HANOVER, N.H., Nov. 18--Dartmouth College President John Sloan Dickey today called the NDEA student loan program's loyalty oath provisions "unwise and ineffective."

However, he added, "I am not prepared to advocate at this time that Dartmouth withdraw from the program because of the affidavit requirement."

Dickey said: "I'm genuinely puzzled about whether it would be right for a college to deny this opportunity to those students who otherwise might be unable to obtain loans and are willing to sign the affidavit."