Table of Contents

FEATURES

30 A Civil Action

Attorney Beth Robinson '86 engineered the stunning passage of Vermont's law granting civil unions for gay couples. Here's how she did it—and why the controversy won't go away. BY ROBERT SULLIVAN '75

36 Green Acres

Just a few miles from campus, there's a green of another kind Dartmouth's Organic Farm. A look at what's happening in the fields. BY ROXANNE Khamsi '02

40 The Meaning of Emeritus

A former Dartmouth professor explains why it's essential to include retired faculty in the workings of the College. BY Jay Parini

44 The Eyes Have It

Medical Center director of ophthalmic photography Patrick Saine transforms photographs of patients' retinas into kaleidoscopic art. BY Liam Kuhn '02

DEPARTMENTS

Letters

8 Raves and rants from readers.

Notebook

16 CAMPUS

News from around the College, including Dartmouth's new financial-aid enhancements.

20 THE PRESIDENT

Why changes to financial aid amount to more than keeping up with other colleges. BY JAMES WRIGHT

22 INTERVIEW

Novelist Ernie Hebert talks about Stegner, reading the critics, and what it means to be American. By Randy Stebbings '01

24 FACULTY OPINION

A toxicologist measures the debate over arsenic in our drinking water. By Joshua Hamilton

26 PERSONAL HISTORY

An ode to a rare breed the campus canine. BY MARCUS Coe '00

28 HISTORY

A look at Dartmouth's original diplomas. By Karen Endicott

Class Notes

48 NEWSMAKERS

52 THE CLASSES

86 OBITUARIES

Continuing Ed 96

Political pundit Morton Kondracke '60 By Jacques Steinberg '88

ON THE COVER Beth Robinson at the Vermont State House in Montpelier. Photographed April 25,2001, by Alan Jakubek for Dartmouth Alumni Magazine.

Dartmouth Alumni Magazine is published six times a year. Subscription price: $21.50 per year. Printed in the U.S.A. by The Lane Press Inc., 1000 Hinesburg Road, South Burlington, VT 05403 (Postal Number: 148-560). Periodical postage paid in Dartmouth Alumni Magazine is owned and published by Dartmouth College and is produced in cooperation with the Dartmouth Class Secretaries Association. The purposes of the Magazine are to report news of the College and its alumni, provide a medium for the exchange of views concerning College affairs, and in other ways provide editorial content that relates to the shared and diverse experiences and interests of Dartmouth alumni. This publication is guided by Dartmouth's principles of freedom of expression and accepted standards of good taste. Opinions expressed are those of the signed contributors and do not necessarily represent the opintions of the editors or the official position of Dartmouth College. Postmaster: Send address changes, Form 3579, to Dartmouth Alumni Records Office, Dartmouth College, 6066 Fleet, Hanover, NH 03755.

Organic Farm manager Scott Stokoe Wids to Dartmouth's other green.