Class Note 1997
At Class Officers Weekend in September, Tony Field and I ran into Sariya Sharp and Lynne (Campbell) Soutter at Murphy’s. They were in Hanover for a women’s rugby reunion. Sariya is a radiologist in Cooperstown, New York. She and her husband have a 15-year-old daughter and 13-year-old son. Lynne is firm counsel at Ropes & Gray in Boston, where she lives with husband Morgan Soutter, a teacher at Boston College High School, and their 14-year-old and 12-year-old sons.
As I write this, Dartmouth just defeated Harvard in a riveting Homecoming football game, the first win against the Crimson at Memorial Field since our freshman year 25 years ago. I vaguely remember attending that game, but would never have guessed a quarter century would pass until a repeat victory at home. Go, Big Green!
And it’s been 200 years since Daniel Webster, class of 1801, argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in Trustees of Dartmouth College v. Woodward, and delivered his famous tribute to Dartmouth: “It is, sir, as I have said, a small college, and yet there are those who love it.”
In honor of Dartmouth’s 250th anniversary, I asked classmates what they love most about the College. Here are some responses.
Dinsie Williams: “Dartmouth is a small university, yet you can find our alumni everywhere.”
Kelley Hart: “It’s a magical place that attracts a certain kind of person (as students and teachers)—people of great kindness, generosity, curiosity, and community-mindedness. The College has so much contagious good energy. Going back for reunions makes my heart ache, though. I miss my classmates so much. Even after all these years!”
Kathy Celenza Behling: “The camaraderie among alumni and students. Seeing another Dartmouth grad out in the real-world results in an instant bond, which transcends generations, professions, and socioeconomic standing. Several years ago I was wearing a Dartmouth T-shirt in a grocery store 300-plus miles from the Upper Valley in a suburb of Philadelphia. An older gentleman, who ended up being a Dartmouth alumnus, got out of his checkout line and traversed half the length of the grocery store just to meet me. We chatted for a few minutes and exchanged our classes and a few kind words. There are just about no other academic or social families that I have belonged to that have shared this kind of bond and have possessed such love and loyalty to their mother institution. I cherish my Dartmouth family.”
Lindsey Noecker: “Having just come back from Hanover last night, I have to say that I love how a trip to Dartmouth always feels like returning home. Home is where the heart is—so true!”
Jeff Longnecker: “I love the Dartmouth community. Alums are afforded a very strong common connection with fascinating people in all walks of life throughout the world.”
Rain Minns: “Phi Tau coed fraternity, the government honors thesis program, and my on-campus summer! Writing my thesis and having meetings with my thesis advisor once to twice a week was an incredible experience that allowed me to explore my ideas about justice that have shaped my entire legal career and values in life. I also used the analytical and writing skills to later write in legal publications in immigration and civil rights that had a meaningful impact.”
Courtenay (Petersen) Barlow: “I love the people and friendships I formed at Dartmouth. I love the beauty of the campus, the remote location, the seasons, reunions, and the sense of belonging I feel whenever I am there.”
Robbie Ashe: “Easy answer—my lifelong friends.”
Happy sestercentennial, Dartmouth! Here’s to another 250 years!
Take care and please send me your news.
—Jason Casell, 10106 Balmforth Lane, Houston, TX 77096; jhcasell@gmail.com
