Arriving back on campus for Fall term, students were greeted by a changed landscape, as the Tuck Mall and McLaughlin Residential Clusters and academic buildings Kemeny Hall and Haldeman Center opened in September.
This year's fall rush process likewise saw a new addition. National sorority Alpha Phi, which arrived on campus after 2006 winter rush and received recognition from the College this April, held its first rush events at sites including the Hanover Inn. The sorority, which hopes to obtain a physical plant in the future, entered Fall term with 20 members and extended 35 bids during fall and winter rush.
In October, Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority came under fire after a new-member bid-night event at an Enfield, N.H., roller rink resulted in the arrest of 11 students for alcohol violations. After review by College disciplinary committees, the sorority was not charged with alcohol or hazing infractions, but was instead found in violation of the College's Standard of Conduct and the terms of its previous probation.
The sorority was placed on social probation until late March, and was required to organize and participate in alcohol education events.
Late Fall term saw the College mired in debate over issues of race -- a controversy which centered upon the role of Dartmouth's historic Native American mascot.
In November, the Native American Council published a two-page advertisement in The Dartmouth with the headline "A Chronology of Racism, Fall 2006." Among the events enumerated in the timeline were the sale of Homecoming shirts featuring a caricature of rival Holy Cross's mascot performing fellatio on the Dartmouth Indian, the interruption of a Columbus Day drum circle by intoxicated students and a crew team dance where some students dressed in stereotypical Native American clothing.
Just over a week later, the publication of a controversial issue of The Dartmouth Review with a cover portraying a Native American holding a scalp accompanied by the title "The Natives are Getting Restless!" led several hundred students and staff to come together for a "Solidarity Against Hatred" rally to address this and other incidents of alleged prejudice.
The rally, which garnered national media attention, featured speeches by administrators including College President James Wright. Though he did not address The Review by name, Wright implicitly referenced the publication in his comments.
"My Dartmouth, our Dartmouth, is one that condemns the deliberate mean spiritedness that was demonstrated in the publication released yesterday," Wright said at the rally.
A proposed new alumni constitution was also brought forth during Fall term, but failed to get the required two-thirds of the vote, instead garnering 49 percent. The constitution, which would have consolidated the Association of Alumni and the Dartmouth Alumni Council under the purview of the Alumni Association, also would have changed the process of alumni nominations to the College's Board of Trustees.
Student Assembly, fresh off of the heated elections period of Spring 2006, also faced its share of controversy in the early months of the year.
In November, the Assembly's Committee on Standards task force, originally convened in April 2006, presented a report calling for eight changes to the COS -- including the raising of the groups' burden of proof and the institution of direct questioning. Though the task force's recommendations drew criticism from those who worried about their implications for the reporting of sexual assault, the Assembly chose to endorse the document.
Progress was stonewalled, however, when Acting Dean of the College Dan Nelson, who has filled the position since the May 2006 departure of James Larimore, announced that he would postpone action on the task force's recommendations. Nelson cited his status as an acting dean as the reason for the delay.
"[The issues raised in the report] have enough potential long-term implications for the College and for student life that the process for responding to those really needs to be under the purview of the person who will be dean of the College for the foreseeable future," Nelson told The Dartmouth in November.
The College's new Dean will likely be appointed in the coming weeks out of a group of remaining finalists.
The Assembly also passed a Statement of Concern against The Dartmouth during Fall term, after the November publication of a controversial cartoon which some alleged condoned sexual assault. The cartoon depicted a conversation between a student and Nietzsche, in which Nietzsche advises that the student "assert [his] will to power."
During Winter term, a group of purported "Assembly reformers" attempted to impeach Student Body President Tim Andreadis '07. While some questioned the true intentions of the reform movement, pointing to personal conflict between reform group leader Adam Shpeen '07 and Andreadis, the group's efforts led to the creation of a Student Governance Review Task Force to examine the role and efficiency of student governance at Dartmouth.
The Task Force's eventual report called for changes in funding for student organizations, which led to the formation of a new "Special Programs and Events Committee" to fund events which cost over $5,000.
Winter term also brought Hanover's usual dose of cold temperatures, complemented by a Valentine's Day snow closing for the College -- the first in many administrators' memories.
For members of Zeta Psi fraternity, this winter was marked by the official closing of their house as part of a re-recognition plan. The fraternity, which has been de-recognized by the College for six years, will remain in a "dark period" and will not accept any new members until the fall of 2009, when it will be eligible to start the re-recognition process..
In January, the Women's Health Program at Dick's House announced that it would provide female students under the age of 19 with free vaccinations for the human papillomavirus, a sexually transmitted disease which can cause cervical cancer and genital warts. The vaccination's three injections, generally covered by insurance, cost about $125. The program comes as a result of collaboration with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, but is limited to those students under 19 years of age.
The Indian mascot debate once again reemerged after College Athletic Director Josie Harper issued an apology for scheduling a December hockey tournament against the University of North Dakota "Fighting Sioux" -- a decision she said would cause "pain" to members of the Native American community.
Harper's comments led to the formation of a task force -- labeled the Stam Committee after Chairman Allan Stam, a professor in the government department -- to address the College's scheduling policy with schools with Native American mascots. The committee held an open meeting to discuss the issue in February.
The reinvigorated debate also spurred renewed discussion of the oft-proposed "Dartmoose" mascot. Student Assembly plans to purchase a Dartmoose costume to use on a trial basis next year.
This year's race for the slot on the College's Board of Trustees vacated by resigning Trustee Nancy Jeton '76 heated up during Spring term.
Open campaigning was permitted for the first time in this year's contest, a move that followed the failure of the proposed alumni constitution, when many complained about the ability of petition candidates to avoid anti-campaigning rules. Several candidates sunk considerable sums into their runs for Trustee -- including petition candidate and eventual winner Stephen Smith '88, who drew criticism for not disclosing the sources of his funding.
Throughout the race, Smith established himself as an anti-administration candidate, criticizing what he perceives to be Dartmouth's shift towards a university, rather than a college, feel.
In the wake of Smith's comments about increasing class sizes and free speech restrictions at the College, Wright issued a letter to the community, in which he sought to "correct the record" on campus issues. Though Wright denied any connection between the letter and Smith, many of his comments in the letter directly contrasted Smith's claims.
Smith alleged that the letter, as well as the March launch of the "Ask Dartmouth" website, constituted attacks on his campaign. Wright, however, maintained that the two were part of an initiative to "tell the Dartmouth story."
Smith's candidacy gained support from members of the "Phrygian society," an all-male secret organization whose members include several campus political conservatives. In March, The Dartmouth revealed that the organization was working to further an anti-administration agenda, and had met with several members of the Board of Trustees and briefly established a corporation to hold alumni donations in 2006.
April saw a visit from Pilobolus, a world-renowned dance group founded by four Dartmouth graduates. The group performed at the Hopkins Center and donated their archives to Rauner Special Collections Library.
In May, the thoughts of students and faculty alike were drawn away from the Upper Valley and towards Virginia Tech, where a student gunman took the life of 33 people including his own in the most deadly shooting in U.S. history. The events led the College to undergo a review of its security structure. The question of police access to student dormitories has gained particular attention in the weeks following the tragedy.
Elections for Student Body President were also held in May. After a relatively quiet contest, Travis Green '08 was elected president along with his "running mate" for Student Body Vice President, Ian Tapu '08.
At the end of spring, Wright received recognition for working with veterans and creating a college-guidance plan for Marines. News outlets including the New York Times covered Wright's involvement. Wright, himself an ex-Marine, was named "Person of the Week" on ABC's "World News with Charles Gibson."
Seniors studying for their final Spring term examinations were joined by a new addition to Berry library -- an installation of work by artist Wenda Gu made of human hair. The installation, the College's first large-scale commission since the Orozco Murals in 1934, will remain on display until October -- long enough to welcome in the Class of 2011.
