Week in Review

Wednesday, April 16, 1997

Food Fight

Peter Napolitano, the director of Dartmouth's Dining Services, told the Student Assembly last Tuesday that the company was losing money and would be forced to either reduce services or increase the minimum Declining Balance Account (DBA) to $800. Instead, the college allows one firm to maintain a monopoly. Consequently, Dartmouth students suffer from lack of choice, poor food quality, and high prices. Currently the college forces students to purchase meal plans or DBA, which comes with a hefty $100 option cost for freshmen who don't elect the non-refundable $700 minimum plan. The Federal Work Study Program subsidizes companies that hire students, allowing DDS to pay each student only $1 per hour. However, the Dining Service refuses to release the salaries of its fifteen administrators. They also refuse to open their books for public scrutiny.

Perhaps fearful that as director of DDS he is responsible for the failure of the company, Napolitano was unwilling to comment, saying, 'I don't give interviews to the Review.'

Island of Fools?

The British government has recently introduced a new examination which awards points to those students who can spell their names, identify their own school, and know the correct date.

The mathematics section is reportedly more challenging, requiring test-takers to count a series of pencils and to identify the longest. Nick Seaton of the Campaign for Real Education calls the exam 'a waste of time' and 'totally stupid.' The government, for its part, has vowed to press on in its quest to become even more American.

Chalk Up Another

Both Bones Gate and Zeta Psi fraternities were indicted by a grand jury during the March session for serving alcohol to minors. Both events allegedly took place on Winter Carnival weekend. Bones Gate and Zeta Psi join Alpha Delta and Alpha Chi Alpha, both of whom had previously been indicted on similar charges earlier in the year.

California Dreamin'

Suicide has just joined the long list of unusual topics being taught in California's public schools. Classes are now being offered to help deter children from killing themselves. Students write their own eulogies and obituaries, and even visit mortuaries. Perhaps Dr. Seuss will be replaced by Dr. Kevorkian.

Dollars for Damages

The former members of Beta Theta Pi have agreed to pay their corporation thousands of dollars for damage done to the house after Beta was derecognized by the college at the end of fall term. The damage included 'broken windows and furniture, doors torn off hinges, broken light fixtures and toilet stalls, and a bar dismantled in the basement.' The Trustees of Beta Corp. decided to let the brothers pay for the damage instead of seeking criminal prosecution. Beta was kicked off of campus after a string of events triggered confrontations with the administration that culminated in derecognition.

Early Eighties No More?

The national Sigma Nu organization recently decided that all member houses must be alcohol free by 2000. Sigma Nu's action follows Phi Delta Theta, which was the first fraternity to eliminate alcohol. The Dartmouth chapter of Sigma Nu could avoid these restrictions by seceding from the national organization — going local. The chapter has gone local once before.

Huh?

The following bulletin has been posted on a variety of electronic bulletin boards:

'The destruction of the world's remaining indigenous cultures is a critical issue for the fast approaching 21st century. Cultural differences are inherent in humanity and protecting this human diversity enriches our common earth. Yet in the name of development and progress, indigenous peoples lose their lands and natural resources, thereby losing control over their lives. The consequences are often disease, destitution, and despair for them, and war and environmental damage for us all. Cultural Survival believes this destruction is not inevitable.

The forming Cultural Survival club of Dartmouth will sponsor a specific indigenous grassroots organization, such as the Amazonian Peoples Resource Initiative, which provides health services, education, and legal land rights to the Amazonian Indians of Eastern Peru. Cultural Survival will correspond with a culture project like this, and work with them to maintain the well being of their people and cultural identity.

In addition, the club will be bringing lecturers, movies, and performers that relate to indigenous peoples, tribal societies, and the issues they face.

The survival of our world's diverse indigenous cultures is a critically important issue. If you are interested in joining Cultural Survival and/or helping to establish it here at Dartmouth, please give me a blitz (or blitz 'Cultural Survival'). We hope to officially start up sometime this Spring term, and would love to have you join us.'

All Tied-Up in Gaypril

Some of the latest news and events as sent out over the DRA's blitz list and bulletin board for Gay Visibility Month termed 'Gaypril':

• April 9th will be a 'Day of Silence.' Members of the DRA will remain silent from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 'to remind others and ourselves of the silence historically forced upon the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered community.'

• In order to increase visibility the DRA will be distributing information regarding DRA members. An example from a DRA blitz: 'Queerelda Dykesmith '98, a physics major, is currently heading up a community service group which provides sandwiches for homeless kittens. She is also planning a DRA social in conjunction with the World Championship Automotive Charades Team.'

• The elections for 'Male Chair' are all tied up with the ten electoral votes split between Pieter Ott and Ezekiel Webber. In his campaign statement Webber promises that 'I am extremely dedicated to making sure that we have done a roadshow in every cluster by the end of Spring term.' A re-vote is scheduled.

• 'There will be a Queer Video night in a Residence Hall TV room...2 gay male movies, two lesbian movies.'

• ' '01 prospective week: We will hold office hours each day during the week when '01's are invited to visit Dartmouth. Poster Campaign will coincide to advertise this.'

• Posters went up this week with the slogan 'DRA: The possibilities are endless.'

• And finally plans for a gay formal are under way. 'Does anyone want the formal to be like the prom you never had where you bring your lover, not some opposite sex cousin?'

And all of this is proudly paid for by your tuition.

Clinton's Eggstravaganza

This Monday President Bill Clinton oversaw the annual Easter Egg Roll on the White House lawn, where children race to push wooden eggs along with a spoon. However, even this tradition, which dates back to 1878, did not go unmolested by the President. This year large signs advertising the Internet were unveiled, one of which read: 'Learn Big Things on the WWW.' Undoubtedly Clinton spends much of his time in the office looking at 'Big Things,' though they are not always on his computer screen. The event was open to all children ages three to six who had made the requisite $10,000.00 donation to the Democratic National Committee. When asked for comment, Clinton replied, 'Even though my expertise is in log rolling, this was still pretty fun.'

In Memoriam

Don Cutter '45 never left his beloved New England except to serve his country during World War II and the Korean War. For twenty years he owned a ski store on Main Street in Hanover. Intensely devoted to the community, Cutter coached the Hanover High Ski Team (which he led to three New England Championships) and served as a town elder and on the Lyme Board of Selectmen. This devotion continued to the end of his life. Four days before he died Cutter met with other Selectmen to give advice for the future.

Former Psychology Professor Dies

A Dartmouth alumnus and former professor of psychology died on March 26 at the age of 96. Chauncey Newell Allen '24 taught courses on the psychology of advertising and abnormal psychology as a professor at Dartmouth from 1925 to 1966. Allen remained involved in the College after he retired as Professor, and was secretary of his class for over twenty years.

New Dean of Faculty

Biology Professor Edward Berger will replace Dean of Faculty James Wright on July 1. Wright succeeded former Provost Lee Bollinger, who left to become President of the University of Michigan. Berger has been on the faculty since 1975 and in 1994 was named Associate Dean of Faculty for Graduate Studies. Berger will serve as the Dean of Faculty through spring of 2001.

Former Trustee of College Dies

Lane Dwinell '28, former Governor of New Hampshire and honorary Trustee of Dartmouth College, died on March 27. Dwinell had also served under President Eisenhower as Assistant Secretary of State for Administration and under President Nixon as the administrator for the Agency of International Development. Dwinell had been a devoted alumnus of Dartmouth College and was active in Dartmouth's affairs even after he left the governorship.

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