'm sure many other alumni, would be most interested in reading an article giving a modest analysis of the Alumni Fund. How much has it grown in constant (deflated) dollars over the years, total and per capita? How much of the fund is accounted for by large, small contributions? Have these proportions changed overt the years? Do individual contributions more nearly approximate a constant quantity or a constant proportion (of income) over the years? How many years after graduation can peak giving be expected; has this span changed?

Also, what innovations should be considered? Perhaps enough alumni could be convinced to give now for next year if their contribution would be credited with the extra 10+ per cent earned by a CD over the year.

If we don't know where we've been, how can we know where we are headed?

PIETER C. VAN DEN STEENHOVEN '66 Santa Monica, Calif.

(An article in search of an author. Ed.)

Bust

TO THE EDITOR

Your report of the May 1 "drug bust" indicates that Dartmouth may take disciplinary action against the accused students following their trials. In my view, that would be unwarranted.

Students obviously should not be exempt from the criminal laws because they live on campus. But neither should they be subject to additional penalties because of their student status.

Washington, D.C.

(College regulations on standing and conductexpressly prohibit "the illegal possession, use, ortransfer of any controlled drug as defined in thestatutes of New Hampshire." Further,"whenever ... there is sufficient and creditableinformation ... that a student has been trafficking in controlled drugs ... the student will beasked to resign from the College. A student whochooses not to resign will be temporariiysuspended by the Dean of the College until theCCSC /College Committee on Standing andConductj hears the case for separation." Ed.)

The Symbol (Cont.)

TO THE EDITOR:

In issue after issue I read letters complaining that "our" Indian symbol is being taken from us. Dartmouth, we are told in tones of self-pity, is being pushed around by minorities. All because some groups in the College showed some sensitivity to the feelings of the majority of Native Americans on campus, when someone actually asked them how they felt. Don't those redskins know they exist for the purposes of myth, not reality?

Just because they lived in America for a few millenia and turned it over to the Europeans with its lakes sparkling, its rivers pure from mouth to source, its forests tall and intact, its grasslands deep in topsoil, do they think they have a say in whether we put their image on our playthings? After all, who developed this nation, anyway? Who put a restaurant on Whiteface Mountain, high rises on the seashores, split levels on the flatlands of New Jersey, and asbestos in Lake Superior?

Newark, Del.

TO THE EDITOR

Reference two letters in the June issue: one by Charles W. Milmore '43, the other by Frederick K. Watson '30.

Milmore suggests we adopt a dove as mascot and change the battle cry from "Wah Hoo Wah" to "Coo Coo Dartmouth Coo Coo."

Watson proposes we use the English translation of Wah Hoo Wah or "Snow, Ah Snow!" but adds the caution that we make certain "Snow, Ah Snow!" is not dirty graffitti in some other language.

Since old traditions must go, I favor the dove mascot and "Coo Coo Dartmouth Coo Coo" for our battle cry (whimper) but suggest Watson's cautious approach. Actually, what is a dove saying when it says "Coo Coo"? Would it make a Dartmouth coed blush?

Union, Maine

TO THE EDITOR:

President Kemeny told the June meeting of the Alumni Council that the problem of the Indian symbol is very frustrating to him. So it is to many of us! However, if we divide the "problem" into parts, we might find acceptable solutions for each part.

Dartmouth's historic association with the North American Indian should be no part of the problem. If the factual background were unflattering to the College, we'd have to admit it. But right from the start the record is good....

So far, no problem...until we succumbed to the temptation to "play Indian" ourselves. From our point of view it was great fun. For a hundred years we have run the gauntlet at Wetdown and smoked the pipe of peace at the Old Pine. We've carved Indian-head senior canes and invented Indian-sounding yells and cheers. After World War I our football teams were dubbed the "Indians" and cartooned on sports pages as braves a-scalping. We designed Indian emblems for sweaters, uniforms, cocktail glasses, and too much more. We had songs, and murals, and weather vanes. And, in recent years, a real-life caricature of a redskin on the warpath to entertain the stadium crowd at football games.

Then came the proverbial last straw. A reuning class costumed themselves as Indian braves and squaws and publicly disgraced themselves and mortified their viewers by drunken antics. Ugh!

A move to quash all Indian references at Dartmouth began to gain momentum. The campus leader of the Indian undergraduates was John Olguin, a Native American from New Mexico. In early 1972 he met in President Kemeny's office with a selected group of interested persons and pled in favor of such a ban. His most shocking point was that "Wah Hoo Wah," in the Sioux language, means the act of sodomy....

But here's a funny thing. Nobody challenged the validity of John Olguin's claim until very recently. My friend and classmate Ben Hardman '31, a Sioux himself, and a professor in the field of language and communication, checked Sioux dictionaries and made an interesting discovery. "Wah Hoo Wah," however spelled or pronounced, has no unsavory sexual meaning.

"Wah" means "snow." "Hoo" or "hu" is a general exclamation like the English "ah." So the phrase, most fortuitously, has a pleasant and pertinent connotation to the Dartmouth family: "Snow! Ah! Snow!"

Just to be sure, I checked deeper. Ben was quoting the authoritative dictionaries of Williamson (1902) and Grant (1971). Another fine study is the recent Lakota-English dictionary by the Rev. Eugene Buechel (1970). He covers the Sioux dialects of the Tetons, Dakotas, Yankton and Santee regions. "Wa" still means "snow." "Waho" means "message." "Wahu" means "to peel." "Wawa" means "to cut." "Hu" alone means "leg." "Huhu" is imitative of a coyote call. And "ho" often starts a new thought or paragraph. And what about "sodomy"? It's right there along with other specific perversions. The word "sodomy" in the Sioux language is "iwicahupi." That's a mighty long way from "Wah Hoo Wah," wouldn't you say?

Frankly, I'm delighted to find that the Olguin statement is not borne out by the facts. These dictionaries report both standard usage and vulgarites or slang. There is no proof at all that our unique and famous cheer has a "dirty" meaning. That was a crafty and effective rabbit punch. But I don't buy it.

Well, in summary: 1. Let's be fully aware of and mindfully proud of the "Indian connection" in our history; 2. Let's retire the Indian mascot, the caricatures, the cartoons and all the offensive references; 3. Let's keep our great Dartmouth song about Eleazar Wheelock, the sachem of the You-Know-Whos, and the 500 gallons; 4. Above all, save us our spine-tingling

"Wah Hoo Wah" cheer and commendation. Its primary translation must always be "Dartmouth! Dartmouth! Dartmouth!"

Phoenix, Ariz.

Goodbye Ms. Fisher

TO THE EDITOR:

After three years of working in the Dart- mouth Admissions Office, I depart for a new job as Associate Director of Admissions at Occidental College on the West Coast starting this fall. Making a job change was a difficult one since during my stint here I have grown very fond of Dartmouth and Dartmouth people. I wanted to take a moment to thank you the alumni for helping the Admissions Office and me personally during the transition to coeducation. You have all been terrific and I wish you and Dartmouth continued success.

Assistant Director of Admissions

Hanover, N.H.

(Mr. Holbrook's emphasis on the "move toquash all Indian references" is misplaced, buthis case for authentication is a good one. Ed.)