Report From The Alumni Council's Ad Hoc Committee To Study The Alma Mater

The Alumni Council has responded to a request by President McLaughlin to study the appropriateness of "Men of Dartmouth" as an alma mater for contemporary and future Dartmouth alumni.

At our November meeting, an ad hoc committee was established consisting of twelve alumni, four undergraduates and one faculty member. We have met three times and will meet again this month and in May.

To date, we have concentrated on information gathering from alumni as well as informing alumni about the issue. We have pursued the following means: 1. An article in the February issue of The Bulletin which solicited opinions on the alma mater from alumni. Over 100 responses have been received.

2. An open forum was held February 21 in Hanover for interested alumni who were in town for the Alumni Winter Festival. The interchange of ideas was instructive to both the Committee members and the alumni attending.

3. An article about our Committee written by the Editor is printed elsewhere in this issue of the Alumni Magazine (see article written by Jay Heinrichs on page 32).

4. Visitations to local alumni clubs by Committee members are in progress to inform alumni about the Committee and gather input.

5. The distribution of information and the gathering of input has been encouraged through the class newsletters.

6. A full-page announcement in the May issue of the Alumni Magazine will explain the purpose of our Committee and the process we have planned for arriving at a recommendation. Please watch for it!

The Student Assembly's Alma Mater Committee expected to make a recommendation to the President by the end of spring term or shortly thereafter. However, our Committee has set no deadline to arrive at its recommendation and will require ratification of the full Alumni Council body before submitting a recommendation to the President and Board of Trustees.

Comment is welcome and may be addressed c/o Lynn Gaudet, Assistant Director of Alumni Affairs, Dartmouth College, 304 Alumni Center, Hanover, NH 03755 or you may contact your Alumni Council Representative. Thank you.

Chairman