The Westering Spirit

A lady friend in San Francisco recently wrote to tell us that "alumni from all over" are meeting in her city on the weekend of May 17-19. The reason, she says, is a regional conference called "Dartmouth in San Francisco," the "first major alumni event held there in 15 years," adding, somewhat mysteriously, "but it won't be anything like the last one."

The conference combines a serious exploration of "Critical Choices for America" with something our friend styles as " . . . pure, unadulterated fun."

In the serious part, prognoses for the American way of life are being offered by several representatives of the College: a philosopher cum computer specialist (President Kemeny); an environmentalist (Gordon J. F. Mac Donald, Henry R. Luce Third Century Professor of Environmental Studies and a member of President Nixon's Advisory Commission on Energy); a humanist whose academic interests span medieval literature, contemporary urban studies and the art of the film (Alan T. Gaylord, Professor of English); and an authority on medical economics and medical education (Dr. James C. Strickler '50, Dean of the Dartmouth Medical School).

These gentlemen are setting forth their views in speeches and panel sessions on Friday and Saturday. Joining them at various times are a veteran editor of Life magazine and editor of The Best in Life (David E. Scherman '36) and a news anchorman on San Francisco's educational television station, KQED (Melvin S. Wax '40).

In the unadulterated fun part, there is one of the most eclectic parties we can imagine: a "festive wine gala, replete with blue-grass music, in the ballroom of the 1886 vintage Queen Anne-style Haasilienthal Mansion." Dinner on Saturday features a nine-course Chinatown feast, with Cantonese and Mandarin dishes. After the ninth course, President Kemeny is giving a speech on the state of the College.

According to our friend, a Sunday cruise and champagne brunch on San Francisco Bay completes the "extravaganza."

Reservations and information may be obtained from Derek T. Knudsen '65, Suite 2424, One California St., San Francisco, Calif. 94111. Hannan, Knudsen and friends have put together a logotype that looks like this: