Dartmouth College - Aegis Yearbook (Hanover, NH)

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This was Dartmouth ' s 182nd year. To those who like to associate the college year with the immediate circumstances of the times, this was a critical year of indecision. But, to those who realize the inevitability of evolu- tionary change and adjustment, and who meet their new problems with forethought and stability, this was a normal year of progress. Every normal vear has its uniqueness, and this year was no exception. This was the year of the Great Debate on foreign policy, the McCarran Act and Red-baiting, the dis- patching of American troops to Europe in peacetime, the declaration of a National Emergency, the attempt upon the President ' s life, proposals for Universal Military Training of eighteen-year-olds, the Schuman Plan for European economic integration, the Kefauver Committee crime investigations. General Mac- Arthur ' s farewell speech to Congress in re- sponse to his discharge, the Stone of Scone incident, Selective Service inevitability, and, on the whole, greater international concern. The new problem, the Korean War, naturally affected each of the 2,813 students who re- turned to Hanover, hut it was no more critical nor unad instable than the obstacles met by men of Dartmouth at the beginning of several other years in the history of the college. Its degree of seriousness varied directly with each man ' s adjustment to it. The President of the College was frank and realistic in his Convocation Day address. The kevnote was Facing It. Mr. Dickey stressed the fact of facing front - there is no place to hide. These are days when men are judged and tried for size. So, in the shadow of an awful armed strife, the College opened its 182nd year, not without new obstacles and unique occurrences, but, traditionallv speak- ing, a normal year. Thus, set in an air a little less carefree and slightly more apprehen- sive, the traditional pattern of undergraduate life continued with only spurted manifestations of outside world influences. The bull sessions were just as vehement and inconclu- sive, the complaints about poor flicks and food were |ust as universal and uncorrected, the parties were ]ust as wild and stag, and the Dartmouth Spir- it was just as inculcated and Preparatioti for the Mtitterhorn No ivords to bear the hiirden of our praise;

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I] ■• rpi K(flectio)!s of Bi ker 01 Ri ii y N gbr r f %«,. - - -- ' - ' W f defy the frost aiul storm Dartmouth, there is no music for our singing, . . . .

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cohesive; but, still, the major topic of discussion was When is your trip to Manchester? or In which branch are you going to enlist? Autumn in Hanover was as colorful as always. Throngs of awe-inspired and green freshmen could be seen amidst the worldlv and paternalistic upperclassmen greeting each other with the well-used — Didja have a good vacation? Hazing was milder because of Undergraduate Council restrictions. Upperclassmen missed the class beer busts, marches on the Nugget, and midnight raids that they once enjoyed as freshmen, but the administration believed there were better wavs to promote class spirit. The College welcomed as students three more displaced persons, and the rowing club returned from the Henlev regatta with the doubles trophy won by Egon Kramer ' 51 and Frank Heineman ' 52. The football opener with Holy Cross ended in a 21 to 21 tie. With all of the optimistic pre- season publicity, Dartmouth fans were somewhat disillusioned, but all doubts were postponed until another game. The United Nations ' advance had been held at the 38th parallel and the McCarran Act was passed. Such issues didn ' t concern the freshman and sophomore participants in the tug-o-war — the modihed football rush. However, on the eve of the grand challenge, many frosh had succumbed to the green death. The victims blamed it on the oft-condemned commons ' food. Mrs. Hayward attributed it to rancid peanuts eaten at the football game. The feud soon was extinguished as health improved and the tug-o-war proceeded. After much disorganization, rope- breakage, and a hose misaimed into the spectators, the ' 54 ' s won a hilarious challenge amidst dust, pulling, and watersprav. Immediately they massed together in the traditional manner to announce their victory, but were held off by upperclass guards of commons, the Inn, and the Nugget who, in remembrance of their rush victory, wished they could have stepped aside and let the victors have their spoils. The announcement that Doggie Julian of the Boston Celtics would coach the Indian basket- men brought much encouragement to fans hoping to see Dartmouth basketball raised from nadir standing. At the half, Dartmouth led Michigan 7 to 6. The juggernaut rolled in the second half, how- ever, overwhelming the Green 27 to 7. But gate receipts were lucrative, and the Ivy League had a taste of Big Ten football. As MacArthur ' s troops finally crossed the 38th parallel, the Dartmouth fraternities once again Yet how can ive be silent and remember • •