The subject of the interview brings along Rigsby, one of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity's dogs. Watching the two of them together makes his love for the animal obvious -- a big smile crosses his face as he reaches down to shake Rigsby's paw. After a gentle pat on the dog's head, he is ready to talk.
Coed Fraternity Sorority Council President Chris Atwood '98, the person showing the dog so much affection, does have more to do than simply play with Rigsby, though.
Besides his commitments to his fraternity -- and now the CFSC -- Atwood is serving as president of the Class of 1998 this term and he is also a member of the Green Key society and the Order of Omega, a Greek-affiliated honor society.
With such a wide variety of responsibilities on his plate, Atwood would appear not to have much free time.
But as the encounter with Rigsby might suggest, Atwood does much more than just go to fraternity and CFSC meetings.
Greek life at Dartmouth
As the new leader of the CFSC, Atwood has his work cut out for him as he charts his vision for the Greek system's student governing body over the next year.
Atwood said he is "psyched" to fulfill his presidential duties, but is not necessarily looking forward to the politics that go with the position.
"There are definitely problems to be addressed, no one can say all is fine," he said. Atwood said the recent College Committee on Alcohol and Other Drugs forum "was a good way to make people realize the alcohol issue must be addressed."
Atwood stressed that the 11 CCAOD principles are not policy decisions, but a basis for discussion.
The CFSC "definitely do not see them as a threat," Atwood said. "Anything that makes Dartmouth safer is a good thing."
He said he believes the proposals need some clarification, because some principles seem to be "purposefully obtuse."
"While we've been assured there is no hidden agenda, everyone can benefit by clarity of language," Atwood said.
He said he believes the Greek system is doing a good job of monitoring itself, and that the CFSC as a body can do a lot. For example, Atwood said the CFSC started a committee to deal with alcohol concerns -- such as its use and regulations.
"The idea is to try to address the problem as the College views it and say to the College, 'We can try to do this,'" Atwood said. "We'd like to try to meet halfway."
He said one of the best things the Greek system can do is "be honest with ourselves and not sweep the problem under the rug."
Rick Camp '97, one of Atwood's brothers at SAE, described the CFSC president as "very energetic, very involved and hardworking. Whatever he's doing he does very well and he takes the time to get it done correctly."
Atwood, a philosophy major from Bethel, Conn., said many of his impressions about Greek life at the College come from personal experience.
He said being a part of SAE fraternity has been "central to his experience at Dartmouth," partly by choice and partly as a result of the College's culture.
"I came to Dartmouth thinking I wanted to be in a fraternity," Atwood said. "All of my dad's friends from college, who he is still in contact with, were all his frat friends."
"My freshman year, I was just Chris Atwood, Dartmouth student," Atwood said. "And then my sophomore year, a lot of my friends joined Greek houses, and somehow it changes you."
He said being in a fraternity has changed the way people deal with him, as well as the way he deals with other people because each house has its own label and people view members stereotypically.
"It reminds me a little of cliques in high school, but without the negative connotation," Atwood said. "Fraternities are not exclusive, they're open to anyone who wants to hang out."
Rigsby and me
Whether Atwood is at SAE or sitting in class, it's likely that Rigsby will not be too far. Last summer, Atwood, a self-described animal lover, convinced SAE that their one dog was lonely, and procured Rigsby as a companion.
Atwood said as he has trained the dog, he and Rigsby have become close over the past few months.
"He loves the dog," said Camp. "He spends a lot of time with Rigsby, probably more time than anyone else does, and takes him for walks and sometimes to class."
Atwood said he never had a dog growing up, so as soon as he had the chance to get one, he did. Training the new dog seemed daunting at first, but Atwood said he soon learned "the best way to train them is to pay attention to them and give them a lot of love, like you would do with any person."
Being around people is an integral part of Atwood's life. He said he spends a lot of time in his room hanging out with his friends, and if he is doing something important when others drop by, he takes a break from his studies to be with them.
"People get so caught up in planning their day minute by minute," Atwood said. "You never know when a great opportunity to do something with your friends will come up."
Lately, such opportunities for Atwood have probably been fewer and farther between -- all his commitments keep him in various meetings for an average of three to four hours a day.
Still, Atwood said he has a commitment to "making friends." He said one of the best ways to achieve that goal is to play a sport or work on a project with others.
And he puts that policy to practice in his life -- he participates in all of the intramural sports that his house plays.
"I enjoy any kind of competition," Atwood said. "Not that I get off on competition so much as the friendships that I can make through it."
Atwood's competitive nature emerges, though, when he speaks of his passion -- skiing.
"I really like the speed that comes with skiing," Atwood said. "And the challenge that something is always changing -- the trail conditions, the water, the waves -- and you have to deal with that constant changing. It's not a sport I could ever become bored with."
He described the first time he went skiing, when he was in middle school.
"The class took trips on Tuesday nights to this little hill in Connecticut," Atwood said. "My friend and I decided we wanted to give it a try, and I got hooked."
He said skiing has even extended into his summers, when he waterskis on the lake near his home.
Atwood said he was on the ski team in his high school, but when he came to the College he realized he was not good enough to make the team. Instead, he served for two years on the Ski Patrol.
As for his plans after Dartmouth, Atwood said he hopes to go to law school, "if anyone will have me."
