1960

156 Overleigh Road Bernardsville, NJ 07924

Homecoming Weekend, October 17-19, attracted at least 35 classmates to Hanover. Some came to visit their children (52 sons and daughters are undergraduates). Others came for the annual class executive committee meeting at Moose Mountain Lodge. And still others must have come for the football game with Harvard. By the middle of the third quarter, BillGundy was wishing he was windsurfing; Roger Hanlon was out on his perennial search for an "ideal" 18th century farmhouse with his wife, Ann (they had seen the Navy game and knew what was coming); Seth Strickland was sorry he hadn't gone clothes shopping with Kathy; while Nancy and I were thinking about our next diving trip. Dartmouth's football team has a long way to go before reaching the caliber of the Blackman or Crouthamel eras.

Speaking of Jake, he was featured in the New Hampshire game program, which was the only good thing about that game. The article covered his days as a player, coach, and his current position as athletic director at Syracuse University. Jake was quoted about his concern for athletes in today's big time arena. "A lot of people get chances for an education through athletics. But one of my biggest concerns is that big-sport athletes think they're going to be spoon-fed. And the colleges spoon-feed them." (I suggest you reread Jake's thoughful essay in Musings.)

Two things of particular merit were discussed at the Saturday morning executive committee meeting. As usual, MartyLower led a successful campaign for the Alumni Fund efforts. The class had 70 percent participation and exceeded our dollar goal. Congrats and thanks, Marty.

In recognition of many graying temples and several balding pates, the committee decided to look into the feasibility of holding a class 50th birthday party sometime in the spring of 1988, perhaps early May. The likely location would be New York City. Preliminary thoughts focused on a weekend centered around a Saturday nights bash with several opportunities for culture, theater, and fun. Alex Von Summer is looking into chartering a large yacht for a cruise around Manhattan. Allen Stowe and Spence Morgan agreed to assist Mickey Strauss in chairing this outrageous event. (It should be noted that Mickey was appointed in absentia, which is a good reason to attend executive committee meetings). You'll hear a lot more about our communal birthday party, but start thinking about attending now.

The committee discussed the general situation at the College, not from the standpoint of specific issues or events, but rather we recognized the polarity which exists even among the 15 of those present. In fact, Allen Stowe, class representative on the Alumni Committee, pointed out that our class was the youngest to cast a majority vote for the insurgent slate of Trustees last spring. While the majority was small, the results indicate the frustrations felt by so many. If that Trustee election is a fair barometer of alumni opinion, then the feelings are definitely chronological. Virtually all classes of our vintage and older cast a majority of votes for the insurgent slate. The other class of the sixties were ambivilent. However, the classes from 1970 to 1985, including the graduate schools, were overwhelmingly supportive of the Trustees' slate of candidates.

Our conclusion was that the root issue was the College's system of governance. Many voices are crying in the wilderness, but no one seems to be listening. Perhaps a board of 14 Trustees is too small to be representative. One member is the president, another the governor of New Hampshire. Six are nominated by the incumbent board while the other six are nominated by the Alumni Council, a body which is generally felt to be a rubber stamp for the Trustees. From all reports, the Trustees are aware that the selection process is in question and have recently formed a representative committee to study the issue. Our class executive committee is actively exploring how we can offer constructive input to this group as well as the other governing bodies.

Dick Foley flew east, ostensibly for the meeting, but his next stop was New York State, where he and Urban Hirschey were going duck hunting. Rick Lyman and Jack Patterson led the cheering section on Saturday. Dave and Martha Vaules joined the Moose Mountain group while visiting their undergrad son, number three at Dartmouth. Allan and Marilyn Glick,Dick and Arlene Davidson, and Dud andJulie Smith joined in the sharing of thoughts and experiences.