Report from the Council

The 155th meeting of the Alumni Council takes place December 3-5 in Hanover with the theme: "The Challenges of the Nineties." During this month's program, as well as that of the spring, we will be exploring some of the many challenges that Dartmouth will face during the coming decade.

The current meeting will feature a distinguished alumni panel on "The Value of a Dartmouth Liberal Arts Education," a faculty panel on "Intellectual Life at Dartmouth," and a mixed-constituency (including students) panel on "Women's Issues and the Future."

In addition, the Council expects to nominate an alumni Trustee to fill the position of retiring chairman Norman "Sandy" McCulloch and to make its recommendation to the president regarding the Alma Mater. Watch for the results of these important decisions in an upcoming issue of the Bulletin.

A greatly anticipated feature of this month's meeting will be two separate appearances by President Freedman. He will make his first appearance before the Council in an address on Friday evening, December 4, and will follow with a question-andanswer period on Saturday afternoon. For many councilors, this will be the first opportunity to meet our new president.

Continuing with our year-long detailing of the work of the various Council committees, herewith are synopses of two committees dealing with students and younger alumni, as prepared by their chairwomen: COMMITTEE ON STUDENT LIFE

This committee is charged with reporting on all aspects of undergraduate life to the Council and serves as the conduit between students, or student organizations, and the full Council. In addition, it provides committee members and other alumni repre- sentatives with the opportunity to remain in close touch with students and their needs. Steve Severson '74, whose term as committee chairman expired in June, did a tremendous job of facilitating communication between the Dartmouth alumni and undergraduates. By arranging panel discussions, workshops, and other interactive sessions, the committee provided everyone on the Council with the opportunity to listen to students and maintain constructive dialogue between the two parties. The current committee, chaired by Cheryl Bascomb '82, will be meeting for the first time this month to discuss current campus issues and appropriate actions available to the committee. On the agenda will be further discussion of the feasibility of a student award and suggestions for future committee projects. In addition to the chairwoman the current members include: William Breed '52 Norman 01sen '56 Preston Kelsey '58 Leon Wilson '59 Albert Cook '62 William Yellowtail '69 Walter Evans '75 Michael R. Hollis '75 Nicholas Aponte '76 Amy Berg '78 Sabrina King '80 Patricia Berry '81 Emily Bakemeier '82 James Collins '84 William Keating '88 Karen Avenoso '88 James Kershaw '89 Kathryn Beierle '89 Susan Wright, Secretary COMMITTEE ON YOUNG ALUMNI

In 1984 the Alumni Council's executive committee recognized a need to focus more attention on the growing number of young Dartmouth alumni. A new committee was created and charged with designing programs and fostering communications that will help fully integrate younger alumni into the College's alumni network.

Who are young alumni and why do they need a special committee? Alumni Affairs staff pinpointed graduates in the first 15 years post-graduation, citing the problems and opportunities among that age group. Their mobility makes it difficult for the College to stay in touch with them, communicate effectively, and tie them into class and club activities. The pace of graduate school, early career building, and young family life leaves limited free time for alumni activities. On the positive side, the energy and enthusiasm of this group is a resource which the alumni body would like to tap more deeply. The committee works to foster the two-way relationship between the College and its sons and daughters as they begin the alumni phase of their long Dartmouth careers.

The committee works closely with young Alumni Affairs staff members to identify issues and to generate program ideas. A survey of young alumni conducted in the fall of 1985 has provided guidance on the group's interests and needs. Workshops have been held at club and class officers weekends to heighten awareness of young alumni issues and provide technical assistance for generating more participation. Recently clubs were surveyed on their level of young alumni participation and programming.

This year the committee is focusing on three issues. First, encouraging more representation of young alumni will be the theme of a position paper which will be sent to the new ad hoc committee studying the structure of the alumni organization. Second, widening the scope of the Alumni Awards program—currently restricted to alumni in the post-25th reunion classes— will be studied. Third, a publication promoting young alumni participation in activities and leadership will be sent to all clubs. Members of the Young Alumni Committee: Nancy Kepes Jeton '76, Chair Andrew DuBoff '59 Derek Knudsen '65 Parker Beverage '68 Joseph Grasso '68 E. Doane Grinnell '69 William Yellowtail '69 Gary Brooks '70 Thomas Jackson '71, Vice Chair John Burke '72 Michael Hollis '75 Celia Chen '78, Vice Chair Geoffrey Edelson '80 Patricia Berry '81 James Collins '84 James Wright Lynne Gaudet '81, Secretary

Finally, in the discussion of the executive committee in the October issue the names of two at-large members were omitted. For the record, these valuable and hard-working members are: Steve Hull '45 and Alan Nadel '64.

Until the next issue I wish you all a happy holiday season!

President, Alumni Council