This year's senior symposium will attempt to answer the question "What is American Culture?" through a variety of panels and presentations beginning on Wednesday.
Matt Shafer '97, senior class vice president, said the symposium planning committee sought a topic that would attract different student groups. Mollie Greves '97, another organizer, said the topic would hopefully "generate some discussion."
The Class of 1978 created the senior symposium as an intellectual gift to the College from the senior class. This year's symposium marks the 19th anniversary of the program.
The symposium kicks off Wednesday night with an all-female group of panelists, who will discuss their experiences, research and work as women living in the United States.
The panelists include Dartmouth Medical School Physiology Professor Hilda Sokol, Dean of Residential Life Mary Turco, History Professor Annelise Orleck, Women's Studies Professor Michelle Meyers, Miranda Johnson '97 and Sarah Cho '97.
Also on Wednesday, Dream-keepers -- a group that puts poet Langston Hughes' words to music -- is scheduled to perform a piece called "Langston Hughes: In Search of Soul."
Shafer said the performance, which is co-funded by the Programming Board, will illustrate the relationship between music and poetry. Jazz, he said, is "America's only indigenous art form."
Thursday afternoon, an intergenerational panel composed of Dartmouth students and residents of the nearby Kendal retirement community will discuss the changes that have taken place in American society, Greves said.
"The panelists will use experience and reflection to look at the way American culture has been defined, portrayed and changed," according to Danielle Benware '97, one of the symposium's organizers.
The symposium continues Thursday night with a lecture from College Trustee William Neukom, the chief legal vice president for Microsoft Corporation. Neukom, who will be in Hanover this weekend for the Board of Trustees' quarterly meeting, will speak on the topic of technology, law and society, Shafer said.
Shafer said this speech will appeal to "people interested in law and public policy."
Funding for the senior symposium is completely the responsibility of the Senior Class Council, Shafer said.
The 1997 Council solicited contributions from student groups, including the Programming Board and the Committee on Student Organizations.
Shafer said they also received a substantial contribution from the Bildner Endowment.
Shafer said he has enjoyed his experiences working with the Class Council to plan the symposium. If this week's presentations "spark discussion," the symposium will be a success, he said.
