The recent announcement regarding the 2008 leadership of the Dartmouth Outing Club Freshmen Trips begs another question in the examination of Dartmouth culture: Which came first, the campus icon or the H-Croo chief?
Peter Gadomski '08, the 2008 trips director, announced the chiefs of each of the five Croos, the Trip leader trainers and the directors of the Trips program in a mass e-mail on Sunday night. Jon Hopper '08 and Sam Haynor '08, the assistant directors of the program, also participated in the selection process.
Rembert Browne '09 and Catey Pease '09 will head this year's H-Croo, Lauren Caracciola '09 and Peter Rothbard '09 will be Lodj Croo chiefs, and Adam Platz '08 and Molly Roy '09 will lead Vox-Croo. Clara Chew '09 will lead Climbing Croo and Joe Kubert '10 will head Grant Croo. This year's Trip leader trainers will be Anna Krigel '09, Scott Limbird '09 and Julia DeWahl '09.
Croo chiefs make the final decisions on the makeup of their respective Croos and manage the logistical operations of their teams, such as arranging noise permits, according to Browne. Trip leader trainers read trip leader applications and run workshops for the leaders, including an overnight camping trip at Gilman Island for all leaders.
Gadomski emphasized the weight of his responsibilities as this year's Trips director by fanning the pages of a lengthy soft-cover book. He said he had aimed to keep this year's selection process transparent, noting that "there's really not much secrecy" surrounding the way the committee looks at applications. The selection committee read each application blindly, according to Hopper.
"[We] are specifically looking to work with historically underrepresented groups on campus," Hopper said.
To qualify for Croo chief position, applicants must have served on their respective Croos in prior years.
Browne served on H-Croo following his freshman year and lead a freshmen trip in 2007.
"Since I've had two years to reflect, leading H-Croo was probably number one on the list of things I wanted to do," Browne said. Browne is a member of the Dartmouth staff.
A number of members of the Trips directorate said their involvement in the program has been a highlight in their Dartmouth careers.
"Every trip that I've been on, it has rained -- I mean torrentially downpoured, and we still had fun," Krigel said. "It showed me that you can be wet and cold with people you've just met and still have an awesome time."
Caracciola was a member of Lodj Croo in 2006, but was unable to participate in last year's Trips due to a scheduling conflict with an internship.
"It was awful," she said. "I drove up to Hanover and saw the shows. It was terrible not to be involved."
Some members of the directorate emphasized their anticipation of the announcement. Roy was in Las Vegas for an ultimate frisbee tournament last weekend when she learned she had been chosen as the Vox Croo chief.
"I called a friend and asked her to check my blitz, and then I started running up and down the sidelines and screaming," Roy said.
Anna Tobin '08, one of H-Croo chiefs in 2007, said the experience had been "nerve-wracking."
"A lot of people are really invested in the Croos they've been working on, so they really want the position," she said.
Gadomski noted the "thought and energy" this year's applicants had devoted to their applications.
"Applications are oftentimes works of art," Browne said.
The applications for 2008 Croo members and trip leaders may be available as early as the beginning of March, Gadomski said.
