Overseer for Breakfast

Sarah Seidman, frustrated musician, former president of the board of trustees of the Grand Rapids Art Museum, teacher at the National Gallery of Art, was in town in June to confer with the Board of Overseers of the Hopkins Center, of which she is the new chairman. We had Sunday morning breakfast with her in the Hanover Inn coffee shop. Mrs. Seidman, who prefers to be called Sally, looked fresh and relaxed the morning after she had met with the Board of Overseers and students from the Music Department, observed weekend activity at the Hop, visited the North Country players in nearby Lebanon, and gone to the symphony.

We chatted mostly about Mrs. Seidman - her family and "Potomac Fever" and her interest in the arts - and about the progress and problems of the Hopkins Center. Her husband, William Seidman '43, former adviser to President Ford, and her eldest son, Tom Seidman '71, who majored in film and drama, generated her interest in the Hopkins Center. "I've always been enthusiastic about the Hop," she said. She majored in art as an undergraduate at the University of Michigan and danced in amateur theater, but, she said, she would really like to learn how to play the piano. "I really like music. I'm a frustrated musician" - she laughed - "until I learn to play the piano.... About the time we were ready to move to Washington, I was determined to learn piano. I'm so bad - I can't even read music! When we made the physical act of moving, I didn't have time. But I'm determined to learn."

Mrs. Seidman said she and the 11 other members of the Board of Overseers had discussed the activities of the Hopkins Center. "We want to have the overseers involved intimately - not just present them with facts, with figures," she said.

"The Hop has some problems, such as the fine arts collection - there's not enough space to display and store it. With dance, now that there are girls here, for men it's not 'sissy' to dance. So we have a growing dance program. But we need space. I guess they rehearse in Webster Hall. We talked about the management of the Hop today. We want to have the right mix of people, the right mix of events.

"Are we there to do things for the students, or are we there to do things for the community? This is one of the big problems we discuss a lot. Is the Hop there for students? I guess it is. But without the support of the community, we couldn't do some things. We are able to keep some professors here who wouldn't remain if there weren't any cultural activities in the wilderness. It's a problem we spend a lot of time discussing."

About the Concord String Quartet, inresidence musicians at the Hopkins Center the past four years: "The guys are terrific. They are enthusiastic about being here. They seem to give freely to the students. I guess they know the value of their being here. I'm very strong on the artists-in-residence program at any college."

William Dent '13 recalled student days at a far different Dartmouth in an address at theBlack Alumni conference. Behind him is Keith Jackson '70, association president.

To the consternation of some Hanover merchants, sidewalk peddlers are doing a brisktrade along Main Street: hot dogs from Puppy Love (above), grilled hamburgers andwok-cooked vegetables, Syrian sandwiches, baked goods, belts, books, and the odd litterof real live puppies. Selectmen issued a ban against the hawkers and the court an injunctionagainst its enforcement. Through all the political hassle, customers remain happy.