Letters

Military Salutes

Cheers to Capt. David G. Harscheid '56, U.S.N., and 2nd Lt. James E. Randolph '81, U.S.A.R. It is good to learn that R.O.T.C. is back. Would that we had had that opportunity!

Washington, D.C.

[Rowland Wilson, commander, U.S.N.R.(Ret.), refers to the profile on submarinerHarscheid and the mention of LieutenantRandolph's R.O.T.C. commission - in the October issue. Ed.]

I salute you for the October Alumni Album feature on our "Submariner," Capt. David G. Harscheid '56, U.S.N. I profoundly hope that more than a few readers and others sharing our bounty reflect on the idea that "the loss of liberal-arts graduates to the military is a 'tragedy for the country.' " Who will guide those servicemen who are too often on the leading edge of foreign policy? It will be young officers simultaneously trying to cope with their own emotions, sort through too little experience, and control dozens of people with less general capabilities. Today, more than ever before, these young officers must be of tempered stuff.

More important, who in the future will have the perspective of history, geography, economics, political systems, and of very practical experience on the leading edge to make decisions of strategic importance when there's no time for a staff or committee meeting? Tomorrow, more than ever before, these leaders must be of tempered stuff.

The process of tempering oneself as a temporary or career professional military officer can be replete with excitement as well as rigorous self-discipline which forges the abilities and the confidence to meet future challenges in industry, government, or the military services.

A "wah-hoo-wah" for Captain Harscheid, our sea-going leader, mentor, and servant, and a lament for Dartmouth having failed for more than a decade to encourage and support her youngest to carry a ways the torch in military duty for our imperfect, wonderful nation.

Denver, Colo,

The Big Eye

Ardent and vigorous cheers for Shelby Grantham and the ALUMNI MAGAZINE for a truly superb article. The few alumni who may not have been tempted to read "The Big Eye in Arizona" should go back to the September 1981 issue and enjoy every word of it. That enjoyment will be quasar-vast. Thank you, Grantham et al.!

Wilder, Vt.

Tiny Giants

When are the College's official publications going to wise up to what that Review is doing to you? Every time that publication says something nasty about the College, you snap up the bait with a massive response allowing as how nothing, nothing at all, that publication says can be believed. Maybe so. Maybe not. But it is a cinch that the College has given that rascally publication mega bucks' worth of free publicity. Many of us outlander alumni would never have heard of the Review were it not for the College's official statements and publications. The whole affair would appear to be a battle between tiny giants.

Now it is claimed that new administrative policy forbids all departments and College organizations to "in any way, converse with the Review." What a smashing blow! Doesn't anyone up there realize that nothing inspires a reporter to dig harder than to have the Establishment clam up? You can expect a double-barreled barrage from now on, while the Review's circulation climbs.

In all seriousness, a news monopoly in any community is an unwholesome state of affairs. One-newspaper towns seldom produce good journalism, as we here in Washington are beginning to learn.

With malice toward none.

Bethesda, Md.

If Dean Manuel's policy toward the Dartmouth Review is accurately described in its recent "Special Bulletin" and by NationalReview's article (10/16, p. 1183), then that official (whose attitude toward student freedom of speech and association smacks of Tom Brown sSchool Days) should be removed from office. During the writer's Dartmouth years ('32'36), the American League Against War & Fascism and the Junior Communist League operated openly, two faculty merobers were widely known to be C. P. members as well, and (in'36) there was recruitment on campus for the Abraham Lincoln Brigade.

I believed then (and now) that what were called "Comsymps" are at best simple-minded but I was proud that Dartmouth permitted such activities.

In recent years at Dartmouth, however, permissiveness has reigned supreme in regard to the "demands" of those activist minorities and pressure groups which happened to be trendy, while repression has been reserved for students in Indian costume, even informal gatherings held without the proper papers, fraternities, alumni efforts to preserve traditions and to re-balance the Board of Trustees, conservatives in general, and the Dartmouth Review.

I am no longer proud of Dartmouth - but hope that our new president will take Ernest Martin Hopkins as his mentor!

San Francisco, Calif.

Bring on Pilobolus

I never fail to be impressed by the multitude of achievements of Dartmouth alumni, as enumerated in past issues of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE. However, I have recently become aware of a group that deserves much more recognition than it has heretofore received in these pages.

I am speaking of the Pilobolus Dance Theatre, which found its beginning at the College in the early seventies. In the past three years, all since graduation from Dartmouth, I have been treated to two live performances by this group, as well as an appearance on the PBS's Dance in America series, all of which were outstanding. Pilobolus is internationally known for its unique and energetic style, yet in my four years at Dartmouth College, I never heard the group even mentioned, and can recall no mention of it in the ALUMNI MAGAZINE.

I think it is especially noteworthy that Dartmouth alumni are quite successful not only in business, politics, sports, etc., but in the arts as well. Can we look forward to an article about Pilobolus and its achievements in a future issue?

Indianapolis, Inc.

[For the ALUMNI part, there was"Pilobolus: Twelve legs, six imaginations, onesoul" in the February 1977 issue. Pilobolus alsocelebrated its Dartmouth roots with performances here in 1977 and 1980. Ed.]

Authors' Queries

To briefly introduce myself: I'm an art historian (and Dartmouth '59) engaged in a research project which involves the activities of the Mexican muralists Orozco, Rivera, and Siqueiros in the United States during'the 1930s and their influence on North American artists.

I would very much like to hear from those who were students at Dartmouth when Orozco painted (1932-34) and have pertinent information re the murals. Primarily, I'm interested in photographs of Orozco at work on the murals and recollections of those who watchec' Orozco work, or may have spoken with, or perhaps even assisted, him. What I'm hoping is that beyond sources such as Baker Library and Orozco's archives in Mexico there is more information somewhere out there regarding the murals.

My address is 2920 Low Road, Middleton, Wisconsin 53562.

Middleton, Wise,

I would like to compile a list of Dartmouth alumni who are licensed Amateur Radio Operators with a view to preparing an article about Dartmouth on the amateur bands and WIET in particular.

Please send me your name, call-sign, address, operating preferences, and anything of interest about yourself together with items you may know about WIET in Wilder Hall. As soon as an up-to-date list materializes, I will send a copy thereof to each individual writing me. Then it should be possible to arrange a weekend schedule.

My mailing address is: 1416 Rutland Drive, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23454.

Virginia Beach, Va.

The Caption

The caption for the photograph of Steve Tate '44 in the October issue says that he is behind a tax revolt that's "brewing up down in Connecticut."

That construction gets word-watchers' danders up down in Upper Connecticut Valley circles.

Keep off the fair work.

West Lebanon, N.H.

The Cover

I am writing you this letter in connection with the DARTMOUTH ALUMNI MAGAZINE, which I receive and which I used to enjoy reading very much. With this letter I am enclosing the cover of the October issue.

For several years, when I get the ALUMNI MAGAZINE I get very upset because these front covers that are on these issues are the worst looking things I have ever seen. There is nothing about Dartmouth as I remember it shown on these covers, and I cannot understand why you do not have covers showing Baker Library, Dartmouth Row, the gymnasium, the Medical School, or something to remind one of Hanover and Dartmouth College.

I don't suppose my complaint will do very much to change your policy of terrible-looking front covers on the magazine, but I just wanted you to know that many of our oldest students such as myself think someone should do something to make the ALUMNI MAGAZINE remind people of Dartmouth.

Runison, N.J.