1945

Since assuming this column, I have tried to pay special attention to recording the activities of women related to '45. In retrospect such notes have been happily frequent. Please continue to keep them coming. For this month, however, we'll depart from a strictly '45 focus. Classmate Prof. Fred Berthold (80 Lyme Road., Apt. 312, Hanover) is our welcome guest columnist, ideally qualified to provide the following perspective on Dartmouth women:

"On November 21, 1971, the Trustees of Dartmouth College announced that women would matriculate at Dartmouth the following fall. Those who objected to this, and there were many, predicted all sorts of dire consequences: male bonding would weaken, the financial support of alumni would dwindle, athletic programs would falter, students would refrain from discussing important topics in the class room, etc.

"As one who has taught here at Dartmouth during all of those 25 years, and indeed for 22 years before that, I'd like to say that my own observations suggest that all of these fears were unfounded. I believe that the atmosphere has improved both socially and academically. Our women students are just as zealous about athletics as the men.

"The hormones continue to flow, but the attitude toward women is somewhat less predatory and less stereotyped than in the old days, as I remember them. The Alumni Fund is healthy. Bequests are often finally in the hands of women. Just recently a widow of an alumnus gave $18.1 million as an unrestricted gift to the College. Student performance in the classroom has, if anything, improved.

"This is in part due to ever keener competition for admission to the College, but it is also the case that on many topics to be discussed women add a new and valuable perspective.

"I'd like to use the rest of my space to point out that Dartmouth has produced some remarkably strong, fine women graduates. I can mention only a few of many. In my own department, professor Susan Ackerman 'BO has become an internationally recognized scholar of the Hebrew Bible and of ancient Near Eastern religions. She has also become one of our finest teachers, winning the teacher of the year award via student vote. Peggy Tanner '79 rose to the rank of VP with Morgan Stanley, and is now at home raising three boys, and volunteering for Dartmouth and many civic causes.

"Leslie Bradford 77 is one of the few female managing directors at Morgan Stanley. She is also the mother of two young children and an active fundraiser for her class.

"Dana Chladek '85 won Olympic medals in flatwater kayaking in both the 1992 and 1996 games, and she is the founding owner of her own athletic clothing business.

"Carolyn Salafia '77 is assistant professor of pathology, obstetrics, and gynecology at the U. of Connecticut and was named the 1970 Young Clinical Scientist of the Year by the Association of Clinical Scientists.

"Diana Golden '84, as a one-legged skier (her cancerous right leg having been amputated at age 10), has won 19 U.S. national championships, ten world championships, and an Olympic gold medal in her sport. She is also a renowned professional speaker ("Million Dollar Round Table," etc.).

"So there's just a sample of how Dartmouth has enriched women's lives and how they have gone on to enrich Dartmouth, education, business, athletics, and certainly their families as well."

Thank you, Fred, for your special contribution to this timely topic.

P.O. Box 1317, New London, NH 03257

The hormones continue to flow, but the attitude toward women is somewhat less predatory and less stereotyped than in the old days. Fred Berthold '45