The Tucker Foundation, in conjunction with various other organizations on campus, has been hard at work on both philanthropic and educational projects in response to the recent Sept. 11th terrorist attacks.
According to Dean of the Tucker Foundation Stuart Lord, the foundation is planning a blood drive along with Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.
As important as such philanthropic efforts can be, he said that Tucker will focus its energies on educational activities like debates, discussions, and events to promote reflection during the coming weeks.
For example, the Tucker Foundation has already supported the construction of a memorial that has been displayed on the Green and in front of the Hopkins Center and organized an informal evening of discussion over pizza, which according to Lord was attended by about 30 students attended.
A service held on Sept. 14th, the date President Bush designated a "national day of prayer", also provided an opportunity for students on campus early to reflect on these recent events, Lord said.
Lord emphasized that Tucker already has services and programs in place to help students through tense times.
For example, each Friday at Rollins Chapel, an organist performs soothing music during a "service of solace."
Lord stressed, though, that students must educate themselves about current events and their ethical implications.
"The faculty is the best resource we have," he said. He encouraged students to pose questions about the attacks and possible American responses to them to professors, whether informally or during structured class discussions.
"Every fraternity and sorority should invite a professor to come and speak on these topics," he said.
He noted that, to this end, the Rockefeller Center and the Dickey Center are planning a series of four panel discussions on the attacks and their implications.
Lord also praised The Dartmouth's recent decision to distribute newspapers free to all students.
"It's a good way to make information about current events readily accessible to students," he said.
Likewise, he emphasized that education is an important means of combating prejudice against Arab-Americans and Muslims.
