Following yesterday's announcement that Provost James Wright will succeed College President James Freedman as Dartmouth's sixteenth president, faculty, administrators and students said they had confidence in Wright's leadership ability.
But some students and alumni said they were unsettled by his emphasis on Dartmouth as a research university, while others expressed concern that he might tread on a path too similar to Freedman's.
Wright is "a superb human being and his wife is equally so," said a tearful Nardi Reeder Campion, the mother of three Dartmouth alumni and grandmother of two recent graduates and one senior. "He will raise the sights of Dartmouth, if you can do that ... He will enrich this remarkable institution."
Prior to the announcement, three-time Government Department Chair and Professor Emeritus Laurence Radway said he would be pleased if Wright, his former poker opponent, replaced Freedman as president of the College.
"He commands the confidence of the faculty," Radway said.
Radway said an audience of faculty members gave Wright a standing ovation after one of Wright's late 1980s speeches -- a display that was never repeated in Radway's 49 years at the College.
President James Freedman said he was thrilled by Wright's appointment, but said he will not give Wright any suggestions or recommendations regarding the presidency.
"I have vowed not to give unsolicited advice," he said. "I had my crack, and I have vowed not to give advice to others. He is going to do fine on his own."
Continuing Freedman's legacy
Alumnus Bob Conway '73, a former student of Wright's, said the announcement was "a welcome one."
"Wright is well-known by the alumni, is well-respected and was sought after as a professor of history," he said. "I have perhaps a prejudice in his favor, but he is a former marine, and I am as well. Perhaps Marine Corps training is not essential, but it certainly can't hurt."
Dean of Faculty Edward Berger said Wright would continue Freedman's legacy.
"I think Jim Wright and Jim Freedman both share the same vision of Dartmouth as it enters the new millennium," he wrote in an e-mail message. "Jim Wright will likely be more directly involved with the students [than Freedman]."
Greg Chittim '01, co-chair of the Student Assembly's ad-hoc committee on Visions, said Wright is already showing an interest in students' points of view.
Wright met yesterday afternoon with members of the Visions Committee, which last term compiled more than 800 "visions" of Dartmouth's future from students to give to the new president.
Associate Director of the College's Alumni Fund Liz Russell said Wright has "the knowledge of the past and the vision of the future to lead us on."
Russell said she thought Wright's commitment to affirmative action was legitimate, and his emphasis on research would make the College's faculty more effective.
Retired Administrative Assistant for Native American Studies Lucie Mimsk said she has known Wright since 1962 and "he has grown into a person ready for this position."
Mimsk said she thought Wright's commitment to research would not "diminish his commitment to academic excellence."
Sarah English '01 said she thought Wright's appointment would provide some continuity for a college in the midst of administrative upheaval.
"I think it was good to choose someone from within the Dartmouth community," she said. "I like having someone who is familiar with Dartmouth."
Assistant Professor of Anthropology Paul Goldstein also said Wright's selection would spare the College a turbulent presidential transition.
"It's a strong vote for continuity in many of the positive changes I've seen since arriving at Dartmouth," he said.
Jean Kemeny, wife of former president John Kemeny, attended the faculty meeting where Wright's appointment was announced. She said she was excited about the transition.
"My husband would have been ecstatic," she said. "He thought a great deal of [Wright]."
Stacey Sheriff '98 said she was pleased a Dartmouth administrator will be the College's next president, but said she was "disappointed [the appointee] was not a woman."
Avoiding change?
Other students said they had doubts about Wright's ability and agenda.
Kate Cunningham '01 described Wright's selection as "inbreeding."
The Trustees "should have drawn someone with experience with the community outside of Dartmouth," she said. "They're not willing to diversify as much as they should."
Dartmouth newcomer Linda Romano '01 criticized the Trustees for not being "more daring" in their selection of the president.
"I think this is the perfect opportunity to change Dartmouth as far as the administration goes," she said. "I would have liked to see a new face to lend an atmosphere to the campus."
Josh Chuang '98 said Wright "seemed like almost a carbon copy of Freedman."
Adin Kawate '98 said she was concerned about Wright's plans to emphasize research at the College.
After listening to his acceptance speech yesterday, she said that, although she does not know much about Wright, "it didn't seem like he was that concerned with undergraduates."
Alumnus and President of the Class of 1981 Rick Silverman shared Kawate's concerns that faculty research may distract professors from their undergraduates but said faculty research is not necessarily incompatible with the College's undergraduate focus.
"People saw President Freedman as trying to create a Harvard in New Hampshire," he said. "If Wright is taking the next step and turning it into a research based institution, no one is going to like that ... If he uses that to enhance the undergraduate experience, people would like that."
Tibor Nagy '00 said he was indifferent to Wright's appointment as president but questioned whether Wright would have the authority to implement his proposed reforms.
