2008 Association of Alumni Candidates

F. Marian Chambers '76, Wichita, KS
INDEPENDENT, PRO-PARITY PETITION CANDIDATE FOR SECRETARY-TREASURER

Graduated Dartmouth 1975 (Class of ’76), Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude; Colby Government Prize.  M.Sc., London School of Economics, 1976.  Alliance Francaise, 1977.  U.S. Congress International Relations Committee Staff 1978-1999.  Visited 117 countries, author of 20 government reports, highest security clearance, responsible for overseeing $20 billion in U.S. foreign spending.  Married high school sweetheart 1999, active as a Board officer in local community since (Foreign Relations, D.A.R., Church Board of Trustees); organized first Phi Beta Kappa Association in Kansas.   

"Nominated by alumni petition, I support the efforts of the 2007-2008 Executive Committee to preserve the 1891 Agreement that established Board parity and guaranteed it for 116 years. As my resume indicates, I write as what might be deemed an unlikely supporter, much less slate member, of an “old-school-tie cabal”—for starters, I am the first female to graduate from Dartmouth’s first coeducational class.

“We are all asked, indeed implored, to give to our alma mater.  What disturbs me, and why I am running with the other petition candidates, is that alumni now have to overcome all sorts of obstacles to stand for the Board of Trustees or the leadership of the Association of Alumni—to which all of us 68,000 alumni belong.

“It is not putting it too strongly to say that Dartmouth alumni have entered the world of George Orwell.  We are supposed to contribute, but not ask where the money goes.  We are supposed to swallow meekly whatever candidates the establishment serves up to us.  We are reproved for offering competitive candidates as Trustees, or for the leadership of the Association of Alumni, and if we do, and win—then “oops”, the rules have to be changed. 

“I am running as a truly independent candidate and I pledge that, if elected, my responsibilities as the Association Secretary-Treasurer will always be guided by my judgment of what is best for the alumni I represent.  No other concerns will influence my actions.  On this point, I must note that my opponent for this office, David Spalding, Vice President of Alumni Affairs, is a full time employee of the College.  Because the Association is currently involved in litigation (and later, perhaps, in negotiations) with the Trustees, it is necessary to recognize a serious conflict of interest that Mr. Spalding has in determining which constituency should be primary for him.”

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