1945

Last month I commented on my experiences as a member of an interviewing team for Dartmouth applicants, and then went on to speculate retrospectively on our generation's reasons for having chosen Dartmouth, with the implicit thought that the fulfillment today's students would find there might just possibly be as rich and meaningful as ours has proved to be. The subsequent news of campus chaos and unrest jostled that nostalgic euphoric memory, but nor for long. I think that most of us know that members of the news media tend to exaggerate and distort the facts if they feel that they have a "hot" story. Combine that with a long, hard winter and rising expectations of those who feel frustrated that things are not happening fast enough, and you have a distorted image of Dartmouth that does not really resemble our alma mater. Pat and I have been up there each fall for the Class Executive Committee Weekend, and in the spring for Class Officers Weekend. We've eaten in Thayer to be with the students, and we've talked with undergraduates whom I had interviewed when they had applied to Dartmouth. We've come away with the overwhelming impression that the great majority of them are beautiful, well behaved, and sensitive.

George Barr, who recently returned to Dartmouth as director of campaign information for The Campaign for Dartmouth, wrote to me last week on his impressions of Dartmouth after having been in the business world for 25 years. He said that Dartmouth is a helluva lot more than a fond memory or a pleasant image. "It is still the widest conglomeration of people, things, place, energies, and dedication ... all miraculously joined together for the purpose of providing the best education that can be offered. Dartmouth may not do everything right (by everyone's standards), but, believe me. it certainly does most things right. It is a real place, doing a difficult and necessary job. Sometimes it's hard to please 50,000 people." Right on, by George! Why don't the rest of you neutralize the nasty distortion by the news media by coming to the next fall meeting and mini-reunion of our Class; the weekend of October 27 and 28. Mingle with the students and even go to the Cornell game!

Nick Sandoe has been named director of community relations at Pilgrim Place, Claremont, Calif. He has served as director of development since 1974 and will continue to be responsible for all Pilgrim Place fund raising, according to G. Worth George, executive director. Nick has served in a variety of fund raising and public relations positions in higher education, including 18 years at Dartmouth, before coming to Pilgrim Place. His wife Mary director of Get About transportation for elderly and handicapped in the valley.

Our revered and beloved class prexy. Frank M. Hutchins, is now a distinguished (not to be confused with bald) Eagle. Frank, an Eagle Scout since 1939, received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award recently as the Otetiana Council, Boy Scouts of America, honored 120 others who attained Eagle rank. He joins a list of Distinguished Eagle Scouts that includes another (former) president - Gerald Ford - and astronaut Neil Armstrong.

A number of awards were presented at the annual New England hockey writers awards banquet, held at Fantasia's Restaurant in Cambridge. Mass. this past March. One of the recipients, Wildcat Coach Charlie Holt, was named New England Coach Of The Year.

Finally, don't forget to send in your ten- dollar 35th reunion reservation (to be held June 1980) to Steve Hull, Box 1945, Westboro, Mass. 01581. (Did anyone notice the incorrect address that I used in the March issue of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE? Who would want to send anything to Harvard Street, anyway?)

483 Franklin St. Reading, Mass. 01867