The Class of 2007's Sophomore summer will be unlike any other in the history of Dartmouth, beginning with a new tradition -- the so-called Sophomore Summer Opening Address.
The College is introducing a formal opening of the summer term, featuring College speakers and a keynote speech by an alumnus.
The Opening Address, which is to become an annual tradition, will be held on Friday, June 24, the second day of Summer term classes. It will begin at 4 p.m. in Spaulding Auditorium.
Gina Barreca '79, a professor of English literature and feminist theory at the University of Connecticut, will deliver the keynote address.
She is the best-selling author of many feminist humor books and was deemed a "feminist humor maven" by Ms. Magazine. In her most recent book, "Babes in Boyland: A Personal History of Coeducation," Barreca tackles the topic of coeducation by recounting her days at Dartmouth College during the 1970s.
The first woman to be named an Alumni Scholar in the history of the College in 1979, Barreca has spoken at the College in the past, most recently at the 25th anniversary of coeducation at Dartmouth.
Barreca's speech on that occasion was titled, "How many feminists does it take to change a light bulb: Women, Humor, and Surviving Dartmouth."
"Every time, people have been really impressed with her," Stacey Choi '05, a leave-term special projects assistant who organized the event, said of Barreca's past visits.
"She's funny, but also really intelligent. It's intelligent humor."
In addition to a B.A. from Dartmouth, Barreca also received an M.A. from Cambridge University, where she was a Reynolds Fellow, and a Ph.D from the City University of New York.
Dean of the College James Larimore will deliver the welcoming remarks, and Dean of Faculty Carol Folt will also address the Class of 2007 before Barreca delivers the keynote address.
2007 Class Council president Eddie Duszlak will moderate the event.
The address, which has been made possible by the joint efforts of several offices including the Dean of Faculty, Dean of the College, the Provost's Office and the Tucker Foundation, came into being based on a survey filled out by current juniors on their expectations and feelings about the sophomore experience.
"The opening class address is trying to underscore the balance between the academic and the social aspects of the sophomore experience," Dean Stuart Lord, who facilitated the planning of the event, said.
The address celebrates the beginning of Sophomore summer because it is something that is unique to Dartmouth, Choi said. Also, it is the one term during a two-year period when the entire '07 class will be on campus together.
"It's a time when the class can come together," Choi said. "We want it to be a class unity event."
Dean Lord also noted this as a strong point of the new tradition, saying that the administration sought to "enhance opportunities for the class to get together."
The 2007 Class Council will sponsor a barbecue that will directly follow the opening address, where all students will receive free sophomore T-shirts.
"It should be a great way to get together with the entire class and kick-off the summer term," 2007 Class Council vice president Will Stork '07 said of the barbecue.
