LETTERS

Screwup

The person who wrote (and the one who edited) "all of the classes that graduated before 1953 voted for Washburn" ("The College," Summer) were probably the only two people in Hanover who didn't eagerly devour the results of the recent Trustee election the day they appeared.

Actually, in eight classes before 1953-1922,1926,1927, and 1931-35, the majority vote was for Danziger.

I am resisting the temptation of a more pungent comment.

Hanover, New Hampshire

Our thanks to Robert E. Ackerberg '52and Jonathan Strong '56 for pointingout the error as well. In his letter,Mr. Ackerberg also wondered how wegot the notion that the classes before 1953are "old." "Opinionated? Yes. Old? Nonsense 7"

Mr. Scherman's facts are correct; weapologize for the goof We have since revised the way we report news of the College (see "Dr. WheelocksJournal"). Andfrom now on, when we mention classes ofa certain age, we'll be thinking youthfulthoughts. Ed.

Millimeter's Margin

Far be it from me to suggest our Alumni Magazine is biased, but the graphical presentation on page 4 of the Summer edition of the votes garnered for Danziger and Washburn indicates that Washburn received about 56 percent as many votes as Danziger did (14.5 mm to 26 mm). However, of course, the true outcome was much closer as Washburn's total was over 70 percent of Danziger's. In a world where much of our information is acquired in graphical rather than numerical form, publishers should not play games with scales on graphs as was done in that article.

Bernardsville, New Jersey

Beantown Challenge

Who says that Dartmouth alumni only care about cocktail parties and football games? As the community services chairperson of the Hub Club in Boston, I am writing to let you know that at least in Beantown, Big Green alums are taking action to address the needs of the community.

As you read this, we are about to perform our first volunteer project, a day at Boston's Pine Street Inn Shelter for the Homeless. Alums in advertising, consulting, and government work will be doing everything from painting to sorting donated clothes. It may be only one day, but anything we can do to make the lives of Boston's homeless a little more bearable is a good beginning.

On behalf of the Hub Club, I hereby challenge alumni clubs across the country to join our efforts to extend the definition of that indestructable Dartmouth community spirit to include support of those less fortunate. The homeless, people with AIDS, abused children, illiterate adults—opportunities to help are everywhere. Let's work together to make Dartmouth's image one of compassion and concern, rather than just the ivory-tower party animal.

Boston, Massachusetts

Radio Static

When WFRD, the College FM radio station, was in its infancy, we used to broadcast about eight hours of classical music each day. Some of the records skipped, many were scratched, and most of the foreign names were mispronounced by the staff. I still wince when I recall a youthful voice solemnly announcing "Chickowski's First Symphony."

All the same, classical music on WFRD was a marvelous thing. The announcers received an excellent education in music appreciation, and the remarkably diverse audience got a generous daily helping of good music. There was room during the broadcast day for jazz and folk music, and we once managed a single scornful reply from Aaron Copland during a news conference he held in Burlington. The station was never dull, and on the whole it compared favorably with the professional outfits that I've worked for since.

Now comes "News Flash," a newsletter for alums of WDCR/WFRD which reports that WFRD broadcasts only rock music. The station even calls itself "99 Rock."

I can't agree with General Manager Seth Rosenblatt '89, who writes that "the station has matured considerably over the past few years." Young Rosenblatt affirms that "an organization like this (DCR/FRD) is one which sets this College apart from all the others."

It used to, Seth. It doesn't any more.

San Francisco, California

Classical music is still played on Dartmouth radio, but only on the AM station WDCR, and only twice a week. The hostis Math Professor Emeritus Robin Robinson,a tradition in his own right. (He beganteaching at Dartmouth in 1928 and hasbeen broadcasting since the early fifties.)

The classics also get played in the UpperValley by Vermont Public Radio. But weasked the current station manager, Timothy Reynolds '91, about the educationalopportunities the students are missing."Times must have changed," he replied."We couldn't staff eight hours a day ofclassical music with volunteers today."

WFRD does maintain a niche in theUpper Valley: it lays claim to the area'sonly album-oriented rock format.—Ed.

Letter Press

I must respond to Don Goss '53's letter in May, knocking letters. The only reliable conduit for alumni concerns is the "Letters" from alumni. You made a serious mistake when you decided to set them in your standard type face. It unwisely set them up for Goss's suggestion that they take too much room.

I have carefully read each letter since the magazine started coming. I carefully note the class of the writer. When a lot of letters come on the same subject, it should tell someone at Hanover that there's trouble brewing. The more letters, the more trouble.

Obviously Don knows all there is to know because he lives in Hanover. No concerned alumnus ever bored me.

You must run all the letters, even if they are cut to one paragraph and are happily back in six-point type. Without them it would not be an alumni magazine and without them the College would have to get along with a few of us who have remained loyal through all its trials.

San Francisco, California

We said Danziger won the election, but we screwed up how much he won.