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Sunday, July 09, 2006

The Electioneering Begins

The e-mail reprinted in full below was mass-mailed on Thursday, July 6 to the members of the Dartmouth Class Officers Assocation by that association’s president. The subject line is, “Support for the Alumni Constitution,” referring to the controversial proposed constitutional overhaul, which many (myself included) feel would interdict future petition trustee candidates.

That’s a controversial move, since of the last three open seats on Dartmouth’s Board of Trustees, all three have been won by petitioners with reform platforms.

This e-mail provides insight into attempts to recruit support for the proposal, which goes out to all alumni for a vote on September 15. The e-mail, which landed in my e-mail box because, I can only imagine, one of the recipients felt that this sort of electioneering is uncouth, also raises questions about the neutrality of the College infrastructure which is meant to support alumni activities in an even-handed way.

Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2006 14:58:00 -0400

From: “Ostrow & Partners, Inc.” [E-mail address redacted]

Subject: [DC-VOLUNTEERS] Support for the Alumni Constitution

To: DC-VOLUNTEERS@LISTSERV.DARTMOUTH.EDU

Dear Class Officer:

In the coming months, the Class Officers Association will be conducting a “Get Out the Vote” campaign for the voting on the proposed new Alumni Constitution. You will be receiving mail and e-mails from me on your responsibilities in that activity. However, you will note that the Association is NOT taking a position for or against the Constitution. Our role and responsibility is to maximize participation in the voting process.

However, do know that I support the proposed Constitution, voted for it at the Alumni Council, and am proud to list my name as a supporter on communications to the alumni body as a whole. I urge you to do the same.

What you can to do help —

* If you support the constitution, join me in endorsing the document and listing your name with mine as a supporter on communications to the alumni body. Let me know via reply e-mail.

* Send a message to your class leaders and ask if they will do the same.

* Ask them if they would be willing to contribute funds towards placement of an ad in the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine during the voting period.

* Respond with their names to [Executive Committee member] Kaja Schuppert ‘95 [E-mail address redacted] by Wednesday July 12.

Thank you for all you do on behalf of your Great Dartmouth Class.

Sam Ostrow

President, Dartmouth 67 and Dartmouth Class Officers Association

[Contact information redacted]

Posted on July 9, 2006 08:15 PM. Permalink