Letters to the Editor

Two Constants

TO THE EDITOR:

I have read the July number of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE with interest, as always, for its reports on the Commencement activities. I was especially impressed by two items which dealt with the new developments of recent years and with the controversies which they have aroused in the Dartmouth family.

The letter-to-the-editor, "Change," by Robert M. Sandoe '46 seems to me to admirably express the necessity, the inevitability of change. Likewise the address by Richard W. Morin to his reuning class of 1924 bears witness to two indispensible attitudes: "The Constancy of Change; the Constancy of Devotion." How could Dartmouth be today what it is if its administion had lacked either or its administration had lacked either one of these constants! Those of us who attended Dartmouth in the early years of this century were drawn to it in no small degree by the great and rapid changes which were instituted by President Tucker, and its steadily growing reputation could not have been attained without the changes wrought by later administrations. ...

Dunedin, Fla.

The Symbol (cont.)

TO THE EDITOR:

It was disappointing to read in August that the Alumni Council, with some faculty, acted indecisively on the symbol. Professor Daniell opined that the Indian symbol was racial and lent itself easily to caricature. There is a great deal of confusion about this term caricature. The misappropriation of the symbol in rare cases should not invalidate its use as intended. Moreover, it is extremely doubtful that the symbol has racial meaning to most alumni and students. It never did until the early seventies and it need not now. Contemporary man cat rarely get away to decent detachment, but he will have to do so.

Even more disappointing, in fact quite incredible for its timidity, was the action of the original committee two years ago. Why did it honor so sedulously our Indian brethren on the campus? No minority whether red, black or white, could see things objectively in those turbulent days and certainly not in true perspective But we adopted their view as if it were wisdom.

But do not fear, alumni. The Indian symbol will survive the test of scrutiny, indifference or repudiation. It is too deeply rooted in the history and folklore of the College. History is sure more stubborn, and poetry far wiser than academia. The symbol can no more be expunge than the seal of the Old Man of the Mountains the buckeye of Ohio or the catamount on certain. seals of Vermont.

The actions of committees will be like the passing of a wind. Far more permanent will be our memories of "her soft September sunsets and "The drifting beauty where the twilight streams." Indians, sharpen your senses, once so acute, enjoy those spells immortalized Franklin McDuffee and Homer Whitford and help us all recover our honored symbol!

Arlington, Mass.

All Naked

TO THE EDITOR:

A few weeks ago I saw, in the Sunday NewYork Times, an advertisement of Dartmouth College seeking a "chairperson."

I can understand that since the College went bi-sexual this curious word has replaced the "chairman" of former eras, although myself, despite having ever been a champion of women's rights, have never considered it necessary to call a "chairman," male or female, a "chairperson."

I wonder how far overboard the College community has gone in its desire to flaunt its equal rights for women? When I attend my 50th class reunion next year must I speak to young administrators and professors about the "freshperson" class? Will my old sailor classmate, Walter Vom Lehn, be ostracized if he fails to call a "man-of-war" a "war-person?" Are the lads (and lasses) on the Hanover plain now singing "Persons of Dartmouth give a rouse. ... "?

And if women (God bless them!) really are equal to men, why was it necessary to build a gym and pool [None were.] for them? If it is really so, what better and more unforgettable propaganda for the proponents of equal rights could we have than a publicity photo showing, say, three women and three men, all naked, lined up before a row of urinals, before proceeding to the pool? Just think of it!

Perhaps it would be helpful if you should publish a small glossary of the more common terms engendered by women's lib that a visitor to his alma mater is expected to use while on campus?

Eatontown, N.J.

Call to Alms

TO THE EDITOR:

With the alumni constantly being encouraged (if that's a strong enough word) to contribute to the College in ever-increasing amounts, it came as a rather nasty surprise to suddenly be told from here in, if you alumni want to borrow books from the College Library, it will cost you $50 a year.

Libraries being such an integral part of continuing as well as graduate education, one would think that the least a college could do for its alumni is allow them full and free library privileges. But maybe giving is just a one-way street after all.

Anyway, let's hope that short-term, short sighted decisions of this sort won't result in the College winding up at the short end of the financial stick.

In this case, for example, nothing could be simpler than for an alumnus to pay for the new library charge by reducing the size of his next Alumni Fund contribution. The only trouble is that alumni gifts are tax deductible and the library fee isn't. So, whatever his tax bracket, the alumnus would have to reduce his gift by more than the amount of the library fee if he wanted to come out even.

Then, of course, there's always the outside chance - if the alumnus felt sufficiently put upon and rejected - that he wouldn't stop there. On the next call to alms, he might even politely tell his Class Agent where he could go.

And it wouldn't be to the library.

Thetford Hill, Vt.