Report from the Council
The 154th meeting of the Dartmouth Alumni Council commenced on May 28. Consistent with the theme of our fall meeting, it was full of provocative discussion and lively debate on issues ranging from athletics, to freedom of expression on campus, to the Wright Report regarding residential life, to the Native American Program. A new proposal regarding the potential restructuring of the Council was introduced. The 14th President of the College bid farewell (to a standing ovation) and the 15th President made his debut through an audio-visual presentation. Our agenda was ambitious, but councilors responded eagerly to the opportunity to be fully engaged in the weekend's activities.
On Thursday night, in my semi-annual report to the Council, I referred to what I believe the Council had achieved during the year, where I think we are today, and my ideas about the Council's future. During the past year we have tried to raise the profile of the Council and establish it as a legitimate forum for substantive discussion and debate. That theme was highlighted in the Alumni Panel which we had in both the fall and spring meetings. All viewpoints have been welcomed and encouraged. (In the fall, among others, Ave Raube, Chairman of the Committee for a Strong Dartmouth, spoke.) In addition, we wrote to all alumni for their input in the Trustee selection process last fall and during the year we have made monthly reports through the Alumni Magazine. In doing so, we hope that more alumni than ever feel represented by the Council and have a sense of what it is and what it does.
As for the Council of today, I believe that there is a new vitality and, hopefully, a renewed sense of mission. There appears to be genuine interest in the meetings as Councilors have actively engaged in dialogue with panelists, speakers, Trustees, faculty, students and amongst themselves. After all, the Council's constitution clearly states that the purpose of the Council is to promote the interchange of alumni ideas, to nurture greater dialogue between alumni, administrators, faculty, and students and to assist the administration and Trustees in the development of programs and policies.
During this May meeting we tried to keep faith with our constitutional charge by organizing an agenda which was, at once, provocative and informative. The Coaches Panel on Thursday night provided the alumni with insights into the great success of Dartmouth's intercollegiate teams which reside outside the spotlight usually reserved for football and hockey. The women's lacrosse and basketball coaches and the men's baseball and track coaches spoke of their championship programs, how they developed, their hopes for the future, and how alumni can be a constructive part of the future.
Friday morning, May 29, was the beginning of official business of the Council. Peggy Epstein Tanner '78 led off with a discussion of the background regarding George Munroe's '43 nomination to fill Bob Field's '43 unexpired term on the Board of Trustees. Field has assumed the full-time position of temporary vice president for financial matters at the College. Munroe was described as an exceptional trustee who, under extraordinary albeit not unprecedented circumstances, would be a superb candidate to succeed Field. There was some discussion regarding process and precedent, and then we moved forward into the agenda for the day.
The Alumni Panel featured Governor Richard Lamm, former governor of Colorado and the current Montgomery Fellow at Dartmouth, along with Susan Dentzer '77 and John Mac Govern 'BO. Susan is an editor and journalist with Newsweek magazine and is currently a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University. John is a former writer for the Dartmouth Review and is currently a Republican State Representative in Massachusetts. Governor Lamm gave his perspective on Dartmouth students and the College liberal arts curriculum. In both instances, his comments were very favorable. He also spoke about his course called "Hard Choices" and his view of certain alarming educational, industrial, and economic issues facing this country and the world. Susan Dentzer was eloquent in her comparison of Dartmouth to Harvard and her perspective on the liberal arts experience at Dartmouth. John Mac Govern spoke about his concerns about freedom of expression on campus, citing a number of examples where he felt there had been an abridgment of free speech. A spirited question and answer period followed.
The Alumni Panel was succeeded by a much more sedate but equally enjoyable faculty/councilor lunch in the Hanover Inn dining room. Dean of the Faculty Dwight Lahr opened the luncheon, and then councilors had a very relaxing opportunity to converse with faculty members regarding their academic disciplines and issues on campus.
When we reconvened on Friday afternoon, a panel of Native American alumni addressed the Council about the history and current status of the Native American Program at Dartmouth as well as their hopes for its future. This was extremely provocative and enlightening. The panelists were candid about both the positive and detrimental aspects of their respective Dartmouth experiences. The educational opportunities for Native Americans at the College, their views on the Indian symbol, and what Dartmouth has meant to them as graduates were all items of discussion. Again there was an active dialogue during the question-answer period, and I believe that both the Councilors and the Native Americans concluded the afternoon with greater sensitivity for one another.
This panel was followed by an innovative forum with students at the new dormitories on East Wheelock Street. Student Life Committee Chairman Steve Severson '74 directed the program. Students and alumni broke up into four groups to discuss campus issues. This provided the kind of personal contact with students which Councilors rarely get.
Friday night was a very special evening as President McLaughlin addressed the Council for the last time. His remarks were eloquent and extremely well received. Dartmouth Alumni Awards were given to three distinguished alumni, Joel Portugal '58, Peter Schwartz '60, and Emerson Houck '56.
Saturday morning the Council voted for George Munroe '43 to fill Bob Field's '43 unexpired term on the Board of Trustees. Steve Mullins '54 gave a report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Alma Mater, discussing the alternatives which the committee has been weighing in regard to "Men of Dartmouth." They hope to have their final report ready for the December Council meeting.
The Saturday program primarily focused on a presentation from the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Sandy McCulloch, on the Presidential Search Committee and the selection of President Freedman. He discussed the process and the Committee's very positive view of President Freedman. His presentation included an audio-visual introduction of President Freedman's inaugural speech to the faculty and his first press conference at the College. President McLaughlin also made himself available for final parting remarks to the Council.
This was followed by "new business." Allen Stowe '60 presented a proposal on behalf of the class of 1960 for the general consideration of the Council regarding a study of the governance of the College. Jack Cummings '39, on behalf of the class of 1939, moved for the initiation of a new standing committee of the Council to be called the Faculty and Alumni Council Committee on Academic Affairs. This will be staffed by alumni and faculty and have a goal of improving communication between those two-constituencies. The latter proposal was approved and is now a standing committee of the Council.
In closing, I can only thank Skip Hance and Mike Choukas for all of their help and support throughout the year. I pass the baton to President Steve Mullins '54 with a great sense of confidence. Steve has worked long and hard for Dartmouth as president of his class, reunion giving chairman, member of the 1986-87 Presidential Search Committee, Chairman of the 1986-87 Alma Mater Committee, and President-elect of the Council. He is very well prepared to carry on as President. I also must thank all alumni who were supportive of the Council and our efforts during the past year. Being President of the Council was an extremely fulfilling and enjoyable experience for me and I thank the College and my fellow Councilors for that opportunity.
Outgoing Alumni Council President Mark Harty '73, left, passed the gavel to the new President, Steven Mullins '54, right, at the May Alumni Council meeting.
The Dartmouth Club of the Upper Valley recently handed the College a check for $50,000 for the Scholarship Fund. Shown here, left to right, are outgoing Club President Roger Clarkson '75, President David McLaughlin, and Scholarship Fund Chairman Howard Hoots '45.
President, Alumni Council
