Letters to the Editor
The Ugliest Building
TO THE EDITOR:
Those interested in architectural preservation are surely enjoying John Scotford's fascinating article on the vicissitudes of Moor-Chandler Hall. (See "Unquestionably the ugliest building in Hanover," Dartmouth Alumni Magazine, issue of April 1974, pg. 32.) There must have been contemporary praise for the 1871 modifications, which would have made amusing reading. In our own day we have, from the February Architectural Record, on the Murdough Center: .. it stands as the embodiment of hopes for even greater cooperation in future." "A reasonably restrained hand was required to site the building sensitively among its smallscale Georgian neighbors," with "the windowless classroom level [sunk] into the hillside . . . only three levels are visible from the Tuck Mall." Judging from the Record's photos, I would hazard the opinion that there are many in Hanover who wish the entire structure were underground!
Arnold, Md.
TO THE EDITOR:
While John Scotford's "Unquestionably the ugliest building in Hanover" was most interesting, there was no mention of the architect for the Indian Charity School, built in 1837.
Perhaps the architect - or builder - is unknown, but the similarity of the structure with Reed Hall would suggest the possibility of Ammi B. Young, the local builder who later rose to prominence as the Supervising Architect of the United States Treasury. Young also designed the Observatory and later countless courthouses, customs houses and post offices across the United States.
The same issue also includes a photograph of the new Vail Building, but again, no architect's name is given.
Princeton, N. J.
(Ammi Young might have designed the original Moor's schoolhouse, but the College records shed no light on the matter. The architect of the Vail Medical Sciences Building is James Clapp of the Boston firm of Shepley, Bulfinch, Richardson, and Abbott. Ed.)
"Once in Love with Amy"
TO THE EDITOR:
I thoroughly enjoyed Mary Bishop Ross's article, "Poseurs, Impostors, and Scalawags," in the April issue of the Alumni Magazine. If she ever needs to blow it up to 50-minute lecture length, she may wish to mention the sizable group of impostors created by the splendid magazine whose staff she graces, aided and abetted by the Alumni Fund and perhaps the College itself. I mean the former students who, for good, bad, and hard-to-classify reasons, failed to obtain degrees from Dartmouth. Having been tracked down by a vigilant Alumni Association determined not to let even the smallest minnow escape its net, they have been awarded degrees by implication.
I have been a dues-paying member of that group for more than 40 years. For the first 25 or so, I was careful in my communication with Dartmouth to identify myself as "ex-'31" on the ground that I had done only my first three years of undergraduate work there. However, Alumni Magazine, Alumni Fund, Class Association, etc. - eager to avoid invidious distinctions and thereby evoke less-than-maximum contributions - operate on the theory that "once in love with Amy, always in love with Amy." They have decreed that there shall be no such animal as "ex-'31." And by dropping the "ex," they appear to the uninitiated to be awarding a degree.
No one should be surprised if a grateful recipient of the award soon persuades himself that he really earned his degree (Mrs Ross's harmless, "faulty-recollection" category of impostors) or if an equally grateful recipient, who well remembers having been bounced from the College for passing bad checks, uses his degree-by-implication to help obtain fresh credit or win acceptance of another bad check.
(formerly ex-'31)
Washington, D.C.
(Like many colleges, Dartmouth - quite apart from the Alumni Fund office or the Alumni Association - has always regarded men (and now women) who have matriculated as alumni upon graduation of their class. Ed.)
The Symbol (cont.)
TO THE EDITOR:
When alumni funds seek their annual donations, it becomes a time when alumni reflect and evaluate the situation at their respective alma maters. It is also a time when emotions can run strong. Unfortunately, some emotions can obscure the true essence of the real need and sincerity of the appeal for funds.
In my own case, I undergo this stimulating experience twice a year because I attended two institutions, Dartmouth and West Point - incidentally the same two attended by Sylvanus Thayer. My West Point class ring, with academy crest (seal) and West Point class crest has a Dartmouth-green stone, similar to the green stone in Eddie Chamberlain's Dartmouth class ring.
I understand that Dartmouth, like many other private schools, faces serious and perplexing financial problems. Alumni are, I believe generally aware of the situation and also that the College administration is creatively developing ways and means to solve such problems. One way, of course, has been to increase the goal of the Alumni Fund. As a loyal but non-graduate Dartmouth alumnus* I will react to this call for help by increasing my donation and I do hope other alumni will pitch in and follow suit.
A more emotional and basic problem still remains. Dartmouth has a college seal. but its Indian symbol is fading away and it soon will have no mascot.
Were I an American Indian, I would rev an Indian being the College mascot. The Indian as the symbol of Dartmouth, I believe. is a different matter and should be treated so because the Indian is rooted in the very origins of the College itself and not in the whim of the student body at any particular period time.
At West Point, the Military Academy has its crest (seal), a symbol or two (the Cadets and the Black Knights) and a mascot (the Army mule). I propose that Dartmouth's symbol and mascot, like West Point's, be two different entities. Let Dartmouth's symbol properly continue to be the American Indian and hopefully there is an American Indian student who would loyally support his or her College by being head cheerleader or honorary head cheerleader - dressed or not in the garb of his or her own tribe.
As for a new mascot, realistically, from what I have read about what has transpired in Hanover this past decade, the logical choice is a dove or two. The dove is consistent with the "relevancy" fad which is prevalent among students today and also consistent with the expulsion of ROTC, the student strike against U. S. forces making a foray against Communist "sanctuary" bases in Cambodia, the introduction of co-education on campus, the greeting of of Chinese Communist emissaries in Hanover with Baker's bells tolling "The East is Red," etc., etc. . . .
As for a particular species of dove, yes, I can propose one. It is the Bleeding-heart Ground Dove or Pigeon (Gallicolumba Luzonica) native to the Southwest Pacific but "long a favorite in European and American aviaries where they breed readily," according to Delacour and Mayr, authors and experts on birds of the Pacific region. The color of this dove is basically metallic green with a pinkish wash, but it sports other colors, too (a concession to Dartmouth's many transfer students). Rather than a raptor like an eagle, hawk or the recently proposed owl, the dove would be more in keeping with the times in Hanover. When the times change, so could the mascot be changed.
The adoption of the dove, moreover, should delight the likes of Prof. John Hurd '21, who still delights and revels in the opposite polarity of Dartmouth and West Point. Its adoption probably would give the sportswriters a field day and could contribute to a new cheer: Coo Coo Dartmouth Coo Coo, or words to that effect - preferably in an American Indian tongue rather than English.
Recently I heard that in 1983 Dartmouth and West Point will resume their football rivalry. I do hope to attend that game and to see Dartmouth represented by its old Indian symbol as well as by a new mascot. May the best team win.
West Point, June '43
Pensacola, Fla
TO THE EDITOR:
The recent letter of Benedict E. Hardman '31, giving "snow, ah snow" as the best - and only - meaning of "Wah Hoo Wah" in the Simon language, brings several suggestions to mind One of these seems to have partialar merit namely that the traditional Dartmouth cheer be resurrected, but with the substitution of the translation, "snow, ah snow", for the more time-honored "Wah Hoo Wah"
Such an altered version could have several worthwhile effects. Among these, it could give us back a tie to our traditional past, unless, of course, "snow, ah snow" might have an unfortunate meaning in some other language. The new version might also remind us to be extremely careful in the future in making changes in our old traditons without a most thorough investigation of both the premises for making a change and the resulting consequences.
Marathon, Fla.
TO THE EDITOR
At the request of the co-chairmen of the annual 1918 Spring Pow-Wow held in Fort Pierce Fla., March 14th, I am forwarding the following expression and resolution, passed I am told with only one dissenting voice:
"At the regular annual spring Pow-Wow of the Class of 1918 Dartmouth College held this day, March 14th, attended by a representative group of classmates, the question of the Indian Symbol at the College and possible restoration to its rightful place in the Dartmouth family was discussed, and the following resolution passed
'Be it resolved that a representative group of approximately twenty members of 1918 acting on their individual convictions, deplore the "shelving" of the Indian Symbol, and urge the College leaders to at once institute a comprehensive vote or referendum on the question whether or not the Indian should be restored to its time-honored place with athletic teams and all current activity; and this vote embrace alumni, undergraduates, faculty and administratators alike.
'Be it resolved further that the results of said vote shall serve as a convincing guidepost for those responsible for setting such policies as this one; one tradition that has become part of Darmouth over the years.'
Pow-Wow Co-chairmen"
It should be noted that the above action does not in any way purport to speak, even unofficially, for the whole Class of 1918 (which has never been polled by the College or Class officers) but rather the "individual convictions" of classmates, wives and widows, most of whom have loyally and financially supported the College well over half a century.
In fulfilling the above request, I may add that in personal contact with classmates, wives and widows from coast to coast over the past two and a half years, and especially during and after our Fifty-fifth Reunion, which I chaired last June, an overwhelming percentage have spoken or written of their extreme displeasure or disgust over the arbitrary elimination of the Indian Symbol and also the Wah Hoo Wah yell, so uniquely and appropriately "Dartmouth more than 75 years.
I cannot help but observe that unfortunate edict by the College is moving at an increasing pace to be a most divisive influence among our more than 35.000 alumni, plus wives and widows - and could be so easily corrected by a fairly presented referendum - or, better yet, an authorized directive from the College administration.
Hanover, N.H.
