Now that the Board of Trustees has handed the administration the duties of implementing many of the details of the Student Life Initiative, Dean of the College James Larimore has the job of outlining how the College will proceed from here.
In a letter released to the Dartmouth community this morning immediately following the Trustees' report, Larimore announced changes that will be effective July 1, 2000, in addition to goals for guiding the future of the process.
On a day where many steering committee recommendations were seconded by the Trustees, Larimore reversed the group's previous recommendation that would have limited the residency in Coed Fraternity Sorority system houses.
"CFS house residency will not be restricted to senior members and junior officers, and organization members will be eligible to apply for their house's undergraduate advisor position," Larimore's letter stated.
He added, however, that he has not yet decided when the Greek house Undergraduate Advisor position -- recommended by both the steering committee and the Trustees today -- will be put into effect.
Larimore also noted in the letter that he has not yet made the decision whether or not to allow summer residency in Greek houses -- leaving the possibility open for now, despite the steering committee recommendation that it be prevented.
Placing the focus on residential life and alluding to increased commitments required by a move to a cluster system, Larimore announced in his letter that UGAs will receive increased compensation for their duties and responsibilities.
Professional undergraduate advising staff will also be added to the payroll to provide additional student support.
The Office of Residential life and its dean, Martin Redman, will be responsible for the standards of excellence under which the CFS houses will required to operate.
According to the letter, ORL will be responsible for bringing houses in-line with the recommendations by the Board of Trustees, including demands to remove tap and refrigerator systems from all house basements.
In an interview with The Dartmouth this morning, Larimore called the variety among CFS houses significant, and said changes could not be made under a "one-size-fits-all" strategy.
Larimore also addressed in his letter some groups that were noticeably absent in the Board's announcement -- including increasing support for students of color and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students.
Starting July 1 of this year, advisors to African-American, Latino/Hispanic, Asian Pacific American, and Gay Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender students will be expanded from half-time to full-time positions.
In his letter, Larimore also addressed -- though he did not make any specific recommendations -- the question of how to improve gender relations, saying he will work with Women's Resource Director Giovanna Munafo to develop a more positive atmosphere for both genders.
In the interview this morning, he said he will be meeting with administrators, students and other campus groups to gather information and opinions to help him in making decisions on some of the more difficult issues -- including possible changes to the recent alcohol policy drafted by College Committee on Alcohol and Other Drugs and the potential creation of a single judicial system that will govern all student organizations.
Larimore told The Dartmouth today that, like he said in his first interview at the College in November 1998, he does not intend to be an "alcohol cop."
However, Dartmouth can not be a sanctuary from national alcohol laws, he said.
Larimore also gave ORL the duty of reviewing senior and undergraduate societies and other affinity programs.
Redman's office will also be responsible for determining the viability of first-year housing and examining different options for residence hall living including "quiet" floors, single-sex and coed floors, smoke-fee and substance-free residences.
