1941

Seniors in November 1940, only eight months until Commencement. Now it's 1990, and only the same few months until the 50th Reunion, 7-9 June 1991. Surely you will take part if you can, to link the salad days of youth remembered with the seasoned perspective of later years among peerless peers. Which prompts this haiku: After winter blows down hard on Dartmouth College green blooms big again.

Over your shoulder, there you are, sporting a senior cane, sitting on the senior fence, possibly thinking navy before the draft may call you in June. Meanwhile there's football to fuss about: the tune-up with St. Lawrence was 35-zip, to no one's surprise, but then F&M came to town and upended the Indians 23-21 in the rain. Still to come was a bigger shocker, but this time a good one: the ending of Cornell's Big Red win streak (which had them ranking number one nationally) by dint of a field goal in the snow but only after the expunging of what became the famous fifth down at Dartmouth. You were there, and your recall will be enhanced at the 50th when you hear from some of the guys who played in the game.

In the big game that nations like to play, Germany had concluded a pact with Italy and Japan which Professor Anderson of the history department characterized as "a virtual declaration of war" on the States. Civilian pilot training was an option for students, but Bill Aylward and 15 others had started their senior years fresh from a one-month navy training cruise. Bob Fry took over as chair of the Winter Sports Council for Dick Blanchard when the latter cut out in favor of the Army Air Corps. In the White Church, Rev. Fisk preached against conscription, and The D's Vox Populi included pro and con letters from Rob Barstow and Tim Takaro, among others, on the issue of intervention. Over in Sharon, Vt., a group of students heard noted columnist Dorothy Thompson lament that "...we have become too separated from each other ... a complex of worlds that hardly touch."

On and about the Hanover green, under war clouds or no, without heavy thought of any "rendezvous with destiny," various items of local interest found their way into print: the tennis playing of Al Speare, BobWhite, and Dick Heydt, and intramural footballing by Tom Dunlevy, Bob Flouton, Rog Fenwick, Pete Keir, DonKnight, Dave Mulliken, and Don Taber. DOC trips were described in a talk by BillDanforth; and Larry Thompson, together with the late George Ladd, served on the Council of Student Organizations. Getting ready for Carnival, Doug Wheale was tagged to be chair of features. Dan Dacey even got his picture in the paper for good guarding on the gridiron. A turkey dinner and dancing at the Grafton Star Grange hall went for half a buck, and wheels could be picked up for $29-99 at Smith Auto Sales in Lebanon. But there was a war going on, and Admiral Harry Yarnell came to town to urge that the U.S. "take a stand" against Japan. Would you rather have seen a movie? Maybe you did, at the Nugget, see "Foreign Correspondent" with Joel McCrea, Laraine Day and Bob Benchley. Peace, brothers.

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