<p>I think this year the chances of getting off the waiting list are much higher than in the past because Dartmouth’s recent negative publicity will cause those with Dartmouth admission offers to accept other offers they have have received. I suspect the admissions team is nervous about that prospect which is why they sent the parents of 2018 admits the following e-mail today:</p>
<p>Dear families of the newest members of the Class of 2018,</p>
<p>I am writing to provide you with important information on a Presidential Summit that took place at Dartmouth last Wednesday, April 16.</p>
<p>At the Summit, President Phil Hanlon called for an end to high risk behaviors which are compromising the College’s ability to carry out its mission. He echoed a message to the community from Board of Trustees Chair Steve Mandel ’78 last month, and called upon the community to come together to move Dartmouth forward.</p>
<p>To an audience of dozens of student leaders, as well as faculty, staff, and alumni, President Hanlon laid out a process of reform, critical to the success of his wide-reaching initiative known as Moving Dartmouth Forward<a href=“Home | President”>Home | President. The effort will promote change in every place on campus where social activities take place, including residence halls, fraternity, sorority, and affinity houses, and senior societies.</p>
<p>President Hanlon outlined a set of actions, and charged the Steering Committee to work together from now through November to crowd-source the community’s ideas and vet the best solutions to move Dartmouth forward. The Steering Committee will submit its recommendations to the president and his senior team in time for Board of Trustee approval this fall.</p>
<p>I encourage you to read the memo<a href=“News & Communications | President”>News & Communications | President; sent by President Hanlon to parents of current students and Dartmouth alumni. As the newest members of the Dartmouth community, I wanted to be sure that you, too, were aware of the important conversations taking place on campus. You are also welcome to join in this discussion by sharing your ideas and input by sending an email<a href=“mailto:moving.dartmouth.forward@dartmouth.edu”>moving.dartmouth.forward@dartmouth.edu</a> or by online submission<a href=“Home | President”>Home | President;
<p>There have been various media accounts of the Summit, including this most recent column in the Washington Post<a href=“http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/ruth-marcus-dartmouth-president-could-give-a-lesson-on-campus-behavior/2014/04/18/95f94d5e-c722-11e3-9f37-7ce307c56815_story.html”>http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/ruth-marcus-dartmouth-president-could-give-a-lesson-on-campus-behavior/2014/04/18/95f94d5e-c722-11e3-9f37-7ce307c56815_story.html</a>. Please know that my colleagues and I in the Admissions Office are happy to answer any questions you may have about the Presidential Summit and the Moving Dartmouth Forward initiative.</p>
<p>We look forward to formally welcoming you to the Dartmouth community in September.</p>
<p>Sincere regards,</p>
<p>Maria Laskaris
Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid</p>