Trustee actions: Budget, snow, frats
At their April meeting, the Trustees set the 1985-86 budget, approved a special campaign to raise funds for snowmaking at the Dartmouth Skiway, and adopted a statement commending fraternities and sororities for their effort on Minimum Standards. The Board also divested approximately $2 million of stock in two companies not in compliance with the College's policy on South African investments, as noted in the last issue.
The FY86 budget totals $151.3 million for the College and professional schools, up 6.4 percent from last year. The budget for the College alone is $110.1 million. The budget is balanced, President McLaughlin noted at a press conference following the Trustees' meeting, but is "tight." He said balancing the budget required deferment of some contemplated new programs and positions and curtailment of a few existing programs. McLaughlin also highlighted the fact that tuition and fees compose only 42.75 percent of revenues; that endowment income makes up 12.6 percent of revenues; and that compensation, including fringe benefits, accounts for 55 percent of expenditures. He also pointed out that federal contributions to financial aid are up only three percent, so the College has had to assume a greater share of that portion of the budget to continue avoiding an admit-deny admissions policy.
The Trustees also approved raising funds to install artificial snowmaking at the Skiway. Part of the expected $1.1 million price tag for the project was already in hand, including a $100,000 gift from George Macomber of Concord, Mass., who has had three children in the Dartmouth skiing program. With expected ticket sale increases also figured in, about $200,000 remained to be raised at the beginning of June. It was considered "very probable" by those working on the campaign that the project could proceed for next season. The lack of snowmaking at the Skiway has hampered not only the College's nationally-famed ski team, but also the extensive intramural and recreational programs. The Skiway was open only 32 days in 1985-86, and Winter Carnival Alpine events have been held at the Skiway only once in the last seven years. The Skiway also benefits the local community, and Jane Chivers, widow of longtime Skiway manage; Howard Chivers '39, has been heading up that aspect of the campaign.
The Trustees recognized the success of the Minimum Standards program by adopting a statement thanking those involved in the process. The "searching examination of the strengths and weaknesses [of Greek organizations] . . . confirmed a positive contribution to the educational objectives of the College," they said. The Board also noted that while the effort was "a commendable start," it will be important to "sustain the improvement."
Walter Burke '44 was reelected to chair the Board, and John F. Steele '54 was elected an Alumni Trustee for a second five-year term.
Present McLaughlin was serenaded by a group of well-wishing fraternity brothers on the evening of April 29. He had returned toWebster Avenue fate, after a lecture and a rather tense faculty meeting earlier in the day, when the doorbell rang. Upon answering it,the president was greeted with a rousing rendition of "Men of Dartmouth.
