Class Note 1965
Issue
November-December 2026
Class Note 1965. I’m writing this column on August 28, just 65 years after we departed for the great unknown in Hanover. In some ways we were pioneers, including being the first class to experience comprehensive examinations in order to graduate.
You may have noticed that the July/August Dartmouth Alumni Magazine carried alumni reactions to the recent elimination of the swimming test as a graduation requirement. One such letter was from our own Glenn Currie: “I am disturbed that the swim requirement has been eliminated. I do not look forward to reading in the news that some Dartmouth alum has drowned because they couldn’t swim. Rather than eliminating this requirement, we should press for other schools to have the same requirement.” In this same vein, Dave Bush wrote, “At this moment I am upset because after 59 years of marriage, I just found out that my wife easily passed the rope climb requirement at West Chester while I failed mine at Dartmouth.” Further on the subject of the freshman requirements 65 years ago, those that no longer exist, Brian Butler remembered, “We also had to take the Minnesota multiphasic personality test, as I recall. Reb Forte gave erratic answers on purpose and was duly summoned by the authorities.”
Richard Bernstein added to the ranks of ’65 writings. He writes: “Retrospectoscope: New and Selected Poems was published last year by Onion River Press. My license to practice poetry has run concurrently with my license to practice medicine in Vermont for 50 years. Among the voices in my head as I wrote and collected these poems were Arthur Dewing, Alexander Laing, Thomas Vance, Ramon Guthrie, John Finch, Richard Eberhart, T.S.K. Scott-Craig: How lucky we were!”
We have been notified of the loss of Peter Dale, Will Fugate, Vic Mair, and Bill Park. For further information, visit www.biggreen65.com.
—Bob Murphy, 22 Willow Spring Circle, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 316-1815; murph65nh@comcast.net
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You may have noticed that the July/August Dartmouth Alumni Magazine carried alumni reactions to the recent elimination of the swimming test as a graduation requirement. One such letter was from our own Glenn Currie: “I am disturbed that the swim requirement has been eliminated. I do not look forward to reading in the news that some Dartmouth alum has drowned because they couldn’t swim. Rather than eliminating this requirement, we should press for other schools to have the same requirement.” In this same vein, Dave Bush wrote, “At this moment I am upset because after 59 years of marriage, I just found out that my wife easily passed the rope climb requirement at West Chester while I failed mine at Dartmouth.” Further on the subject of the freshman requirements 65 years ago, those that no longer exist, Brian Butler remembered, “We also had to take the Minnesota multiphasic personality test, as I recall. Reb Forte gave erratic answers on purpose and was duly summoned by the authorities.”
Richard Bernstein added to the ranks of ’65 writings. He writes: “Retrospectoscope: New and Selected Poems was published last year by Onion River Press. My license to practice poetry has run concurrently with my license to practice medicine in Vermont for 50 years. Among the voices in my head as I wrote and collected these poems were Arthur Dewing, Alexander Laing, Thomas Vance, Ramon Guthrie, John Finch, Richard Eberhart, T.S.K. Scott-Craig: How lucky we were!”
We have been notified of the loss of Peter Dale, Will Fugate, Vic Mair, and Bill Park. For further information, visit www.biggreen65.com.
—Bob Murphy, 22 Willow Spring Circle, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 316-1815; murph65nh@comcast.net