They said it couldn't be done, but this year's senior symposium is in the final stages of planning with only minor details left to be worked out, according to Senior Class Vice President Tom Caputo '96.
The senior symposium, first held in 1978 as an intellectual gift to the College from the senior class, will this year focus on that exact theme -- "They Said It Couldn't Be Done" -- and its planners have invited to the College a host of individuals who accomplished that which was thought to be impossible.
Invitees who have accepted their invitations to the symposium, which will run from April 8 to April 13, include: keynote speaker Roger Launius, NASA Chief Historian; Jack Lemley, Chief Engineer of the Chunnel Project; baseball player Art Shamsky; Sir Roger Bannister, the first human to break the four-minute mile; and Virtual Reality Surgery expert Dr. Joe Rosen.
Also speaking at the symposium are Dr. William DeVries, the first doctor to implant an artificial heart; Chief of Endangered Species, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Paul Nickerson; Richard Armstrong, who blocked the building of a proposed highway through Amish farmland in Pennsylvania, and Lieutenant General Wesley K. Clark.
Caputo said that almost all of the arrangements concerning the speakers have been made.
"Just minor details are left," he said.
One remaining detail is the issue of travel, chair of the senior symposium committee Leslie Jennings '96, said.
"Right now we're just trying to confirm that everyone has their travel plans correct and will be here on time," she said.
Paying for the symposium is another issue of great importance.
"We're still checking to see if we have the money to pay for the symposium," committee member Chris Marston '96 said.
"It's looking like we're closer than people in the past have been, and we are very pleased with the generosity of other campus groups in co-sponsoring the event," he said.
The symposium boasts a panel on coeducation at Dartmouth, comprised of individuals who were involved at the College when coeducation was first being implemented.
Jennings said that a "wall of shame" will be present during the symposium displaying rejection letters from individuals that the committee had invited to speak.
According to Marston, the committee received hundreds of rejection letters. Among the more prominent rejections: Myrlie Evers-Williams, Cal Ripken Jr., and Newt Gingrich.
"We were especially disappointed that we could not get Jimmy Carter and Nelson Mandela to come and speak," Jennings said. "We were hoping to do some kind of a program on civil rights and the peace process."
This year's symposium features some new activities aimed at making the program more enjoyable for all. Caputo said that this was one of the committee's goals this year.
Highlighting Tuesday evening is a cocktail reception for the Class of 1996, faculty, administration, and the featured speakers.
"The Senior 'Tails event takes a lot of things that seniors do and makes a big night of them, while at the same time encouraging a responsible drinking environment," Marston said.
Other activities include an open house and tours at the Thayer School of Engineering, and a showing of the film "Welcome to the Dollhouse," produced by Donna Bascom '73.
"Everything's coming together really nicely, and I think that the Senior Symposium is going to come off great," Caputo said.
