From day one, Dartmouth students are told that the campus thrives on discussion and debate. Last year was no exception to that, as there was the culmination of many old debates and the introduction of several new issues.
One of the more vigorously debated issues surfaced in the final weeks of Spring term when a committee examining the first-year experience at the College released a report recommending, among other things, the creation of first-year dorms.
The committee, created and chaired by Dean of the College Lee Pelton, was commissioned to investigate ways to improve the intellectual atmosphere on the entire campus in general and during the freshman year in particular.
In another move to increase intellectualism, the College finally will implement the new curriculum this year. The curriculum, more aims to give students the maximum benefits of a liberal arts education.
A committee examining diversity at Dartmouth released its findings in January, saying the College needs to work more on "managing diversity." It recommended that the College create a new administrator to College efforts.
In June, College President James Freedman announced that Director of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Mary Childers would be in charge of managing diversity.
Some long-raging debates with national and international significance also reached their conclusions last year.
In November, the College decided to re-invest its holdings in South Africa. The College's decision to divest from these holdings in 1989 sparked campus debate..
And in April, the College's Board of Trustees voted to continue the Army Reserve Officer's Training Corps program despite saying it contradicts the College's principle of equal opportunity by discriminating against homosexuals.
The Faculty previously voted twice to remove it. The Student Assembly voted for the program.
After the Trustee vote, the College organization that represents homosexuals led a protest -- attended by about 100 students and faculty -- in front of the Parkhurst Administration building.
A constant debate last year was focused on the Greek system's proper role on campus.
In a fall referendum sponsored by the Student Assembly, about 80 percent of the students voted for the continuation of single-sex houses at the College.
The Greek system felt the clamps of a new New Hampshire law that outlawed any act that causes physical or mental harm and is required for membership in a College organization.
David Robb '94 and Nathaniel Cook '94 were arrested and charged with violating the "hazing law" for for allegedly to hazing a Beta Theta Pi fraternity pledge.
The two received light sentences from the courts, but the College also investigated the matter and suspended Robb for two terms and Cook for four. The house itself also received a set of harsh sanctions, including suspended recognition as a College organization.
The debate about the Greek system was fueled by the arrival of Amarna, the College's second undergraduate society, in November.
Many administrators have heralded undergraduate societies as being the way of the future. Undergraduate societies are akin to a Greek house but with no selective rush process or a pledging period.
Part of the administration's work to de-emphasize the Greek system included efforts to increase social options on campus.
Collis Center reopened after a year of construction last winter, as the College's first building dedicated solely to student social life.
Collis' large common ground and basement tavern proved to be quite popular on weekend nights.
Two events jolted the College community sharply last year. Senior Dan Boyer's unexpected suicide in October rocked the campus, leaving many students questioning the pressures of campus life.
College President James Freedman was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer in the spring.
He is undergoing chemotherapy and doctors remain hopeful that he will be able to make a full recovery.
Before the canver was discovered, the Trustees announced that Freedman would take a six-month sabbatical, starting Jan. 1.
Dean of the Faculty James Wright will act as president in Freedman's absence.
The Assembly was also a source of controversy on campus. In February, several members of the Assembly launched a failed coup where they tried to remove the president, Nicole Artzer '94.
The attempted impeachment only increased complaints that the Assembly is too hampered by politics to get anything done.
