Pelton creates civil discourse group
By David Cahill | November 21, 1997In response to a series of incidents of intolerance over the last two years, Dean of the College Lee Pelton is creating a "committee on civil discourse" to encourage civility in the student body, Pelton announced yesterday. The committee will focus on the Principles of Community -- four statements adopted by the Board of Trustees in 1980 based on the principle that "the life and work of a Dartmouth student should be based on integrity, responsibility and consideration." The Principles provide a basis for interaction among the different members of the Dartmouth community. In a letter being distributed to students today, Pelton said that "a series of unfortunate incidents over the last two years seemed to suggest that some members of our community remained unenlightened by these Principles." "Most recently, discussions concerning civility and speech have reemerged following the reactions of some members of the community to the recent issue of the Jack O'Lantern," Pelton wrote. Chaired by Dean of Tucker Foundation Scott Brown, the committee will host lectures on tolerance and assess prevailing social attitudes at Dartmouth -- "not to impose values or beliefs but rather to serve as a catalyst for discussion," Pelton said. "This is not a committee whose job will be to enforce regulations or ask students to comply with the regulations," Pelton said.