As photographers from Playboy Magazine arrive in Hanover this weekend to interview potential models on Monday, the campus is gearing up for the visit.
The photographers' visit next week marks the last stop of Playboy's tour through the Ivy League in search of women who are hoping to pose for the magazine's upcoming "Women of the Ivy League" pictorial. The feature is scheduled to run in the magazine's October back-to-school issue.
According to Playboy spokeswoman Karen Ring-Borgstrom, Playboy photographer David Mecey and two assistants will conduct preliminary interviews at the Hanover Inn on Monday and Tuesday.
She said Playboy's offices in Chicago have received numerous inquiries from Dartmouth women who are interested in appearing in the photo spread, but said she did not have the exact number of women available.
While some women are getting ready to be interviewed by the magazine, other students are preparing to protest Playboy's visit.
Debbie Carbonaro '97 said she is hoping to meet with Acting College President James Wright today to petition that the College not allow Playboy to use any of its property or facilities, which includes the Hanover Inn.
The petition, signed by several students, reads: "By allowing the use of College facilities in this way, each and every Dartmouth student is unwittingly implicated in the institution of pornography. We cannot in good conscience allow the administration to imply that we support -- in any way -- Playboy's visit to Dartmouth College."
Carbonaro said about six students will meet over the weekend to discuss holding a sit-in to protest the visit.
Carbonaro also said the women involved in the protest may hold signs and pin resumes or academic papers to their bodies, to signify "that we as women are more than the objectification of our bodies."
Sarah Johnston '97, who is leading a coalition of students protesting the visit, said although an effort was made to secure a permit to protest outside the Hanover Inn, the group ran into legal problems that may prevent students from doing so.
But Carbonaro said the group may prefer to protest somewhere other than the Hanover Inn because it wants to direct their message toward the pornography industry rather than the women who go to the interviews.
Bill Kartalopoulos '97, a member of the coalition, said it is composed of people from across the political spectrum. He said the "only thing we have in common [is that] we don't feel very happy about Playboy's coming to campus."
Kartalopoulos created a home page on the World Wide Web that contains articles and columns from The Dartmouth dealing with Playboy's visit and stories about women involved with pornography whose lives ended in dissolution.
He said he is also attempting to organize a rally involving various student groups in objection to Playboy.
Johnston said the group has worked hard during the last month to plan a response to the visit.
"We're trying to get everything together," Johnston said. She said this weekend, she will concentrate on publicity concerning Playboy's shoot.
Carbonaro said the group will plaster the campus with posters beginning this morning and through the weekend to protest the visit.
English and Women's Studies Professor Ivy Schweitzer said it is important that people at Dartmouth respond to Playboy's visit as a community and not just as individuals.
"It is in our interest to [provide] information to make a decision not to pose," Schweitzer said.
Although Schweitzer moderated a discussion Monday on issues surrounding pornography and sexuality, she said her role during the visit will be to serve as an educator and supporter for students who are taking a stand against the shoot.
Coincidentally, the Women's Resource Center and Health Resources are coordinating a three-day series of programming titled "Looking Glass Logic: Bodies, Images and Change," about body image and eating disorders. The series begins on Monday.
While the series was planned before people became aware of Playboy's planned visit, Women's Resource Center Director Giavanna Munafo said she is pleased about the conjunction of events because Playboy plays a large role in defining the "acceptable images of female bodies."
Interviews
Borgstrom said Mecey and his assistants are currently photographing women at Cornell University and will drive up from Ithaca, N.Y. on Sunday.
She said Mecey and his assistants will stay at the Hanover Inn during their visit and will conduct their interviews and photography there.
The photographers "have got this down to a science," Borgstrom said.
She said interested women should call the Hanover Inn to contact Mecey and make an appointment.
Borgstrom added the prospective models should bring a two-piece bathing suit, identification proving they are over 18-years old and are Dartmouth students and to "look their best."
She said during the interviews the women will be asked to fill out a question-and-answer sheet and discuss their aspirations and academic pursuits.
While Playboy's advertisement says many models "have gone on to become Playboy Playmates, actresses and models," Borgstrom said a student's decision to pose is often "a fluke" because most of the women have other "serious career goals in mind."
"It's just something to do," she said. "Most of the ladies don't want to pursue an acting or modeling career," she said.
Mecey will be interviewed by various television news stations, radio stations and local newspapers that are covering the event, Borgstrom said.
