Butmakenomistake,engagementwiththeartsisintegraltotheexperienceofeveryDartmouthstudent–notjustthosewhoactivelycreateart.IgrewupinasmallminingtowninthefoothillsoftheAdirondackMountains.Arough-and-tumbleplace,mytownhadnoshortageoftaverns,butnotasinglemovietheater.So,whenIarrivedatDartmouthinthefallof1973,movieswereamagnificent,unexploredterrain;andtheFilmSocietybecamemyobsession.Myfreshmanfall,theFilmSocietyranaseriesofJohnFordclassics,andImarveledatthesefilms–howtheycouldstirsuchdeepfeelingswiththeirironyandnostalgia.Ayearlater,theFilmSocietybecameyesterday’snewswhenSpringsteenplayedattheHop.
Forme,theartsatDartmouthopenedmymindtoentirelynewwaysofthinking,helpedmeseetheworldasitis,andimaginetheworldasitcouldbe.
Classof’19,youembodyDartmouth’sloftymission:toprepareourgraduatestoleadlivesofleadershipandimpact.Theartshavealwaysbeenamagneticpresenceonthiscampusexactlybecausetheyarecoretothatmission.