I write this column on the first of February with great anticipation of the national showing of the Arts and Entertainment (A&E) network Investigative Reports' special on Norwich University's Corps of Cadets. By the time you read this, we will have celebrated the screening of this show on our campus. I have seen the tape several times now and could not be prouder of the way A&E has captured much of the thrill, challenge, heartache, and sense of accomplishment of becoming a cadet. All those portrayed in the movie have done Norwich proud, and I want to write a special note of thanks to the Cadet public affairs office under the great leadership of Kevin Hancock and our own director of public relations, Tom Greene, for a job well done. My only regret is that the documentary does not address the contributions of our civilian students to our community and our strong emphasis at Norwich on academics. Given the restraints of a one hour program, and the particular nature of the story, this is understandable.

You have probably read the local news and perhaps seen on television and the Norwich Notices, that the Board of Trustees has decided to sell the Vermont College programs and property. This allows us to more sharply focus the mission of Norwich University. That mission will focus on you. That is, our mission will focus on our residential cadets and civilian students, both day and commuters. We will continue to focus on leadership and character development. Our plan to is to establish new Masters level programs for adults that are aligned with the discipline strengths of our Northfield campus. We hope that after you graduate you might continue to study with Norwich and we might meet your lifelong learning needs. In that way, the connections with the faculty members you have come to know and love while you are at Norwich as an undergraduate will continue as you forge forward with your careers.

I have appointed Dr. Hansen, Norwich University's Senior Vice-President, to be responsible for all operations at the Vermont College campus. While we are going to try to expedite the sale, it may take several years. Due to the complexity and time requirements of this assignment, I must relieve Dr. Hansen of all his responsibilities at the Northfield campus. He has served our cadets and civilian students wonderfully well, as he oversaw all of student life, admissions, and student financial planning. Of all the members of my staff, Dr. Hansen probably attends more student related functions, athletic events, and activities than anyone else. His leadership will be greatly missed on campus.

I will be working on a reorganization of the Northfield campus to reassign Dr. Hansen's responsibilities. When that reorganization is clear, I will write to the entire community and announce it. I will be publishing transition memoranda which will announce any changes in administration, faculty governance, or any changes in the policies and regulations as they relate to separating Norwich University and Vermont College. Until you read one of those transition memos, all existing policies, procedures and administrative structures remain in place as currently configured and published.

I have asked Chip Keinath, our substance abuse counselor, and Cadet Christopher Tucker, who leads the Norwich alcohol awareness program, to have a number of sessions and meetings with me over the next several months. We have had our first meeting with the Commandant and his staff and a number of other students. I have asked the group to discuss the general scenarios in which our students find themselves, particularly in regard to toleration and the alcohol policy. It should be very clear to everyone that the only time drinking is authorized on campus is during formal functions when Marriott is responsible for serving. I understand that the largest gray areas in the alcohol policy relate to what constitutes tolerance. I have asked for clarity on that and for the staff and students to present to me some standard scenarios so that I can better understand the expected behavior on the part of our students. We will be holding these meetings over the course of the spring to assist Cadet Tucker and his staff to conduct training about toleration, inappropriate use of alcohol, and the rules regarding designated drivers. I am very impressed with the work these students have done already and by the great benefit this work will have for all of our students at Norwich. Both the students and I will be writing more on this issue in the months ahead.

Back to Guidon index