There has been much debate, at times productive and at times not so, on how the body of alumni can be better organized for improved "governance." As background, readers are encouraged to review the considerable discussions that have occurred on the Alumni Governance Task Force and the Association of Alumni web log sites.
In striving to achieve better representation, the well-intended efforts of the AGTF may indeed increase and perpetuate the politicization of alumni clubs and organizations, thus undermining their primary missions to serve their alumni members and the College. This is all because of a fundamental premise that various groups -- classes, regional clubs, ethnic minority associations, etc -- need representation on a Council or Assembly charged with "governance."
These groups exist because of supportive outreach from the College to its alumni, and because group members socialize and/or volunteer to serve the College in areas related to the common interests of their group. They do not exist to govern the College itself and are an inappropriate forum to do so. Indeed, the Black Alumni Association constitution expressly forbids its involvement in "politics," which should apply equally to attempts to influence the direction of public entities (i.e. legislative bodies) and private corporations and organizations (e.g. either Exxon or Dartmouth College).
The leaders of Alumni organizations either volunteer or are asked to serve. Elections are a formality. Candidates typically do not run in opposition to others with differing platforms (or "agendas"). Structures for "president elect" and "past president" positions, wonderfully helpful for continuity, are in place either informally or formally, but restrict rather than open the organizations to democratic change.
Members do not typically ask their leaders to "represent" their opinions when it comes to individual views as to overall governance of the College. It will be a real shame if the latter becomes the norm, but if the clubs and affiliate groups become the formal mechanism of alumni wanting oversight of Dartmouth's direction, that is indeed inevitable.
A member of the AGTF recently asked me, "How would you solve [this problem]?", which I take as recognition it is real. Here is the first half of my suggestion:
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Continue with the currently proposed new constitution to guide the organization of alumni, collectively and individually. Continue with plans to replace the Council with an Assembly that is more open to individuals and more representative for groups. Continue to create an Alumni Liaison Board to insure dialog between Assembly "representatives" and the College Trustees or administration. (I hope this does not lessen the direct inputs from standing Council or Assembly committees, such as those on Academics, Athletics, Student Life, etc.)
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Eliminate entirely the process of involving the governance of Dartmouth itself from the Alumni Assembly. This requires that all constitutional references involving Assembly members in the nomination and election of Trustees be removed. This will remove the politics that distract alumni with their diverse interests from their collective service to Dartmouth. The Assembly and its constituent members may provide input, but are ultimately not involved in making decisions as to the direction of the College.
Some may feel the above is an improvement; others may be outraged.
