Commencement

It didn't snow at the College's 212th commencement, but to the throng hurrying east to the shelter of Thompson Arena it felt like a near thing. That's where the ceremonies were held, a decision made sometime between 8:00 and 9:00 m., and, although the precipitation that threatened didn't come, it was a wise decision. The thermometer was hunkered down at about 48 degrees at cap-and-gown time.

Thompson was a fitting venue, too, for the air had the suggestion of ice hockey about it. Parents and friends of the degree winners streamed briskly across South Park Street, bundled up in whatever warm clothes they had brought with them. Smoyer Lounge of Thompson, a few minutes before game — no, graduation — time was awash with caps, gowns, hoods asthe honorary-degree winners, trustees, andi rher panjandrums who sit on the commencement platform began to queue up: =r :he academic procession. Lesser lightsass mbled in various locker rooms, equipment rooms, and other subterraneanT mpson reaches. The baccalaureatesnered in Leverone Field House. Theh.;ies of doughnuts and coffee were available to the panjandrums; where the ci :ghnuts were was a well-kept statesecret.

Moments before the processional started. a dog of somewhat golden-retrieverc. sauntered down the main floor, making this commencement official. RalphManuel '5B, in his final turn as dean of theCollege, seconded the motion when he announced that the exercises "in the 212 thvear of the College" would begin.

As the faculty made its way down the west slope of the arena, a burst of applause w.is accorded Professor of Mathematics John G. Kemeny, brightly plumaged indeed in the orange of Princeton. He was to Uct another and even more enthusiastic accolade when President McLaughlin made reference to him in the introduction of his valedictory to the class, the graduates, in particular, beating their palms lustily.

The thing that -distinguished these graduates from others of recent years, according to veteran commencement watchers, was that they all wore caps-and-gowns no funky substitutes, no shirt-and-tie protests.

During the awarding of the bachelor of arts the true centerpiece of the occasion it was observed, in what admittedly is not a scientific datum, that retiring Dean Manuel got (and gave) 17 busses in the distributing of the sheepskins, while President McLaughlin (who started a new tradition, or revived an antique one, by taking a hand in handing the diplomas) appeared to be buss-less. And either the :ean was more seasoned (fast hands?) or he n.ad fewer customers, for he ended up about 50 degree recipients ahead of the president.

There was bussing among the new raduates, and high-fives were, if not rampant, at least prevalent. Champagne corks soared ceiling ward toward the hockey scoreboard that said "Home" (everyone felt there), "Visitors" (there were none), and Penalty" (non-existent).

I asked myself, 11What part of Dartmouth do I considermost valuable? What part will I remember the longestand hold most dearly?" Not William James' explana-tion of mysticism or the Jordan curve theorem, notafternoon tea at Sanborn or even the football team's 24-10 victory over Harvard. Most important will be theclose relationships formed at Dartmouth. . . . Valedictorian William F. Polik '82