Letters

QUOTE/UNQUOTE "In this era when the abominable virus called political correctness rules supreme at places like Dartmouth there appears to be a ray of hope." JAY EVANS '49

Tripping

I WAS QUITE STARTLED TO SEE ON the cover of Sept/Oct DAM the term "freshman trips." I was astonished to see the same expression used at least a half dozen times, artfully sprinkled throughout the cover story ["Voices Crying (and Laughing) in the Wilderness"]. In this era when the abominable virus called political correctness rules supreme at places like Dartmouth there appears to be a ray of hope.

Congratulations to the editorial department and proofreaders of DAM for bringing back pure and accurate English into todays discourse. And a prayer that no heads will be rolled at the magazine for having dealt a blow to those who would demean our mother tongue.

Etna, New Hampshire

GREAT ISSUE! MY 1974 FRESHMAN trip was through the Mahoosuc Range around the New Hampshire-Maine border—a very vertical section of the Appalachian Trail. Bill Dexter '78, Christian Berggrav '77, Sam Lippin '78 and I were all fairly well challenged, although Chris was in awesome shape after two years in the Norwegian army—and before his Dartmouth ski jumping career.

We got to Moosilauke, settled into a nice room of bunk beds, were introduced to Dartmouth songs by Dean Carroll Brewster and, as we got in our bunks, somehow started talking about the amusing points of the evening, and then, somehow, our memories ofMutual of Omaha'sWild Kingdom, and the eternal suffering of Marlin Perkins' sidekick Jim Fowler: "Watch out, Jim! That mama rhino will be plenty mad when she awakens from that dose of tranquilizer!" It was one of those times when we went into fits of laughter and couldn't stop—for hours it seemed. We heard the calls to shut up from all over Moosilauke Lodge, which made us laugh all the more.

Sam transferred to Cornell after freshman year, and we didn't keep in touch.

In 1983 [my wife] Karen '78 and I were answering an ad for an affordable coop in Chelsea and we asked a bearded person lacing up his roller skates on the front steps about the building. As we talked, I kept wondering why he seemed familiar. He looked at Karens "GREEN" T-shirt and asked, "Did you go to Dartmouth?" It still took a few seconds for me to recognize Sam and vice versa. But it took only an instant after that for us to remember Marlin Perkins.

Knoxville, Tennessee

IN THE REMINISCENCES OF FRESHMAN trips you printed a picture on page 47 of a group singing together. Although this photo came from Outing Club files, in all probability it was taken in the fall of 1947 at the Ravine Lodge. From the left I can identify: Phil Shepard '48, Dean Worth '49, Hugh Chapin '47, Jim Schwedland '45 (deceased), Nick Nicholson '47, Burt Hicock '45, Phil Viereck '48, Larry Coachman '48 (deceased).

As to the freshman trip in 1943, it consisted of an overnight canoe trip for 15 to 20 of us from Woodsville to the canoe club in Hanover.

East Greenbush, New York

I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO YOUR DELIGHTFUL collection of freshman trip stories, this one from the adventures of the class of '67.

One of our members heard nature call during the night, and headed out to the privy with his flashlight, which somehow got dropped through the opening where other things were meant to go. It appears that he very much loved that flashlight, as he stumbled back through the darkness to get help in order to retrieve it. A few of us incredulously found ourselves members of his rescue team and went back into that good night with him. I don't know how to describe the feelings aroused by seeing the outhouse glowing eerily in the night. Things became stranger still. Upon his insistence, several of us held him by the feet and lowered him, almost to the point of no return, so that he could once again lay his hand on (gross!) the lost item.

While primarily humorous, this story is also about a certain type of camaraderie and trust that was quickly developed among classmates. Such qualities of interpersonal relationships are part of my cherished memories of Dartmouth.

Columbia, Maryland

I LOVED THE ARTICLE ON FRESHMAN trips and can identify with Philippa Guthrie '82, who suffered severe emotional trauma on her trip at the hands of a classmate who asked her what her bra size was during a serene, certainly "framable" moment. As a totally naive and innocent (well, sort of) freshman, I heard the same question from the same guy, followed by a guess at my size and the same attempt at justifying his ridiculously inappropriate question by protesting that it was okay because his father owned a lingerie company in Canada.

At the time, I was so "discomboobu-lated" that I smiled lamely and attempted a coherent rejoinder that probably amounted to, "Go figure, all that technology right next door in Canada all this time? Who knew?"

Well, Philippa, now that you're abreast of the situation, perhaps we can pair up and take down this boob before he strikes again. I'm only sorry he got to you before you knew he was a serial rack-rater. Actually, I'm sorry about something else too. Now that I'm 45 and anything in my bra, if released, would likely be confused with a shrunken head, I wish I'd had the wherewithal to give this guy a better answer. When he said it was okay for him to discuss my bra size because his dad owned a lingerie factory, I wish I had said, "That's okay, my dad's a physicist, so I can guess your atomic size, and your little molecules aren't getting anywhere near me!" Just the thought makes me bust out laughing.

Royersford, Pennsylvania

Bullish on Bullock

THANKS FOR THE FOOTBALL ARTICLE, particularly its focus on Matthew Bullock, class of 1904 ["An Ivy League Pioneer," Sept/Oct]. I suggest that the media staff include a blurb about Bullock in the annual Dartmouth football booklet. It might help with recruiting.

Atlantic City, New Jersey

Defending Larry Summers

CAROL MULLER ["CONTINUING ED," Sept/Oct] says that Harvard's Larry Summers "raised questions about whether or not even the most dedicated women have what it takes to compete and be successful in scientific fields." Summers raised no such question—at least not directly.

Among the questions that Summers did raise in his talk was whether women scientists can be expected to succeed to the highest levels in proportions similar to men. And one issue he posed in this regard was whether women in science are "dedicated" in degree and proportion similar to men. Some people, even otherwise educated and rational people, don't want such questions raised.

I urge those who are interested to read the actual Summers speech. The full text is posted at www.president.harvard.edu/speeches/2005/nber.html.

Hanover

Quite a Trio

REGARDING PRESIDENT WRIGHT'S column ["Quite a Group," Sept/Oct], I would like to add another notable event that occurred during the last four years: the election of three "petition" candidates to the board of trustees.

Phoenix, Arizona

Religious Dissent

THE LETTERS IN RESPONSE TO the religion cover story ["Letters," July/Aug] demonstrate the dark undercurrent potentially lurking in the upsurge in religious diversity Dartmouth is experiencing If each religion believes that it is superior, that it alone has found all the answers, and that by implication (if not explicitly) all other religions are flawed or "wrong," how long will it be before intolerance follows?

The pages of DAM should be put to better use than as a pulpit for individuals to proselytize their particular credos.

Tucson, Arizona

On Ice

I VERY MUCH ENJOYED "THE LIFE OF Riley" [July/Aug]. Perhaps DAM will consider a follow-up on my old Marine roommate Dick Rondeau '44 and Bill Harrison '44. After all, it took a lot of hockey to win '45 straight.

Glad also to see the note about the fund for the children of Bryan Randall '88.

Williamstown, Massachusetts

Editors Note: DAM is continuing to for-ward donations to the Randall Children Contribution Trust. Contributions may be sent c/o DAM, Suite 201, 7 Allen St., Hanover, NH 03755.

On the Ball

JIM COLLINS'ARTICLE ON 21ST-Century Ivy League baseball ["A Coach For All Seasons," Mar/Apr] was fascinating for this mid-20th-century singles hitter. Equally interesting was the list of 25 Dartmouth baseball players since 1950 who made it to the pros.

The piece was timely as this year marks the 100th anniversary of the arrival at Dartmouth of one of the best catchers of all time: "Chief" Meyers, class of 1909, a Cahuilla Native American from New Mexico. Meyers was forced to drop out of Dartmouth after his freshman year because of his mothers serious illness, but he went on to star from 1909 to 1917 as a catcher for John McGraws New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers, appearing in several World Series and batting 358 in 1912.

Meyers never forgot his Dartmouth experience and was quoted on the subject 60 years later by Lawrence Ritter in TheGlory of Their Times. "Once a Dartmouth always a Dartmouth," he told Ritter. "You never lose that affection for the old school regardless if you just get in there and get a cup of coffee. They instill that spirit into you that lasts. Dartmouth men are very, very close all over the world. They'll never turn you down."

Staten Island, New York

Random Thoughts

LETTER WRITERAL KEITH '55 WROTE a lovely recollection [Sept/Oct] in response to Christopher Kelley's story about his Dartmouth bag ["Bag of Tricks," May/June]. I'd like to add a shirt story, in a vein similar to that of these two enjoyable bag stories.

Here in New York City I encounter many people wearing clothes emblazoned with the name of their alma mater or high school. Whenever I see someone wearing Dartmouth apparel who seems receptive, I say "hello" and ask what kind of connection they have to the Big Green.

That at least half of them respond with something along the lines of, "Oh, I didn't go there. I just like wearing this" or "My friend said I could wear it" or even "I stole it," makes me feel pretty good about Dartmouth's reputation. We know it's a great place; that those outside the Dartmouth family do, too, is only right!

New York City

SOME COMMENTS ABOUT DARTMOUTH athletics in a letter from Phil Hultin published in the Mar/Apr issue made me think he does not understand their positive role in the development of young adults. Maybe you have to see it to understand it, and I have been fortunate in that regard. The value comes from commitment, and that is the difference between intramurals and intercollegiate teams. I would reverse one of Hultin's comments to ask: How does Dartmouth give to the 75 percent of students that do not participate in intercollegiate athletics the learning experience that accrues to the 25 percent that do?

New Canaan, Connecticut

PAGING THROUGH OLD COPIES OF DAM has yet again got me thinking about the maintenance of preference for legacies in admissions at Dartmouth ["Family Affairs," Sept/Oct 2004]. This perpetuates a system of special privilege that is unjust, and likely diminishes the diversity of the student body at the College. Given the greater social and economic options afforded to their parents after they went to Dartmouth, the children of alumni are already more privileged than the average high school student.

While there is some benefit to the continuance of community encouraged by welcoming multiple generations to the College, not to mention the likelihood of greater financial contributions from alumni, preference for legacies is not necessarily an equitable or ethical stance for the College.

I write to encourage the admissions department at Dartmouth to take steps to abolish the legacy system in any form.

Williamstown, Massachusetts

QUOTE/UNQUOTE "The pages of DAM should be put to better use than as a pulpit for individuals to proselytizetheir particular credos." CHRISTOPHER SANGER '66

Write to Us We welcome letters. The editor reserves the right to determine the suitability of letters for publication and to edit them for accuracy and length. We regret that all letters cannot be published, nor can they be returned. Letters should run no more than 200 words in length, refer to material published in the magazine and include the writer's full name, address and telephone number. Write: Letters, Dartmouth Alumni Magazine, 7 Allen Street, Suite 201, Hanover, NH 03755 E-mail: DAMletters@dartmouth.edu Fax: (603) 646-1209