While students at other Ivy League campuses roared with support for LGBT rights, the Dartmouth community has been largely silent during recent Supreme Court hearings on the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act and California's Proposition 8.
Harvard University students rallied near the Boston City Hall Plaza, and Brown University students held campus-wide demonstrations against local anti-gay marriage groups. University of Pennsylvania students invited Rogers Smith, a constitutional law professor, to a fireside chat, where he spoke about the Supreme Court's cases. Dartmouth has yet to hold similar discussions or rallies.
College Democrats president Mason Cole '13 said his organization is planning a joint event with the OUTreach Peer Mentors, which will include discussions with a representative from the office of Rep. Ann Kuster '78, D-N.H. The event will likely take place in the next few weeks.
Women and gender studies professor Michael Bronski, who often speaks with campus groups about LGBT issues, said he is not surprised that Dartmouth has been slow to act.
"We don't have many political rallies at all, and it's not that students are not interested," Bronski said. "We have a different campus climate, but I certainly don't think it means Dartmouth students are more conservative or more uninterested than students at other Ivies."
Women and gender studies major Jennifer Davidson '15 said the timing of the Supreme Court cases could explain the lack of campus events.
"It happened right during spring break and finals, and the hearing was the first week we got back," she said. "There was no time for rallies."
Once the Supreme Court reaches a decision, the community will likely be more active in celebration or reflection, she said. Davidson believes the lack of organized events does not provide evidence for Dartmouth's conservative reputation and said the school is relatively liberal.
"I'm not sure if we are more apathetic," she said. "Just from talking to them, people seem pretty passionate."
Representatives from Gender Sexuality XYZ, OUTreach Peer Mentors, the Office of Pluralism and Leadership and the Dartmouth LGBT Network did not respond to requests for comment on planned events.
David Cordero '16, who identifies as bisexual but does not participate in the College's LGBT organizations, attributed the lack of campus events supporting marriage equality to the school's quarter system.
"Students learn to be very efficient, and many students, including myself, would not be willing to have a campus discussion unless they feel that they are affected in a major way," he said.
Since New Hampshire has already legalized same-sex marriage, and marriage is far from the minds of most students, the effect of the decision on students' current lives would be minimal, he said.
Cordero noted that conversations sponsored by OPAL or LGBT-interest organizations may not be effective, as only those already interested in LGBT issues would attend, he said.
Roger Lott '14, who said he holds libertarian and conservative views for most political issues, said he believes that Dartmouth students should not be expected to hold rallies and discussions in support of same-sex marriage.
"Shouldn't we be having rallies about health care and government spending?" Lott said.
At Penn, the presidents of the College Republicans and Penn Democrats partnered to release a leadership statement to announce their support for same-sex marriage.
Presidents from 50 chapters of both the College Republicans and College Democrats signed the statement, including Cole. Dartmouth College Republicans President J.P. Harrington '14 did not sign the petition.
While Cole's signature only represents his personal views, he said Dartmouth's College Democrats chapter supports marriage equality.
"We are very proud of the way the state has stood at the forefront of the issue, and we are excited to learn what exactly is going on in Congress," Cole said.
Lott is a former staff columnist.
