Militancy and Passivity

Stardusted

I WAS ASKED TO ASSIST THE COLLege in internal disciplinary proceedings that arose over the Parkhurst takeover discussed in David Prentice’s thought-provoking “We Were Stardust, We Were Golden” (October). Reasonable people can differ about the level of in- tensity and the propriety of the con- duct of the 42 students who participated in the takeover—as well as the leadership of three faculty members who also participated. But it was always apparent that the stu- dents were sincere, were focused on making the world a better place, and, with a few exceptions, were passive in their behavior. Upon reflection, the same level of sincerity, intensity, and caring still exists with Mr. Prentice’s sampling of his classmates.

While a tragic aspect of the Parkhurst takeover involved a level of militancy that was unjustified, the vast majority of the participants, both then and now, appear to have been sprinkled with Stardust.

Manchester, New Hampshire

Touch Tone

I WAS THRILLED TO SEE THE ARTI- cle about Sally Bomhower, “The Voice of Dartmouth,” in the October issue. My work-study job was just down the hall from the College op- erator’s office, and I cannot remem- ber a day that Sally didn’t make me smile. Whether my car wouldn’t start and I needed a jump, or if I just wanted to know the number of a par- ticular person I had a crush on, Sally was always there for me as a special friend.

Amazingly, Sally always knew where to find me. I can still remem- ber her calling me at the most re- mote office saying, “Michael, I tracked you down, your mother is on the line and I’m gonna put her through...”

While it may seem to others like a minor part of my time in Hanover, I consider myself to be blessed to have known her on a personal level. She is truly a special person. As a re- cent graduate of Dartmouth, I am not sure that the “Dartmouth Experience” has yet been defined for me with any distinct nostalgia or emotional tie; however, people like Sally Bomhower will be the ones who have influenced that rapport.

(formerly Parkinson) ’9l Austin, Texas

Party Calculations

I HAVE JUST READ THE ARTICLE ON the question in Ann Landers’s col- umn about the number of people needed at a party in order that there be at least four people who know each other and five who don’t [“Just One Question,” October]. My own calcu- lations, requiring very little clever- ness and less than 11 minutes, came up, not only with an answer, but a guest list:

Column A Column B Bill Johnson Carl Baumgarten Linda Minson DeWitt Johnson Ruthann Bean Ted Cohen Wayne Smith Rodolfo de la Torre Lisa Corrin

I know every one of these people and can assure you that every person in column A knows each other and that no one in column B knows any- one else in that group. Nine guests, not 25. Cuts down on the catering costs, too.

Professor Laurie Snell starts by ex- plaining that the question has a major error. It doesn’t: The question is the question; just answer it. Imagine in a courtroom at a murder trial, that the prosecutor askes the witness, “who fired the gun?” The witness replies, “A better question would be how the Phillies improved from the worst team in 1992 to the best in 1993.”

Later, we learn that after 11 years of computer time, that we need 25 guests “to be absolutely sure you will be getting either four people with ev- ery pair...” Pairs of people? Who said anything about pairs?

Is this the sort of rubbish now taught at Dartmouth? It would seem far better to spend the computer time and the cleverness on resolving the question of how many angels can sit on the head of a pin.

Overland Park, Kansas

Sickened Fundraisers

In the October “On the Hill’s” unscientific “Spot Poll” the 24 per- cent of undergraduates who want the Trustees to drop ROTC “argued that alternative forms of aid could take up the slack if ROTC were discontinued.” ROTC aid during academic year 1993 amounted to $319,428. Indeed, 21 of the 24 were cadets receiving ROTC scholarships, and three were pending.

All that is needed scientifically, then, is 319 alumni who will pledge at least $ 1,000 per year in addition to their reg- ular gifts ad infinitum. I would think that the folks over in the development office would throw up.

Montpelier, Vermont

Host No A ngel

I HAD ALWAYS BEEN PROUD TO BE associated with Dartmouth. My visit to Hanover with my young son for the Dartmouth-UNH football game this autumn changed that.

One would expect that Dartmouth would be secure enough to be a gra- cious host to visitors from Durham. Such was not the case. The half-time show, which for better or worse affords to many of th e College’s autumn guests their only insight into student life, was a 15-minute sequence of snide and con- descending comments about UNH which did nothing but insult the insti- tution’s students and alumni and de- grade Dartmouth. There is ample po- tential for a half-time show that would focus on the opportunities for partner- ship between Dartmouth and UNH in working for the common good of the state and the region.

I was disappointed to discover that Dartmouth now apparently thinks so highly of itself that it doesn’t need to worry about good manners.

Littleton, New Hampshire

Come into Harbour

IF YOU HAVEN’T GIVEN YOUR Christmas wish list to Santa yet, now is the time to include a trip to Florida for the Fifth Annual Dartmouth Golfing Jamboree at Harbour Ridge Yacht & Country Club in Stuart, Florida, January 31. The event is hosted by John B. Dodge ’53, the developer of Harbour Ridge. Forty-six Dart- mouth alumni have joined John as residents.

In 1989, John conceived the idea of bringing Dartmouth alumni to- gether for a day of golf, fun, good food, and renewed friendships. Since that time the number of participants has doubled; guests come from as far away as Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey.

Stuart, Florida

Dirge for Dartmouth

Reading the Daily Dart- mouth’s Freedman series re- printed in the September issue of Dartmouth Life was like hearing a dirge with two movements. The first movement confirmed in explicit de- tail that the Dartmouth I love had died. The second movement, many times more sorrowful, was that the current undergraduates who pro- duced this series have so little re- gard or understanding for the his- tory, traditions, and strength of their College. “The goal was to replace the frat boys in togas with transla- tors of Latin poetry...” If that is their understanding of Dartmouth Past and Future, I can only wish them good luck and goodbye.

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Play It Again

I’M DELIGHTED THAT DART- mouth has decided to uncover the beautiful and humorous murals which illustrate the song “Eleazar Wheelock.” It is beloved by most older alumni, and is a part of Dartmouth’s heritage. It is now high time for the Glee Club to resume singing the song. It is one of the great- est of our College songs.

Birmingham, Alabama

Forty-two students and three facidtyparticipated in the Parkhurst takeover.