The shoulder season in Hanover is about to begin. These days the walk across the Green becomes a treacherous dodge of mud puddles and the snow piles turn to dirty gray. It reminds me of photos in the archives showing wooden planks on the paths of the Green to make them passable. Remember those? Today the grounds crew provides much-appreciated expertise. The cinder paths may still get a bit muddy, but the wooden planks are long gone. Some would say that it is a hard moment to appreciate the North Woods, but the promise of the glorious spring just around the corner keeps spirits strong. Speaking of strong spirits, the students, faculty, and staff are all doing their best to hold the virus at bay and have hopes that the 2022 year can finish strong and offer the Dartmouth experience that we all love. There are five phrases that describe this Dartmouth experience that I want to share with all of you. They were created as part of the narrative for the ongoing comprehensive campaign. I think they paint a beautiful picture. The Dartmouth of today offers “scholars who love to teach.” It continues to be “liberal arts to the core.” The “profound sense of place” that we all have experienced, along with the “adventuresome spirit” of this community, shape us still. And, finally, the concept that Dartmouth is a “base camp to the world” clearly applies to the class of 1945. On a sad note, Arthur “Nick” Nichols, who received a bachelor of science in civil engineering in 1944 and a Thayer civil engineering degree in 1945, passed away in November. He was the president of the class from 1945 to 1951. Nick played baseball and tennis when at Dartmouth and was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family. May this spring keep you in good health and strong spirit and may you enjoy the memories of what Dartmouth was to you. Let me know if you think these five descriptive phrases I shared above resonate with you and your time in Hanover.

—Martha Johnson Beattie, 6 North Balch St., Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 667-7611; mbeattie76@gmail.com