Mark Govoni
From CarlWiki
Mark Govoni, commonly referred to during his tenure as Dean Govoni or, as he asked new students to call him, Dean G, was the Dean of Students at Carleton College from 1996 through the Fall Term of 2004. He is remembered for his frequent interaction with students, including direct interaction with the CSA. His departure was abrupt, with no specific reason given. Some Carleton students believed that this was due to the controversial Report on Student Drinking that he authored, although he denied this claim.
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Time at Carleton
During his nine years at Carleton, Dean Govoni was very active and well-known to the student body. He greeted freshmen at New Student Week, he was present at many CSA meetings, he held dinners for students at his house, and he met with students on an individual basis frequently. He was very much a public figure. In DVD Fest 2004, the last DVD Fest he would be at Carleton for, he appeared in three films: "Carleton's All-Time Favorites," "Harry Hate," and "Schiller." He was known for his friendliness with students, and encouraged them to call him either "Mark" or "Dean G."
During Winter Term of 2004, there was a fiasco at Carleton involving 8 students being taken to a hospital due to alcohol poisoning within an 8-day period. As the Dean of Students, Govoni was charged with investigating the causes, re-examining Carleton's alcohol policy, and making policy proposals to prevent such an incident from happening again. The culmination of this investigation was the Report on Student Drinking, which some had feared would bring the end of the liberal alcohol policy at Carleton. Instead, it suggested relatively minor changes, including mandatory alcohol education for incoming freshmen and more college support for weekend activities that do not involve drinking.
Decision to leave
Students were largely unaware of Dean Govoni's intention to leave Carleton until they received an e-mail from President Oden on October 25, 2004, in the middle of Fall Term. President Oden wrote in the e-mail: "Despite his love for the College and its students, Mark has decided that there are other challenges and paths to explore professionally and personally." He quoted Dean Govoni's letter of resignation as saying that "though I once wondered if I could ever leave this place, the students most of all, I am eager to try to make a difference elsewhere."
Speculation
The November 12, 2004 issue of The Carleton Observer ran a cover story entitled "A Proud Legacy: The Observer Bids a Fond Farewell to Dean Govoni." The article cites speculation by students that he may have been pressured into resigning by the President and the Board of Trustees, but says: "When asked if there was any pressure from the College to change the [alcohol] policy or to resign, he said 'No. There was none.'" He was further quoted in the article as saying, "Yes, I think the alcohol policy is in the right place. No, it should not be changed."
In the article, he expressed as his reason for resigning that he felt "burned out over last year."
Quotes
- "Don't grow up too fast. There's no rush to get into grad school, to get a gazillion dollars... take your time. Don't get caught up in the career madness too soon." (From Carleton Observer, November 12, 2004.)
Successor
- Dean Govoni was succeeded by Hudlin Wagner.
