1947

63 Maple Avenue Keene, NH 03431

Imagine! I'm having to start writing "1987." Our January-February column is soon due, and it's Halloween October here in New Hampshire. I can remember writing exam papers, and reports using the number 1947, and at that time I still had two years to go at Dartmouth. What's in a number? Nothing much maybe, but it is magical to see them go by, and realize some significance to the various numbers as they fly past.

When I was practicing the writing of '47, did I ever dream of writing '87? Would the moon have men standing and driving on its surface? Would my Carnival date be mulching our flower garden and putting bulbs to sleep for the winter? Would Halloween see us threatened in our own doorway by a grinning ghost in white, a 24-inch high bat, and two redhaired, blue-eyed devils in pajamas having padded feet?

Did I have any idea of the usefulness of the hours of struggle with chemistry questions, the maze of physics experiments, the reading of the "Miller's Tale," the "Squire's Tale," and my attempts to report on Canadian Prime Minister Lester Pearson's Great Issues Seminar? How would these influence my learning ability? Surely there was much more before me to explore than I was able to partake of. That made certain choices up to me and I indeed did have an eye to future usefulness, toward a livelihood, as well as to certain pleasures involved in taking particular courses. One of the lingering pleasures comes in still knowing many behind-the-scenes moves and thinking of generals, as they fought through the American Revolution and the Civil War, in our Battle-a-Day Course in History 65, with Lou Stillwell, a truly teaching professor. He and Al Foley were already legends, and I still marvel how they made me feel good to be learning and knowing the humanity behind the history.

I have the sure feeling that in our day we appreciated our opportunity to be at Dartmouth. We'd had a few years on our own in service and knew we'd be entirely on our own to make good and had better find a way to do it.

In my case, I had a weakness, and it was math. My high school got me by math one and two, but for Math 11, calculus, it was a high, high hurdle. On my way down the drain, I was told to look up old Professor Morgan, former head of Clarke School. He took me over, and I was in a tutoring class of six or eight. I was able to learn and move along, finally, into Louis Silverman's class. Now there was the epitomy of teachers. He made me love math, and I was glad also to serve as his head waiter at one of his faith's Hanukkah celebrations. Louis Silverman was always a young mind, always enthused, always encouraging. The Dartmouth College Department of Mathematics Silverman, Robin Robinson, and others was superlative.

This all is not just idle reminiscing. I enjoy these thoughts because I am reminded that Dartmouth has an important place in forming my past and in helping me put together my present. I think Dartmouth can have a lot to do with my future even now. I also like to think we can have something to do with Dartmouth s future.

I happen to believe that, after my few years in Hanover as a student, now that I am an alumnus, the College owes me nothing. They are free to change, drop courses, add studies, drop Indian symbols, add girls, in their quest to serve today's students, in line with Dartmouth educational goals and standards.

In the book, Hopkins of Dartmouth; by Charles Widmayer (also of Dartmouth), a strong distinction is made, by President Hopkins. During his early years as president, he used to state that Dartmouth's mission was to "train society's future leaders." This generality was distinctly changed, through his experience, to become the "training of future members of the world to think broadly."

I think it's fair for a college administration to envision Dartmouth's mission, for its own time, but I also feel there must be a strong continuity of purpose and of definition of what Dartmouth is all about ultimately.

We, as a College, are on the brink of a possible new era, as President David McLaughlin plans to go on to other pursuits. He is leaving behind accomplishments, even as did President Nichols, when he passed on the reigns to President Hopkins. I see our class, 1947, as of the age group that rendered so much support to President Hopkins as he began, grew, and thrived in one of the grandest periods of ascendency any college has known. Our class has a great opportunity to pull together with the Dartmouth community to lead an era of ascendency once again.

We're coming together June 15-18, for our 40th class reunion in Hanover. We'll be enjoying and partaking of the College fully, and maybe the College will enjoy us, too.

I'm planning a two-part series on the book Hopkins of Dartmouth; which I am now reading. There is much of value to review as the College moves into the next years, and our place in its future is important. I can recommend the reading to you; it is well-done.

See you at reunion in June.