Faithful Correspondents

1909

Six months after the magazine's premier issue, the first letter to the editor is printed. The letter complains that an article on Dartmouth men in the Civil War left out the names of 124 veterans. The letter, citing each name, is printed in its entirety.

1918

A reader from the class of 1915 suggests that the town of Hanover officially change its name to "Dartmouth." He cites confusion and advertising problems for the College as justifications for the change. His real problem, however, seems to be World War I. "Hanover is a Hun name," declares the writer, "and, as far as I know, has no real sentimental value."

1929

Responding to published criticisms of the nickname "Big Green," E.O. Locke, who describes himself as "one-sixth of the Class of 1870," argues for the moniker, saying that Dartmouth is "Big in every way and that Green has been an often and well distinguished color of the College."

1934

The completion of the Orozco murals generates a storm of angry letters to the College. Fortunately, at least as far as the magazine editors are concerned, most of them go directly to President Hopkins. The Alumni Magazine receives only six.

1940

Expressing outrage when 1,000 students sign an anti-war protest to President Franklin Roosevelt, a member of the Class of 1889 suggests changing the school banner from solid green to "60 percent green, 40 percent yellow and red."

1957

Forty-seven letters appear in the October issue responding to the publication of architectural plans for the new Hopkins Center. The modern architecture rankles some traditionalists, who mention "grain elevator," "cow barn," "Quonset hut," and "hunchbacked heap" as likenesses. "Is this to be a complete shopping center," asks one alumnus archly, "or only a supermarket?"

1972

Following the College's decision to admit women, the first letter on the topic suggests that "Men of Dartmouth" is no longer an appropriate alma mater. Administrative action follows 16 years later.

1981

Among the 185 Indian-symbol letters published over a 15-year span is a ditty by Ted Geisel '25 (a.k.a. Dr. Seuss):

Long after Ernest Martin Hopkins '01 left the editorship of the Alumni Magazine for less taxing work, the "Letters" section remained one of his facorite reads.

The Indian symbol fanaticswith their Wah-HooWah-Hoo-Wahsare begining to give me,quite frankly,a pain in the Aah-hoo-Aahs.