Dartmouth College student groups

This page contains detailed information on a number of student groups at Dartmouth College. For more information on athletic teams, please see Dartmouth College athletic teams. For more information on college publications, please see Dartmouth College publications.

A cappella singing groups

The Dartmouth Aires

Dartmouth College's oldest a cappella singing group, the Aires were originally formed as the Injunaires in 1946 as an offshoot of the college Glee Club; the Dartmouth Aires broke with the Glee Club in the late 1970s.

Although the Aires usually have about sixteen members, group numbers vary on a term-to-term basis. Auditions are held at the beginning of every fall term. Members of the Aires pick what songs to arrange based on the group's tastes. Because the Aires are such a diverse group of people, they end up singing a lot of different styles. Currently, much of their repertoire consists of popular songs from the 1980s, 90s, and 00s, but it also includes many traditional Dartmouth songs, a few 1950s and 1960s tunes, selected hip hop tracks, and the occasional musical theater piece.

Most of the arrangements consist of a soloist, a dozen or so people singing background, and a vocal percussionist. The background of arrangements consists of a series of complex "instrument-like" syllables that, when sung together, resemble the background of the original song.

The Aires perform an average of two or three times a term at Dartmouth. They frequently take weekend road-trips, singing and reveling at other colleges, performing for high school music festivals, and entertaining at Dartmouth alumni clubs. Every winter break, the Aires tour the Eastern Seaboard, while travelling further afield every spring. Recent spring tours have taken them to Costa Rica, Paris, Italy, Colorado, a few of the Hawaiian Islands, Florida, and California.

Recent Aires accolades include winning the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (CARA) for Best All-Male Collegiate Album for both their 2003 and 2005 album releases, as well as selection for Varsity Vocals' Best Of Collegiate A Cappella compilation CD in 2003, 2005 and 2008, and selection for the Voices Only compilation CD in 2005, 2006 and 2008. Their most recent album, Extraordinaire, is featured on both compilations, and they are set to release a new album, fresh aire, in June 2011.

Currently, they are competing in The Sing Off, a national reality show. Out of 16 original contestants, they have made it into the top three.^[1]

Dartmouth Dodecaphonics

The Dartmouth Dodecaphonics ("Dodecs") is Dartmouth's oldest coed a cappella group. The group was created in 1984 by 12 founding members (hence, "Dodeca"). They sing mainly contemporary pop music, with arrangements by such artists and groups as Queen, Maroon 5, Whitney Houston, Evanescence, and Alanis Morissette. They also sing doo-wop favorites, 1980s songs, traditionals, Dartmouth songs, and sometimes disco. The Dodecs was the first Dartmouth group to be recognized on Best Of Collegiate A Cappella, a compilation a cappella CD, with their rendition of the Smashing Pumpkins' "Drown." As of March 2006^[update], they are working on their 7th album. Dodecs are expected to release their new album in fall 2008 (the same time as their big performance in Spaulding Auditorium and their 25th reunion celebration).

They have competed in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella ICCA tournament and recently been featured on Voices Only, a nationally-competitive compilation CD, with their rendition of Jason Mraz's "Geek In The Pink". They write all of their own arrangements and are known for comical background parts.

The Dodecs go on a tour after every fall term. Recent destinations have included Hawaii, Orlando, San Francisco, Berkeley (CA), Boston, Chicago, New York City, Dallas, and Washington, D.C.. Tours include shows at Dartmouth alumni events, schools in the area, hotels, businesses, and general down time for the group to forge bonds (amusement parks, comedy shows, tourist attractions, etc.). The Dodecs host and visit several other a cappella groups in the area. The group also attends an annual cabin trip at the end of every academic year.

The Dartmouth Brovertones

The Dartmouth Brovertones are the second oldest all-male a capella group founded at Dartmouth in 1993. Originally named Final Cut, the group was traditionally known for singing popular songs from the 80's and 90's. Recently, the group unveiled a new, more modern set list at their performance in Dartmouth's Spaulding Auditorium for Dartmouth's Winter Carnival 2009. Recently arranged Brovertones selections include an eclectic mix, ranging from "California Dreaming" to "Feel Good, Inc". More traditional group songs include "Freedom 90", "Send Me", and "Truly, Madly, Deeply". The group's current repertoire consists of approximately 30 songs.

The group has three albums, its latest being 2005's "Cutting Edge," released when the group was still named Final Cut. The Brovertones are currently working on their next studio album, "Standing Brovation."

The group's most recent Winter Tours have involved travel to Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Louisville, Nashville, and Atlanta. The Brovertones also enjoy performing many on and off campus shows every term, with recent off campus excursions to Georgetown University, Smith College, Middlebury College, and WPI.

The Brovertones hold auditions every fall in conjunction with the other campus a cappella groups.

The Dartmouth Cords

The Dartmouth Cords are an all-male singing group that was founded in 1996 and usually consists of around 15 members. The Cords are known for wearing corduroy to every performance; a hokey, yet cleverly endearing pun. Their eclectic repertoire has always included pop, rock, hip-hop, and traditional Dartmouth songs. Voice parts include tenors, baritones, basses and vocal percussionists. The group incorporates choreography, comedic skits, and visual media to enhance their shows.

During winter break, the Cords go on an annual Tour, traveling to sing at colleges and alumni venues throughout the country. Past tours have taken them as far south as Florida and even to Indiana, in addition to nearly every hot-spot in the Northeast. Every Spring term, the group holds a Sing-Out, where Cords alumni from past years come back to Dartmouth to sing Cords’ songs old and new. In the spring of 2011, the Cords will be traveling to South Korea for their first international Tour.

The Cords’ CD, Elements of Style (2002) has won awards from the national collegiate a cappella organizations CASA and Varsity Vocals in categories such as "Best Arrangement." They have even had a song featured on the Best of Collegiate A Cappella compilation album. Their other recordings include Against the Grain (1999), Accordingly (1997), and No Size Fits All (2008).

Auditions for the Cords are held at the beginning of every Fall term, during which time they hold a rigorous audition process for talented, diverse singers.

Dartmouth Decibelles

The Dartmouth Decibelles is the oldest all female a cappella group at Dartmouth College. Affectionately referred to by Dartmouth students as 'the Decis', they were founded in 1976 and sing music from all genres. The group performs frequently on the Dartmouth campus as well as at alumni clubs, other undergraduate institutions, and many other venues around the country, particularly during their tours. Recordings include Conversing (1993), Belley (1996), Iridescence (1998), Vintage (2001), Platinum (2004), and Distraction (2007).

Dartmouth Rockapellas

The Dartmouth Rockapellas (often called "The Rocks") is one of three all-female a cappella groups on the campus. They were founded on February 7, 1989 with a musical and also a political purpose: to spread social awareness by performing "freedom songs." Among its founding members was actress Aisha Tyler and recent alums include Mindy Kaling (class of 2001) of hit TV show The Office.

The Rockapellas has typically consisted of around 16 members from diverse backgrounds. Their repertoire of over 100 songs includes hip-hop, country and pop. They have toured the United States, the Bahamas, Hawaii, and Anguilla in the British West Indies. They have competed in the International Championship of Collegiate Acappella ICCA tournament, and have been featured on Varsity Vocals' Best Of Collegiate Acappella CD.

The Rockapellas' recordings include "Live Free" 2011, "Testimony" 2009, BARE 2003, Velvet Rocks 1999, Think On These Things 1996, Off the Track 1994, and Definitions 1992.

Dartmouth Subtleties

The Dartmouth Subtleties is an all-female a cappella group on campus, Founded in the winter of 1998. They are known as a musically talented group of independent women who emphasize musical innovation through arrangements and creative performances. Extensive choreography, new sounds, colorful costumes, and uproarious skits have all become part of the Subtleties' style.

Their repertoire includes pop, rap, rock, and other musical genres. Membership varies from term to term but is usually between 11 and 16 members. Auditions are held at the beginning of every Fall term and as necessary.

The Dartmouth Subtleties are currently finishing their second album, the follow-up to their 2003 debut, Irony. The Subtleties tour the country every winter, performing everywhere from New York City to Colonial Williamsburg to Orlando, Florida. During their 2007 winter tour, they went to Washington D.C. and, in addition to performing at local hospitals and events, sang at the White House and the State Department.

X.ado

X.ado is a co-ed Christian a cappella group.

X.ado's name is derived from ancient Greek. The "X" is the Greek letter chi, the first letter in the word Christos, which means "Christ." The letter by itself was used by early Christians as a symbol for Christ. The "ado" means "to sing to or sing for." Together, they describe X.ado's reason for existence: to sing for Christ.

X.ado was founded by a group of Christian '94s, '95s, and '96s in 1992. The group had seven members, male and female, and lasted for about a year before gradually fading away. The vision didn't die, however, and the group was reborn in the winter of 1995. The first winter tour lasted in Boston for four days during winter break in 1997.

The group's repertoire mainly consists of Christian rock/praise songs, often combined with choreography and a humorous skit. There are some more traditional hymns such as "The Lord Bless You and Keep You" and "And Can it Be?"

Because of the group's religious nature, auditions are held separately from the rest of the a cappella groups on campus, usually a day earlier but still during orientation.

X.ado has also been well-represented in the annual "Dartmouth Idol" contest. In the 2008 edition, two members made the semi-finals (while one advanced to the finals) and there were three members in the finals of the 2009 edition—half of the field. They were also the first campus a cappella group to have their own official Youtube account.

X.ado goes on tour after every fall term for about a week to various geographic locations which have included: New York City (2007), and Baltimore/D.C. (2008).

The Dartmouth Sing Dynasty

The Sing Dynasty (often called "The Sings") is one of Dartmouth's two secular co-ed a cappella groups, founded by two '10s in the spring of 2008. "Dartmouth's only formerly-fictional a cappella group" takes its name from the fictional background of Stephen Colbert, who allegedly went to Dartmouth and participated in an a cappella group of the same name.

The group's repertoire consists mostly of contemporary pop, and all the songs are arranged by members of the group. In February 2010, the group visited the Matthew's Minstrels at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY. Every December, the Sings go on a winter tour. Recent locations have included West Hartford, CT and New York City. Membership varies from term to term, but all together, the Sings are made up of 21 students of varying backgrounds, interests and majors.

Dartmouth Taal

Dartmouth Taal is Dartmouth's only South Asian Fusion a cappella group. The group was founded with the goal of blending popular American music with Bollywood tunes. Their arrangements vary from somber to fun, but try to maintain a coherency between the blended songs.The group is all male and was founded by a group of seven members of the class of 2013 and a member from the class of 2012 in the winter of 2010. Taal went through their first round of auditions in Fall 2010 and has increased in size and scope. Taal is open to Dartmouth males of all races and encourages everyone to audition.

Other musical organizations

These organizations include the Barbary Coast Jazz Ensemble, Dartmouth Brass Society, Dartmouth Chamber Orchestra, Dartmouth Chamber Singers, Dartmouth College Marching Band, Dartmouth Glee Club, Dartmouth Gospel Choir, Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra, Dartmouth Wind Symphony, Handel Society of Dartmouth College, and World Music Percussion Ensemble.

Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra

The Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra (DSO) is the resident orchestra of the Hopkins Center at Dartmouth College. Conducted by Anthony Princiotti, the DSO performs standard works from the symphonic repertoire (while also including some works off the beaten path). The 2009-2010 season included Mahler's Symphony No. 2, Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2, Beethoven Symphony No. 5, and Brahms Symphony No. 3. The DSO's performance of the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto was performed with Philip Back '10 and can be found on YouTube. The orchestra traveled to Europe (Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria) in 2009. The DSO performs in the Hopkins Center’s Spaulding Auditorium during the fall, winter and spring terms. Sophisticated repertoire, student and professional soloists, and sellout audiences have given the DSO a growing regional reputation for excellence in performing and programming.

Dartmouth Wind Symphony

Consisting mostly of non-music majors, the Dartmouth Wind Symphony (DWS) performs three official concerts a year, one each academic term (except for summer), at the college's performing arts center. The current director is Matthew Marsit.

The DWS also plays joint concerts each winter term with another college or university's wind ensemble. Past exchanges have taken place with Yale, MIT, McGill, and the New England Conservatory. On these exchanges, the DWS plays one half of the concert while the visiting school plays the other. The DWS also visits the other school and plays half the concert there.

The DWS has hosted many special guests for its concerts, including the New York Philharmonic's Phil Smith, and the long-running star of Broadway's Phantom of the Opera, Ted Keegan. These guests usually play a few selections with the Wind Symphony as well as solo pieces on their own.

Dartmouth Brass Society

Founded in 2001, the Dartmouth Brass Society is a student-run organization with a membership of over twenty brass instrumentalists. It has several component groups, including brass quintets and trombone quartets. Certain groups receive professional coaching in conjunction with the Music Department's for-credit chamber music program.

The DBS has played original compositions by Dartmouth students and often collaborates with the Dartmouth Chamber Orchestra. Its performances feature a variety of works, ranging from baroque to contemporary music.

Dartmouth Chamber Orchestra

Founded as an off-shoot of the Music Department's conducting class, the Dartmouth Chamber Orchestra was founded by Katherine Domingo '96 and has become famous as the school's only student-run orchestra. A student conductor and president choose the music and set the venues for each concert, which consist of a wide variety of music.

The Dartmouth Chamber Orchestra holds three concerts per term - the in fall, the DCO usually takes on a more traditional repertoire (such as Haydn, Rossini, and Mozart), while in the Spring, the Chamber Orchestra prides itself on performing composition from Dartmouth student composers. In the winter, the group takes a more liberal approach, playing whatever the conductor chooses. Past selections have included Benjamin Britten's "Young Persons' Guide to the Orchestra," "Star Wars," and many other such pieces. This year, the fall concert will include Sergei Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf."

Though the group receives no official funding from the school, the Dartmouth Chamber Orchestra maintains its presence on campus through help from various grants from the Music Department and the Committee on Student Organizations.

The current conductor is Justin Lashley '12.

Dartmouth College Marching Band

Main article: Dartmouth College Marching Band

The DCMB is the oldest marching band in the Ivy League; it was formed during the 1890s as "The Dartmouth Band". The DCMB's instrumentation is chiefly traditional, but also features a keg section (hit with a stick as a percussion instrument) and kazoos. During the fall, the band performs at all home football games, as well as a few away games. The DCMB also has a winter band that performs at hockey, basketball, and other events. The band continues to play traditional fight songs that have been played at Dartmouth football games for nearly a century.

Drama and performance

Casual Thursday

Casual Thursday is an improv comedy troupe that performs at Dartmouth. Casual Thursday usually focuses on shortform games in their shows, although the group also performs sketch shows at least twice a year. The group was founded in 2001, by members of the Class of 2004. Casual Thursday regularly visits other colleges and travels to other states, often participating in professional improv comedy workshops.

Sit-Down Tragedy (stand-up comedy group)

Founded in Fall 2007 by Jack-O-Lantern editor-in-chief Fred Meyer, the Dartmouth Stand-Up Comedy Group received college recognition on February 13, 2008, after having existed unofficially for a few months beforehand, holding open mics at restaurants around campus. In the winter of 2009, after electing a new president, the group re-christened itself "Sit-Down Tragedy," and has continued to grow in popularity. Unlike an improv group, Sit-Down Tragedy holds weekly meetings to workshop and plan material before it ends up getting performed on stage. Aside from performing comedy themselves, the group regularly invites professional comedians to come perform along with them. Past performers including Dartmouth Alumna Aisha Tyler, and populay gay comedian Vidur Kapur. Many performers end up coming from the (relatively) nearby Boston area, like Dan Boulger, Zach Sherwin, Dana Jay Bein and Mehran Khaghani.

Dog Day Players

The Dog Day Players, established in 1995, is Dartmouth's oldest improv comedy group. Successor to the original improv group founded in the 1980s "Said and Done," Dog Day's shows tend to be in longform style. The group, which usually numbers between 10-12, regularly performs on campus, participates in comedy festivals and workshops, and visits other collegiate improv groups. Recent Dog Day alums include Mindy Kaling '01, a star of the TV show "The Office." Dog Day holds auditions for new members each fall.

The Harlequins

The Harlequins is the only student-run musical production organization at Dartmouth College. It was founded in 1995 and produces musicals. Its first production was Godspell, a musical about the new testament written by Stephen Schwartz, performed in Dartmouth Hall in 1995. Other productions have included Guys and Dolls, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (2001) by Stephen Sondheim, Taxi-Cabaret (2002), Jesus Christ Superstar, Love, Sex and Everything in Between (a revue done in fall, 2002), A Chorus Line (2003), Little Shop of Horrors (2003) by Alan Menken, That's Entertainment(a revue done in fall, 2003), The Last Five Years (By Jason Robert Brown) (2004), Pippin (2004) (By Stephen Schwartz), You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown (2004) and the first summer show A Summer Revue produced in 2004. The Summer Revue consisted of 18 musical numbers from musicals as diverse as Adam Guettel's Myths and Hymns, Cy Coleman's City of Angels, Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard, and Jason Robert Brown's Songs For a New World. As of 2004^[update], the group consists of over 300 student singers, instrumentalists, production staff-members and officers, and hopes to put on additional shows at Dartmouth each term in the coming year.

The Dartmouth Rude Mechanicals

The Dartmouth Rude Mechanicals (TDRM) is a student-run Shakespeare company that focuses on communal casting, directing, production and acting among its members. Founded in the Fall of 2008, the Rude Mechanicals produce one Shakespeare play per term using the First Folio, no set, and costumes mostly garnered from members' closets. The Rude Mechanicals' recent productions have included As You Like It, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Tempest, Much Ado About Nothing and Hamlet. In 2010, the Council on Student Organizations (COSO) presented the Rude Mechanicals with the award for "Best New Student Organization." The Rude Mechanicals audition for new members at the end of the Fall term and occasionally at the end of the Winter term.

Publications

Dartmouth features many magazines funded by its Council on Student Organizations (COSO) as well as at least two independently funded newspapers, The Dartmouth and the Dartmouth Review. For more information on College publications, please see Dartmouth College publications.

Political Groups

Campus political groups regularly host events for Presidential candidates and other well-known politicians in conjunction with Dartmouth's Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Public Policy. Groups occasionally collaborate in organizing dinner discussions, debates, and events with a bipartisan scope. The New Hampshire primary, which occurs every four years, does much to boost participation in theses groups, but the politically-aware student body (of whom more than ten percent major in Government) augments this considerably

Dartmouth College Democrats

With most Dartmouth students identifying as more liberal, the College Democrats has the largest membership of the 3 partisan political groups on campus. In addition to working on state and national political campaigns, the group hosts speakers, occasionally lobbies lawmakers when legislation relating to college students is up for debate. The group founded the New Hampshire College Democrats, a state federation made up of organizations at colleges throughout the New Hampshire.^[when?]

Dartmouth College Republicans

One of the primary outlets for politically conservative and libertarian students on campus is the College Republicans. The organization hosts visiting lecturers, conducts awareness campaigns, and mobilizes students to vote and work on the campaigns of local candidates. Every four years during the New Hampshire Primary, this group organizes forums for presidential candidates and volunteers to work on state and national campaigns. The New Hampshire College Republicans federation was founded by the Dartmouth College Republicans. [1]^[when?]

Dartmouth College Libertarians

The College Libertarians are a group of Dartmouth students committed to the cause of liberty who host events and invite speakers to campus to discuss libertarian issues. The organization participates in DPU debates and encourages students on campus to critically examine the present nature of the two-party system, which it views as a false dichotomy toward political discourse.

Dartmouth Political Union

Founded in the winter of 2009 as the only multi-party debating society at Dartmouth, The DPU hosts bi-weekly campus debates in the form of single-sentence resolutions on topics of political ideology. Current parties span the entire ideological compass and include Socialists, Liberals, Centrists, Libertarians and Conservatives. In addition, the DPU invites public speakers and political figures to debate timely issues with the rest of the Union. In April 2009 on the same day Vermont Legalized same-sex marriage, gay activist Bishop Gene Robinson debated the legislation of gay marriage with the president of the right-wing Cornerstone Group and New Hampshire Legislators.^[2] In November 2009, the Union hosted sitting Governors Lynch and Hoeven of New Hampshire and North Dakota to debate local government intervention in easing the effects of the financial crisis.^[3] The Union is also known for its "Resolved: Don't Come to Dartmouth" debate during the admitted students week in which the parties debate the merits of a Dartmouth education itself.

Rockefeller Center

The Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Public Policy and the Social Sciences sponsors numerous dinner discussion groups with strong followings including PoliTALK, Daniel Webster Legal Society, Women in Leadership, Agora, First Year Forum, and Vox Masters.

Miscellaneous organizations

Dartmouth Emergency Medical Services

Dartmouth EMS is a student run Basic Life Support (BLS) unit licensed by the State of New Hampshire. D-EMS provides emergency medical services to Dartmouth College, and are available for standby coverage throughout the Upper Valley. Dartmouth EMS is dedicated to the safety of Dartmouth community members and visitors. Additionally, the group strives to provide as many educational opportunities as possible.

D-EMS provides on-call campus coverage to the campus. Crews are available for radio dispatch during on-call hours to medical emergencies on campus. D-EMS also provides standby coverage throughout the Upper Valley to be on-call at events with increased risk of injury, especially at college athletic and other special events.

D-EMS provides training in first aid and CPR (from the AHA), as well as sponsor EMT classes. Training is available to students and departments, and any other community members. D-EMS also maintains the campus Automated External Debribillator (AED) program, as well as providing training for their proper use.

Members possess a wide range of certifications, including EMT, Healthcare Provider CPR, First Aid, and Incident Command System certifications and they engage in numerous training and continuing education opportunities throughout the year to maintain and sharpen skills.

Dartmouth Outing Club

Main article: Dartmouth Outing Club

The Dartmouth Outing Club (DOC) is the oldest and largest collegiate outing club in the United States, founded in 1909 to stimulate interest in winter sports.

The Dartmouth Outing Club's cross country ski center on Occom Pond.

The DOC includes many subgroups, including:

• Bait and Bullet
• The Big Green Bus
• Cabin and Trail
• Cycling Club
• Environmental Studies Division
• Ledyard Canoe Club
• Dartmouth Mountaineering Club
• Dartmouth Ski Patrol
• Farm and Field
• Snowboarding Club
• Winter Sports Club
• Women in the Wilderness

Dartmouth Billiards Club

The Dartmouth College Billiards Club promotes play and the education of pocket billiards to the Dartmouth community. The organization regularly supervises campus wide practices, usually held twice per week. The group organizes 8-Ball and 9-Ball tournaments, usually held twice per quarter term. In addition to promoting pocket billiards, the group actively seeks to improve the facilities at 8 Ball Hall located at Dartmouth's Collis Center. The group was founded by Bibhuti Mainali in 2004.

Dartmouth Broadcasting

Main article: Dartmouth Broadcasting

Dartmouth Broadcasting is a self-supported student organization at Dartmouth College that operates two radio stations, WFRD-FM 99-Rock and WDCR-AM The Voice of Dartmouth. WFRD is one of the few fully commercial college radio stations in the United States and its programming and operation are handled by a nine-member student directorate in consultation with an Alumni Overseers Committee that includes members from ClearChannel Communications, ESPN and PBS, as well as representatives of the College administration. WDCR is a standard college multi-format station that operates off revenues from ad sales on WFRD.

Dartmouth Broadcasting alumni include famed radio presenters Paul Gambaccini (BBC), Anthony Burton (BBC Radio 3) and John Gambling (WABC New York). Several alumni of the Dartmouth Broadcast News have enjoyed long careers in journalism, including Pulitzer Prize winner David Shipler who interviewed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during his visit to Dartmouth.

Dartmouth Film Society

The Dartmouth Film Society is one of the country's oldest student-run film societies. Established in 1949 by Maurice Rapf, class of '35, and Blair Watson class of '21, the DFS is still thriving today as the hub of film culture at Dartmouth College and in the Upper Valley.

Committed to fostering a greater appreciation and understanding of cinema, the DFS provides a program of approximately fifty to be shown each academic term. These films are all bound together by a common theme; past series have included "The Open Road," a program featuring road movies, and "Breakthroughs," featuring the breakthrough films of various directors, writers, and actors. The films are projected twice weekly onto the giant 16-by-28-foot screen in the college's arts center auditorium and are open to students, faculty, and the public. Aside from the films in the program series, the DFS also plays several specials every term; these can range from sneak previews of upcoming films to hard-to-find rarities like a collection of Academy Award nominated short films.

Members of the film society meet once a week to discuss the films exhibited the past week and, at the end of each term, debate series proposals. Anyone can submit a series, as long as it has a decent variety of older films, new films, documentaries, foreign films, and silents. The Directorate of the film society, about 25 students and community members, actually vote on the series.

The DFS also organizes annual tributes to worthy film artists. Such distinguished filmmakers as Andrei Tarkovsky, Meryl Streep, Buck Henry, Werner Herzog, Sean Penn, and Sidney Lumet have all received honors from the DFS.

Dartmouth Forensic Union

The Dartmouth Forensic Union (DFU) is the policy debate team of Dartmouth College. Considered one of the strongest debate teams in the country, the DFU has had at least one first round qualifer to the National Debate Tournament for 25 years running, and has won the NDT six times.

Gender Sexuality XYZ

Gender Sexuality XYZ (GSX) is made up of students interested in bringing together the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Allied communities of Dartmouth College. The Gay Straight Alliance, formed in Spring 1999, was renamed Gender Sexuality XYZ in Fall 2007. Their mission is to work together in order to increase understanding and acceptance of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals in society. GSX holds weekly meetings and also coordinates both social and advocacy-related events, including issue-oriented discussions and Day of Silence observations.

Green Key Society

Established in 1921, the Green Key Society is an honorary service organization at Dartmouth College. We are in a unique position: our members are drawn from literally all across the College. By virtue of our roles as stewards, ambassadors, and servants, every year, Green Key helps to run such traditional Dartmouth events as First-Year Orientation, the Bonfire, Homecoming Sweep, Commencement, Green Key Weekend, and many other events including performances, services, and guest speakers. In May 2009, the Green Key Society organized the Green Key Ball, which brought together over 200 students and alumni celebrating history and tradition of the organization.

Dartmouth Sexual Abuse Peer Advisors

The Sexual Abuse Peer Advisor (SAPA) program at Dartmouth College began in the 1980s as an effort to promote awareness about sexual abuse on the Dartmouth campus. SAPAs regularly post a short biography on Dartmouth's BlitzMail bulletins, and students are free to contact them at any time for questions, advice or other help. SAPAs go through an extensive 23 hours of training where they learn about issues of sexual assault, including medical, legal, social, psychological and other problems for sexual assault victims. SAPAs' most important role is to act as an "ear" for victims - someone who will listen to and empathize with a victim's story. SAPAs are trained to act as a connector for these victims. They can provide information and support, helping victims receive the proper medical care for their situation. SAPAs help victims contact counselors and other medical advisors, as well as provide information about legal aspects of the process, including reporting to the Hanover, New Hampshire police and to Safety and Security, Dartmouth's security force.

Dartmouth Union of Bogglers

The Dartmouth Union of Bogglers (DUB) is a college-recognized club that promotes and organizes games of Boggle for members of the Dartmouth community. DUB meets once a week, where members play Boggle and/or Big Boggle and partake in free snacks. DUB was founded in 2004 by Sylvia Chi and Sarah E. Morton continues to operate as of 2009^[update].^[4]

Native Americans at Dartmouth

The Native Americans at Dartmouth (NAD) organization is a voluntary, student-run organization at Dartmouth College. NAD has represented over 150 tribes since it first began and there are currently approximately 50 active students within the organization. These students meet every Thursday of the term at the Native American House to determine their agenda of activities for the term. Activities may include faculty dinners, dance parties, community service, and academic workshops. NAD's main goals include working on joint concerns of their group and planning to improve the environment for NAD campus-wide. In the Winter of 2004 Native Americans at Dartmouth held and hosted the first annual All Ivy Native Conference. The Conference was a weekend-long event that included a career fair, academic workshops, and resume and job search workshops, as well as presenting many post-graduation options. Native Americans at Dartmouth also plan an annual Spring Dartmouth College Powwow on the weekend of Mother's Day. NAD also partakes in a group called the Inter-Community Council which is dedicated to uniting all the minority organizations on the campus of Dartmouth College in an effort to be a support for the organizations.

• Native American Programs at Dartmouth
• The Dartmouth Pow-Wow

Dartmouth Society of Investment and Economics

The Dartmouth Society of Investment and Economics was founded in the fall of 2005 and is the primary economics and finance related student organization on campus. The club holds weekly economic discussions that are open to the public, as well as bringing in alumni speakers, hosting stock-picking competitions, and organizing a Fed Challenge team.

Collis Governing Board

Collis Governing Board, often known as CGB on campus, was created in 1980 at the inception of the Collis Center to give students a voice in the management of their student union. Today, it is actively involved in student programming and capital movements to the Collis building along with advocacy of student interests within the Center. The board's jurisdiction includes Collis, Thayer's Hovey Lounge, and Robinson Hall. In 2006, the group also took over programming for Lone Pine Tavern, a student dining and recreational facility where its student musical programming has become popular. In 2009, the Collis Governing Board supervised Lone Pine Tavern's transformation into One Wheelock, a coffee bar, study lounge, and social space with frequent musical and theatrical performances.

Undergraduate societies

Dartmouth recognizes two non-Greek undergraduate societies: Panarchy and Amarna,^[4] Both societies are co-ed, open, non-exclusive, and do not conduct "rush" activities.^[5] Like the Greek organizations, Panarchy and Amarna function as social and residential communities; however, the undergraduate societies are separate from the college's Co-ed, Fraternity and Sorority (CFS) system and unlike affinity houses (like La Casa or Foley House) remain unaffiliated from any academic department. Both Panarchy and Amarna have a strong founding commitment to member equality regardless of gender or seniority.

Amarna

Amarna, 2007

Amarna Undergraduate Society was founded as a newly-formed undergraduate society in early 1994. Amarna's formation was inspired by a vocal mine yours debate on the Greek system and Panarchy's recognition as an undergraduate society.^[6] The College gave Amarna the house at 23 East Wheelock Street, where the society remains today. Named after a Middle Egyptian society led by King Akhenaten and Queen Nefertiti, Amarna is known for its Monday Night Dinners with professors and its signature "Wine and Cheese" party.

Panarchy

Panarchy, 2007

Panarchy became the first college-recognized undergraduate society in September 1993.^[7] Panarchy is historically prefigured by Beta Psi, which was absorbed by Phi Kappa Psi (or "Phi Psi"), a national fraternity founded at Dartmouth in 1896.^[8][9] Early in the 20th century, the fraternity bought the house at 9 School Street, which was built in 1835 and where the organization continues to reside today.^[10] In response to what was perceived as racial prejudice on the part of Phi Kappa Psi's national leadership, Dartmouth's Phi Kappa Psi separated from the national and renamed itself as Phi Sigma Psi in 1967. After years of welcoming female exchange-student boarders, on the first day Dartmouth admitted women in 1972 Phi Psi became the first Dartmouth Greek house to go co-ed. In 1991, the organization changed its name to "Phi Psi/Panarchy". In 1993 the college recognized Panarchy as an undergraduate society independent from the Greek system. Panarchy is known for hosting its "Great Gatsby" party.^[11]

Senior societies

Student literary or fraternal societies of Dartmouth College date back to 1783. Starting in the late nineteenth century, students began creating societies for each of the four class years. Only the senior societies survive from those early class societies, and new ones have been added in recent years. Six of the eight senior societies keep their membership secret until Commencement, when members of all senior societies may be identified by their carved canes.^{[citation needed]} In part, the availability of a house (as opposed to a meeting hall) helps determine how secretive a society may be. About 10% of the senior class members are affiliated with a senior society today.^{[citation needed]}

Abaris

Abaris was founded in 1996 as a society to recognize both male and female campus leadership, with the mission of uniting diverse and dynamic individuals to create change in the Dartmouth community. The society takes its name from Abaris the Hyperborean, who, according to Greek mythology, served as a priest and messenger for the god Apollo. With the powers of prophesy and healing, endowed unto him by a golden arrow, Abaris traveled throughout his land, performing great deeds for his people. The society is a diverse set of campus leaders, and is known for a combination of both revelry and philanthropic endeavors. Membership in Abaris remains secret until graduation.

Casque and Gauntlet

Main article: Casque and Gauntlet

The Casque and Gauntlet house, situated on Hanover's Main Street

Casque and Gauntlet (also known as C&G) was founded in 1886 as the second permanent senior society at Dartmouth and continues to operate as of 2010^[update]. In 1893 the group moved to its current location at 1 South Main Street, a house built by Dr. Samuel Alden in 1823, and the society installed a rear addition designed by alumnus and Paterson, New Jersey architect Fred Wesley Wentworth in 1915. Tapping continues in the traditional method and C&G membership is co-ed, exclusive and not secret. Notable members of past delegations include Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss), Nelson Rockefeller and Hank Paulson.

Cobra

Cobra was founded in 1978 as Dartmouth's first all-female society. The society occupies a house on Summer Street.

Dragon

Main article: Dragon Society

Dragon was founded in 1898 and continues to operate as of 2010^[update]. The society has occupied at least four locations in Hanover: rented rooms; a house at 21 North Main Street (by 1905); the Kappa Kappa Kappa Hall on College Street (vacated by Kappa Kappa Kappa ca. 1894 and occupied by Dragon beginning ca. 1905-1917, remodeled by Dragon 1917, no longer standing); a hall on Elm Street designed by Larson (1931–1996); and the current hall on College Street at the edge of College Park designed by Randall Mudge (1996).

Fire and Skoal

Founded in 1975, Fire and Skoal was Dartmouth's first co-educational senior society.^[12]

Griffin

The Griffin Society was founded in 1994 as the first secret, co-ed senior society. Membership draws on campus leadership and presence, with a strong contingent of Greek officers and athletic captains.

Palaeopitus

Palaeopitus Senior Society was founded in 1899 by Edward Hall, class of 1892. The name Palaeopitus is a derivative of the Greek word for "Old Pine". Initially a secret society, Palaeopitus has operated with their membership publicly known in recent years. Membership is regarded as eldest of the "current crop of 'pines'". Subsequently, leaders of communities on campus generally make up the membership. Unlike other societies, members may belong to other societies as well.^[13]

Phrygian

The Phrygian Society is an all-male secret society that is unrecognized by the College. The society emphasizes each individual's specific duty to the prestige, superiority, and improvement of Dartmouth College.

The Order of the Sirens

Founded in 1985, the Order of the Sirens is an all-female secret society. Before 1991, when the society became all-female, it was known as simply The Order and included both men and women. Members include women of leadership and integrity across campus. Their activities include addressing campus issues and expressing them in a humorous way by playing pranks on fraternities and other societies.^[14]

Sphinx

Main article: Sphinx (senior society)

The Sphinx "tomb," a classic example of Egyptian Revival architecture

Sphinx was founded in 1885 and continues to operate as of 2010^[update] as the oldest senior society at Dartmouth. In 1903 the group moved to its current location on East Wheelock Street, a mausoleum designed by Manchester, New Hampshire architect William Butterfield, and during the 1920s the society installed a rear addition designed by noted campus planner Jens Fredrick Larson.^[15]

Greek organizations

Main article: Dartmouth College Greek organizations

Dartmouth College is host to many Greek organizations and a significant percentage of the undergraduate student body is active in Greek life. In 2005, the school stated that 1,785 students were members of a fraternity, sorority, or coeducational Greek house, about 60 percent of the eligible student body.^[16] Dartmouth College was among the first institutions of higher education to desegregate fraternity houses in the 1950s, and was involved in the movement to create coeducational Greek houses in the 1970s. In the early 2000s, campus-wide debate focused on whether the Greek system at Dartmouth would become "substantially coeducational", but most houses retain single-sex membership policies. Currently, Dartmouth College extends official recognition to sixteen all-male fraternities, eight all-female sororities, and three coeducational Greek houses.

Notes

Cited references

1. ^ http://www.nbc.com/sing-off/vote/
2. ^ http://thedartmouth.com/2009/04/08/news/debate
3. ^ http://thedartmouth.com/2009/11/09/news/govs
4. ^ ^{a b} "COSO Student Organizations". Trustees of Dartmouth College. 2009-04-14. http://www.dartmouth.edu/~sao/coso/orgs.html. Retrieved 2009-04-16. 
5. ^ Grey, Colin (1994-09-23). "Co-eds and undergrad societies offer niches too". The Dartmouth. http://www.thedartmouth.com/article.php?aid=1994092307030. Retrieved 2007-02-27. 
6. ^ "Amarna's History". Amarna. Archived from the original on 2007-02-08. http://web.archive.org/web/20070208030709/http://www.dartmouth.edu/~amarna/phpfusion/viewpage.php?page_id=1. Retrieved 2007-02-27. 
7. ^ King, Kristen (1993-09-22). "Pelton approves undergrad society". The Dartmouth. http://www.thedartmouth.com/article.php?aid=1993092201050. Retrieved 2007-02-27. 
8. ^ "Panarchy - About". Panarchy Undergraduate Society. http://www.dartmouth.edu/~panarchy/about.htm. Retrieved 2007-02-27. 
9. ^ "History of CFS Organizations at Dartmouth". Dartmouth Greek Leadership Council. http://www.dartmouth.edu/~greeks/history.html. Retrieved 2007-02-27. 
10. ^ Scott Meacham (1999-10-21). "Notes toward a Catalog of the Buildings and Landscapes of Dartmouth College". http://www.dartmo.com/buildings/lmnopbldg.html#panarchyhouse. Retrieved 2007-02-27. 
11. ^ Dobbins, Amanda (2005-11-11). "The Coeds". The Dartmouth. http://www.thedartmouth.com/article.php?aid=2005111105020. Retrieved 2007-02-27. 
12. ^ http://www.dartmouth.edu/~orl/greek-soc/societies/senior.html Dartmouth Senior Societies
13. ^ http://www.dartmouth.edu/~palaeop/about2.html
14. ^ www.orderofthesirens.com
15. ^ Gomstyn, Alice (2001) "Secret Societies Remain Veiled in Mystery" Friday, May 18, 2001.
16. ^ Hughes, C.J. (2006) "Bye Bye SLI." Dartmouth Alumni Magazine. Vol. 98, No. 4, Mar./Apr., 2006, p.18.

References

• "Collis Center and Student Activities Office". Trustees of Dartmouth College. http://www.dartmouth.edu/~sao/. Retrieved 2006-11-03.