This fall, one fraternity staged a panty raid on two sororities, another sent its pledges walking naked through the main library during popular study hours. At another fraternity house, members climbed on the roof with a bullhorn and shouted sexually suggestive comments at passing women. When outraged officials asked what the fraternity planned to do about the incident, members replied that they had gotten rid of the bullhorn. In a survey of those accepted to the class of 2003, many students who decided not to attend Dartmouth cited their concerns about social life as their primary reason to go elsewhere. Dartmouth still has trouble attracting minority students, admissions officials say.
Similar numbers exist at fraternities.
With the Greek system dominating the social life, that means that a small group of white, affluent students are setting the social tone for the entire campus. The fraternities and sororities also have higher incidence of binge drinking, and episodes of intolerance, such as a ''ghetto party'' hosted by a fraternity and sorority last year. The proposals, which are to be discussed among students, alumni, and faculty over the next 10 weeks before a final vote by the trustees, aim at reducing alcohol abuse and increasing the diversity of campus social life. Chiefly, the proposals suggest the building of at least two 350-bed housing clusters, which would be governed by student councils that would plan activities, and would be attached to new student centers. These clusters would replace the Greek system, officials hope, as the ''bedrock'' of social and residential life on campus.