Over 70 students gathered in working groups last night to address three of the Board of Trustee's five principles -- the set of guidelines for what is expected to be a historic overhaul of the College's social and residential life systems.
Student Assembly President Josh Green '00 said the strong interest in the groups represents an intense student interest in the Trustee's proposal and the future of Dartmouth.
"Right now the Trustees aren't taking what we're saying into account and we need to give them a reason to," Green said. "I think these groups are proof that we deserve to be listened to."
Any interested student can be involved in the groups, which were formed out of a discussion among students looking for a way to address the recently announced initiative. The Student Assembly voted to endorse the working groups, but is not involved in organizing them.
One working group will address each of the five principles of the Trustees' initiative. These groups will serve as an opportunity for student voices and vision to be heard, Green said.
Over 50 students attended the meeting about principle three -- the controversial principle which states, "The [social] system should be substantially coeducational and provide opportunities for greater interaction among all Dartmouth students," and will mean an end to the Greek system "as we know it," according to College President James Wright and Trustee Chairman Stephen Bosworth '61.
Jaimie Paul '00, Coed Fraternity and Sorority Council president, and Case Dorkey '99, Student Assembly vice president served as meeting facilitators. A large percentage of students attending were affiliated with Greek houses, but Paul said a cross-section of students were represented.
The main goal of the first meeting was to decide on the direction the group will take, Paul said.
"The object of it was just to shape long term and immediate goals," Paul said.
The group elected two co-chairs, Marc Fenigstein '01 and Jennifer Parkinson '99.
Among goals discussed for the group were researching student opinion on the positive and negative aspects of the current social system as well as looking at how colleges nationwide have dealt with coed and single sex living.
Group members were especially concerned with getting a broad spectrum of student opinion represented.
"What's great about these groups is that membership is flexible," Paul said, so that students who felt their views weren't being considered could just attend a meeting.
Working group one, comprised of 17 students, focused on the principle which states "There should be greater choice and continuity in residential living and improved residential space." The discussion was facilitated by Kevan Higgins '00 and Jeffrey Fine '99.
Among the topics of discussion were possible changes in the D-plan, decentralized dining and quality and organization of residence halls.
The group also discussed looking into residential life history, focusing on programs from the past as well as proposed programs to see what has worked and what hasn't.
Eleven students met to discuss principle two, which states "There should be additional and improved social spaces controlled by students." The group was facilitated by Kelly Heaps '00 and Dean Krishna '01.
Group members discussed current information regarding social space and ways which they could gather information and generate ideas about improved social space, Krishna said.
The Student Assembly released a report Fall term declaring a need for student controlled social space.
However, the Assembly's report was created within the current framework of available funding and resources. The working group has the liberty of envisioning an ideal Dartmouth, Krishna said.
"We're kind of working with a blank slate right now," Krishna said.
Krishna said it was particularly important that the groups be diverse and representative of all student interests so their message seemed more legitimate.
"The more inclusive we are, the more volume we will have in our voices," Krishna said.
Dorkey said he was pleased with the turnout and diversity of the groups and he hoped their diversity would make their eventual outcomes more compelling.
"The fact that a lot of people were interested in the working groups and working together with people from a lot of different perspectives should be a signal to the trustees that students are really serious about being heard in terms of shaping Dartmouth's future and responding to the Trustee's principles," Dorkey said.
The remaining two groups will meet tonight, with group four meeting at 9 p.m. to discuss the principle which says more students should live on campus and group five at 10 p.m. to discuss the principle which states the "abuse and unsafe use of alcohol should be eliminated."
