Despite his long involvement with Student Assembly, Assembly President Noah Riner '06 will probably be most remembered for his controversial, religiously charged convocation speech, which overshadowed the accomplishments of much of his tenure as student body president, making his administration seem inaccessible at times.
Following the speech, the Assembly found itself mired in a public battle over Riner's sectarian references, seen in an explosion of op-eds and counter op-eds in The Dartmouth as well as the resignation of Student Life Committee Chair Kaelin Goulet '07, who deemed the speech "an embarrassment." The controversy only contributed to the Assembly's reputation as a body plagued by bickering.
The negative public opinion of the body existed before Riner's administration, but a feeling of apathy within the body grew as the year wore on. Winter term was marked by such low attendance that a quorum had to be forcibly called during a February meeting so that resolutions could be passed.
Even if it did bring negative attention to the Assembly, Riner's speech highlighted a complete subscription to his beliefs in the face of criticism. This confidence in his convictions helped him navigate the path between the disregard of the administration of former president Janos Marton '04 and the strict adherence to administrative wishes of last year's president Julia Hildreth '05.
Riner, whose three years in the Assembly helped him maintain strong relationships with administrators and the Board of Trustees, attributes his best projects to the connections he has with alumni.
"Students come to Dartmouth wanting a good education and wanting to have a good time," he said. "The projects I'm most proud of are the projects that changed or improved Dartmouth life in a lasting way -- class size and club sports."
The $30,000 allocation President James Wright gave to club sports from his discretionary budget during Fall term resulted in part from Riner's discussions with the Alumni Council.
His interactions with the Board of Trustees also led to the hiring of two new government professors and one new economics professor for Winter term.
Riner acknowledged that three new professors is a small number but said the hirings made a good start to a process he hopes will endure beyond his administration.
"They know that class size is a problem," he said. "It takes time to find good professors."
Despite good relations with administrators and alumni, Riner's tenure was ultimately characterized by a tenuous connection between the Assembly and the student body as well as little debate within the organization itself. Aside from the resolutions presented during heated meetings over full ROTC funding in the fall and the proposed changes to Dartmouth Dining Services last term, resolutions were usually passed quickly and without opposition.
