VOL. CLXXVI NO. 93
RAINY HIGH 65 LOW 45
OPINION
GUNDERSON: ONLY FOR DEMOCRATS? WELL, THAT’S THE POINT PAGE 6
LEVY: RETHINKING TAKE-HOME ASSESSMENTS PAGE 6
ELIAS: NRO: THE NOTRELIABLE OPTION PAGE 7
RAJA: LEARNING THE SCIENCE OF EMPATHY PAGE 7
ARTS
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: NICHOLAS GUTIERREZ ’20 SHINES AS A PLAYWRIGHT PAGE 8 FOLLOW US ON
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COPYRIGHT © 2019 THE DARTMOUTH, INC.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2019
HANOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE
An examination of Greek house blacklists operate mental health resources under secretive, informal rules for College professors
B y ARIELLE BEAK
The Dartmouth Staff
In conversations about mental health across college c a m p u s e s, s t u d e n t s a re usually the focus of what has become a national hot topic. Faculty and employees, who create the fabric of this academic backdrop, are rarely mentioned, however. According to Dean of the Faculty Elizabeth Smith, the reason for the spotlight on students lies partially in the immersive structure of student
life at residential colleges. “The students are here all the time, so you’re seeing their professional day life and their social life contained within this environment,” Smith said. “The faculty come to work and then they go home, so you might not be aware of the stressors that might exist at home or otherwise.” According to Smith, in response to events that could be perceived as traumatic SEE MENTAL HEALTH PAGE 5
Six-week fraternity and sorority ban lifted B y Aleka kroitzsh The Dartmouth
On Monday, the six-week fraternity and sorority ban, which prohibited members of the Class of 2023 from attending most events at Greek houses, was lifted. Although first-years had access to dry events hosted by Greek organizations prior to the end of the ban, most events hosted by fraternities and certain sororities will now be open. The Greek Leadership Council established the frat ban
in the spring of 2013, said GLC chair James Park ’20. He added that the creation of the frat ban was an attempt to address the “red zone,” the few weeks during which first-years are most likely to experience sexual assault in Greek spaces. “That was our way of making sure there was a better transition [and to minimize] risk,” Park said. He added that in the years following this decision, the frat SEE BAN PAGE 3
SYDNEY GILLMAN/THE DARTMOUTH STAFF
Blacklist policies for Greek houses are decided on a house-to-house basis.
B y REILLY OLINGER The Dartmouth
Greek house blacklists are designed to ban certain people from entering a Greek house, often for reasons including alleged sexual assault or any factor which makes members unsafe. However, there are no universal rules or policies governing blacklists — most policies are decided on a house-by-house basis. Title IX coordinator Kristi Clemens said she supports the creation of a universal blacklist policy in the Greek system, but she acknowledged that the goal would be difficult to achieve. “I think that having universal guidelines is a great idea, [but] having worked in
the system a long time, my expectations are low,” Clemens said. “The houses are so unique and want to keep their own individual policies and processes.” Clemens advises Greek leaders every year regarding blacklist policies. She said she shares a set of guidelines with each of the houses: a member has the right to feel safe in their own house, Greek houses are private spaces, blacklist requests should be based on first-person experience, houses should follow consistent policies and practices with their blacklists, and members cannot request other houses to blacklist an individual, since this could be considered retaliatory.
Clemens said that these guidelines are not binding rules, but rather, they serve as a guide to avoiding complications. The guidelines are designed to create safe environments while also giving equal treatment to all students. “What I’ve tried to do with these guidelines is to give houses and individuals the agency to decide who they want in their space, while still protecting the rights that any member of our community has on campus — which is a really delicate balance,” Clemens said. Blacklists are a highly sensitive matter, about which many people are misinformed, SEE BLACKLISTS PAGE 3