1971

TENTH REUNION

A record-setting 190 classmates arrived in Hanover for our 10th reunion and brought 149 wives and dates and 50 children. The total attendance of 389 made ours the largest 10th reunion at the College in 15 years. The group filled Smith, Woodward, Ripley, and Topliff Halls and overflowed into Massachusetts Row, Wheeler Hall, and the Hanover Inn. The record for the greatest actual number of miles traveled to attend the reunion went to Tim and Leslie Barron, who arrived from Midinao, Philippines, while Jeff Kosak, living in Hanover, set the record for the shortest distance traveled.

Early arrivals began Thursday morning, June 18. Registration officially opened on Friday. On Friday afternoon in 105 Dartmouth Hall, together with the classes of 1970 and 1972, the class hosted a panel discussion entitled "Living the American Dream in Our Time." The program examined the growing gulf between the American Dream in the sixties and seventies and the realities of the eighties. Selected readings included excerpts from the book Great Expectations: America and the Baby Boom Generation by Landon Y. Jones. Panelists included F'rofessor David Roberts (History) and Professor Alan Gaylord (English).

Later in the afternoon, the film Return of theSecaucus Seven, co-produced by Bill Aydelott '72 and featuring, among others, Mark Arnott '72 and Maggie Cousineau-Arndt '7OS, was shown in Spaulding Auditorium.

Friday evening began with a reception in the class tent, followed by an alumni parade to Thompson Arena, an alumni dinner at Thompson, and an informal visit in the president's garden with outgoing president John G. Kemeny and incoming president David T. McLaughlin '54. A concert by the Dartmouth Glee Club followed, featuring a choral selection from George and Ira Gershwin's Porgy and Bess and a medley of College favorites. Following the concert, tent activities continued into the early hours of the morning.

On Saturday morning, the day began with Continental breakfast served at the class tent. Later in the morning, outgoing class president Jeff McElnea chaired our class meeting and the election of class officers for the next five years. The new officers include: Dave Clem (president), John Shapleigh (head agent) and Dave Aylward (newsletter editor). Continuing as class treasurer is Mark Totman and as class secretary, myself. Other executive committee members include Nelson Armstrong, JimBays, Murry Bowden, John Colangelo,Charlie Collier, Bob Cordy, Jeff McElnea,Jerry O'Brien, Tom Price, Craig Robelen, Curt Welling, and Steve Zrike.

Later in the day, rainy weather failed to dampen spirits at the class picnic (hosted jointly with the class of 1972) at Bonnie Oaks in Fairlee, Vt. Activities included an excellent bluegrass band and a cookout served beneath the comfortable cover of a large tent. Despite the fact that other planned activities, including swimming, golf, sailing, tennis, and volleyball, had been rained out, the outing was marked by record attendance.

Following a reception at the Top of the Hop, our class dinner was held in Alumni Hall. The featured speaker was William R. Kenan Professor of French and Italian John Rassias, who offered an animated presentation on the subject of the Dartmouth foreign language program and the role of foreign language and foreign studies programs in international affairs. Mac Barrett did an outstanding job as master of ceremonies. Outgoing newsletter editor Steve Zrike announced the results of the First Annual Class of '7l Trivia Contest and presented awards to John Colangelo and Bill Saumsiegle, who tied for first place. Steve also reported on the results of the class questionnaire, to which 150 responses had been received.

Among the respondents, more than 90 per cent had taken some graduate courses, 35 per cent had attended medical school, and 35 per cent had gone to law school. Average individual income was between $35,000 and $40,000; the family income of the majority of respondents was over $55,000. Seventy-five per cent of those responding voted for George McGovern in 1972; a majority voted for Gerald Ford in 1976 and Ronald Reagan in 1980. A majority of the respondents said that they were infrequent or occasional users of marijuana ten years ago and' seldom or never use the drug today.

Following remarks by outgoing president Jeff McElnea, class president Dave Clem addressed the gathering, and outgoing class head agent Craig Robelen reported on the progress of the Alumni Fund. Craig noted that a new Alumni Fund record had been set by the class each year since graduation. Over the past nine years, Alumni Fund giving by the class has exceeded $150,000. In fraternity giving, Phi Delt ranked first (Pete Ruegger, fraternity head agent), Bones Gate second (Jeff McElnea, fraternity head agent) and Kappa Sig third (Jon Osgood, fraternity head agent). More than 40 classmates served as class agents. Serving as regional reunion giving co-chairs were David Clem (Northeast), Gene Elrod (South), JohnShapleigh (Midwest), Jerry O'Brien (New York City), and Hank Ricklefls (West). At the conclusion, Craig and Jeff presented our class's Alumni Fund contribution of $100,071 to Addison L. Winship II '42, vice president, development and alumni affairs. The gift represented the single largest contribution by a lOth-reunion class since that of the class of 1964, which set the prior record of $64,250 seven years ago.

Other highlights of the evening included a drawing for a "free reunion weekend" won by Gary Ransom. Tent activities, a rock band, "The Night Watchmen" at Alpha Delta, and Sunday brunch followed. For the little ones, the College sponsored a full junior program, including a special junior Olympics, puppet show, films, pantomime, swimming, a magic show, games, and other activities. It is scarcely an exaggeration to say that a good time was had by all.

Finally, this footnote: By late July, the class had raised $107,843 in contributions to the Alumni Fund, more than four times last year's total, which represented 152 per cent of our original goal of $71,000. The number of donors surpassed 500, representing participation by more than 60 per cent of the class. And the final returns were not yet in. All in all, a fitting end for a fabulous decade.

1971 was reminded how some things change and how others stay the same at the tenth.

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