1917

An anthropology student at Dartmouth, a junior, is making a study of why so many alumni come back to the College and Hanover to live and what the differences may be between our own undergraduate days and the present. What also do alumni like or dislike about the current situation at Dartmouth? For us '17ers many things are missing ― some fortunately, some unhappily.

Today there are no freshman caps, those green beanies with a big white button on them which identified our classmates so clearly. No longer do the freshmen and sophomores indulge in the keg rush in early September with the two classes at opposite ends of the campus striving to be first to the keg in the middle of the campus. As the two groups met at the keg, fists flew, bones cracked, and a little blood spilled until the victors took the keg off to the side of the field and enjoyed the contents while the losers looked on helplessly. Then, too, the hazing of freshmen up to the first fall of snow no longer is allowed to take so much time from the study hours which the freshmen so desperately needed. Good riddance to keg rush and hazing!

Compulsory morning prayers in Rollins Chapel every morning at 8:45 were of little value to the half-awake and half-dressed students.

The most missed activities of the older days are the college hums in the spring. Fraternity sings can never take the place of those gatherings in which the seniors sat on their senior fence, the juniors occupied the steps in front of Dartmouth Hall, and the sophomores and freshmen stood on the north and south sides of the campus. After each group under the guidance of a chosen chorister sang a song, followed by a second round, then all the classes moved toward the center of the campus where they all sang some college songs and ended with the spirited singing of "Men of Dartmouth. This brought the whole student body together at one time, which may have had much to do with the feeling of solidarity and loyalty of the student body.

Although we do not know exactly what attracts Dartmouth graduates to return so often to their old haunts around the Hanover hills, we do realize that such loyalties and spirit do exist and we are proud that we are a part of it and wish heartily to foster it.

Village Apts. #12 Hanover, N.H. 03755