Walking through the streets of the sleepy Hanover metropolis, students often wonder who the random skateboarding, giggling teenagers traveling in packs are and why they are invading "our territory."
But Hanover High School students are not just mere "randoms," who are encroaching on Dartmouth students' territory. Beneath the skateboarding, the baggy pants, the long hair and the giggling lies an open-minded, hard-working high school ethic that Dartmouth students do not often see.
"We don't really have a place here," said Nathan Ingoldsby, a long-haired, lanky sophomore at Hanover High as he walked back to school. "I've gotten kicked off the street for just walking" on campus.
Still, Hanover High students and teachers said they think the College is beneficial to Hanover.
"Socially, it brings a lot of culture," said Ingoldsby, who just returned with a friend from buying a new skateboard. "Everything that happens is part of the College."
TeachersatHanover Highconcur. Spanish teacher Jennifer Degenhardt said, "They know so much more, and I think that's because of the College being here."
Ermelina Hernandez, another Spanish teacher, even said there is competition in the high school because of the academic attitude of Hanover.
Hernandez and Degenhardt said they enjoy teaching in the academic environment of Dartmouth, which has a positive influence on Hanover High students by fueling a strong work ethic and allowing more in-depth learning.
Students "have more opportunities and resources" because of the College, Hernandez said.
In appearance, Ingoldsby and Wade resemble many Hanover High students with long hair, relaxed style and outgoing attitude. In fact, Hanover High seems like the typical American, suburban high school.
Socially, Hanover High students said they are not intimidated by fraternity parties. "There are some kids at Hanover that do go to parties," said Siri Baschnagel, a Hanover High senior who has lived in Hanover since 1982.
One high school woman, who insisted on remaining anonymous, said she has attended parties at both Alpha Delta and Sigma Nu fraternities, but prefers Sigma Nu.
"If you know people, it is comfortable there," she said.
Ingoldsby and Wade said they personally know Hanover High students, mostly women, who have "hooked up" with Dartmouth students.
But, Baschnagel said, "Our parties tend to be worse then the frat parties."
The Community Substance Abuse Advisory Committee, investigates the influences from Dartmouth in the area of drugs and alcohol. The group is comprised of Dartmouth administrators -- such as College Health Services Director Jack Turco and 1997 Class Dean Teoby Gomez -- administrators from the Hanover schools and Hanover community members.
Students and administrators both think Dartmouth creates few problems that are not already present at any typical high school.
"The student body wouldn't be radically different without the college," Hanover High Principal Owe Bagnato said.
Eric Albertine, a laid-back senior, agreed. "I don't think [drugs and alcohol are] from the College. I know lots of high school people that supply Dartmouth students" with drugs.
Although Dartmouth students often laugh at the "immature" high school students, some high school seniors would consider themselves better adjusted to Hanover than many of the "clueless" freshmen upon their arrival on campus in the fall.
"I feel so much more comfortable about going to college now,"said Baschnagel, who will attend St. Lawrence College in New York next year, attributing her attitude to the knowledge she gained from Dartmouth.
Although her father is a Dartmouth alumnus, Baschnagel along with most Hanover High seniors said they would not consider attending Dartmouth.
"I just felt like I really needed to get out of Hanover," Baschnagel said.
Dartmouth athletics have great influence on high school students, according to both the students and Hanover High's principal.
"A lot of people look up to the athletes of Dartmouth," Baschnagel said, citing her personal admiration of women's lacrosse player Lauren Holleran '95, who lives in Hanover.
But not everyone agrees. Bagnato said he sees the influence of athletics as being negative.
"What is clearly acceptable at the college level is not at the high school level," he said.
