After serving almost 10 years as Dartmouth's Director of College Dining Services, Pete Napolitano said he is "actively" searching for a new position.
Despite rumors that he is quitting, Napolitano said, "I have not resigned. Right now I'm actively looking [for a new job]." He refused to comment on whether a successor to his position has been found.
However, several Dartmouth Dining Services employees who wished to remain anonymous said Associate Director of DDS Tucker Rossiter will soon replace Napolitano as director.
"He's stepping back and letting Tucker fill in," one employee said.
Another DDS employee said Napolitano is now spending less time on the job since he is interviewing for other positions.
According to one employee, Napolitano told her and several others that he has put his home up for sale.
Napolitano's announcement comes during troubled times for DDS. In April, he told the Student Assembly that DDS was in a "pretty bad state financially." College Treasurer Lyn Hutton also said DDS had a net loss of $400,000 in the 1996 fiscal year.
DDS troubles may have adversely affected Napolitano's other professional activities, according to one employee. Napolitano is a regional president of the National Association of College and University Food Services (NACUFS).
Napolitano was one of three candidates who ran for the national presidency of NACUFS. He lost the election, which was held in early July. An anonymous DDS employee said lack of support for his candidacy from the College was partly responsible for his loss.
"NACUFS just realized that Dartmouth wasn't supporting him," the employee said.
When Napolitano came to Dartmouth in 1988, DDS finances were run in an entirely different manner than they are today. Freshmen and sophomores were required to have a 21-meal-per-week plan, and there were separate eating establishments for freshmen and upperclassmen.
Napolitano and DDS worked to offer more flexibility in food choices and introduced comment cards so students would be able to make suggestions to improve service.
During Napolitano's tenure, Collis Cafe, Byrne Hall and Home Plate were renovated and DDS bureaucratic channels were simplified.
Napolitano's team also expanded Thayer Hall's role by adding the College Copy Center, Topside Convenience Store, the Student Employment Office and a student television lounge.
Changes also included the elimination of entrees at the Lone Pine Tavern and the removal of the deli from Collis Cafe. Both decisions were unpopular with students and were recently reversed.
However, the introduction of smoothies -- icy fruit drinks -- to Collis Cafe was extremely successful.
Currently, an ad hoc committee composed of seven students and five administrators is meeting to determine what operational changes DDS will need to make in order to break even, Rossiter said.
