In a previous column, the members of Abaris discussed some aspects of the present state of leadership at Dartmouth College. We would now like to follow that column with a discussion as to the ways in which we, as members of the Dartmouth Community, can all support not only the institution of leadership, but also leaders themselves.
As weathered seniors on the verge of leaving the Hanover Plain, we have come to realize with time the climate in which campus leadership (on all levels) is regarded on this campus. Compared to many campuses, our small size promotes a general support of people and of events, both small and large. The interactions between student and administrator, student and faculty member, and student and student generally advocate a level of support in most ventures which students pursue. But, upon examining this topic, we have realized that much improvement in Dartmouth's leadership climate can be made.
The administration as a whole works to promote student leadership. Whether it be in residence halls, on College committees, or in open discussion session, Dartmouth's administrators have made available opportunities for students to demonstrate leadership. Further, through groups like the UFC, COSO and the Programming Board, it provides the necessary funds for students to try out their own ideas and projects. However, it can also be said that offices which have interactions with students also uphold a certain amount of rigidity which can, at times, hamper student creativity. Each office has its one focus -- its one "piece" of Dartmouth -- and that focus becomes its hold over Dartmouth. Each student finds he or she has to bend to the will of each office he or she enters, as if entering multiple camps on each side of a battle. This "bureaucracy" (for lack of a better term), so often makes even the smallest of events into the biggest of hassles.
The faculty, as well, is extremely helpful in supporting Dartmouth's leadership community. Many professors are involved in student organizations as advisers or attend student events as a show of support for either the students involved or the issues themselves. But it can also be noted that the faculty sometimes hamper leadership ventures in their decision making processes. Athletes are often away from Dartmouth, and are usually permitted to recoup the material they have missed soon thereafter. However students devoting significant time to arranging a major program, conference, campaign, etc. are often not given the same consideration as a road trip for an athletic team. The planning and implementation of an event at Dartmouth can often take up as much time as team practices, road trips and team meetings. This is not to say that members of sports teams are not leaders, but that all students should be given equal consideration. These experiences and interactions outside of the classroom are so often some of the most valuable learning experiences, and should be recognized as such.
But the most important factor in student leadership is, of course, students themselves. Students helping students to persevere as leaders is one of the essential components of campus leadership. A leader on this campus often finds one of the most frustrating aspects of campus participation can be working with his or her fellow students. Leaders are often called upon to devote more time to activities than their fellow members. In this sense, one could say that a person's dedication to an organization is by necessity marked by rank.
So the question remains -- what can be done to support leaders and leadership at Dartmouth? More inter-organizational interaction is essential. We can all learn some things from the experiences of our fellow Dartmouth students. This has been seen of late through the efforts of the Panhellenic Council; the members of the College's six established sororities have come together to help establish a seventh organization -- not only to help alleviate membership strains on their own organizations, but also to help future sorority members to enjoy their experiences within their organizations. It is this type of interaction that is essential to each organization's survival -- no group can survive in a vacuum.
Further, students' interests and participation in various activities should be considered fairly by their fellow students, professors and administrators. While we are all here to promote academia and to be students, we are also leaders, student workers, athletes, family members, and friends -- none of which are necessarily exclusive of the others. Students need support not only in the form of occasional extra time and space to get all those things accomplished that are expected of them; they also need encouragement, advice, and a willingness to help which will allow us all to better enjoy our Dartmouth experience.
