1913

Campus Morality at Dartmouth

Readers of The Dartmouth who follow campus news regularly have noted more frequent reports of events touching on campus morality, such as ill-conceived student pranks, thievery, drunkenness, questionable sexual conduct, etc.

To some alumni it seems that the morals of Dartmouth students have been on the decline for the past several years which is a cause for real concern. Other alumni have some doubt that the situation is any worse than it was 65 years ago. Incidents of immoral behavior were prevalent on campus then and, for obvious reasons, are more prevalent today.

1. In the meantime enrollment at the College has risen from about 1300 to 4000 — three times greater. It is reasonable to assume that incidents of immorality have increased in proportion, so there is more to talk about.

2. Because of coeducation, the women who are involved today are Dartmouth students instead of women in neighboring towns.

3. During the past decade there has been a significant change in societal thinking in this country, which now permits much more open discussion, especially of sexual matters, than in the past — not only at Dartmouth but at many other colleges and universities. In other words, the subject has been taken "out of the closet."

The situation is still cause for concern, but probably not more so than it always has been.

If we can judge from published reports of alumni and alumnae activities, the great majority of graduates feel that Dartmouth has been and continues to be one of the top institutions of higher learning in the United States and that the College is still worthy of the support they are giving it.

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