Much has transpired at the College during the four years the Class of 2003 spent on campus. From triumph to tragedy, the class now preparing for "the real world" has seen a lot at Dartmouth.
The story that stands out above all others was the murders of two well-respected professors on the evening of Jan. 21, 2001. The Dartmouth bubble came crashing down during the popular Disco Inferno party at the Tabard, when at midnight a student ran on stage and announced that the Zantops had been killed.
Susanne Zantop, of the German studies department, and her husband Half, of earth sciences, were both revered on the Dartmouth campus and the local community as committed professors and great friends. Their murders shook the campus to its core, and to this day the community still struggles to find reason behind the events.
When the perpetrators -- two youths from nearby Chelsea, Vt. -- were finally found guilty, the rationale seems even more perplexing. The pair of high school students convicted of the murders planned to steal bank cards and PIN numbers, kill witnesses and then use the money to flee to Australia.
On April 4, 2002, James Parker was sentenced to 25 years to life for murder after Robert Tulloch pleaded guilty and received 15 to 30 years for murder conspiracy.
The campus was once again unified in tragedy after the events of Sept. 11, when many Dartmouth alumni and a great number of friends and family members of Dartmouth students were lost in the terrorist attacks.
Alumni who died in the attacks included Juan Cisneros '99, Kevin Crotty '80, Jeffrey Levine '68, Joe Flounder '77, Brian Dale Tu '80, Christopher Colasanti '90, and Richard Woodwell, '79.
The Greek system
The '03 class holds the distinction of the last class to ever witness the keg jump, the former symbol of Winter Carnival. The jump was cancelled in 2001 when insurance providers were unwilling to allow the event to be held on the front lawn of Psi Upsilon fraternity.
The temporary derecognition of Phi Delta Alpha fraternity in the spring of 2000 was another event that only the '03s remember. At the time, a year after a pro-Greek rally was hosted to fight the Trustee announcement about the Dartmouth Greek system, it appeared to many student's on campus that the Greek system was being slowly eroded into oblivion.
"I thought Phi Delt's de-recognition was the beginning of the end for fraternities at Dartmouth," Jamie Smith '03 said. "I was even more convinced when they took out the taps that summer."
Despite intense student protest, tap systems and permanent bars were removed from CFS houses during the summer of 2000 by decree of the Office of Residential Life.
Phi Delt's derecognition lasted only two-and-a-half years, however, and this past winter alumni returned to rush a new class of '05s. The house has been in good standing since then and seems to be well on the road to complete re-recognition.
Zeta Psi, on the other hand, will not be returning to the campus as a College-recognized fraternity, following the discovery of The Zetemouth. The newsletter, discovered in the house dumpster, included references to sexual acts between brothers and named female students. In April 2001, the fraternity was permanently derecognized.
A new feel to campus
The '03s have witnessed several significant changes to the look and feel of campus, most notably the construction of the multi-million dollar Berry Library and Carson Hall complex on the north end of Baker Library, completed in 2002.
Other changes have been smaller but of equal importance. Wireless networking has allowed students to be more mobile, even working on term papers on the Green, while the installation of electronic door locks on residence halls during Summer term 2002 meant for a nominally safer campus.
Budget worries
As the economy declined through the '03s time in Hanover, the College made a series of controversial budget cuts that at times drew student protest.
For example, budget issues forced the closing of Rauner library and the elimination of several positions.
By far the most notable planned cut would have led to the elimination of the swimming, diving and water polo teams. Significant protests spurred by the teams in conjunction with the Student Assembly and private fundraising helped saved the team eventually.
"The outcome of the swim team cut gives me a sense of hope that students will gain a voice at this college," said Paul Schned '03, former captain of the swim team. "I hope the administration gives future Dartmouth students the opportunity to shape this school themselves."