News
The recent appointment of President-elect Philip Hanlon '77 has prompted discussion across campus about the College's efforts to promote diversity in the administration's highest levels.
While many students and faculty said that Hanlon's experience as an educator and his status as a Dartmouth alumnus make him a strong choice to lead the College, others said that choosing a woman or a member of a minority group could have helped Dartmouth move forward and explore different perspectives.
Former College President Jim Yong Kim was the only exception to a pattern of white male presidents leading Dartmouth, and he was also the first Asian-American president of an Ivy League institution.
Some students expressed concern that Hanlon's background will not lead to progress on social issues that are important to students, and others said they were disappointed that the search committee did not select a woman to lead the College.
"Having another president who is a white male alumnus and a member of a fraternity won't bring the kind of social change that the student body is looking for," Gillian O'Connell '15 said.
While some organizations such as the Office of Pluralism and Leadership may engender change on their own, Hanlon will likely maintain the status quo in the Greek system and other social areas of campus, she said.
Jennifer Davidson '15 said that the recent presidential search could have been an opportunity for the College to make a bold selection.
"This could have been a really good time for Dartmouth to break their typical mold and break outside where they've historically gone, because the president is really the face of the College," Davidson said.
Rachel Funk '15 also said that selecting a president who was female or a member of a minority group would have been an effective way to move Dartmouth forward and lend a "fresh perspective."
"I'm not saying that every problem would be solved if we had a president of a different race or a different sex," she said.