1935

Before getting into the Question of the Month, a couple of quickies covering advisories received late, in response to earlier questions: Bob Neill, on the subject of the ideal qualifications for a college president, suggests a genuine "great communicator" (preferably with a Republican orientation) able to foresee problems sufficiently in advance to permit in-depth discussion with faculty, student body, staff and alumni before setting policies and goals.

Earl Arthurs, on campus problems, suggests that the new president find a way to persuade the faculty to concentrate on teaching, and the student body to debate issues "in a more orderly fashion." He would also like to see the steady advance of our class notes toward the front of the magazine slowed to a "more encouraging" pace.

The Question of the Month relates to the quote from the report of the College's Ad Hoc Committee on Residential Life: "The image of Dartmouth as an institution that focuses on partying as much as learning is an unfortunate one and it is certainly ainaccurate one ... It is an image often associated with heavy alcohol use and with crude and immature behavior that some mistakenly think of as masculine. Those who revel in this institutional image and attempt to enhance it have no real understanding of the nature of this college and probably have no real business being here."

Most of us could identify one or more characters who, in our time, might be said to have "reveled in this image." In the light of what some of them have since become, do you think the College or the class, would have gained or lost by their termination?

Doug Ley, just back from a trip with the Wallaces to Switzerland and Germany, where Doug's wife and John "spent two weeks training German speaking bartenders to put gin in martinis—with little success," doesn't remember anybody drinking very much, but was reminded of an old codger in Maine who, when asked at what age ones loses the urge, said "I'm 85 and can't say I've lost the urge. Course it takes me a bit longer, but I don't begrudge the time none."

Dick Kenney, after due consideration, decided not to touch the question "with a ten-foot pole." That might be translated as a response in itself, I suppose.

Rudy Pacht, in a long and interesting letter, doesn't recall a classmate who might be said to have "reveled in this image," but goes on to mention a couple of instances where classmates who didn't show much potential in college went on to some very remarkable accomplishments.

Another classmate, who asks to remain anonymous, is a little more specific in naming some "hell-raisers" of his college experience who have since become pillars of both class and College in their fund-raising, enrollment, and other significant activities. "The College and the class would have lost some really good alumni had they been separated for some essentially harmless, but illconsidered and admittedly graceless actions, committed when they were just beginning to feel their oats."

Fred Haley sends a copy of a letter of his to Norm McCulloch, urging establishment of a Trustee committee to study the creation of graduate courses and doctorates in the field of the humanities, making for "a far better tone on the campus and consequent long-term improvement in Dartmouth's image and academic distinction." He suggests that "Dartmouth could very much use a few more sober-sided young people on campus."

Finally, Hunt Harrison takes a dim view of ad hoc committees in general, on the grounds that they have an unhealthy predilection for social engineering designed to promote their own ideals of acceptable behavior and thinking. It is his view that one of the objectives of the proponents of diversity is undermining of the fraternity system by associating undesirable behavior with what they see as an elitist element on campus concentrated in the fraternities. "We shouldn't eliminate inspiring traditional symbols or traditional social systems for which there is no acceptable substitute (and which the majority support and cherish)." Trenchant comment, no?

Hunt, incidentally, speaks with justifiable pride of son David, Dartmouth '60, now owner-publisher of Canoe magazine; granddaughter Julie Brenning, who is ranked in the top three nationally for triathlon performance (6th last year in the Hawaii Iron Man); and grandson David Jr. who applied unsuccessfully for admission to Dartmouth, then went on to graduate from the University of Maine as captain of its ski team. Sound familiar, ex-interviewers?

That's it for this issue. Peace and love to you all.

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