I keep neglecting Tim Rub, our honorary classmate, now director of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. He loves his job and enjoys living in Philly so much that he turned down the job of head of the Metropolitan Museum in New York City. His parents live near me in California. He promises that we will get together on his next visit. There is always something to look forward to. Classmate Irv Sager keeps living and enjoying his life, which he knows will always get better. Ed Reich enjoys his life in Florida—“no complaints,” he says.

As for myself, I hate the direction that the world is heading. There will always be Dartmouth undying, which I feel means Dartmouth forever moves ahead. I would hope that we will provide the leadership that will shape society and make this world a better place in which to live. I am confident that the leadership will come that will reshape the plutocracy, which we have become, into a democracy. Our children and grandchildren deserve a leadership that will stop waging wars, which we charge against the next generation. This country must have leadership. A college such as Dartmouth is expected to shape its students to provide that leadership. The fact that other great universities are not providing that leadership does not excuse Dartmouth from not providing it.

So many of you who write, email and phone make me feel that I must be doing something important, and I am deeply indebted to you. Please keep in touch and I’ll keep speaking out. 

It doesn’t matter how old or young you are, the important thing is to be relevant. I have to believe I am on this earth for a reason and it is not necessary to know what that reason is. Just take what you have and do what you think is best.

—Edward Gerson, 2400 Mariposa West 3A, Laguna Woods, CA 92653; (949) 829-8400; ejgerson@webtv.net