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The Dartmouth
April 5, 2026
The Dartmouth
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Anderson would bring new outlook to Board

By Kascha Semon | February 3, 2000

Director of the Whitney Museum of Art and Dartmouth graduate, Maxwell Anderson '77 now vies for a position on the College's Board of Trustees and thinks his non-profit background would help round out the group. Anderson said he was surprised at his nomination and that "it wouldn't occur to me to think I'd be in the running for such an honor." Although he describes his role at the Whitney as similar to that of a CEO, he pointed out that he works in the not-for-profit sector rather than the corporate world and that "people outside the corporate sector could add a dimension to the board." Anderson said that in comparison with a profit making corporation, a not-for-profit organization, he said, starts with a mission and priorities rather than aligning a mission and goals to a profit-seeking agenda. "So obviously, in terms of a university or college setting it means my instincts are to figure out what's best for the campus and see how that can be underwritten," Anderson said. He said his responsibility as a trustee would be "to help the president in the stewardship of the College ... on a policy level," but he does hold opinions on issues which directly affect students, particularly the Student Life Initiative. "I support the recommendations of the SLI because I would like to make the campus more welcoming to students of more varied backgrounds." He said he would like all students "to self-select a path through the College without feeling excluded." Anderson said he would also like to explore "the impact of distance learning on the educational environment," which would mean connecting students to Internet resources in and out of class. As a trustee, Anderson said he would also be concerned with the growth and image of the College. "I think ensuring the Colleges' steady growth as a primary choice for high school students means keeping the College competitive ... when cities are more attractive," he said. "Dartmouth was basic in launching me in my life and my career and it is an amazing institution because it connects undergraduates with professors.

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Students support stem cell research funding

By Ithan Peltan | February 3, 2000

Dartmouth students voiced their support for continued federal funding for stem cell research last Saturday at a day-long symposium entitled "Student Science Court: The Future of Stem Cell Research" in Cook Auditorium. The forum was attended by undergraduate, graduate and medical students as well as many faculty and community members. Total attendance was estimated at around 230 people. While stem cell research -- involving the use of a type of cell capable of differentiating into several other types -- offers many potential medical benefits, many people have serious ethical qualms about the use of this type of cell because it is primarily derived from aborted fetuses and frozen embryos left over from in vitro fertilization procedures. After a day spent listening to panelists discuss the science and ethics of stem cell research, students attending the symposium filled out ballots asking about their views on the issue. Of the more than 150 students who voted, 80 percent rated the importance of research a four or a five on a scale of one to five, with one being unimportant and five being very important. Ninety-four percent rated the importance of stem cell research a three or above. Regarding funding, 25 percent expressed the opinion that federally funded research projects should be prohibited from using human stem cells derived from embryos, and only 14 percent thought all stem cell research should be banned. Responses to two other questions mirrored these results.

News

College hosts computer IQ contest

By Mike A. Hamilton | February 3, 2000

This past weekend Dartmouth hosted the annual Loebner Contest, a competition which challenges computer programmers from around the world to create programs whose communication skills are indistinguishable from those of the humans they emulate. The contest was part of a conference called "Turing 2000: The Future of the Turing Test" which stemmed from the 1950 predictions of British mathematician and computer science visionary Alan Turing, who said that it was only a matter of time before computers could be programmed to "think" like humans. Although Turing predicted that in 50 years, "an average interrogator will not have more than a 70 percent chance of making the right identification after five minutes of questioning," humans continued to beat out the computers at this year's conference. According to Dartmouth professor of philosophy James Moor, who coordinated this year's event, this year's programs have not made any dramatic improvements on past programs. "I think it will be a long, long time before any computer program succeeds in fooling someone after a five minute conversation.

News

CCAOD reviews alcohol recommendations

By Nathan B. Anderson | February 3, 2000

In response to January's steering committee report, the College Committee on Alcohol and Other Drugs has been reviewing the report's recommendations dealing with alcohol on campus. The CCAOD hopes to create a more cohesive policy on alcohol and other drugs that will incorporate some aspects of the steering committee's suggestions with the working pieces of the College's current policy. The steering committee report refers to this current policy as "complicated, poorly enforced by the College and widely ignored by the students." Acting Dean of the Tucker Foundation and CCAOD Chair Robert Binswanger does not disagree, saying, "the majority of the current CCAOD believe, with most other objective observers, that the full application and implementation [of the current alcohol policy] is uneven and confusing to students." In an effort to make the current alcohol policy more cohesive, the College reconstituted the CCAOD this fall, with a mind to reflect a broader cross section of campus interests, CCAOD vice-Chair Margaret Smith said. Binswanger said that almost half of the committee is made up of students, and the members vary from a fraternity president, an unaffiliated sophomore and College Proctor Robert McEwen. "This CCAOD is a diverse group that represents the various interests on campus," Smith said. The latest manifestation of the CCAOD has been focusing on education and prevention in working with a host of campus interests to "figure out how we can make this a better campus," Smith said. Amid the enormous complexity of the entire Social and Residential Life Initiative, Binswanger said the Committee has its hands full on those portions of the report dealing with alcohol and other drugs alone. Alcohol being one of the main concentrations of the steering committee's report, only adds to the complicated nature of the problem, said Binswanger. "It's not an issue of fraternities and sororities, state or federal law, or what size cups or how many games -- it's all of those things and more," he said. The CCAOD is now formulating a policy on alcohol and other drugs that will depend on responsibility on an individual level among the students, Binswanger said. This involves evaluating the steering committee's recommendations and deciding what parts to use in making a system that would be supported by the student body, said Binswanger. One recommendation of the steering committee report already under fire, is that which sets limits on what number of people would constitute a party and thus the point of differentiation between a registered and non-registered event, said Binswanger.

News

Leaders satisfied with student response

By Omer Ismail | February 3, 2000

Campus leaders are largely satisfied with the level of student response to the steering committee recommendations so far and feel the Student Response Task Force will be successful in garnering more input. Leaders interviewed by The Dartmouth cited the administration's efforts to open up a number of venues and forums for students to express their views as a cause for the high level of student interest. "I think there are a number of different means where students can express themselves," Vice President of the Student Assembly Margaret Kuecker '01 said.

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Committee begins education department review

By Rachel Osterman | February 3, 2000

An external committee will begin its review of the education department today, undertaking an examination process that will determine the department's future status at the College. The report the committee will file this spring marks the third time in seven years that the education department has undergone such scrutiny. The previous two times, internal review committees recommended the department's elimination, citing internal disputes, the pre-professional nature of the Teacher Certification Program and a lack of scholarship on the part of the faculty as bases for its removal. Now, however, with the commissioning of an external committee, the authority of its eventual recommendations will be less questionable. "I think external committees carry a great deal more weight," Chair of the education department Andrew Garrod said.

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Task Force to accept responses until Feb. 25

By Omer Ismail | February 2, 2000

The Student Response Task Force has set 12 p.m. on February 25 as the deadline for accepting responses to the steering committee recommendations and will spend the rest of the term encouraging students to share their input. Hoping to draft its own report for the Board of Trustees before the end of Winter term, the Task Force has created a BlitzMail account, sent a flier to student Hinman Boxes and invited students to meet with members from 9:30 to 10 a.m.

News

Assembly supports Education department

By Rachel Osterman | February 2, 2000

The Student Assembly unanimously endorsed a resolution supporting the Education department's continuation and expansion last night, as the department braces for review by an external committee this week. Citing the Education Department's role in "fostering critical thinking among [Dartmouth's] students and endowing them with the tools to question and analyze society," the resolution calls for the allocation of more tenure-track faculty positions, courses offerings each year, and resources dedicated to that field. "Students really value the Ed.

News

Record number of voters turn out in N.H.

By Julia Levy | February 2, 2000

After months of town meetings, speeches and hand shaking, the voters of New Hampshire turned out in record numbers yesterday to register their decisions in the country's first primary leading up to the 2000 Presidential election, making Arizona Senator John McCain and Vice President Al Gore the choices for their respective party nominations. McCain defied most predictions, scoring a landslide victory of 49 percent to Bush's 31 percent, while Gore maintained a lead over Bradley, but did not earn much gloating-room with his four percentage point victory. With the nation's first primary votes tallied, the candidates are reconsidering their campaign tactics and moving on to woo potential voters in the rest of the country. The Republicans The Republican results held surprises both for the leading runners and the minor candidates. McCain heads into the South Carolina primary two weeks away with a surprising lead over front-runner Bush, exceeding expectations. The New York Times reported that Bush advisers were caught off guard by the magnitude of their loss yesterday in New Hampshire, even though the state is known to support maverick candidates like McCain. One Bush adviser told the New York Times, "I think we were prepared for a 5-to-7 point loss.

News

Students begin work on snow sculpture

By Mike A. Hamilton | February 2, 2000

This year's Winter Carnival snow sculpture, a throwback to winter carnivals of the past, will be a giant ski jump complete with snow skier on top. The sculpture, which was designed by Andy Louis '00 and Ben Moor '00 and will be built by volunteer students, will match the theme for this year's Carnival, "Lest the Cold Traditions Fail: Carnival Through the Years." "It's a ski jump because there used to be a ski jump out by the golf course and one of the main events at Winter Carnival was the ski jumping competition," Sculpture Committee Student Coordinator Anne Cloudman '02 said. Construction on the jump started last Friday under the organization of Cloudman and J.R.

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Alcohol dominates 'fireside chat'

By Ithan Peltan | February 1, 2000

Alcohol-related concerns, including student attitudes, the role of the Coed Fraternity and Sorority system and alcohol education efforts, dominated last night's fireside chat in Collis Common ground. Approximately 35 students attended the fourth weekly discussion on the Steering Committee recommendations moderated by Dean of the College James Larimore , Provost Susan Prager and Trustee Nancy Kepes-Jeton '76. Students suggested several specific proposals during the course of the evening including alcohol education programs. Several students said education about alcohol consumption and college policies regarding drinking is critical during freshman orientation week, when students are first experiencing the independence that comes with college life. Currently, only CFS affiliated students are required to go through an alcohol education program, a situation many students present at the discussion criticized. "I really think that students need to jump in the pool, do their 50 meters, and go to alcohol training right away," Student Response Task Force member Kate Laswell '02 said, referring to the swim test many freshman take immediately after arriving on campus. Others present emphasized the importance of an education program that students find credible, suggesting a program in which peers educate others by relating their personal experiences and what they learned from them. Several participants also thought it would be a good idea to make it less "daunting" to summon help from Dick's House for someone who has consumed too much alcohol. The process could become more comfortable if students learn about it during orientation week and also if they have a chance to get to know the Safety and Security officers who will be providing assistance, one student said. In regards to the steering committee proposals, many students questioned the impact that limiting the availability of alcohol in CFS organizations would have. Some suggested that alcohol problems do not have their source in the CFS social system but rather are the result of overall cultural attitudes toward the consumption of alcohol. Benita Perch '01, vice-president of the CFSC and an international student from South Africa, said she found the "zeal for alcohol" at Dartmouth a strange phenomenon upon her arrival on campus freshman year. Others echoed her opinion, suggesting that the American attitude towards the consumption of alcohol is not found in other cultures. "We create an all or nothing environment that is ... very, very destructive," CFSC President Eric Etu '01 said. Several participants expressed concern that students prevented from consuming alcohol in CFS houses will end up do so in more private and unregulated environments. Affiliated students repeatedly pointed out that much problem drinking occurs at "room parties," where many students drink hard liquor.

News

Colacchio named D-H Clinic head

By Kathleen McDermott | February 1, 2000

Dartmouth Medical School Professor Thomas Colacchio, M.D. was recently elected President of the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic by the clinic's Board of Trustees. As president, he represents the 500 physicians and 1,500 employees of the clinic, based in Lebanon, N.H., with 30 different locations throughout New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts. Colacchio said he plans to focus on the "academic part of our mission -- the creation and sharing of new knowledge with learners [will] become a more essential part of the activities of the rest of the system beyond Lebanon." He also said that he wants his colleagues in Southern New Hampshire and elsewhere to have a more active and hands-on participation in teaching residents and conducting clinical research. "It clearly is something we can extend more broadly ... [It will be] a benefit both to our education processes and the community too," he added. He said that he will also work on "balancing the need to adapt to the changes and requirements [of new health financing issues] and still accomplish the other goals of teaching and research." But despite his administrative duties, Colacchio still cares for patients and teaches, spending Tuesdays and Fridays in the operating room. According to Colacchio, physicians in leadership positions at Dartmouth-Hitchcock always remain practicing physicians in order to keep credibility with colleagues and maintain a sense of perspective and reality. Originally from Jersey City, N.J., he earned his undergraduate degree at Boston College and his medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine.

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McCain speaks at AD; N.H. votes today

By Jeffrey Tanenhaus | February 1, 2000

As the first in the nation primary countdown nears its final hours, Republican candidate Arizona Senator John McCain delivered brief remarks at Alpha Delta fraternity yesterday morning while other presidential candidates made last-minute campaign sweeps throughout the state. Speaking to an audience that included many non-student supporters and AD brothers, McCain often couched his remarks in a Dartmouth context.

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Filmmaker discusses new prison movie

By Jeremy Skog | February 1, 2000

Creator and director of the film "The Watermelon Woman" Cheryl Dunye spoke about her film in progress, "Stranger Inside" last night. Dunye's upcoming film depicts the story of a mother and daughter who meet in prison and will be presented in her personal "Dunyementary" style, a mix of documentary, pseudo-documentary and narrative techniques. During her speech Dunye discussed the process of her research, which included talking to actual inmates as well as researching through archives and the Library of Congress. In her effort to make the film "as close to the truth as possible," Dunye workshopped her script with inmates, reading the script with them, and actually talked to several mother-daughter pairs in prisons. Dunye also showed a short documentary about the workshopping process that she had with the inmates at several Minnesota prisons. Dunye modeled the film after the book "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl," by Harriet Jacobs.

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