Michael Dorris, 1945-1997

In early April adjunct professor'of Native American Studies Michael Dorris was scheduled to make the key-note address for the 25th anniversary of the program he helped found He never madeit. Instead, the College and the nation received, word of his suicide.

While the full dimension of thr tragedy may always beamystery, Dorris's enduring contributions are clear. He mentored generations of students, Native and non-Native akile, nurturing their studies and giving them a sense of faith in themselves. "He belieyed in me" says Eva Marie Smith '74, "He had a habit of saying 'Yes, you can, yes,you can,"" Michael Hanitehak '73, former student and colleague of Dorris's and now director of Dartmouth's Native American Program, Says, "He gave us the stability to remain here "Dorris left fulltime teaching in 1989 to pursue a career in writing that included his award-winning account of fetal alcohol syndrome, The Broken Cord. But he remained a presence on campus and a voice for Native Americans everywhere. His death at 52, says Hanitchak, leaves students suddenly wondering, "Who's out there looking out for us now?"