1932
The much-anticipated decision by the U. S. Supreme Court in the matter of DeFunis v. Odegaard was anti-climactic, in that the 5-to-4 majority maintained that since plaintiff DeFunis, the student who brought the action to win admission to the University of Washington Law School, would graduate in June no matter what the Court might do, there was no longer a live controversy requiring a decision. The minority sharply attacked the majority for sidestepping the "reverse discrimination" question at issue: whether professional schools can constitutionally give preference in admissions to members of racial minorities at the expense of white applicants. Some will agree the ruling was a cop-out. Some may or may not go along with The New York Times editorial position, that the majority's concession that they were probably only postponing a decision on the merits of the issue, and Justice Douglas's dissent finding that the admission practices at issue were un-constitutional because they were based on race rather than on deprived background, can together be read as a hint to the university to reexamine its present policies. "It will be infinitely better for the universities' future independence," said the Times, "to seek solutions that are at once non-discriminatory and humane than to rely on rigid administrative procedures that invite court-ordered management of the academic community."
Another classmate recently in the news is Tom Curtis. Our sterling leader announced that he will attempt to wrest office from U.S. Senator Thoman Eagleton of Missouri in this fall's elections. Six years ago these two battled it out down to the wire. You are free to speculate how history might have been different had the narrow winning majority gone for Tom rather than his opponent.
Our erstwhile leader likewise gets a top billing, for on May 7 Howdy Pierpont married Dorothy Galvin of New York City. The happy couple are sojourning in Spain for a month, and then will be 1at home in Darien, Conn., and West Fairlee, Vt.
Whip Walser's first serious effort at doing some collecting for the Dartmouth College Museum, in the course of his and Adeline's recent globe-girdling trip, won appreciation from Curator of Anthropology Alfred Whiting, who wrote Whip in art: "The Balinese batik specimens have arrived and are utterly delightful . . . Now, thanks to you, we can present this aspect of Indonesian culture with grace and some measure of adequacy. The samples showing the process and the hand woven piece are the kind of thing that rarely comes to us. When good pieces come to the collections with information and field data, we really rejoice . . ."
Dr. Nat Danoff is still practicing in Boston - "am quite busy and intend to do so as long as I can. I at one time considered retiring but gave up the thought; leisure is not for man, for I am happier in my work."
Joe Robinson continues to head Laurel Homes in Fern Park, Fla., and recently-developed Laurel Hills, fishes on both coasts as much as possible. Joe was operated on successfully at Johns Hopkins a year ago. The doctors, his wife reports, said they had seen only youngsters recover so quickly.
Cal Keirstead sent the sad news that his wife Magdalene died suddenly last summer, suffering a heart attack as she came off the golf course.
Al Zingeller reports in, "still very active in operating my business, Automation Papers Co. Moving our operation to Fairfield, N.J., where we will have five times current space." JohnDavidson still heading up the Coast Envelope Co. in San Francisco and Los Angeles. JildoCappio still working at the Department of Labor in Washington, says: "Trying to return to basic principles: that government is really run by middle level civil servants." Dr. Fritz Browning is working full time in admissions at Bay Pines (Fla.) Veterans Hospital. Dr. Karl Andresen, wife Elizabeth wrote, was recovering from an aortoiliac by-pass. Bob and MarionBuckley had a great time on last year's Boston alumni junket to London.
As of 29 April, 144 members of the Class had contributed or pledged $24,148.99 to the Alumni Fund, up 19 contributors and $2,005.99 from the comparable date a year ago. John Dickey said it on one occasion - what the Fund is about is Dartmouth Undying.
Have a good summer!
Secretary, Orchard Hill Road Westport, Conn. 06880
Class Agent. 919 Monroe St., Evanston, Ill. 60202
