TURBULENT TRADITION

THE ALMA MATER HAS A LONG, STRANGE AND—TYPICAL OF DARTMOUTH—CONTROVERSIAL HISTORY.

Dartmouth's alma mater has a long and controversial history. Richard Hovey wrote the original words as a poem, published in 1894 under the title "Men of Dartmouth." In 1908 Harry Wellman, class of 1907, wrote the musical arrangement that has been used to this day. Seniors sang "Men of Dartmouth" at Commencement for the first time in 1910 and the student body unofficially recognized it as the College song in 1926. For the next five decades it stood unchallenged.

hen in 1972 Dartmouth became coeducational. At Convocation that year President John Kemeny substituted "Men of Dartmouth" with "Dartmouth Undying," a song written in 1931 that celebrated the Colleges traditions:but made no reference to gender. The controversy that surrounded Kemeny's decision prompted The Dartmouth to survey female students about their opinion of "Men of Dartmouth." Only 94 of the Colleges 350 female students responded to the survey, but of those who did, 68 percent favored retaining the song in its original form. In the survey one female student stated: "Don't let old traditions die because there are a few chicks here." Some responses were more apathetic: "If men want to sing about rocks in their heads it's fine with me," said one woman. Although the College trustees voted to keep "Men of Dartmouth," the debate raged on.

In 1980 a women's secret society, Cobra, wrote a fourth, more inclusive, verse. The additional stanza was sung at Commencement, which resulted in wide-ranging dissatisfaction from parties on both sides of the debate. The additional verse was never sung again.

In 1986 the Dartmouth Council on Diversity announced that "Men of Dartmouth" was unacceptable for a coeducational institution. It recommended either a revision or a replacement song. President David McLaughlin '54 formed committees to discuss the matter.

The Alumni Council committee concluded that the alma mater and its title needed modification "to reflect all the men and women of Dartmouth College." A five-person group revised the lyrics. They compiled suggestions submitted by students, professors and alumni to create a new version of the song.

In May 1988 President James Freedman announced the Colleges official acceptance of the altered lyrics. In total, eight modifications were made to "Men of Dartmouth." The opening line of the song "Men of Dartmouth, give a rouse" was changed to "Dear old Dartmouth, give a rouse." Hovey's line "Stand as brother stands by brother" became "Stand as sister stands by brother" and his "chivalric faith" of old was replaced with "undying faith." The most noticeable of the changes was the songs new title—'Alma Mater."

Richard Hansen lives in Minnesota, where he's working on a novel.