The Hanover Zoning Board of Adjustment voted unanimously on Wednesday night to approve the College's proposal to reopen the swim docks along the Connecticut River. In affirming the College's plan, board member Ruth Lappin said the proposal effectively avoids compromising water resources for aesthetic value an issue raised by board member Gert Assmus in last week's meeting at which College officials presented their proposal. Following the plan's approval, the College will have to submit a building permit to the town before going forward with construction, according to Joanna Whitcomb, director of campus planning for the Office of Campus Planning, Design and Construction. The College is still waiting for permits from the state Division of Historical Resources and Department of Safety, according to Whitcomb. The new swim dock will be located 200 feet downstream from its prior location and will include a path that satisfies accessibility standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act, Whitcomb said. Because the river docks proposal will require the removal of existing vegetation, concerns surfaced at last week's meeting over the environmental impact of the plan, particularly in regard to erosion and flooding. Roy Schiff, a water resource scientist and engineer for the civil engineering consulting firm Milone and MacBroom, assured board members of the minimal environmental disturbance to the area. Lappin affirmed Schiff's position last night, saying that the proposal effectively meets standards for water quality and erosion control. The docks were closed last summer due to safety concerns, The Dartmouth previously reported.
A bill approved by Gov. Jan Brewer, R-Ariz., last week will overturn a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that permits public colleges to de-recognize student organizations that violate the schools' anti-bias regulations, according to Inside Higher Ed. The bill will also reverse federal rulings that allow colleges to require graduate students working in psychology or social work to counsel gay people, despite the students' own personal beliefs, Inside Higher Ed reported. Supporters of the new bill maintain that student organizations should not be forced to admit members who disagree with the principles of the organizations. Opponents have argued that colleges should not be forced to legitimize the actions of students who do not follow the professional code of ethics associated with psychology and social work, Inside Higher Ed reported. The American Counseling Association lobbied for Brewer to veto the bill, as universities in Arizona could have difficulties gaining reaccredidation if they allow graduate students to violate the professional code of ethics, according to Inside Higher Ed.
