Class Note 1967
Issue
September-October 2020
Recently I asked, “If you were at the table wrestling with plans and options for resuming in September and making the tough choices Covid-19 will require that Dartmouth make, what would be the one thing you believe should remain unchanged?”
Wayne Letizia, Jim Rooks, and Dave Larson agreed on not changing the freshman trip, as it is “very important for building a sense of community in the incoming frosh.”
Considering the financial impact of the pandemic, Jon Bash would save the need-blind admission policy and “provide extra financial assistance to students coping with the added financial burdens of this health crisis and economic collapse.” Others focused on Dartmouth’s educational quality and engaged in the “residence vs. online education debate.”
Rick Geissinger says he “would never drop the residency requirement for students to be in Hanover. That is such a rich and important part of the Dartmouth experience.”
But John Manopoli says it depends on testing: “Should students return to campus in person, every student, every member of the faculty and staff, and everyone in Hanover who interacts with students should be tested—100 percent, no exceptions.”
Harry Jaffe thinks “It’s too difficult and expensive to test all of the students and faculty on-campus on a recurring, regular basis, so I think that it will have to remain an online education until a vaccine is available.”
Tom Smith stresses the importance of student engagement and performance review: “We focus on the easy part (content presentation) and excuse the hard parts (student engagement and performance review). Students who come to a small, teaching-oriented, and highly selective college must be engaged, challenged, and reminded why they are there. The whole online experience can become too routine.”
Russell Pae concurs: “If the students can’t be on campus, then it is essential that all students be able to have good virtual contact with their professors. Unless professors are willing to change how they deal with students in an online environment, then colleges and universities such as Dartmouth will need to count on a vaccination to get its students back on campus. Without the campus life and the outstanding professors, there is not much reason to go to Dartmouth. Save your money and go to a community college. Covid-19 quickly becomes a direct attack on quality university education.”
Christian Smith believes the College should “make the on-campus experience available for students who choose it. Other students could have the option of taking part online or of skipping the term.”
Larry McArthur thinks “online distance learning should be minimized if it is considered at all.” Bill Bredehoft says, “The one thing that should not change is a willingness to be flexible, to change as things develop. Nobody foresaw all the changes that occurred during the last three months, and there will be many more this fall and beyond.”
On a sad note, it is with a very heavy heart that I must report the recent passing of Beirne Lovely. His obituary will appear in a forthcoming alumni magazine and on our website, 1967.dartmouth.org.
—Larry Langford, P.O. Box 71, Buckland, MA 01339; 1967damnotes@gmail.com
Wayne Letizia, Jim Rooks, and Dave Larson agreed on not changing the freshman trip, as it is “very important for building a sense of community in the incoming frosh.”
Considering the financial impact of the pandemic, Jon Bash would save the need-blind admission policy and “provide extra financial assistance to students coping with the added financial burdens of this health crisis and economic collapse.” Others focused on Dartmouth’s educational quality and engaged in the “residence vs. online education debate.”
Rick Geissinger says he “would never drop the residency requirement for students to be in Hanover. That is such a rich and important part of the Dartmouth experience.”
But John Manopoli says it depends on testing: “Should students return to campus in person, every student, every member of the faculty and staff, and everyone in Hanover who interacts with students should be tested—100 percent, no exceptions.”
Harry Jaffe thinks “It’s too difficult and expensive to test all of the students and faculty on-campus on a recurring, regular basis, so I think that it will have to remain an online education until a vaccine is available.”
Tom Smith stresses the importance of student engagement and performance review: “We focus on the easy part (content presentation) and excuse the hard parts (student engagement and performance review). Students who come to a small, teaching-oriented, and highly selective college must be engaged, challenged, and reminded why they are there. The whole online experience can become too routine.”
Russell Pae concurs: “If the students can’t be on campus, then it is essential that all students be able to have good virtual contact with their professors. Unless professors are willing to change how they deal with students in an online environment, then colleges and universities such as Dartmouth will need to count on a vaccination to get its students back on campus. Without the campus life and the outstanding professors, there is not much reason to go to Dartmouth. Save your money and go to a community college. Covid-19 quickly becomes a direct attack on quality university education.”
Christian Smith believes the College should “make the on-campus experience available for students who choose it. Other students could have the option of taking part online or of skipping the term.”
Larry McArthur thinks “online distance learning should be minimized if it is considered at all.” Bill Bredehoft says, “The one thing that should not change is a willingness to be flexible, to change as things develop. Nobody foresaw all the changes that occurred during the last three months, and there will be many more this fall and beyond.”
On a sad note, it is with a very heavy heart that I must report the recent passing of Beirne Lovely. His obituary will appear in a forthcoming alumni magazine and on our website, 1967.dartmouth.org.
—Larry Langford, P.O. Box 71, Buckland, MA 01339; 1967damnotes@gmail.com