On Feb. 7, the eve of Winter Carnival, Dartmouth seniors participated in a long-time College tradition that had little to do with the weekend -- they elected their Senior Executive Committee, the policy-making and governing body for the Class of 2001 for the next five years.
Every winter, the graduating class chooses 20 of its members to assume leadership roles immediately upon election in February.
For the remainder of the academic year these Dartmouth seniors plan such graduation activities as Class Day and select the class marshals for commencement.
But the committee's work will change dramatically when members of the Class of 2001 leave Hanover for jobs, graduate programs, community service and other postgraduate pursuits.
The body will keep the class in touch after graduation, organize class events, and ultimately welcome the Class of 2001 back to Hanover in 2006 for their five-year Reunion.
The 20 members of the Class of 2001 are: Shazia Ahmed, Tia Antoine, Stephanie Barker, Edward Bialas, Hilke De Smedt, Amar Dhand, Maribel Florez, Gabriela Garcia, Mariha Gibbs, Sarah Hamilton, Brian Hannigan, Chance Hill, Dean Krishna, Negarra Kudumu, Margaret Kuecker, Rebecca. Lee, James McHugh, Jorge Miranda, Collin O'Mara and Amy Solomon.
A class-wide election in which about 50 percent of members of the Class of 2001 voted determined 12 of the positions; the remaining 8 students were selected on the basis of their applications by a review board composed of College administrators.
All members of the Class of 2001 "in good standing and interested in serving their class," could apply for the positions.
Applicants were asked to explain why they wanted to be members of the Senior Executive Committee, to indicate what talents or skills they would bring to the body and to summarize their campus involvement during their four years in Hanover.
Each newly elected member of the Senior Executive Committee expressed different reasons for becoming interested in the body, but all have demonstrated a high level of community involvement and interest during their time at Dartmouth.
Hill described the committee. "It looks like a good group of people who have been very involved in the Dartmouth community over the last four years," he said. "I'm looking forward to working with them."
Several members indicated that their interest in the Committee stemmed from the many changes that the College is presently undergoing.
"I want to keep the class in communication after graduation and to make sure our class has a voice as alumni in shaping the future of school," O'Mara said.
Kuecker expressed similar concerns. "I think the '01 class is in a really unique position ... we were already in an established position when the Student Life Initiative first came out, so one of my goals is to have our class remain an integral part of that process in the coming years."
