Original Article: http://dartreview.com/archives/2004/06/11/the_week_in_review.php
Friday, June 11, 2004
Dean of the Faculty Resigns
Dean of the Faculty Michael Gazzaniga '61 resigned last week, less than a week after the forty-seven academic department heads narrowly voted—by a margin of 22-18—their lack of confidence during a closed-door session of the Committee of Chairs. Numerous faculty members circulated petitions decrying what they called a political decision, though the Dean nonetheless chose to end his two-year tenure effective mid-June.
Many faculty claimed that Gazzaniga favored the life sciences over the humanities as Dean, and was dismissive of concerns about his leadership.
Some students and faculty also suggested that Dr. Gazzaniga's participation in President Bush's Council on Bioethics may have alienated certain department leaders in the humanities. Government department chairwoman Anne Sa'adah, who brought the vote to the department heads, could not be reached to confirm this.
In an e-mail to the faculty, President James Wright lauded Gazzaniga's advocacy of faculty research and cross-departmental cooperation. Gazzaniga is the only Dartmouth professor with the title "University Professor."
Dr. Gazzaniga will return to his previous post as a professor in the department of psychological and brain sciences.
Parker '73 Wins Primary for Bench Seat
Conservative Republican and Dartmouth class of '73 Thomas F. Parker IV won an Alabama primary election, defeating a more traditional incumbent opponent, Jean Brown, in the race for one of three vacant Supreme Court seats. Parker said he was tired of candidates not standing up for what they believe in and not keeping campaign promises.
Parker served as legal adviser to Roy Moore, the former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice who defied a federal order to remove a monument to the Ten Commandments. Moore became a hero among religious conservatives last year for his actions, and many speculate that their outrage at his removal from office might propel more conservatives to the bench.
Royals Draft Lucas '04
The Kansas City Royals drafted Indians shortstop Ed Lucas '04 as the 235th overall pick in the Major League Baseball draft. Lucas' strong offense, including a .405 average in the latest campaign, earned him the title of Ivy League Player of the Year and a selection in the eighth round of the draft. No Dartmouth player has been drafted as high during the 15-year tenure of Dartmouth coach Bob Whalen.
Robert Haines: At It Again
Republican presidential candidate Robert Haines, whose hopes to oust President George W. Bush have been repeatedly dashed by police officers enforcing no-trespassing orders, has been arrested again. On the campaign trail in Virginia, Mr. Haines had a confrontation with a police officer who said he would "get" him, according to Concord community televisin host Eric Green. Green, who hounded Democratic hopeful Howard Dean with Confederate battle flags and Ku Klux Klan garb, said Haines had been brutally peppersprayed by the police after raising his fists "in self defense."
During the New Hampshire primary, The Dartmouth Review served as the main news source for Mr. Haines's antics.
Senior Giving Down
Contributions to the Senior Class Gift, a program that allows graduating seniors to donate to the Dartmouth College Fund, are extraordinarily low this year. Only 6.8 percent of the 969-member class of 2004 has given so far, raising only $2,095 of a $10,000 goal from about 65 students. Traditionally, participation is extremely high—all of the other Ivy League schools have similar programs, and generally Dartmouth beats the pants off all of them, including Princeton. The precipitous decline puts the school near the bottom. Princeton recently has seen roughly 85 percent participation, while 70 percent of Harvard seniors open their wallets.