Undocked
A hot sophomore summer boiled over when the College removed the swimming docks on the Connecticut River. Lifeguards no longer patrol there, and swimming is now banned at the waterfront area where students have frolicked for decades. April Thompson, associate dean of the College for campus life, explained safety concerns in an e-mail to students June 23, citing currents, depth, murky water and “submerged debris” as reasons why “the docks are simply not safe places to swim.” She did not state why these issues had never come up before or why students have always been permitted to swim in the past—or why the administration would pull the plug at the height of swim season. As temperatures soared into the high 90s in early July, students rose up in protest: They Facebooked, wrote editorials, considered swim-ins and demanded that alternative ideas be heard. The College offered free use of nearby Storrs Pond, which is family oriented as well as a bus ride away from campus. In the end, a joint task force of students and administrators was formed to discuss the issue further. “ We will be working with Student Assembly to identify a long term solution,” the Dean of the College wrote in an e-mail to students.

The Search is Over
The College’s new athletic director, former Williams All-American basketball player Harry Sheehy (a 1975 graduate), understands emotional investment in Big Green teams. “Williams and Dartmouth alumni are irrationally attached to their schools,” he said at his August 3 introduction on campus. “At an institution like Dartmouth that’s just critical.” Echoing President Jim Kim, Sheehy stressed the importance not only of varsity athletics but also the integration of physical activity into student life. “Some of the best teaching on campus will happen at 4 o’clock—it’s called practice,” said Sheehy. In 17 years as Williams’ men’s basketball coach, Sheehy amassed a 324-104 record before taking over as AD in 2000.

Young King Cole
Cole Marcoux ’14 has no idea what he wants to major in at Dartmouth, but the New Yorker with an interest in English could write a compelling essay on serendipity. As an eighth-grade baseball player he was commandeered to play varsity quarterback at Fieldston, his Bronx prep school, after being observed tossing a football with friends. Four years later, at a weekend football camp in Pennsylvania, the 6-foot-6 230-pounder was tapped for Fox Sports Net’s reality show The Ride, recommended by Tom Brady’s QB coach, Tom Martinez, a camp staffer. “My parents and I sat in our hotel room that night, wondering ‘What just happened?’ ” Marcoux says. “It was so random.” Ultimately he was selected to play in the U.S. Army All-Star game last January and was named East Player of the Game. That he stuck with his decision to attend Dartmouth has surprised many observers but, says Marcoux, “Helping to turn the program around will be a fun and special experience.” Adds coach Buddy Teevens ’79: “With Marcoux and other players, our talent pool has risen.” Click here for Marcoux's senior-year highlights.

Tabard in Trouble
Coed fraternity Tabard found itself on the wrong side of the law for serving alcohol to minors in May. The frat pleaded no contest to two charges in mid-July, leading to a plea agreement with the Grafton County prosecutor that calls for two years probation for the fraternity, a $4,000 fine (with $3,500 of that suspended) and an order for Tabard members to perform 500 hours of community service. Tabard is also prohibited from serving hard liquor on its premises until June of 2011. According to Hanover police, Tabard was one of six Greek organizations that authorities identified as having served minors during spring term, when police threatened undercover compliance checks at Dartmouth fraternities and sororities. All six organizations were warned that subsequent violations would result in prosecution. “Within days of this warning, Tabard was found to be in violation again,” according to a police press release. “I’m ecstatic,” Tabard summer president Emily Liu ’12 told The D. “It could have been a lot worse.”

Happy Returns
More than 2,300 alumni returned to Hanover for reunion season in June, and they brought with them more than 1,500 friends and family members. New attendance records were set: overall and classmate attendance for a fifth-year reunion, and overall and classmate attendance for a 30th reunion. See the alumni relations website for slideshows and videos.

New Dean
Michael Mastanduno, a government professor and associate dean of the faculty for the social sciences, was named to a five-year term as dean of the faculty in July by President Kim. “A priority starting out is definitely the recruiting and retaining of the best scholar-teachers,” said Mastanduno, who has worked at Dartmouth since 1987. “We’ve made great strides in the past five to 10 years, and keeping that up in a somewhat tougher budget environment will be a focus,” he added.

Daughtry to Speak
Leah Daughtry ’84, the president of the website  On These Things LLC and pastor of The House of the Lord Church in Washington, D.C., will be the featured speaker at the College’s 241st convocation ceremony September 21. Daughtry says she’ll begin drafting her remarks about a week in advance, “but nothing is locked in until I say it.” She doesn’t recall her own convocation speaker from 30 years ago but does remember President Kemeny’s accent and being inspired by black Student Assembly President Chris Cannon ’81. “Seeing him made me believe I could thrive anywhere on campus,” she says.

The Highest Degree
In June, 75 students were awarded a Ph.D. Here’s the breakdown, according to the office of graduate studies:

Microbiology/Immunology  12

Genetics  8

Engineering Science  7

Pharmacology/Toxicology  7

Physics and Astronomy  7

Physiology  6

Chemistry  5

Biochemistry  5

Biological Sciences  4

Computer Science  4

Mathematics  4

Health Policy/Clinical Practice  3

Cognitive Neuroscience  2

Earth Sciences   1