To the Editor:
The August 18 article, "DOC gears up for arrival of '01 Class" displeased me. As this is the final publication, I feel obligated to express the director's vision of the DOC Trips Program. Aside from several numerical errors, the article failed to convey the purpose of DOC Trips.
I fear that if a '01 visiting campus happened upon this article their expectation of their future trip would be false. I would like to present the DOC trip experience as a four-day adventure in the outdoors -- a first introduction to the natural beauty surrounding the campus. In the spirit of trips, the leaders have volunteered their time to give a personal introduction to both Dartmouth and the Dartmouth Outing Club. The upperclass leaders in this program have taken their time to be trained in First Aid, CPR, group dynamics and risk assessment skills.
Once the incoming students reach Moosilauke Ravine Lodge for the final celebration, they will hopefully come to realize that this is the singular experience which they all will have shared and enjoyed together. Everyone -- trippees, leaders, crew members and the director -- participates in and celebrates community and the outdoors. I have created this program over the last year with this vision. Volunteerism and the strong dedication of students and faculty throughout Trips' 60 year history have made it all possible.
