Last night the 2003 Class Council hosted a freshman only discussion about the Committee's recommendation, with the intention of constructing a report to be sent to the Board of Trustees. Approximately 20 students voiced their opinions, with the vast majority of comments opposed to the proposed changes to the Coed Fraternity Sorority system.
The first to speak were Mary McVeigh '03 and Meghan Kelly '03, who had jointly prepared an outline of their views on the Committee's recommendations. Calling the report the "initiative to take away your life," McVeigh took issue with the Committee's concern with Dartmouth losing students of "high ability" to competing universities. She pointed out that even if those students had matriculated to Dartmouth, the increase in the Class of 2003's average SAT score would have been insignificant.
"The Committee thinks we aren't good enough, and is instead catering to these so-called prodigies who have nothing to do with Dartmouth student life," she said.
Kelly expressed her confusion over the Committee's plan of action, and asked why creating more social options must entail removing the existing ones.
"I've had such a good time at Dartmouth this fall, I don't understand why they want to change it," she said, "I've never had a problem at a frat, I've only had fun."
While McVeigh and Kelly's comments were met with applause, John Hollander spoke next and reminded the group that the Committee's report was only recommendations. There are social problems and we need to start discussing how we can improve, he said.
The next dozen students to speak all seemed to agree that Dartmouth would benefit from new social options, but they had a variety of opinions concerning what those changes should be and how they should be implemented.
The Trustees should make other social options available before they start restricting the CFS system, Andrew Ross '03 explained. He particularly disagreed with restricting affiliated sophomores from living in their houses, which he believed would ruin the atmosphere of sophomore summer.
Amit Anand '03, who is on the Student Response Task Force charged with collecting opinions on the recommendations, also criticized the proposed changes to the CFS system, arguing that the problem with Dartmouth's social atmosphere wasn't the lack of programming but the lack of student control.
Carolyne Johnson '03 said that while she enjoyed fraternity parties, the people on campus were what really brought her to Dartmouth, and the Student Life Initiative wouldn't change that atmosphere.
"I'm not going to stop loving this school because someone sticks a 40 page booklet in my face and says 'These are the new rules.' People will still have fun here regardless of what goes into effect," she said.
Other students shared her positive outlook on the committee's recommendation, and took the opportunity to suggest new social options. Evan Skow '03 advocated for more student run and operated social space. Michael Perry '03 suggested the College convert more basement areas into social spaces for jazz clubs and other venues. He urged his classmates to think about this Initiative's importance to the future of Dartmouth.
"It's not about what we want," Perry said, "It's about what we want our younger brothers and sisters to experience at Dartmouth."
While the overwhelming number of comments were responses to the report's discussion of the CFS system, many students also spoke about other aspects of the proposal.
Alexis Jhamb '03 said that the committee's recommendation to increase affinity housing would ultimately diminish diversity at Dartmouth. Encouraging minorities to segregate themselves defeats the purpose of creating a diverse class, she said.
Jennai Williams '03 supported affinity housing, and called attention to the fact that non-minorities also live in those houses. She did agree that Dartmouth needs to work towards greater cultural diversity by recruiting people "who think differently, not just look different."
The recommended changes to dormitory housing were also addressed, with many students relating concern over freshman only housing and increased social clusters. John Ashworth '03 said that he really found the advice from upperclassmen in his dorm helpful in choosing courses and adjusting to college life.
Anand said that he fears the cluster system will create the same social segregation that the Committee claims is created by the CFS system.
One of the last people to speak was freshman class president Dan Chang '03, who thought that substance free housing like that now available in Butterfield Hall should be available to all students that apply.
