We have long believed that the Student Life Initiative should be about expanding students' social and residential options on campus. While it is clear that the Trustees have erred on various points by limiting options -- such as with the extension of the moratorium on new single-sex Greek houses -- they have succeeded in other areas and should be applauded for that.
Freshman housing is soon to be one such new option for incoming freshman. We are hesitant about the experiment since it runs contrary to our view of Dartmouth culture as consisting on one unified body. However, in the spirit of more choices, we commend this decision as it extends the opportunity of freshmen housing to students who may be interested in such an experience.
The Board could have limited student options by deciding to place all freshmen in freshmen housing; however, they have chosen to offer this alternative to incoming students while leaving open the option of living with upperclassmen. We urge the College to facilitate any freshman who wants to live with upperclassmen. No freshman should be denied this opportunity if it is what he or she desires.
The Trustees have also succeeded in the area of residential clusters, writing: "The Dartmouth campus will continue to accommodate choice and a variety of housing models -- including residential clusters or centers, as well as single residential halls and houses." In this decision, the Trustees have recognized that different students appreciate different residential situations. Some students like to live on quiet floors. Some like to live on smoke-free floors. Others like to live on substance-free floors.
After the heated debates generated by the steering committee report, the Trustees have responded well by properly expanding the cluster options for students while recognizing the virtue of other residence hall types. Again, it is the creation of choices for students that is positive. The Trustees could have chosen to have students remain in a cluster until their junior year as recommended in January, but they have chosen not to limit students in this manner.
The creation of a north campus dining option also expands on the choices available to Dartmouth students. Some day, students working at Kiewit or Gilman will not have to trek across campus to grab a bite to eat.
Future physical additions to this campus will further expand the array of choices available to students.
In these decisions, the Trustees have moved the community in the right direction along the path of choice. The College must continue these efforts in deciding to implement other Initiative changes -- by providing choices instead of taking them away.
