Amidst the general haze of classes, sunbathing and the merriment that is Sophomore Summer, several events from the Class of 2006's three-month solo stint will stand out clearly in their minds. Tubestock, generally considered the highlight of Summer term, was as wet and wild as ever.
While it may not be the most talked-about aspect of campus life, many Dartmouth students maintain active spiritual existences.
Members of the Dartmouth community have been keeping vigil over Michael Shannon '06, who has been in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center for several days following a life threatening infection and struggle with toxic shock syndrome. An offensive tackle on the Dartmouth football team, Mike first checked into the hospital 10 days ago, at the insistence of his father, Dr. Michael Shannon. On Sunday, Aug.
Confidential information, including students' names, social security numbers and birthdays, is no longer secure within the College's databases, as an unauthorized user gained access to eight computer servers in the Berry Machine Room and uploaded an unauthorized program late Wednesday night. Associate Provost for Information Technology Larry Levine alerted the entire College community of the intrusion and the potential information leak in a BlitzMail message sent on Friday evening. With access to people's names, social security numbers and birthdays, the hackers could obtain a credit card in someone's name, access financial information or create a false identity. Levine encouraged the recipients of his e-mail to take appropriate action to protect themselves from identity fraud and to contact computing services or human resources to discuss the matter in depth. While Levine told The Dartmouth that many recipients responded to his e-mail, to the best of his knowledge, "no one has discovered any questionable activity." Levine reported the hacking to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, but he said that the FBI receives many reports related to these types of hackings and that he is doubtful that anything will come of his report. "The odds are very low," Levine said of apprehending the hackers.
The New Hampshire State House of Representatives race in the predominantly Democratic Hanover-Lyme district looks to be somewhat more interesting than it has been in years past, as two Dartmouth Republicans have thrown their hats in the ring. Jesse Roisin '05 and Katherine Racicot '06, who are both active members of the College Republicans, have decided to run for seats in the State House.
Christina Porter '06, who has been in a coma for over six months, is gradually regaining consciousness and her ability to communicate.
Montgomery fellow and renowned presidential historian Robert Dallek, who will lecture Tuesday in Filene Auditorium, shed light on the current administration and the 2004 presidential election in a recent interview with The Dartmouth. Voters' judgments of the continuing violence in Iraq and of the Bush administration's "inaccurate or false assumptions," will determine the outcome, according to Dallek.
While the '06 members of the men's heavyweight and lightweight crew teams and the women's crew team will continue to row nearly everyday this summer, their regimen looks to be much less intense then it typically is during Fall, Winter and Spring terms. Led by Coach Kevin Cotter, the lightweight men's eight, the women's eight and the heavyweight men's four have been going out on the water together.
Police officials, Dartmouth officials and one student addressed some unsettling trends regarding alcohol-related arrests and answered questions pertaining to particular Summer-term liabilities in a panel discussion entitled "Police, Parkhurst, S&S and You" on Tuesday. A substantial portion of the panel focused on the repercussions of a recent New Hampshire law that made it possible for police to prosecute "internal possession" of alcohol by underage individuals. Since legislation regarding internal possession was enacted in January 2003, Hanover Police captain Frank Moran estimated that the number of alcohol-related arrests have increased three to four-fold. "Our business, whether we like it or not, has gone up," Moran said. For a first-time offender, an internal possession charge can be expunged following the successful completion of the town of Hanover's alcohol diversion program. Because of this option, Moran encouraged Greek leaders not to overreact and not to "encourage your friends to overreact." According to Moran, prior to the enactment of the internal possession law, 90 percent of alcohol-related arrests were for open container violations. With respect to the increase in arrests and the perceived increase in police presence on campus, Moran admitted that, "Sometimes some of our guys seem overzealous." Two to three police cars patrol downtown Hanover and the College on a typical night and, according to Moran, their presence is needed to limit burglaries and other crimes. "We like to give the appearance of a lot of cars," Moran said. When questioned about outdoor parties at private off-campus residences, Moran said that patrolmen can and may stop and investigate a scene if they suspect that they are witnessing a violation of alcohol laws. "Even if one of them looks under 21, [a patrolman] can stop," Moran said. College Proctor Harry Kinne subsequently addressed the role of Safety and Security on campus, particularly with respect to the Greek system during the Summer term. During the summer, Safety and Security is "less likely to come into your [Greek] house because you're not having registered parties," Kinne told the Greek leaders. Safety and Security will continue to conduct all of its regular once-a-week "walk-throughs" of Greek organizations.
The undergraduate and graduate members of the Class of 2004 will not be the only people receiving degrees at the College's 234th Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, June 13.