In March 1955, selecting from just more than 3,000 applicants, Dartmouth offered admission to almost 1,500 young men. About half of them matriculated in September of that year, becoming the class of 1959. An autumn 1955 issue of this magazine commented that, “By all predictive criteria, 1959 in every respect looks like one of the strongest classes ever to matriculate.” A couple of months ago the College announced that, from nearly 21,000 applicants, 2,176 men and women were offered places in the class of 2020. The actual 1,100 or so who are expected to enroll won’t be finally known until September but the class, based upon the group admitted and commonly used metrics, will differ in many ways from our class. A College news outlet characterized the accepted students as “a socioeconomically, culturally and geographically diverse group that includes the highest percentage of students of color in the College’s history.” Most of us are familiar with the publicized metrics and the many stark differences in profile between a class admitted more than 60 years ago and the most recently admitted class. Some of us may conclude that other reference points and metrics are needed for a more balanced perspective of the real changes in the incoming “stuff of the institution.” Whatever our different views may be, we are surely united in extending our best wishes to the members of the class of 2020 and joining the Dartmouth family in welcoming them.

Dick Liesching brought to Hanover from his native England a love for and knowledge of rugby. Among his many contributions to the sport at Dartmouth, he was instrumental in facilitating the highly publicized trip of the team, including about 10 ’59s, to England in late 1958. On his 80th birthday, after a rugby match in Hanover, Dick was honored by the presentation from his son, John, of a book containing reflections of former ruggers, including all recipients of the award given annually in Dick’s name. The presentation was in the Dick Liesching Trophy Room at the Corey Ford Rugby Clubhouse. Will Gray was there together with many other members of the Dartmouth rugby community.

—Dick Hoehn, 845 Union St., Marshfield, MA 02050; (781) 834-4113; rhoehn@choate.com