Dartmouth has a storied relationship with the primary process here in New Hampshire. As a long-standing “first in the nation” primary state and well-known for bucking national trends, New Hampshire has had a disproportionate impact on federal politics in America. Thus, the nation turns its eyes on New Hampshire every election season, eager to have a glimpse of the electoral surprise the Granite State often seems to deliver.
Often, it can feel like Dartmouth is the center of political action. In 1984, Dartmouth hosted the first nationally televised primary debate; in 2007, it hosted a Democratic primary debate in which any individual on the stage was all but assured of victory in the general election the next year. The College has hosted dozens of prospective candidates for the presidency and has provided a forum for countless national debates. In recent years, Dartmouth has hosted cabinet secretaries, senators and a vice president. Naturally, the Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Public Policy has led the way in facilitating student engagement with policy and politics and can easily continue this tradition for generations. In spite of this history, the College's administration has not given Rocky the support needed to make it a truly nation-leading institution.
Let me be clear: there are, of course, many things that go on behind the scenes that the average student does not see. However, perceptions matter and it often feels as if the Rockefeller Center is not provided the tools it desperately needs in spite of its stellar faculty and strong reputation. There is evident buy-in from Dartmouth’s students: Public Policy is the fourth largest minor on campus and the First-Year Fellows program is certainly one of the most sought after freshman summer programs that the College offers. It is time the administration uses some of its vast reserves of funds to ensure Rocky can meet its full potential.
Let’s start with the most public-facing area: Rocky’s building itself. Literally an addendum to Silsby Hall, the area feels more like an afterthought than a committed space where students keen on diving into public policy and world affairs can “have a sense of purpose in relation to it,” as Nelson Rockefeller’s quote overlooking Hinman Forum reminds us.
Speaking of Hinman Forum, for an institution that has hosted presidents, prime ministers, cabinet secretaries and foreign dignitaries, it is shocking that the only semi-open event space Rocky has dominion over is an L-shaped plaza that can barely fit over 50 people before you start breathing down the neck of the person in front of you. Sure, Rocky has its own four classrooms in its dark, musty basement, but none are suitable for the caliber of guests our compatriots at Saint Anselm or the University of New Hampshire seem to have so often.
In late fall 2025, Dartmouth held an event with Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., in Loew Auditorium. Though it was jointly sponsored by the Rockefeller Center, it would have been inappropriate to offer only 64 guests to Sen. Paul. Rocky needs a far more modern and much larger space than is presently provided. Until that is the case, it will be difficult to sell the Rockefeller Center as a serious alternative to the already well-established academic institutions that are inherently attractive for the accomplished and wise to express their views at.
In addition to the facilities, or lack thereof, provided to Rocky, it was surprising to me when I first arrived in 2023 that Dartmouth College did not offer an out-and-out Public Policy major after I had so often heard that Dartmouth was a pioneer in policy thinking and development. I understand that there are complex processes behind bringing a new major program to fruition, but it seems like a no-brainer that one of the most forward-facing and involved centers on campus could offer its students a full policy-oriented path of study. Aren’t good policy makers — as opposed to dogmatic partisans or those who only dabble in theory — what is needed of our future leaders?
As I have so often said, Dartmouth has an endowment the size of a small country’s gross domestic product. I understand that there are reasons that only a small portion is drawn from it annually, but it is high time that the Rockefeller Center is transformed into a nation-leading institution and forum for dialogue, debate and policy development.
Opinion articles represent the views of their author(s), which are not necessarily those of The Dartmouth.
Luke Montalbano ’27 is an opinion editor and writer. He is from Vancouver, Canada and is majoring in Government and minoring in History. On campus, Luke is a Dickey Center War and Peace Fellow, the Co-President of the Federalist Society of Dartmouth, the President of the American Conservation Coalition of Dartmouth and President of the John Quincy Adams Society.
