<p>Parents are sent emails from the Association of Alumni, as distinct from the subcommittee which called for the suit - and this is the message that just arrived - I think there are greater numbers than first appeared who have a different view than the Executive Committe</p>
<p>"Dartmouth College Alumni Council Statement Opposing Lawsuit</p>
<p>On October 3, 2007, 6 members of the 11-member Executive Committee of the
Association of Alumni of Dartmouth College caused a lawsuit to be filed
against the College in New Hampshire Superior Court. The lawsuit seeks to
stop the Board of Trustees of the College from taking certain actions
respecting the composition of the Board, and from making nomination to the
Board by alumni more democratic. Historically, the sole responsibility of
the Executive Committee of the Association of Alumni has been to run the
annual meeting of the Association and related elections. In contrast, the
100-member Alumni Council is the representative body of Dartmouth’s 68,000
alumni, constitutionally charged with being the “primary forum” for discussion
of issues and concerns relative to the alumni body and the College, and the
“principal spokesperson” of the alumni. The Alumni Council’s purpose is to
“act in the best interests of Dartmouth College.”</p>
<p>As the principal spokesperson for Dartmouth College’s alumni, the Alumni
Council opposes and calls for the immediate voluntary dismissal of the
lawsuit. While the Alumni Council is aware that Dartmouth alumni have varying
opinions on the desire for “parity,” the Council believes that the lawsuit is
meritless, against the will of the majority of Dartmouth’s alumni, and harmful
to the interests of the College and the alumni. </p>
<p>In the event, the lawsuit is still pending as of the time of the Alumni
Council’s Fall Meeting, November 29-December 1, 2007, the Council will consider
whether any further action is appropriate based on additional consultation with
the alumni body."</p>