Waiting for the End
A Belgian passport, a U.S. embargo and a Ph.D. dissertation led government professor Dirk Vandewalle (above) to become one of the few researchers to study Libya from inside the country in the late 1980s. Because of his rare depth of expertise, Vandewalle has not only become a go-to source for major news outlets covering the Libyan conflict, but also an appointed political advisor to the UN as of July. Vandewalle was named political advisor to Special Advisor Ian Martin and will help shape UN policy in post-conflict Libya. “What we’re in right now is the pre-assessment phase,” says Vandewalle. With the aid of his vast knowledge of Libyan politics and leader Muammar Qaddafi, the UN is preparing to “be ready to go into Libya and provide its expertise no matter what the political situation looks like,” adds the author of A History of Modern Libya (Cambridge University Press, 2006). However, he notes there is nothing the UN can do “until the country is reunified. What worries me is that the Transnational Council is not moving fast enough to create the institutions Libya really needs to create an equitable society and make sure that law and order will prevail.” Vandewalle sees a two-part solution for resolving conflict and rebuilding: “What we are talking about in Libya is not just state-building, but nation-building.”                                  

—Lauren Vespoli ’13

In the Swim
New swimming docks opened on the Connecticut River July 2, just north of the Ledyard Bridge. Only students with their Dartmouth ID cards can swim there, and hours are limited from noon to 7 p.m. The $200,000 dock project includes the hiring of more lifeguards and new safety features, including sensors to monitor the current. Construction of handrails and aesthetic elements continues. The old docks have been closed since last summer, when College officials cited safety concerns and banned swimming.

Office of Hoops
Coaches of the men’s and women’s basketball teams are elated over new offices and team space being constructed across the hall from Leede Arena. They say recruiting will benefit. “It means a great deal to me,” says women’s coach Chris Wielgus. “Not because I need a nice office, but because it represents an obvious commitment on the part of the College.”

Insider Information
Green: The Unofficial Student Guide to Dartmouth College, a new satirical handbook edited by ’11s Cyrus Akrami, Austin Bowers and Lyman Missimer IV, has taken its hits in The Dartmouth, but orders are still being fulfilled online (via Facebook and at Amazon.com). Cleverly priced at $17.69, the volume opens with an admission of bias “toward Greek Life, social life, fraternities, athletes, sex and drinking.” Written with the help of 30 contributors, in tribute to a place they love, the editors say, Green contains a variety of reviews and rankings that invite debate. Should “Buy a Killington Ski Pass,” which tops one of several lists included in the chapter on academics, be No. 1 among the “10 Things You Must Do”—ahead of “Close Down the 1902 Room” and “Open Lou’s at 6 a.m.”? Are Alpha Delta, Chi Gam and Theta Delt the only frats whose parties deserve an A rating?  Are Russell Sage/Butterfield and McLaughlin the best freshman dorms? As Green proclaims, “Even if you disagree with what the authors have to say, it is still valuable to hear it.”

What’s New at the Jack-O
Where’s Keggy? Dartmouth’s unofficial favorite mascot hasn’t been seen lately, but that should change soon. His keepers—the new editors of the campus humor magazine the Dartmouth Jack-O-Lantern—promise the walking beer keg will be out and about more this year. Michael Gillis ’12 (a former DAM intern) and Kenny Baclawski ’12, who now lead the 103-year-old publication, have ambitious plans: They’ve launched a new website, recently published a fake edition of The Dartmouth and plan to develop a new alumni network called Jacko USA. The idea is to have former writers submit new humor to the website. Gillis and Baclawski were among several students who met with 2011 Commencement speaker Conan O’Brien when he was on campus in June. The late-night talk show host advised them to not get overconfident about breaking into the comedy business just because they’ll have Ivy League diplomas. “Have some humility about it,” he cautioned.                    

—Catherine Treyz ’13

New Hires
Wes Schaub, former Greek life director at Case Western Reserve University, became Dartmouth’s director of Greek letter organizations and societies in July.…Michael Taylor, a curator of modern art at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and a UPenn professor of art history, assumes his new role as director of the Hood Museum in August…the same month Jessica Jennrich replaces Samantha Ivery as director of the College’s Center for Women & Gender.

Tragic Mishap
The Alpha Delta fraternity was once again the scene of unfortunate news last spring. Two College juniors, one male, the other female, were seriously injured after falling 44 feet from the fraternity’s roof around 3 a.m. on June 7. Both are expected to recover from their injuries. Police say the incident was alcohol related and did not release the names of the students. No charges have been filed.

Record Returns
With 2,458 alumni returning to campus for reunion season, the College established a new overall attendance record, breaking the 2009 mark by 49 attendees. The classes of 1951 and 1976 set attendance records for 60th and 35th reunions. The class of 2006, meanwhile, had the most classmates in attendance and the highest yield. Still to come: In late September two members of the class of 1936, which has 28 members, plan to attend their 75th reunion in Hanover.

Listening In
Facebook makes it easy for incoming freshmen to meet in advance—and reveal something about themselves. Here’s a sampling of posts on the class page during the summer:

“Anyone out there interested in starting a punk band?”

“I can already tell the next four years will rock my world! Can anyone say ‘Party?’ ”

“I really like circus arts—anyone on here I can pass juggle with in the fall?”

“I’m thinking about majoring in classics, but still not quite sure.”

“I’m so pumped!”

“Does anybody know when course signup is happening?”

“I’ve written a couple short stories, a novella… but I think I have the most fun writing poems.”