Vox in the Box

Dear Vox, What's the story behind the fence on the west side of the Green?

Dear Tourist, A fence was built around the Green in 1836 to keep wandering livestock out. By 1893 bovine visitations were no longera problem, and the fence was torn down. By that time students loitering on the streetrepaced cattle as Hanover's premier civic nuisance. Dartmouth, following Yale's lead, builta seniorfence. College officials imagined seniors leaning on the fence carving their canes, happily singing College songs as they whittled away the hours to graduation. that didn't happen. The College built the fence and the seniors (and everyone else) continued to loiter on the street corners.

People loiter where they can be seen. It took Darmout a couple tries before it accepted this truism and moved the fence to the current site on the Green. Vox hasn't seen anyone carve a cane or sing a song at the fence in years. On the other hand, plenty of students still lean against the fence. It's safe bet to say they're not all seniors.

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