BURNLEY

A Modest Scholar

Ask Christine Burnley (Montgomery/Texas) why she is a math major and she'll answer, "I never could read." Question her about the physics and English courses in which she received an "A " the two worst grades in her Dartmouth career and she re- plies nonchalantly, "Maybe electricity and literature aren't my true talents." But don't jump to any conclusions; Burnley's wit is only one of many camouflages for her brilliance.

Her academic record speaks for itself: a 3.98 grade point average, ten academic citations, election to Phi Beta Kappa as a junior. Burnley, now quite serious, is quick to play down her accomplishments; "I can't stress good luck enough. A lot of the courses are math courses. If you do the work you'll get an A." Listening to others, one realizes that such modesty is not a temporary facade.

President David McLaughlin, in whose office Burnley works as one of two student interns, said, "Chrissy is bright and articulate without manifesting a need to impress others with her intelligence. If I could describe the type of caring, competent and committed student I would like to see at Dartmouth, it would be Chris Burnley."

Burnley said her main projects in the President's office were a survey of seniors' views on the curricu- lum and monitoring the news of the other Ivy League institutions. Her internship, she said, offered a chance to "have a little more input into the administration and get a better sense of what looking at the College from that side of the fence is like."

Over the last four years, Burnley has also served on the Advisory Committee on Investor Responsibility, the Committee on Freshman Year and the Alcohol Concerns Committee. She was also elected by her peers for two terms on the College's judiciary body, the Committee on Standards. Associate Dean of the College Marilyn Baldwin who worked with Burnley on the COS said, "She has that amazing ability to disagree with everyone on the Committee and have them still respect her. . . . With her soft Southern drawl, she's so Texas to me. You think she's letting something slip by and then all of a sudden: wham, she lets you have it."

Burnley said her thesis work on Markov Chains was among her most rewarding experiences. "It has given me an opportunity to work with Professors [of Mathematics John] Kemeny and [J. Laurie] Snell. I have enjoyed the close personal association. . . . There is something very exciting about being the only person working on something."

Snell, who taught Burnley in two probability courses "both times she was the best in the class" said of his pupil, "I want to emphasize that Chrissy is one of the best mathematics majors that I have known in recent years. . . . To do good mathematical research requires unusual mathematical talent, a lot of hard work, and the willingness to do this work for your own enjoyment without expecting great rewards."

Burnley, along with her sister Susan '86, is an active member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and has served as treasurer and house manager. "The [sorority] system is getting more and more institutionalized. There is a big national panhellenic influence, a bureaucratizing influence. ..."

As for the role of women at Dartmouth, "I never thought that being a woman at Dartmouth is more of a struggle than at any place else. If friends, relatives and The New York Times hadn't told me there was a problem with male-female relationships at the College, I would never have known."

Next year Burnley will work as a researcher for Booz Allen, Hamilton in New York and then, two years later, will attend Stanford Business School where she has deferred her admission. Beyond,that, Burnley said she will continue looking for answers. "I'd like to be in a position of responsibility to solve problems because that's what I like to do."

"I never thought thatbeing a woman atDartmouth is moreof a struggle than atany place else."