LGBT Students at Dartmouth

LGBT Students at Dartmouth August 15, 2013 LGBT students at Dartmouth can be proud to know that their new president has their back. A little while back, a hiring committee at Dartmouth selected  Dr. James Tengatenga as the new Dean of the Tucker Foundation. The Tucker Foundation at Dartmouth is charged with supporting and furthering the moral and spiritual work of the College as stated by the Dartmouth Board of Trustees on June 16, 1951. Many students at Dartmouth do community service activities through the Tucker Foundation from tutoring at local elementary schools in New Hampshire to volunteering in countries devastated by natural disasters to teaching English in Zimbabue. The appointment of Dr. James Tengatenga, the  diocesan bishop of Southern Malawi and chair of the Worldwide Anglican Communion’s Anglican Consultative Council, was not without controversy at Dartmouth. Philip Hanlon, Dartmouths new president, made a bold move to show support for Dartmouths LGBT community and we at Ivy Coach commend him for it. Shortly after his appointment as Dean of the Tucker Foundation, word got out that Dr. Tengatenga had taken actions and made remarks that were utterly homophobic. In 2003, he vocally opposed the ordination of the openly gay Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire, going so far as to state to the Los Angeles Times that he felt betrayed by the church and was angry over the matter. In 2011, he vocally backed excommunicating any bishop of the church who supported same-sex marriage. And yet the Dean of the Tucker Foundation is supposed to be the moral leader of the College on the Hill. Clearly Dr. James Tengatenga wasnt suited for this position at a university that so values diversity. New Dartmouth President Philip Hanlons decision to not move forward with Dr. Tengatengas appointment is to be applauded. As he stated in a letter to the Dartmouth community, Following much reflection and consultation with senior leaders at Dartmouth, it has become clear to me that Dr. Tengatengas past comments about homosexuality and the uncertainty and controversy they created have compromised his ability to serve effectively as dean of Tucker.  The foundation and Dartmouths commitment to inclusion are too important to be mired in discord over this appointment. Consequently, we have decided not to move forward with the appointment of Dr. Tengatenga as dean of the Tucker Foundation. Well stated and good for Dartmouths new leader to show such support for the LGBT community. This is very good for the College on the Hill.