Controversy and change characterized Spring term with the release of the Trustees' decision on the Student Life Initiative, protests over a speaker coming to campus and upheaval in the Coed Fraternity Sorority Council.
Last spring, more than a year after the initial Student Life Initiative announcement, the Board of Trustees announced its decision on the first wave of sweeping changes to social life on campus -- with a more concrete focus on issues relating to the Greek system.
Voces Clamantium's decision to invite Yvette Schneider -- a self-described former lesbian who gave up her homosexual lifestyle and became a practicing Christian -- as a guest speaker last term resulted in a major controversy on campus.
Near the end of Spring term, Delta Delta Delta sorority decided to secede from the Coed Fraternity Sorority Council, potentially endangering the future of the Council as the overarching governing body for all Greek organizations.
Initiative decision
Following their regularly scheduled Spring term meeting in mid-April, the Board announced the first step of Initiative changes thta called for major Greek reform.
The report included decisions as moving rush to winter term, banning taps and permanent bars in Greek houses, retaining the moratorium on new houses and abolishing the Greek judicial system.
The Trustee decision further charged the Dean of the College James Larimore with implementing most of the non-Greek social reforms -- including developing new alcohol and drug policies, building and enhancing residential clusters and planning new student recreational and dining facilities.
Student groups on campus had mixed reaction to the Initiative announcement. Despite the call for substantial changes to the Greek system, CFS leaders seemed largely satisfied by the report -- especially the Board's decision not to judge the Greek system as a whole, but instead to give each house the opportunity to demonstrate its own ability to implement changes.
While reaction to Spring term's announcement was largely subdued -- in remarkable contrast to last year when the announcement of the Five Principles caused several hundred students to rally on the lawn of Psi Upsilon fraternity -- many students interviewed by The Dartmouth said they felt the Trustees ignored most student opinion.
The Board also approved the construction of 500 new beds within the next five years, and the possibility of 600 more within the next 10 years.
Voces Clamantium controversy
Schneider's coming to campus to discuss her "conversion" from homosexuality to heterosexuality became a huge cause for concern among the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community and their supporters.
While Schneider's speech itself was largely benign, tensions ran high in the question and answer session following her speech; after only three formally recognized comments from the audience, Schneider walked off stage leaving more than 400 audience members in Collis Commonground even more disgruntled.
Before the speech, Dartmouth's homosexual community and their allies protested Schneider's message in a rally outside Dartmouth Hall, the original location of the event.
Tri-Delt
Towards the end of Spring term, Tri-Delt announced its separation from the CFSC, but failed to give any specfic explanation for its momentous decision.
In a largely vague letter to the Dartmouth community, Tri-Delt said, "at this time, our purposes and goals are not in accordance with those of the CFSC."
Without giving any specifics, the letter said "many activities tolerated, and hence condoned, by the CFSC" are in opposition to the sorority's national and chapter goals. Tri-Delt also said most of the issues that come before the council do not apply to their house and that the CFSC's programming and activities are not in line with Tri-Delt's goals and purposes.
Following Tri-Delt's decision other sororities also considered the possibility of secession from the council; however, none of the other houses decided to leave the CFSC.
Other news
The College rejected Phi Delta Alpha fraternity's appeal this past spring, upholding its prior decision to suspend College recognition of the house until at least the fall of 2002.
In the beginning of the term Phi Delt filed an appeal to contest College derecognition based on three factors including new information, procedural errors and an appeal for clemency.
Dean of Residential Life Martin Redman felt the appeal on the basis of new information and procedural errors was not deserving of a new hearing. Larimore later rejected the fraternity's appeal for clemency, saying Redman's original sanctions were "appropriate and reasonable."
The College also reprimanded all graduating members of former Phi Delt for "dirty rushing" by a letter of reproach delivered to the seniors' Hinman Boxes. The letter stated that the students will not face discplinary action, but the students' violations would be recorded in their personal files.
Jorge Miranda '01 emerged as a landslide winner last term in the Student Assembly presidential race -- defeating his closest competitor by more than a 23 percent margin -- in an election that saw a drop in voter-turnout by nearly 500 students compared to last year. Chance Hill '01 defeated Molly Stutzman '02 in a very close vice-presidential race.
This past spring, the Office of Residential Life also initiated a new room draw system for choosing Fall term housing. The room draw process that lasted approximately two weeks was described by some as stressful, although some said the process somewhat improved over time.
The College also faced a large housing crunch this past spring with as many as 389 rising sophomores left without housing at one point. To protest the shortage, students staged a vigil in front of Parkhurst Hall in mid-May.
