Two students wrote a letter to the editor of The Dartmouth this spring complaining about the newspaper's use of the phrase "white, Greek and politically moderate" to describe the majority of the student body.
The letter voiced the concerns of the growing number of students on campus who do not fit into those categories and are contributing to Dartmouth's changing image.
"If there is a preponderant image of Dartmouth, then it is a positive one," College spokesman Roland Adams said.
Dartmouth's image has been transformed from an all-male, mostly white institution to a coeducational institution that is balanced ethnically, Adams said.
Incoming students derive their images of Dartmouth from many different sources, one of which is the news media, Adams said.
But much of the media attention focused on the College over the years has been negative.
The worst and most damaging perceptions of the College have been detailed in "Rolling Stone" magazine, explored by television shows like "20/20" and discussed in "Time" magazine.
"There are different images of Dartmouth that are presented through the news media," Adams said.
The news portrays Dartmouth either as an intellectual institution or a party school, but can also show neutral images of the College, he said.
"I would hope that the kind of student selected for Dartmouth ... is intelligent enough to make" his or her own decision of Dartmouth, not one based on the news media, Adams added.
But gave at least one example of where the media has recently presented a very positive image of the College.
A New York Times article focused on the role of Dartmouth and Stanford University in setting exemplary grading standards that other institutions are attempting to implement.
"This is an elite academic institution," Adams said. "People throughout this country know Dartmouth and are impressed by it."
Since College President James Freedman has been at the College the image of Dartmouth as a "vibrant intellectual atmosphere" has been enhanced, according to Dean of Freshmen Peter Goldsmith.
When Freedman took over in 1987, Dartmouth ranked as the least intellectual of all the Ivy League schools and the mere mention of the school's name invoked images of sexism, racial intolerance and wild fraternity parties.
Under a mandate from the College's Board of Trustees, Freedman has fought these stereotypes, promoting intellectualism and attempting to make the College a more comfortable place for women, minorities and students as individuals.
Class of 1997 President Pam Saunders said she does not think race relations on campus are bad, but other students disagree.
"When I first got to school, coming from a very small, homogenous western town, I thought the campus was very diverse," said Ellen Wight '97, who grew up in Indiana.
But now Wight feels the campus is polarized, and said she feels groups of people are "very split up."
"I didn't really have a feel of what Dartmouth is like before I came," she said.
"I don't think you can," she added.
The social life does not really live up to rumors, Wight said. A member of Sigma Delta sorority, Wight said though the Greek system can sometimes be stifling, Dartmouth is not necessarily a party school.
But although she said she has not experienced the "typical party school social life," she said it is possible for students to party a lot, if they so desire.
Although Saunders said she thinks the "Animal House" image of Dartmouth can become a reality for some students, it does not have to be that way.
"I don't think there is a stereotypical" Dartmouth person, Saunders said.
Students coming to the school without many formulated ideas can find little to disappoint them.
"I didn't have too many preconceived notions," Kevin Paquette '97 said.
Paquette said he believed Dartmouth was "outdoors oriented" before he came and that idea has not been dispelled after two years at the College.
There are definitely people who come here and want to enjoy themselves, but they work hard too, he said, when questioned about Dartmouth's social scene.
Although Paquette admits he now views Dartmouth differently, he said the change is due to personal reasons.
"Now that I've gone through two years already, I'm less naive about things," Paquette said.
It is "not that the place has changed, I've changed," he said.
One of the challenges incoming students must face is that "creating a community for yourself does not happen as quickly and readily as you might hope," Goldsmith said.
