In celebration of the College’s 250th, we asked classmates “what aspect/ethos of Dartmouth should remain unchanged during the next 250 years?” Responses varied considerably. Charlie Hoeveler spoke for many: “I hope what never changes are two vital aspects of Dartmouth: maintaining its undergraduate orientation and sustaining the highest level of student satisfaction. There is one common thread among virtually all of the various grads I’ve met—they each love Dartmouth and their experience there for four years! May that not change in the next 250!” Bill White hopes to retain “the emphasis on undergraduate education and a love of the out-of-doors: the Second College Grant, the Moosilauke complex, our heart and soul, with its 4,800-foot peak, soaring vistas, freshman hikes, Ravine Lodge, and—dare I say—the ’67 Bunkhouse.” Harry Jaffe more succinctly offered this from John Sloan Dickey, “Your business here is learning. We will do everything that we can to help you,” and this from John Belushi, “There’s a lot more to your education than what goes on in the classroom.” Others, while they loved their Dartmouth experience, expressed worries based on social, technical, and climate trends that what they value about the College might not even be around in 250 years. Ed Arnold: “A significant impetus behind my coming to Dartmouth in 1963 was its environment, but in the face of rapid climate change and the pressure on living space caused by population growth, it seems unlikely that Dartmouth will be able to maintain it.” Don Garni, just back from his annual hardship stay in France, wishes he was off the grid and says he’s “going to pass on philosophizing about Dartmouth’s next 250 years.” Tad Campion says, “As for the next 250 years, simply surviving is an ambitious and optimistic goal. Given what global warming (not to mention nuclear war) could do, the state of the planet may no longer be able to support healthy societies and luxuries such as liberal education. So just try to survive, Dartmouth, and work to convince others to create a survivable world.” One who is doing just that is Dick Clapp, who was recently awarded the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Alumni Award of Merit, which recognized him for his important research contributions, excellence in teaching, and his commitment to service. His citation includes this: “Dr. Clapp puts true meaning and dignity into public health, serving as an outstanding example of the engaged academic scholar-citizen—a personification of the school’s highest goals.” Tom Maramaa recently published his book, Reykjavik, spanning the decades since the 1980s and the summit between Reagan and Gorbachev in 1986. Another great ’67 author, Fred Price (writing as “David Hirschberg”), published My Mother’s Son in May.

Plan to attend the 36th annual Boston dinner, at the Wellesley College Club on February 2 (contact Curt Anderson, curt.anderson@medical-billings.com); CarniVail in Vail, Colorado, on February 22-24 (contact John Lobitz, johnlobitz@gmail.com); and the Washington, D.C., dinner on March 23 (contact John Isaacs, jdl@clw.org).

—Larry Langford, P.O. Box 71, Buckland, MA 01338; larrylangford@mac.com