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The Dartmouth
December 14, 2025 | Latest Issue
The Dartmouth
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Hearing to allow cameras

By Tracy Landers | April 4, 2002

Last night the New Hampshire Supreme Court unanimously decided to order Superior Court Judge Peter Smith, who is presiding over Robert Tulloch's hearing this morning, to allow television, radio and still photography coverage of the courtroom. The Supreme Court's decision comes after Smith repeatedly stated that he did not want the proceedings to be broadcast, Michelle Walch of WBZ-TV Boston said. "I'm not a legal expert, but my sense it that this is an unusual decision on the part of the Supreme Court," Jennifer Crompton of WMUR-TV Manchester said. WMUR was one of seven media entities, comprised of WBZ-TV, WBZ Radio, the Boston Globe, the Courtroom Television Network and the Massachusetts and New Hampshire Associations of Broadcasters, that petitioned the Supreme Court yesterday for an emergency order to allow coverage of the hearing. "We are the major TV station in the state, and we're ready, willing and able to handle whatever the judge decides tomorrow morning," Crompton said of the possibility that WMUR could be the single "pool camera" allowed in the courtroom. Coverage "is accessible to any media group that shows up to plug in, or they can get a copy," Crompton said.

News

First-degree guilty plea is a legal rarity

By Karla Kingsley | April 4, 2002

Robert Tulloch's surprising decision to change his plea at a hearing today has the potential to present a peculiar scenario -- Tulloch may avoid a trial by accepting a sentence of life in prison. According to legal analysts, if Tulloch's decision to abandon an insanity defense leads to a guilty plea, it will be a highly unusual and nearly unprecedented situation. Tulloch, charged with first-degree murder, will receive a sentence of life in prison without possibility of parole if he pleads guilty.

News

Court sentences Parker to 25 years to life

NORTH HAVERHILL, N.H. -- A tearful James J. Parker received a sentence of 25 years to life in prison this afternoon after having pleaded guilty in December to the second-degree murder of Dartmouth professors Half and Susanne Zantop. In contrast to stone-faced Robert Tulloch, who sat emotionlessly at his own sentencing just four hours before, a remorseful Parker listened to the same statements by Zantop family and friends with tears streaming down his face. Though Tulloch, 18, chose not to speak this morning, 17-year-old Parker told the courtroom that he was sorry before Judge Peter Smith pronounced his sentence. "There's not much more I can say than that," he said.

News

Family concerns spur plea change

By Nathaniel Ward | April 3, 2002

Robert Tulloch's decision to abandon his plea of innocent by reason of insanity in the deaths of Half and Susanne Zantop appears to have been based on a desire to avoid putting his family through a trial. A change-of-plea hearing for Tulloch has been scheduled to take place tomorrow, and his only remaining options under New Hampshire law are to plead "guilty" or "no contest." By entering either plea, Tulloch will be acquiescing to the mandatory sentences for first-degree murder charges he faces in the brutal slayings of the two Dartmouth professors -- life in prison without parole. Since prosecutors have not agreed to a reduced sentence in exchange for Tulloch's guilty plea, his unusual move appears to be motivated by personal factors. According to media reports citing unnamed people close to the case, Tulloch made the decision after extended consultation with his family. "My understanding is that, a few days ago, he (Tulloch) wanted to strike a deal because he wanted to spare his family a trial," an unnamed friend of the Zantops told the Manchester Union Leader.

News

College still needs zoning approvals

By Tracy Landers | April 3, 2002

At a public meeting last night, the Hanover Zoning Board decided to delete a controversial amendment from the ballot of the May election that, if passed, would have allowed Dartmouth to begin construction projects on Maynard Road and elsewhere without the necessity of obtaining special exceptions. The meeting attracted an especially large crowd of about 40 community members, many of whom voiced their opposition to the proposed amendment due to the freedom it would give the College for large-scale development. The amendment would have permitted the construction of student residences, research facilities and parking facilities within the College's "Institutional Zone" as long as they are more than 150 feet from a residential district.

News

A college without tenure

By Charles Gardner | April 3, 2002

When Florida Gulf Coast University opened its doors in the fall of 1997, it presented faculty applicants with the rare opportunity to shape the growth of a new institution, but also became one of a relatively few colleges nationwide not to offer a tenure system. Instead of granting professors the long-term security of tenure, the university hires faculty members for fixed contracts, typically of three years duration, which are subject to renewal or discontinuation -- based on the recommendations of a supervisory committee -- upon their conclusion. The university, located in Fort Myers in southwestern Florida, has a total of 215 faculty members.

News

SA names diversity affairs chairperson

By Kristina Mendicino | April 3, 2002

The first Student Assembly meeting of the term opened with the appointment of James Joun '03 as chair of the new Diversity Affairs Committee. Issues that the committee intends to address include the creation of programs that will make Dartmouth a more inclusive place and the facilitation of interaction among present ethnic, religious and cultural groups on campus. "There is so much the committee can do to work with other organizations on campus," Student Body President Molly Stutzman '02 said.

News

Experts say tenure creates some gender inequities

By David N. Archwamety | April 3, 2002

Universities across the country tenure more men than women, with 71 percent of men compared with 52 percent of women holding tenure jobs in 1998-99, according to Department of Education data. Is there a gender bias, or do universities simply employ more males than females who are worthy of tenure? The subject of considerable debate within academe, that question has generated unique responses and explanations nationwide. Director of the Program on Gender, Wor, and Family at American University Joan Williams argues the tenure system is biased against women.

News

Tulloch plea draws muted reaction

By Megh Duwadi | April 3, 2002

As the Hanover and Chelsea, Vt., communities continue to grapple with last year's vicious murders of Dartmouth professors Half and Susanne Zantop, the unexpected move by alleged killer Robert Tulloch to change his plea has been met with calm rather than shock. Tulloch's decision to abandon his insanity plea this Thursday will expedite a sense of closure to the tragedy, according to students, faculty and community members contacted by The Dartmouth. "I mentioned to a group of campus deans today that [Tulloch's expected plea] is a reminder to look around us to see how our friends and neighbors are doing and to continue to provide support for one another," Dean of the College James Larimore said. Larimore added that his colleagues' reactions were marked by general curiosity.

News

COSO revises selections

By Sarah Betts | April 2, 2002

The Council on Student Organizations, responsible for the distribution of funds for many student activities, will soon restructure its member selection process in favor of a procedure proponents say will yield a more representative body. In the past, COSO selected its members through a process in which only current Council members voted to choose new participants.

News

Intruder enters River dorm room

By Charles Gardner | April 2, 2002

Hanover Police and the Department of Safety and Security are investigating an incident in which an unidentified individual entered the unlocked dormitory room of a sleeping student and fled after waking her with a touch to the shoulder. The incident, which occurred in the River Cluster's Hinman Hall early Sunday morning, was reported to both the Hanover Police and Safety and Security shortly afterwards, according to College Proctor Bob McEwen. Safety and Security immediately canvassed the surrounding area, though officers were hampered by the absence of any description of the intruder, who left the dormitory room so quickly that the student was unable to provide any information. "We don't even know if the person was male or female," McEwen said.

News

Admittance rate falls to 20 percent

By Charles Gardner | April 2, 2002

Acceptance letters to potential members of the Class of 2006 will be sent out tomorrow in a year that saw fewer students admitted despite an overall rise in the total number of applications. The overall acceptance rate declined to 20 percent from 22.8 percent a year ago, when a bumper crop of matriculating '05s overwhelmed the College's residential system. Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Karl Furstenburg said this year's number of admittances, which fell to 2077 from 2220 a year ago, was reduced to alleviate the current housing shortage. Meanwhile, the number of non-white students admitted has risen to the highest levels in the history of the College. Students of color sent more applications than ever before and received 37 percent of acceptance letters, up from 34.5 percent in 2001 and 28 percent just four years ago. The percentage increase in minority applicants was "the biggest among all the Ivies," according to Furstenburg, "and that increase is pretty consistent across the board." Furstenburg attributed the increase in part to stepped up recruiting efforts by the College. "We did more campus visitation programs this year," he said, explaining that minority students who have an opportunity to see the campus first-hand are generally more likely to apply. The considerable increase in the total number of applications occurred despite fears that the events of Sept.

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