The first two lines of the second verse of the College alma mater are “Dear old Dartmouth set a watch, Lest the old traditions fail.” Sadly, ever since I graduated, old traditions have been failing. The latest change being the removal of the weathervane from atop Baker Library. For many alums, old traditions are a treasured part of our youth. This particular symbol is of importance to me for the following reason. Back in the 1980s, my wife went to a crafts fair where the person who made the Baker weathervane had a replica on display. She bought a wall-hanging version for my birthday and it has been displayed on the front of my house ever since. I have no plans to remove it. I do not display it to denigrate anyone, since I believe that the Indian symbol in fact honors Native Americans. A survey conducted many years ago indicated that many Indian tribes thought that it was an honor to have such a symbol for a prestigious school such as Dartmouth. I can understand why some might find the proximity of the rum barrel to be offensive, and a move to remove that item makes more sense to me. However, the rum barrel and the Indian are no more related than the pine tree and the rum barrel. Each item stands alone as a historical symbol of the school, and I for one do not hold with tearing down statues and destroying historical symbols.

I received notice of the passing of two classmates—John A. Nicolette and Stephen M. Winslow. They follow the Barbary Coast jazz band as it plays a mournful tune and marches up Main Street. All march three times around the Green as we, the living, bow our heads in silent tribute.

I close with the first stanza of my poem titled “The Dartmouth Indians.”

Dartmouth College beneath the Old Pine,

Begun seventeen-sixty-nine;

The rules guarantee,

Indians can go free,

A brave symbol no way did malign.

—Joel D. Ash, P.O. Box 1733, Grantham, NH 03753; (603) 863-3360; jash_125@comcast.net