After one-and-a-half years of discussion and debate over the merits of the Dartmouth Experience program, students and faculty launched the new program when they moved into the recently renovated East Wheelock cluster last week.
The program aims to merge students' academic and social lives in the residence cluster by facilitating interaction between faculty advisers and the 135 freshmen and 100 upperclass students living in the cluster. The Board of Trustees last winter passed Dean of the College Lee Pelton's plans for the Dartmouth Experience program.
"So far, reaction has been favorable by students and faculty," Pelton said. "About half of the entering Class of 2000 indicated to the housing office that they wanted to live there, so that suggests to me that there's a strong interest in East Wheelock."
"Last week I attended an opening session with many of the students and faculty who are associated with the program," Pelton continued. "It was exactly how I envisioned it would be -- students and faculty meeting in one setting and engaging in ways that are significant and educationally beneficial."
Jen Parkinson '99, an Undergraduate Advisor in the cluster, described the program as "an opportunity for students to get to know the faculty more."
For example, Assistant Dean of the College Steven Cornish, who serves as dean of the East Wheelock cluster, holds office hours Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Brian Patel '97, the area coordinator for the cluster, said the main difference between East Wheelock and other clusters is the presence of a programming council that includes freshmen.
"All the students have gotten really involved with the programming council," Patel said. "From the comments and all, it seems like they want to work towards a community atmosphere and making the program a success."
Patel added that the programming council's events will be open to all students, not just those living in East Wheelock.
Parkinson said, "We're sort of focusing on more exciting programming." She said the cluster programming council is currently trying to organize a trip to Boston.
"I think the 2000s, being new on campus, are very enthusiastic," Patel said. "We're working to get more of the upperclassmen involved."
Patel said everything is still in the preliminary stages
"It really is up to the faculty associates and the students to determine the shape and the future of the program," Pelton said.
The faculty associates, French and Italian and Comparative Literature Professor Marianne Hirsch and History Professor Leo Spitzer, live in the faculty associates' apartment on East Wheelock Street. Hirsch and Spitzer were unavailable for comment.
The College began renovations to the cluster immediately after Commencement with some minor demolition work to start remodeling the faculty advisers' house, Dean of Residential Life Mary Turco said.
Renovations to the cluster included the construction of office space for the members of the faculty associated with the cluster.
In addition, Turco said, Brace Commons and the study rooms were modified so that selected freshmen seminars could be held there. A snack bar is being added as well.
The snack bar will not open until early October, Patel said.
After the Reunion period, renovations on the faculty residence began at a "feverish pace" in order to have the house ready for its occupants by early September, Turco said.
"The renovations have essentially been completed and professors Spitzer and Hirsch have moved in," Pelton said.
"It's going to take some adjusting for them," she said of the cluster's faculty associates, explaining that their residence is situated near three dormitories and two fraternities.
Some students found the prospect of living in an East Wheelock room just as appealing as participating in the program.
Emily Jordan '00 said she asked to live in the cluster because she "heard the rooms were really big."
But she also thought the program seemed interesting.
"It sounded cool," Jordan said of the Dartmouth Experience program.
But aside from the physical plant, Jordan said she has not noticed many differences between East Wheelock and other residence hall clusters.
"I lived here last year," Melanie Soares '99 said, "the rooms are a lot nicer, a lot bigger" than in other residence halls. Even though most events are still in the planning stages, she said, "there's supposed to be a lot of performances in terms of drama and music."
