Classmates, I am writing to you now in late August in the midst of the Democratic and Republican conventions. By the time you read this, the elections may be history. We are in the midst of the biggest pandemic the world has ever seen, and, of perhaps greater significance for the United States, a movement for social justice and racial equality larger than any seen since our high school days. The economy (except for the tech sector) is severely depressed. If it weren’t for these events, most of our thoughts might have been focused on pre- or post-retirement questions, but not only are we limited in which activities we can engage, uncertainty in every direction, we are also faced with major societal questions that may determine the shape of our world and culture for decades to come.

On campus, President Hanlon and the trustees eliminated golf, lightweight crew, the swimming and diving teams, for the stated goal of achieving “greater flexibility in shaping the incoming class.” Matt Putnam and I have some thoughts on this issue and would love to discuss with interested classmates.

Fifty years ago we were preparing to matriculate at Dartmouth, looking forward to Outing Club trips and making new friends. Many of these seminal moments may be denied to the incoming class of 2024. We should think about how we can reach out to them and encourage them. I would also love to hear what you all are thinking about these issues.

John Haulenbeek, our Dartmouth College Fund (DCF) head agent, checked in: It was a unique year for the DCF. The combination of events noted above created a reckoning for classmates making decisions about which causes to support, with many people focusing their resources nearer to home. We still raised roughly $300,000, which is up slightly from our last non-reunion year, with a participation rate of 48 percent. This is a remarkable testament to your commitment to Dartmouth students and the needs of the institution.

I’ll close with these timely lyrics from the Moody Blues: “I woke up today. I was crying. Lost in a lost world./So many people are dying, lost in a lost world./Some of them are living an illusion, bounded by the darkness of their minds./In their eyes it’s nation against nation against nation, with racial pride, sad hearts they hide,/Thinking only of themselves./They shun the light; they think they’re right, living in their empty shells./Oh, can you see the world is crashing, crashing down around their feet,/angry people in the street, telling them they’ve had their fill/of politics that wound and kill./Everywhere you go you see them searching. Everywhere you go you feel the pain./Everyone is looking for the answer. Well, look again; come on my friend./Love will find them in the end. Come on my friend; we’ve got to bend/down on our knees and say a prayer./I woke up today. I was crying. Lost in a lost world.”

Blessings.

—Philip Stebbins, 17 Hardy Road, Londonderry, NH 03053; p.stebs@gmail.com