The College has numerous organizations dedicated to act as a support network for minority students and to foster understanding of minority cultures.
The groups provide campus-wide social and cultural programming and a supportive environment for many of their members. Minorities make up about 23 percent of the Class of 1998.
Other programs exist for the academic support of minority students via research grants and fellowships.
Below is a list of many of the organizations and programs that, while devoted to the needs of minority students, are often open to participation from the entire student body.
Dartmouth Asian Organization
The Dartmouth Asian Organization is a social and cultural group where students learn about Asian culture and about themselves, DAO Vice President Bill Hwang '96 said.
DAO, with about 50 active members, tries to promote a better understanding of Asian cultures.
It sponsors events such as Asian Culture Night, panel discussions, dinners, movies and intramural athletics.
Hwang said helping freshmen adjust to their first year is one of DAO's major goals.
"We have a little sibling, big sibling program, and in the past we have held informational meetings for freshmen concerning course choices, major possibilities and career options," Hwang said.
DAO is an important support group for many of its members.
"I looked to DAO as the key to meeting other Asian individuals and meeting those who were very much interested in the Asian heritage," Hwang said. "DAO helped me to adjust to the college."
Afro-American Society
The Afro-American Society's goal is "to preserve and promote African and African-American heritage," AAm President James Hunter '95 said. "We try to be a representative body of the African and African American community."
The more-than-200-member organization serves as a liaison between African and African-American students, alumni and faculty groups.
It holds weekly meetings and sponsors cultural, social and academic events, including Black History Month, parties and speakers.
The AAm also provides a support network for African and African-American students on campus.
"It's a good refuge in the Dartmouth community," Hunter said. "It's kind of a good home. People can come and meet their academic needs, their social needs and their cultural needs."
Korean American Student Association
The Korean American Student Association sponsors activities "for anybody that has an interest in Korean culture or anything that has to do with Korea," KASA Summer Executive Jo Won Seuk '96 said.
KASA events are "for the promotion of all things Korean, really," Seuk said. "Korean-American students here don't get the opportunity to be in touch with their Korean culture when they are here," Seuk said.
KASA will be planning events for Freshman in the beginning of Fall term.
La Alianza Latina
La Alianza Latina sponsors educational activities, speakers and film series designed to increase awareness of U.S. Latino culture and to provide support for U.S. Latinos on campus.
"We're working more on the support side now," said La Alianza President Ana Henderson '96.
La Alianza will sponsor several activities for incoming freshmen, including a big brother, big sister program and a speaker during Freshmen Week or during the early weeks of Fall term.
La Alianza activities are open to the entire campus. "It is as much for the membership as it is for the rest of the campus," Henderson said.
Native Americans at
Dartmouth
Native Americans at Dartmouth is an organization open to all Dartmouth students. It focuses on Native issues of local and national importance, and tries to provide a forum for the discussion of issues that effect Native community, according to NAD President Lisa Cain '96.
NAD sponsors many activities on campus. "Members of NAD have joined together to form a chapter of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, an intertribal drum group, Native theater presentations and intramural sports teams," Cain said.
NAD also tries to provide support for its members.
"NAD is a supportive community made up of talented and diverse individuals from urban areas and reservations alike," Cain said.
Mellon Research Grants
The Andrew Mellon Foundation encourages minority students to pursue academic careers. Each year five juniors are given grants on a competitive basis.
The fellows complete an independent research project under faculty supervision and participate in weekly seminars led by a faculty member.
E.E. Just Program
The E.E. Just Program attempts to address the national shortage of scientists and the under-representation of minorities in the sciences.
The program sponsors science forums and workshops, visiting scientists and junior year research internships.
