Last night, five student activists asked the question, "What have you done for Dartmouth?" and urged students to make a difference on campus.
"Have you been sleeping when opportunity knocks?" asked Hosea Harvey '95, a member of the Collis Governing Board and 1995 Class Vice President. "Alarms ring here everyday. What are you going to do about it? Don't just talk or sleep through class."
More than 35 students attended the panel discussion, titled "Catalysts for Change: Dartmouth Students Making A Difference," which was held in the Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for the Social Sciences.
"I think that there are very few people would say that Dartmouth is perfect," Eboney Simmons '96 said. "But you can't get from A to B by just sitting there. You've got to move. I look at this discussion as the first step to getting involved."
Moderated by Gen Kanai '95, the panel featured Dani Brune '96, Yun Chung '97, John Honovich '97, Claire Unis '95 and Harvey. Each panelist stressed that students should interact with other students, be open to new opinions and express themselves.
Brune, a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority and chair of the Panhellenic Council's New Member Education Committee, discussed her role in overhauling sorority rush and increasing publicity about the benefits of the Greek system. This fall she organized three discussion sessions for new Greek members on hazing, gender issues and alcohol awareness.
Although she said she has encountered criticism for her work, Brune urged all students to get involved. "Be persistent and keep trying to work for something you believe in," she said.
Chung, a member of the Korean Language Task Force and co-chair of the Student Assembly's Social Issues Committee, echoed Brune's sentiments.
"With an active voice, I hope to enhance the quality of the overall Dartmouth community," she said of her work to decrease the "silence and invisibility" of the Asian community on campus.
"Activism has enhanced my character, confidence and self assurance," Chung said.
Honovich, secretary of the Student Assembly, and Unis, former editor of Spare Rib and a founding member of Amarna undergraduate society, agreed with the other panelists that everyone can be a catalyst for change if they only get involved.
Unis stressed increasing communication and understanding among students and especially genders. "You can't be afraid and defensive against criticism," she said.
The panelists were chosen from among nominations submitted by campus organizations working for change, said Theresa Ellis '97, who organized the discussion along with the Rockefeller Center for Social Sciences and the National Education for Women's Leadership.
More than 30 students were nominated, but only five were chosen due to the panel's time constraints.
The discussion was the beginning of a three-part series on advocacy at Dartmouth. A public lecture at the end of January will feature Jon Cowan '86, co-founder of "Lead or Leave," and Rebecca Walker, founder of "Third Wave" which works to increase the minority vote. A student workshop to develop tools for advocacy and change will be held in February.