Both the positive and negative aspects of tradition at the College and in society will be examined during this year's Senior Symposium.
"We will examine tradition through such aspects as anthropology and sociology. We want to see who defines tradition and who is included and excluded in the changing of traditions," said Natalie Herring '95, chair of the Senior Symposium committee of the 1995 Class Council.
Every spring the graduating class presents the Senior Symposium, an intellectual gift to the College community in which a topic is examined through a variety of speeches, panel discussions and presentations.
The committee chose the theme at its first meeting of the term Monday night.
The issue of tradition has long been a topic for discussion at the College. Dartmouth night, the Indian mascot, the Class Day ceremony of smashing clay pipes, and rushing the field during football games were all at one time a part of the Dartmouth experience.
Herring said the issues surrounding the "lest the old traditions fail" phrase of the Alma Mater will serve as a backdrop for the symposium.
She said the committee hopes to explore both the positive and negative sides of tradition. "I am interested in the Indian shirt trauma as well as the tradition that is enjoyable."
In the past, the Symposium Committee has tried to attract influential keynote speakers by using alumni connections and writing letters to a variety of well-known people. Senior Class President Alyse Kornfeld '95, who is a member of the committee, said, "people have sent requests in to the committee for everyone from Madonna to Hillary Clinton."
But this year's Symposium will try to focus specifically on the College community and draw speakers from inside the College, Herring said.
The Senior Symposium tradition started in 1977. The committee solicits funding for the event from various student organizations on campus as well as administrative groups, foundations and councils.
"According to my own schedule everything is going well," Herring said. At its next meeting Oct. 3, the committee will begin to narrow the names of possible speakers and solidify ideas.
The committee must also address the topic of an interim chair. Herring, the chair of the committee, will be off this winter and two co-chairs will fill her place during the winter.
"The committee is very talented and I am sure the Symposium will be successful," Kornfeld said.
