Only hours after College President James Freedman announced to the press last Thursday that he would resign after Commencement, the news traveled quickly throughout the student body, mostly via electronic-mail.
Students were surprised and many saddened as they were left to wonder and debate, what lasting impressions Freedman would leave on Dartmouth. Most agreed he left his mark, for better or for worse, with his campaign to raise the level of intellectualism within the College community.
"From his very first speech [Freedman] set the tone for his presidency as one which would place a priority on scholarship," said the president's intern, Kevin Walsh '98. "People will see the Freedman years as a time of intellectual growth for Dartmouth."
But not all students agreed with Freedman's attempts to heighten intellectualism at the College and some criticized him for stepping away from more conservative values.
"The 'creative loner' thing was a mistake, particularly in the context of Dartmouth," said Co-president of the Conservative Union at Dartmouth Conor Dugan '00, making reference to Freedman's inaugural address. "I would have liked to see him make a bigger push for the western tradition."
Student Assembly President Frode Eilertsen '99 said he credits Freedman with diversifying the Dartmouth student body.
"Despite his many critics he'll go down in history as one of the great presidents in Dartmouth's history," Eilertsen said.
President of the Afro-American Society Marene Jennings '98 said she was impressed with Freedman's efforts to change people's ideas about "the kind of student that Dartmouth should have."
"He went against the grain to do what he believed in," Jennings said. "He was a great visionary."
Students joined the rest of the College community in expressing surprise at Freedman's seemingly sudden decision. Student Assembly Vice-President Nahoko Kawakyu '99 said she was "really shocked" at the news.
"It's unfortunate that for the Class of 1999 that we don't get to have him for our senior year," she said.
Spiros Maliagros '98, president of the Interfraternity Council, said although there was an "obvious clash between intellectualism and fraternities which [Freedman] pointed out publicly many times" he "didn't want to see him resign."
"He came in under the mantra of intellectualism and challenged us to move forward academically," Maliagros said. "I didn't agree with everything he did, and he hasn't been the best friend to the fraternities, but his results were definitely positive."
While most students did not have significant personal contact with Freedman, many said that did not prevent him from being an effective leader.
"His place was definitely not one of being among students but of setting an example for them," Jennings said. "He definitely had an impact, but less in a concrete than in an abstract way."
