As the federal government continues to loan more money to students to pay inflated tuition, new creative ideas spring up like acne on a teenager. The latest campus fad appears to be inclusivity. Now that the diversity cadre is fully deaned up, get ready for the inclusivity onslaught. I propose a new spring rite, namely, the inclusivity vs. diversity annual tug-of-war to be held on the Green on April 1 each year. Advocates for each concept can grab their respective rope ends and the losers will be dragged through the mud season dregs. 


Until then let’s get ready to jump on the 55th reunion trolley. It is not too late to sign up. The official count of classmates who have gone to the Bema in the sky for 2014 was 15 souls, so get back to Hanover to meet and greet the ones of us left.


Creativity still rears its head as Jim Progin and his wife, Judy Holmes, Tu’85, introduce to the world GuSStuff USA, the neck warmer made of plush hypoallergenic microfiber, swaddling you in a baby’s blanket with warm and protective fabric. It’s named in honor of her late dog, Gus. I’m not making this up. 


Tony Roisman avers that many of you are animal lovers and suspects you may support your local animal shelters. The area near him, Claremont, New Hampshire, is one of the least advantaged areas in the state. Thus its animal shelter, which only shelters cats at this time, is in need of support from outside the community. Give him a call if you can help. 


Ernie Latham helps show off what a diverse bunch we ’60s are as he was married in Bucharest in November of 2014 to Ioana Ieronim, widely praised poet and long-time friend. Dan Dimancescu ’64 was one of many friends to attend. Ernest was onetime cultural affairs officer at the U.S. embassy during the Communist regime in the early 1980s. He recently published a book of reminiscences and commentaries titled Timeless and Transitory: 20th Century Relations Between Romania and the English-Speaking World. He has graced this column in the past with his charming books concerning Romania.


Peter Crumbine reports his daughter (class of ’92) found an aged Dartmouth ’60 blanket in a New Haven, Connecticut, memorabilia store and gave it to him for Christmas. It was already framed, and he has it hanging on a den wall in resplendent glory. He wondered if Bill McClung has one of these treasures. But Bill swears he never had a 1960 banner. But! He sports a green blanket with a big, white, raised “D” in the middle that survived through the years. Alas, moths found the blanket delicious, but the “D” apparently was not very tasty. So he cut out the “D” and saved it. Thus do the memories linger.


Be sure to read Denny Goodman’s latest newsletter for additional tidbits as well as for some new obits.


—John M. Mitchell, 300 Grove St., Rutland VT 05701; (802) 775-3716; jmm00033@comcast.net