The "Just $6" campaign was launched recently in Concord, N.H., by a group called Americans for Campaign Reform. The group, founded by New Hampshire Democrat John Rauh, has one goal: to publicly fund federal elections and diminish the clout of special interest groups and lobbyists. The idea behind the campaign is that if Americans contribute just six dollars to the candidate of their choice, they can raise $1.8 billion in public funds to contribute to that candidate and thus take out the machinery of campaign funding and political pay-backs.
Although the group was founded by a Democrat, the movement is bipartisan. J. Brian Quinn of Hanover, a retired Tuck professor, Dartmouth-Hitchcock board member and registered Republican, serves on the group's advisory committee. Quinn noted that the campaign was essential for a democratic government that was representative not just of rich businessmen but of the majority of Americans.
"We just can't continue to let a few people with large amounts of money run this wonderful institution of democracy," Quinn said. "Why should a guy who happens to have made a pile of money running a company have more rights than a guy who worked his can off all his life as a teacher or a farmer or whatever?"
The Afro-American Society hosted a forum entitled "Athletes and Exploitation: Traversing Both the Pressures of College and the NCAA" yesterday. Approximately 25 percent of Dartmouth students are athletes, but both athletes and non-athletes were in attendance. Students discussed the merits and downfalls of being an athlete at an Ivy League institution, as well as the debate surrounding athletic scholarships. While schools like Duke spend over one-fourth of their annual athletics budgets on scholarships, Ivy League institutions like Dartmouth do not offer athletic scholarships.
The Student Activities Award Ceremony honored students for outstanding contributions to the College in Collis Commonground yesterday. The Council on Student Organizations recognized groups and advisors for their work and dedication.
The Dean's Service Award was also presented to 10 students. Dean of the College James Larimore said that the award was created two years ago to honor and recognize students whose "personal initiative had helped benefit the Dartmouth Community."
Students receiving the Dean's Service Award included: Liz Allen '06, Sonia Faruqi '07, Michael Guzman '06, Taica Hsu '06, Kiku Langford '06, Krista Perry '06, Todd Rabkin-Golden '06, Daniel Schneider '07, Zachary Smith '06 and Nicholas Taranto '06.
