Report from the Council

President, Alumni Council

The 156th Meeting of the Dartmouth Alumni Council was held June 2-4 in Hanover and was enthusiastically endorsed by virtually all in attendance.

The theme was "The Image of Dartmouth." My keynote address Thursday evening described the various image problems that Dartmouth endures, particularly in the national press and with a large segment of alumni, and particularly as a result of the damaging efforts of The DartmouthReview. I challenged the Councilors in attendance to learn the "real truths" of Dartmouth and go out and spread its positive image.

Thursday evening concluded with a student life committee panel presentation on "The Roles and Functions of Student Journalism within the Dartmouth Community." The enlightening and provocative panel featured representatives of The Dartmouth,Common Sense, and The Dartmouth Review.

Our Friday morning session featured a Tuck School presentation by Dean Colin C. Blaydon, followed by a special panel considering "The College, the Alumni, and the National Media." This also explored the problems that Dartmouth has with the national media and with alumni communications.

The Friday afternoon session began with retiring Board of Trustees Chairman Norman "Sandy" McCullogh's moving valedictory to the Alumni Council. This was followed by an informative faculty panel presented by the academic affairs committee on the "Undergraduate Educational Plan."

At Friday evening's dinner the "Alumni Award Wall" in Alumni Hall was dedicated, a gift from the class of 1953. This important addition lists all 308 Alumni Award winners to date. An Alumni Award was presented to Ben Jones '44, and President Freedman concluded the evening with some informal remarks on his first year at Dartmouth.

During the Saturday morning program three Tucker Foundation interns told of their rewarding leave-term activities in Calcutta, Zaire, and Jersey City; a Young Alumni Distinguished Service Award was established (to be awarded to alumni 15 years or less out of school); and our '88 undergraduate representatives to the Council reflected on their Dartmouth experiences as they prepared to graduate.

Faculty representative Jim Wright delivered a considered and detailed criticism on the tactics of The Dartmouth Review and received a standing ovation. Trustee Bob Danzinger '56 reported on Trustee matters of interest and President Freedman answered questions for 45 minutes.

During the course of the weekend, the 15 outstanding committees of the Council met and several made floor reports of interest. Finally, the Council endorsed the nominating committee's selection of the following to lead the Council next year: Russell "Ron" Boss '61, president; Murry J. Bowden '71, president-elect; and Nancy Kepes Jeton '76, chairman of the nominating committee. My congratulations to them and to all newlyelected committee chairs, as well as to all newly elected members of the Council.

Minutes of the meeting, including my keynote remarks and Jim Wright's speech in full, can be obtained by writing the Alumni Affairs Office, 304 Blunt Alumni Center, Hanover, NH 03755. I encourage anyone interested to do so.

With this column, I complete my year as Alumni Council president. I greatly enjoyed meeting so many of you along the club circuit, as well as corresponding with many of you directly. It has been a very satisfying honor to serve in this position.

I believe the Council is in great shape and has the momentum to fulfill its purposes at an increasing rate in the future. I know that it will do so under the leadership of Ron Boss next year and Murry Bowden the following year.

I have one final plea to you all: Read TheBulletin and subscribe to "Dartmouth Today." Both are published by the Alumni Affairs Office, and in contrast to some of the national media (including The Wall StreetJournal), they provide an accurate view of what goes on at the College.

The College is sound academically and financially. President Freedman is accomplishing much. Please get all the facts before forming conclusions. Then spread the word to other alumni and the world at large. It is the right way to combat a small but vocal minority.

I'll see you around