Sampler

Let New Traditions Grow

"Would girls build bonfires, pull in the tug of war, run the gauntlet at Wet Down, and carry furniture for upperclassmen?" asked a senior in The Dartmouth in 1960.

Well, no, they won't except for the bonfire part. But then, neither will the men these days. On the other hand, here are some rites that Dartmouth might borrow from schools with all-female traditions:

Tree Planting: Vassar and Wellesley both have a tradition of planting a class tree. It symbolizes a class taking root. The thinning canopy of diseased elms around Hanover offers ample planting opportunities for Greeners.

Lantern Night: At Bryn Mawr each freshman is given a lantern with panes tinted with the class color. (The color for the class of 2000, for example, is red). The upperclasses serenade the freshmen with hymns sung in Greek. We can't imagine Dartmouth people carrying anything colored other than green. But the Green would look lovely with green lanterns.

Mountain Day: Both Smith and Mount Holyoke have Mountain Day, an unannounced holiday when the schools close and everyone is encouraged to travel to the Berkshires. How can a College that owns Moosilauke not have a Mountain Day?

Ms. Cellany

Outing Club presidents in the last ten years Women: 4 Men: 6

Rhodes Scholars since coeducation Women: 4 Men: 12

Students doing First-Year Summer Research Projects in 1996 Women: 3 Men: 6

Top three majors last year Women: English (73), government(60), history (55) Men: government (95), history(75). economics (66)

Seniors who went through corporate recruiting fast year Women: 267 Men: 336

Graduating in the top ten percent of the class of 1996 Women: 38 Men: 67

Current class presidents of coed classes (after 1972) Women: 10 Men: 15

Cited for College alcohol violations last year Women: 27 Men: 158

Enrolled in dance classes last fail Women: 99 Men: 98

Hiked all night from Hanover to Mt. Moosilauke last fail Women: 14 Men: 28

I love it, I swear. "Since coming here, I swear a lot Agnes Bixler Kurtz, assistant directorof physical education for women's athletics, 1973