Memories of “The Deansmen”  During 1958-1962
By Dick Parker,  ‘62

I recall that early on in my freshman year there was a  growing concern that we change our name away from the Hi-Ho’s. We were each challenged by Harry Bennert, I believe, to come up  with some names we could consider (this was during my freshman year).  I remember trying to think  of as many names as I could which ended in “-men." After all, we were 8 men comprising a  singing group on the Bates campus.  And so I couldn’t stop racking my brain for several days.  “Batesmen”, “Anchormen”, “Kingsmen”,  “Supermen”, “Batmen”, “Firemen”, “Policemen”, “Seamen”, “Boatmen”, “Footmen”,  “Workmen”, “Cavemen”, “Rivermen”, “G-men”, “Craftsmen”, “Fishermen”,  “Highwaymen”, “Prom-men”etc., etc.

Meanwhile, performance opportunities began to come our way through Harry Bennert ’s  position in the Alumni office & also through the Dean’s office.  To make a long story short, I began to  play with more “relevant” names like “Harry’smen”, “Bennertsmen”, “Collegemen”,  “Campusmen”, “Alumni-men”, but nothing was coming together. Then we began to field requests from  local high schools as an attraction for some of their assembly programs &  other kinds of events.  These were  only available during the daytime, & the Dean worried that these gigs would  interfere with our classes & labs & other academic requirements.  We kept on asking him for excused cuts  in order to perform at a high school, & he
kept on turning us down.  We were not happy about  that.

And then it suddenly hit me. For all the fun we were having singing  on campus, it was as if we were prisoners of the Dean who did not want to let us  perform off-campus in the daytime for whatever selfish reasons he had.  We had become  - the Dean’s Men!  He was our  boss & we were his lackeys, peasants,servants! We were the Dean’s Men.  The  Dean’s own kept men, existing for the sole purpose of suiting his whims &  fancies, & not being trusted or allowed to perform in the “outside world”  for fear we might act up, or act out, or otherwise bring disrepute upon the  college’s good name.  I went to the Dean's office, & told him we were thinking of adopting  the new name of “The Deansmen”.  How  would he feel about that?  Would he  disapprove?  After all, I assured  him, it was nothing personal. Well, he thought it might be a possibility, but he wanted some time to  think it over.  Fine.  He summoned me a few days later, &  told me that he had discussed it with some other college officials (Harry  Bennert perchance?), & he’d be willing to support our choice of a new  name.  It was then that I remember suggesting it to the rest of our group.  No one had an objection, & a couple guys really liked  it!

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