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The Dartmouth
June 28, 2025 | Latest Issue
The Dartmouth
Allison Groff
The Setonian
News

Lebanon may buy College land

The College recently put up for sale a 20-acre parcel of land that the town of Lebanon is considering as a potential site for a swimming pool. The lot is located on Route 10 and belongs to a 2,500 acre holding called the "Dartmouth-Lebanon Property." The swimming pool committee of Lebanon, the Twin Pines Housing Trust and three other residential developers have expressed interest in the land. But Dartmouth Real Estate Director Paul Olsen said "the city would always have priority over a third party" and the College is "not entertaining any offers" until Lebanon makes a final decision. Due to their "long future together," the city and the College must work together, Olsen said. Olsen added that the College would be unwilling to sell the land for an amount it thinks is below the land's fair market value. Olsen added that he does not foresee "a pattern of parceling off Dartmouth's property" in the future. Last year Lebanon's city council allocated $300,000 for either repairs of the Lebanon's swimming pool on Pumping Station Road or the construction of a new pool. The swimming pool committee, responsible for surveying potential sites for a new pool and presenting their information to the city council, is considering the College plot along with many other potential sites. Bert Blais, chairman of the Lebanon pool committee and the recreation commission, said the committee is currently examining the accessibility, the amount of parking space, the number of sewer lines and the amount of work needed to prepare a number of potential sites. Blais said he would personally "like to repair the pool and continue searching for land, then build a new pool in five to 10 years." The idea to sell the land initially came from an inquiry by the Twin Pines Housing Trust, who wishes to buy the property to build private residences. Twin Pines made an offer which the College deemed too low, even though the precise value of the land has not yet been assessed Olsen said. Wallace Roberts, executive director of Twin Pines, said that "the site is a superior building site." Roberts cited the advantage of the land being accessible to municipal water and sewer lines. He also noted the number of workers in Lebanon who need affordable housing and said that Hanover "has the necessary facilities, yet has no appreciable amount" of affordable housing. Olsen said the land is not very useful to the College because it "not connected to the College in a strategic way or to anything we own." The 20-acre plot is cut off from the rest of the Dartmouth-Lebanon Property by a steep ridge. Olsen said if the College believes it has a good offer from Lebanon or from private real estate developers, it will seek formal approval internally.

The Setonian
News

Class of 1994-in the real world now

Statistics about career choices made by the Class of 1994 seem to refute the notions of the disorientation and tumultuous behavior characteristic of Generation X. Career Services recently released a study reporting that out of the 85 percent of graduates who responded to a survey last June, 62 percent sought full-time employment, 24 percent planned to attend graduate school, 1 percent intended to travel, 6 percent expressed other interests, and the remaining 6 percent were still undecided. The Career Services report showed that these statistics are consistent with those of previous classes.

The Setonian
News

'98s await Homecoming

For members of the Class of 1998, Homecoming is not just another social event, but a rite of passage - an initiation of sorts. Over the past month, the incoming class has acted as a cluster of individuals rather than an entity. Freshmen see Homecoming as the first opportunity they have to bond as a class. Julia Mueller '98 said she hopes to see the Class of '98 "become more of a class rather than a group of students." According to the "'Shmen Guide to 'Shmen," Homecoming is "the prime event of the fall" when "the entire town comes alive in support for the College." With all the hype it has received, Bobby Spillane '98 said he is "looking forward to seeing if the event can meet the expectations put forth by upperclassmen." Jo Weingarten '98 also said she is looking forward to this weekend. She said the event should be "the ultimate freshman experience,"one in which she cannot wait to witness and participate. Tanner Morris '98 emphasized school spirit rather than a particular freshman experience.

The Setonian
News

Sciences awarded $1.8 mill.

The College will receive $1.8 million from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute to enhance undergraduate research and upgrade facilities in the life sciences departments. Dartmouth is among 62 colleges and universities to receive a portion of $86 million being awarded this year by the institute.

The Setonian
News

Health and safety department formed

In an effort to minimize potentially hazardous conditions for members of the Dartmouth community, the College has created the Environmental Health and Safety Office. The office will handle a variety of issues including biosafety, disease prevention and employee comfort in the workplace. The department was created to consolidate into one office the administration of health and safety issues on campus, said Larry Morris, the department's director. The move was initiated by Vice President and Treasurer Lyn Hutton and then acting Provost Bruce Pipes. The department has already introduced a driver's safety course and has taken steps to notify the College community of the state-wide rabies epidemic, said Morris, who served as the College's Environmental Health and Safety Specialist before the department was created. The department will "provide a support group which will lend its services to the Dartmouth community," Morris said, adding that its benefits would affect everyone involved with the College. The Environmental Health and Safety Office has also implemented programs pertaining to more specific problems. By focusing on ergonomics and evaluating computer stations and workplace layout, the office hopes to prevent long term skeletal and muscle problems among members of the College community, Morris said. Morris said the office has also addressed health issues among athletes. For ski-patrol members and weight room advisors, the Environmental Health and Safety Office has created training programs to address the issue of exposure to blood-born pathogens. "The department has provided us with reliable information," Eric Lawson, the director of strength and conditioning, said. The Environmental Health and Safety Office also oversees biosafety and radiation regulations as well. Last summer a Yale professor contracted a severe illness when a rare virus escaped during a laboratory accident.

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