1949

If by now you have not packed your bags for Hanover and the big 50th Reunion, well, there's still time to change your mind and your plans. Just call Punchy Thomas at (802) 649-2100 and show up. Don't miss this one, because who knows if you'll be able to make our next 50th.

Ellie and Jay Urstadt are coming, despite the fact that New York governor George Pataki recently named Jay to an important new state commission charged with investigating wrongdoing in the con- struction of New York City's public schools. As a former state commissioner of housing and the first chairman of Battery Park City, Jay knows a little bit about building and will certainly help root out shoddy schoolhouses with faulty facilities. T • 1 1 1» It . • _ _ 1 _ _ .. - '

Linda and Maurie Cole are coming too, having straightened out that anonymous-postcard thing with Punchy. Like Jay Urstadt, Maurie knows something about committee assignments. Recently the New Jersey State Bar Association honored Maurie for his outstanding service on the New Jersey Supreme Court's Committee on the Unauthorized Practice of Law. While he's been an emeritus member of the state bar since 1996, Maurie is still a partner in Cole & Cole in Brigantine and continues his 40-year association with the Supreme Court committee. In fact, he chairs the group responsible for rooting out faux lawyers in nine New Jersey counties.

At the moment the reunion list does not include Joyce and Sam Stone, but maybe they'll show up. Heck, they're only a couple of hours away in Boston. For many years Sam has written a column called "Throwing Stones" for the monthly trade magazine Massachusetts BeverageBusiness, of which he happens to be CEO and publisher. A recent column of Sam's dealt with statistics related to alcohol use on camJune 11-13, 1999 puses—not at reunions but among undergraduates.

Which leads me to the recent campus controversy that was widely—and justifiably—interpreted to revolve around earthshaking changes in the fraternity culture. The noise has died down but not gone away and it will certainly be a topic of conversation at our June gatherings. One of the key principles promulgated by the Trustees and the administration is "The abuse and unsafe use of alcohol should be eliminated." Hard to disagree with that position. Newly elected Vermont state senator Dick Mallary emailed me: "I have always believed that some degree of experimentation and risktaking is a necessary part of youth and education—and certainly some of that occurred during our era....I suspect that it may be prudent for the College to distance itself from the worst manifestations of such experimentation....ln other words, I guess I support the proposed changes." If you want to make your opinion heard, write to the chairman of the Residential and Social Life Task Force, Dean Dan Nelson, 111 Parkhurst Hall, Hanover, NH 03755.

In closing, the Reunion book is now in your hands (if you paid your class dues). That tome, and this column, cap my fiveyear term as your secretary. Thanks for letting me serve. I now turn over my files and my pen (actually my mouse) to DougThomson. Make sure you send him your news or he'll have to make up stuff.

See you at the Reunion!

496 Turnpike Road North, Fairlee VT 05045;

June 11-13, 1999