Letters to the Editor

Replies

TO THE EDITOR:

In response to Ms. Marks-Peckham's letter in the September issue:

1. Since the letter written by Murry Bowden and me never appeared in the ALUMNI MAGAZINE, and those not in the Class of '71 have had no opportunity to read it in its entirety, I would hope that our attempts at satire will not be judged solely by reference to Ms. Marks-Peckham's selected quotes.

2. Ms. Marks-Peckham's statement "... Haven't five years in the outside world smoothed out any rough edges?" was the nicest compliment I've had in months.

3. I'm sorry Ms. Marks-Peckham had a headache when she read our letter.

4. Although she never personally confronted me with her objections to our letter (as M.C. at the class dinner, I was not invisible), I hope Ms. Marks-Peckham did attend and enjoy the reunion, and that whatever personal grudge she may have against Murry and me will not cause her to withdraw her financial and other support from the College.

Austin, Texas

TO THE EDITOR:

Good golly, Mr. Heckman, that was some letter you wrote [September issue]. With its writing, you added a new dimension to pomposity.

While I was president of the public television and radio stations in Dallas, Texas, in the course of seeking funds, I encountered the Heckman syndrome. In spite of the station's generally excellent performance, certain people would withhold support because of one person or program they didn't like. Thank goodness they were small in number.

Yes, it is too bad not all of Dartmouth's people are superior. Some may be mediocre or even incompetent. Worst of all, some are pretentious. But __ are you ready, Mr. Heckman? __ that's life.

Finally, until you learn a bit more about it, why don't you tell me how much you'd contribute to the College if it met your Olympian standards; and I'll just send in a check in that amount.

Dallas, Texas

(Carey Heckman '76 discussed his dilemma insupporting Dartmouth in light of an alleged "incompetent" in the administration. Ed.)

TO THE EDITOR:

I write to question the selection process involving book reviewers. Certainly with an alumni body of over 37,000 there is little reason to select an arrogant young radical to review a book with a beautifully conservative cast of characters. Small wonder he couldn't follow the plot.

Although I am sorry that there were any errors in the Alumni Directory, I am forced to admit that we have had a total of 20 called to our attention, and there are probably more about which we have yet to hear. Eleven of those we heard about were incorrect graduate school designations, and the others involved such things as occupation code errors, spelling, and some problems with the list of honorary degree holders. The error for which I am most apologetic is one that simply could not happen__ and yet it did!

The name of Andrew Joseph Newman III '74, which was on the computer, just where it should have been, was mysteriously missing from the Directory. This error was magnified by the fact that Mr. Newman III is the loyal alumnus son of another loyal alumnus, Andrew J. Newman, Jr. '39, and his alumni file carries the note that young Mr. Newman graduated summa cum laude with highest distinction in history. Through the publication of this letter we humbly beg the forgiveness of Andrew Joseph Newman III '74 __ and also his hard working father A. J. Jr., who undoubtedly worked many long hours to make A. J. Ill's Dartmouth experience possible.

Interested alumni will find our strategically (we hope) placed advertisement elsewhere in this issue, indicating that there are still copies of this historic document available.

(Our reviewer, D. M. Shribman '76, gentlychided the director of alumni records in theSeptember issue. She got less than she deserved Ed.)

Tributes

TO THE EDITOR:

As one of hundreds of Dartmouth men who had the privilege of studying under Professor Stearns Morse, I pay tribute to this fine teacher, this modest man and good friend.

Along with other great faculty members of his generation, Stearns Morse made us aware that the quest for knowledge and understanding could be a glamorous and life-long adventure.

Harrisburg, Pa.

(An obituary for Stearns Morse appeared in theOctober issue. Ed.)

TO THE EDITOR:

I would like to pay tribute to two members of the Dartmouth College administration who retired this summer.

Adrian Bouchard has been a professional colleague, a rock-climbing companion, and a good friend. If I were ever in a tough spot ___ ship-wrecked, lost in a blizzard, marooned on a desert island - I would hope that Adrian was along. If he were a member of the group, I am sure his common-sense, experience, and coolness would get us through.

Over the 20 years I have known and worked with Dick Olmsted, he has been, as business manager of the College and more recently as director of planning, in a position of great power. I have never known him to abuse that power. One measure of the character of a man is the kind of men he hires as his assistants. Dick brought Jack Skewes, Dick Plummer, Gordon DeWitt, and Bob Barnum onto his staff. They have all been extremely effective in their jobs, have all earned steady promotions, and have all been a credit to Dick Olmsted.

The Symbol (cont.)

TO THE EDITOR:

Thanks are due Edwin Brooks '36 for initiating inquiry (September issue) into the omission of "Eleazar Wheelock" at reunion. The Gingerbread Man has melted away from most libraries, Uncle Remus is getting scarcer, and scarcer and now the Glee Club banishes "Eleazar Wheelock"! That is the saddest news that has come out of Hanover. Like "Lord Jeffrey Amherst" this is one of the truly great college songs. Alas! What do you suppose historians will say about us in the year 3000? When are we going to get over our squeamishness Alumni, students, faculty, friends: protest vigorously!

Concord, Mass.

TO THE EDITOR

It came as a great shock in the June issue. No more Dartmouth Indians; no more Wah-Hoo-Wahs; no more Indian stickers; even no more Indians on the 1926 "Smoke Signals"; and now, no more Indian head on senior canes.

I have nothing against the head of Eleazar Wheelock, but I do think that we have gone too far. I suppose the next to go will be Occom Pond.

Strangely enough, I had an interesting conversation with a grand man of the Class of 1908 just a week before I received the Magazine. We agreed that Dartmouth traditions were going down the drain at the expense of modern ethics. He mentioned the cane, and I assured him, at least, we had that left. I did not realize how wrong I could be.

My class had a wonderful reunion in the month of June. We enjoyed the Glee Club, with the feminine addition. We were glad to hear that "Men of Dartmouth" had survived. I was hoping for a rendition of "Eleazar Wheelock," but I understand that that is taboo now.

For many years, I was a non-singing member of the University Glee Club of New York. Dartmouth was one of the top three in membership. Doc Greener '27 was one of the leading singers in the group. It was always the highlight of the college song section of the concert when Doc would jab his arm into the air to start that "Oh!" which leads off "Eleazar Wheelock was a very pious man."

I should think that the few Indians who are being educated at Dartmouth would be proud to have their race glorified in song.

Greenwich, N.Y.

TO THE EDITOR:

I was surprised at the half-truths that were used in the September issue in response to the alumni who questioned 1) the absence of the Indian-head on senior canes, and, 2) the absence of "Eleazar Wheelock" from the Glee Club repertoire. In truth, the officials handling the senior canes for the class of' 76 refused to supply any information enabling a senior to obtain a cane with the traditional carving; the few Indian-head canes that were present at the '76 graduation were the result of the efforts of a few students who managed to obtain the canes from the actual woodcarver himself, outside approval from the College.

As for the song, "Eleazar Wheelock," it is hardly the Glee Club members themselves, as you indicated, [who] keep the song from the repertoire. During my three years as a Glee Club member (my freshman year there weren't enough women to join the club), a great number of clubbers were extremely unhappy that the college song couldn't be sung due to "orders from the administration."

In all fairness, I think Mr. Loring '38 and Mr. Brooks '36 deserved more accurate answers to their questions.

Barrington, Ill.

(Half-truths? We said senior canes, old and new,are evident in Hanover. They are. In fact, thereis one __ old version __ in this office. Glee ClubDirector Paul Zeller told us that the Glee Clubmade the decision not to sing "EleazarWheelock." Ed.)

(Susan Marks-Peckham was critical of a reunionpublicity letter written by Joseph Dalyand Murry Bowden. Ed.)