ALUMNI COUNCIL REPORT

The pasc year has been a challenging and satisfying one for the Alumni Council. It was a year full of accomplishments, improved communications with alumni, faculty, and trustees.

The issue that attracted the most attention among alumni during the past year was the editorial independence of the DARTMOUTH ALUMNI MAGAZINE. It is a subject that attracted a lot of press coverage when a new and imaginative Charter was developed by an Ad Hoc Committee of the Council and approved by the College Trustees and Class Secretaries. The new Charter goes a long way to insuring editorial independence through the establishment of an Editorial Board made up of 11 members. The Editorial Board will be composed of alumni, trustee, and administrative representatives and will meet with the MAGAZINE'S Editor at least yearly.

The nomination of Alumni Trustees is a primary Council responsibility. The 16 member Board includes seven Alumni Trustees. One vacancy occurred this past year. The Council renominated Norman E. "Sandy" McCulloch Jr. '50 for a second five-year term. Sandy is Chairman of Microfibres Corporation and most recently was the driving force behind the justcompleted Campaign for Dartmouth.

In addition to the Alumni Trustee nomination, the Council has assisted with two personnel searches. John Walters '62 served on the search committee for the new Director of Athletics, and Dick Leggat '48 served on the search committee for the new editor of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE.

In an effort to make certain that Dartmouth's alumni affairs programs are geared to the changing mix and demands of Dartmouth alumni, an ad hoc committee was established to evaluate current alumni relations programs and the changes that are needed. It is encouraging to report that this committee has been combined with a committee of President McLaughlin's which is studying the reorganization of the Alumni Affairs Office. It is most important that if we are to continue as the preeminent alumni body in the country, we must not only see the present with objects stored from the past, but also search for new ways to reach alumni.

Along these lines, two separate but related subjects were discussed and endorsed by the Council. The Communications Committee studied alumni needs in the area of video pro- gramming as well as the College's available fa- cilities. The need for additional, improved vid- eo and other electronic equipment was recognized. Separately, the Committee on Alumni Continuing Education called for a strengthened program of continuing education for alumni, both in the field and in Hanover. One of the major thrusts of this program could be videotape.

In recent years much has been said and writ- ten about the recently adopted dormitory clus- ter system and the physical conditions of the fraternity houses. The Alumni Council has ap- proved a resolution that calls for the fraternity houses to meet the same living standards as the dormitories now do. The intent of this effort is to elevate the quality of student life outside the classroom to that level that exists within. It is the feeling of the Alumni Council that a Dartmouth education is a total experience and the two should not be separated.

Dartmouth alumni are vitally important to the College. During the past year, we have worked hard at strengthening the important relationships between the College and its alumni. This was the first year of operating under the increased membership with class representatives. The year also saw full reports of Council meetings written up in the ALUMNI MAGAZINE and open forum on controversial subjects participated in by non-Council members. I assure you that the Alumni Council is playing an active role in the affairs of the College.

I am proud of what the Council accom- plished this year and feel it is well positioned to accomplish what needs to be done in the years ahead. It has been a privilege to serve you and I am most grateful to those Councilors who labored long and well for Dartmouth, and to Mike McGean '49, Council Secretary, for his invaluable assistance and council.