The selection of the senior class marshals this past week raised a number of eyebrows across campus. It is not inconceivable that some of the chosen eight might emerge from the ranks of Senior Executive Committee, the group that votes upon the marshals. But it is disconcerting when a majority of selected seniors -- five of eight -- also serve on the deliberating body. Though this statistic is the same as last year, history cannot excuse a broken selection process. The role of the class marshals is to unite the Class of 2006 behind them as they move toward graduation. They serve as the literal and symbolic leaders during the graduation ceremony. The debate surrounding their selection does much to undermine this role. It focuses the attention on the process of choosing class marshals, not the marshals themselves and their role.
More importantly, the controversy perpetuates bad blood between the Class of 2006 at large and the SEC, which is responsible for planning Class Day, much of commencement and leading the class in the next five years. On the heels of a contentious SEC election this February, it would have been better to see the SEC take the opportunity offered by the selection of class marshals to include more of the senior class in the leadership structure. As the Class of 2006 looks toward life after Dartmouth, a strong and inclusive leadership that is in tune with the needs of the class is essential for maintaining a sense of commitment not only to their peers but to the College itself.
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The sense of a divide between leaders and those they are supposed to represent has been a constant theme on campus this past week. The outcome of the Student Assembly elections shows just how disconnected the student body feels from its representatives. The election of Tim Andreadis '07 as student body president sends a clear message that a majority of students not only cares enough to vote, but is dissatisfied with the Student Assembly's status quo. It is now up to Andreadis to extend his plans and ability to mobilize support beyond the ideas advanced in his campaign and unite the entire campus behind his goals.
College President James Wright's letter to the College in light of a management study done this past fall discusses plans to improve communication and transparency. Perhaps all the governing bodies discussed above should follow the administration's example in hopes of closing the divide between those they represent and to whom they are accountable.
