Since 1899…
Palaeopitus Senior Society has functioned as a platform for student voices at Dartmouth College for decades. E. K. Hall founded the organization to unite student leaders in an effort to promote the best interests of the College and among the student body. Initially, they worked to ban hazing, establish a student loan fund, extend library hours, interview prospective freshmen, issue car permits, and sponsor the education of displaced persons.
Palaeopitus Senior Society has functioned as a platform for student voices at Dartmouth College for decades. E. K. Hall founded the organization to unite student leaders in an effort to promote the best interests of the College and among the student body. Initially, they worked to ban hazing, establish a student loan fund, extend library hours, interview prospective freshmen, issue car permits, and sponsor the education of displaced persons.
The society was the main body of student governance on campus for nearly six decades, think of Student Assembly, the Undergraduate Finance Committee, OAC, and COS all in one. Eventually, it turned into the executive committee of Student Assembly. In 1968, the student body voted to abolish Palaeopitus because it represented the kinds of institutions that students were fighting against in the ‘60s. In 1981, Palaeopitus returned to campus as part of an effort to revive Dartmouth traditions.
Today, it serves as an independent senior society with ties throughout the college. Palaeopitus has been whatever each year’s delegation wanted it to be. Past delegations have focused on themes such as staff appreciation, activism, student-administration interaction, and mental health. Additionally, Palaeopitus helps campus leaders from different corners of campus to collaborate with one another and provides feedback to top campus administrators. “Palaeopitus” derives from the Greek word for “Old Pine.”
The collection on Palaeopitus at the Rauner Special Collections Library includes correspondence notes, meeting minutes, annual reports, press releases, and account books. These materials are free to access and open to students.
