Class Note 1961
Issue
November-December 2021
As the class of 1961 heads into its post-60th reunion period, we are making some final class decisions. One of these involves the Class of ’61 Tanzi Plaque,which after being in the possession of two more classmates (Michael Murphy and Jim Baum, the two highest bidders from the auction held during our recent 60th reunion) for one year each, Oscar Arslanian (chair of the original Tanzi project) and Maynard Wheeler (current class president) will present the “TANZI” New Hampshire license plate plaque to Rauner’s permanent collection of Dartmouth memorabilia.
One result of our successful fully virtual 60th reunion was the decision by our class president, Maynard Wheeler, to have one day fully virtual mini-reunions going forward on a quarterly basis. Pete Bleyler will head this effort, which will begin in November.
On a more general tack, many classmates have voiced their concern recently about some of the issues that have arisen as a result of decisions made, or possibly not made, by the College. Dartmouth is a unique educational institution. There are other colleges and universities that have some of the same qualities, but none that appear to have the same mix in the same balance, so that the College is most stable and most successful only when all of its constituencies are equitably represented. The balance between the administration (overseen by the trustees), the faculty, the alumni, and the students is what has made Dartmouth unique as an institution.
Based on several issues which have arisen during the past few years, the Dartmouth administration (office of the president) perhaps needs to prioritize and articulate its areas of primary importance during the long-term as well as those areas necessary to be dealt with during the short-term. These objectives and problem areas should then be published with explanations and reviewed by all interested Dartmouth constituencies or their representatives. After a reasonable period for public comments and feedback, the list should then be re-reviewed and, if deemed necessary or desirable, revised by the office of the president and then approved by the administration, the faculty, the Alumni Council, and finally by the board of trustees having the formal vote of approval. If some reasonable version of the aforementioned is not being followed, then why not?
—Victor S. Rich, 94 Dove Hill Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030; (516) 446-3977; richwind13@gmail.com
One result of our successful fully virtual 60th reunion was the decision by our class president, Maynard Wheeler, to have one day fully virtual mini-reunions going forward on a quarterly basis. Pete Bleyler will head this effort, which will begin in November.
On a more general tack, many classmates have voiced their concern recently about some of the issues that have arisen as a result of decisions made, or possibly not made, by the College. Dartmouth is a unique educational institution. There are other colleges and universities that have some of the same qualities, but none that appear to have the same mix in the same balance, so that the College is most stable and most successful only when all of its constituencies are equitably represented. The balance between the administration (overseen by the trustees), the faculty, the alumni, and the students is what has made Dartmouth unique as an institution.
Based on several issues which have arisen during the past few years, the Dartmouth administration (office of the president) perhaps needs to prioritize and articulate its areas of primary importance during the long-term as well as those areas necessary to be dealt with during the short-term. These objectives and problem areas should then be published with explanations and reviewed by all interested Dartmouth constituencies or their representatives. After a reasonable period for public comments and feedback, the list should then be re-reviewed and, if deemed necessary or desirable, revised by the office of the president and then approved by the administration, the faculty, the Alumni Council, and finally by the board of trustees having the formal vote of approval. If some reasonable version of the aforementioned is not being followed, then why not?
—Victor S. Rich, 94 Dove Hill Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030; (516) 446-3977; richwind13@gmail.com