Interview With the Dean

By A. J. Monaco | Wednesday, May 7, 1997

When Dean Pelton was at Colgate, he was the 'Frat Buster.' While there, he implemented a seven-step plan designed to reduce the fraternities' role at Colgate. He banned kegs, instituted a sophomore rush, and basically decimated the Greek System. When he left for Dartmouth, Colgate's fraternities were a hollowed-out husk of their former selves.

Here at Dartmouth, it appeared as if Pelton would do more of the same. He came to Dartmouth at a time when many fraternities had gone independent of the College to avoid administrative restrictions and hassles. Pelton put a stop to that by decreeing that no student could live in an independent fraternity. At one point last term, over half of the fraternities were on social probation for violating the keg policy. The College was cracking down hard, and I had heard a direct rumor from a credible source that the order had come directly form Dean Pelton. I thought that Dean Pelton was trying to make fundamental changes to a College grounded in traditions — traditions which he knew little about.

My previous contact with Dean Pelton was limited. I once saw him defend his controversial freshman dorms proposal at a town meeting. He was defensive and duplicitous — he would have made a great politician.

In my interview with Dean Pelton, I actually got to meet him one-on-one. And in all fairness, I must say that my initial impressions of him were completely wrong. I found him to be an honest, thoughtful man who genuinely cares about students. He listened to what we had to say, and when we asked him a question, he answered it thoughtfully and truthfully. I even found myself liking Dean Pelton by the end of the hour.

That's not to say that I agree with everything he had to say. In fact, I disagree with a lot of Dean Pelton's positions. I don't understand his hostility toward the Greek System, and I found his argument against independent fraternities completely unconvincing. I believe that Dartmouth's strength lies in social interaction rather than in creative introversion. I still think that he is trying to make fundamental changes to a College grounded in tradition. However, at the end of the hour I had a much better understanding of Dean Pelton's motives. He does know a great deal about Dartmouth, and I think that he is very responsive to individual contact — very willing to engage a student in a conversation.

Much of Dean Pelton's negative image stems from his perceived defensiveness. Countless students have complained that he evades direct questions. But these students have only seen Dean Pelton in a large, usually hostile group setting. If they could meet and have a conversation with Dean Pelton, they might not agree with him, but at least they would respect his opinions.

The older Presidents of Dartmouth were universally loved because the students knew them. They were highly visible men who knew the students' names and hung out in fraternity basements. Dean Pelton should follow their example, and become more accessible to students. He is an avid proponent of interaction between faculty and students, and it would be an excellent opportunity to speak with students in his best setting. He might not convince us that the Greek System is a detriment to the College, but a lot more people would listen.

Interview With the Dean

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