Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery - Dental Columbian Yearbook (New York, NY)

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iA Message TO THE CLASS OF 11 Never before in our professional history has a graduating class faced greater opportunities and more sober realities and responsibilities than fall to your share in this Spring of 1941. In a few more weeks the grind of college work will be a memory which will grow sweeter with distance. The actualities of life, closing down upon us all, will pre-empt your waking hours, and as trained men, it will be expected of you to possess knowledge and certain skills which are above the level of un- trained citizenry. Therefore more will be expected of you than of average men, at the outset. If my memory serves, the moment of facing the world on one ' s own is not an easy one, — under the best con- ditions. Conditions today are not only diffi- cult : they mark something never seen before on this planet. Man. through sheer mastery over nature, has reduced this habitable globe from a world of vast continents and different peoples, separated by thousands of miles of sea, to something which may be compared to a small-town community. Aviation and radio have cancelled physical distance; movies and the forces of propaganda have ironed away the barriers of speech and culture between races and nations. Today, the whole world is a small place, and human ants are swarming in two camps, to decide how this new kind of a town is to be run. The totalitarians have set out to show us, and we of the democracies have decided it shall not be so, come what may. Since every civilized man, woman and child takes part in this drama, casting his or her shadow one way or the other, it follows that on those of superior abilities and training will fall the burden of leadership. But let no man groan that his time is out of joint. His burden is at the same moment a privilege, which should stir the imagination and gratitude of any normal person. It is no small matter to feel that one ' s life and influence are important, at a critical moment in the world ' s history. As dentists, you are trained in a division of health service which is fundamental in the great healing art. You have to do with the health and therefore the happiness of human beings. That is your life ' s work. You could not well ask for a nobler pur- pose. The measure of the man himself will unfold, with the coming years. You may begin your professional career as a soldier or as a civilian, — but remember, each one of you, that you will serve your country in its great need well or ill, if you perform your duties in devotion to the welfare of others. — or, on the other hand, as a bread-and-butter man. with an eye to the practical return from your dav ' s work. It is just as simple as that. Tom Paine said at Trenton: These are the times that try men ' s souls. The same is true to- day, but the stage is set for a much larger story than in his time. The Spring of 1941 brings to each of you its responsibility and its opportunity. Now is the time for a cheerful courage, and a steadfast faith that the goodness of human nature will prevail in the end. My very best wishes to you all in life ' s adventure. WILLIAM B. DUNNING

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WILLIAM BAILEY DUNNING, d.d.s. Professor of Dentistry We dedicate this yearbook to Dr. William Bailev Dunning, a man admired by his students for his youthful spirit, kindliness and delightful homespun wit; and respected by his confreres for his leadership, professional integrity and steadfast ideals. CLASS OF 1941

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WILLARD COLE RAPPLEYE, a.m., m.d.. sc.d. Dean