Convocation '86

Statesman, industrial leader, and humanitarian Sol M. Linowitz delivered the Convocation address at the ceremony arking the opening of the College's 217th year. Linowitz praised last year's student activism against apartheid in South Africa. At the same time, he reminded them that poverty and discrimination still exist in the United

States. Linowitz called for an "all-out national commitment to root out our own desert places of squalor and prejudice." Linowitz, the one-time chairman of Xerox Corp., has served under five presidents. He also was co-negotiator of the Panama Canal treaty and served as President Carter's special ambassador to the Middle East. He received an honorary doctorate of laws from Dartmouth in 1980.

Sharing the podium with Linowitz were President McLaughlin and Student Assembly President Wendy Becker '87. Becker urged her peers to "take what we learn and make Dartmouth the most challenging liberal arts institution it can be."

McLaughlin, alluding to the past year, told students, "Education can only take place in a civilized setting." He reminded everyone that "civil discourse needs to be civil."

McLaughlin also endorsed changing the lyrics of the College's alma mater, "Men of Dartmouth." "If I was deciding the question by myself, 1 would change the verse to reflect the nature of our community, but in matters of this type, a collegial approach is the only acceptable way to decide the issue." The Alumni Council and the Student Assembly are working to resolve the issue.

Virginia Close, a senior reference librarian at Baker Library and Lewis Bressett, a Hanover civic leader, received honorary master's degrees at the ceremony. "The Trustees are extremely pleased to honor two individuals who have contributed so much to the Dartmouth community and who have not previously received this expression of gratitude they so richly deserve," said McLaughlin. Noting that Close has been with the library for 41 years McLaughlin said, "A reference librarian of your calibre is more to be treasured within a community of scholars than are the contents of a so-called 'Treasure Room.' " Bressett was awarded the degree because, as McLaughlin said, "You have been such an enlightened citizen of Hanover and such a good friend and neighbor to Dartmouth." Bresset, the former owner of Lou's Restaurant, has served on numerous local boards as well as a trustee of Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital. Bresset is an honorary member of the class of 1927.

Convocconvocation speaker Sol Linowitz

Librarian Virginia Close, center, received an honorary master's degree at Convocation. At left is Professor Marilyn Reeve and at right is Professor William Slesnick.Businessman Louis Bresset also received an honorary master's degree.