I don't know specific details about the Association of Alumni (AoA) lawsuit, but I did just receive a blitz from Diane Ellis '08 in support of the preserving the parity on the Dartmouth Board of Trustees. Original blitz follows.

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from: Diane E. Ellis <Redacted>
date: Fri, May 23, 2008 at 2:45 PM
subject: UPDATE: Letter for Parity
mailed-by: dartmouth.edu

Hi,

Several weeks ago, we sent out a letter to campus in support of preserving parity on the Board of Trustees. Within a few days, the letter quickly garnered the support of 225 signatories from diverse corners of campus. Among these 225 people were Republicans, Democrats, Progressives, Latinos, Asian Americans, African Americans, homosexuals, heterosexuals, presidents of fraternities, presidents of sororities, captains of teams, members of male, female, and co-ed senior societies both new and old, etc, etc.

These diverse groups were united by principles, not politics. Democracy and parity united us to speak out in one voice about an issue that is important to all of us.

We are pleased, but not surprised, with the success of our letter to alumni. It received hundreds of enthusiastic and positive responses from among the 92% of alumni who similarly support parity on the Board of Trustees.

As you may have seen today, the D continued to live up to its reputation for journalistic laziness by trying to employ petty guilt-by-association tactics and ad hominem attacks to discredit the letter.

Attached is the final letter that we sent to alumni. Included is a sheet of quotes collected from various members of the Dartmouth undergraduate community.

With Warm Regards,

Diane Ellis and Joe Braunreuther

P.S. Among the many responses we received from alumni, young and old, who were excited to see that students are defending their right to vote for half of the Board:

**Good work. Delighted to see that some of Dartmouth's undergraduate body feels as strongly as I regarding this issue. I hope your influence on campus spreads and that those of you who have alumni parents help them understand just how important fairness is. Heavy-handed, backroom legislation is not a principle that should be taught at Dartmouth, whether in the classroom or by executive example.
Thank you for speaking out. --'54

**Cogratulations and keep up the good work to keep democracy alive at dartmouth. I back you 100%! --'79

**congratulations to you guys. It sounds like the younger generation gets it after all. Now I will feel good about my donation to Dartmouth this year. -- '58

**GOOD FOR YOU for speaking up!!!!! Your voices should count too. I can't tell you how impressed I am that you took time away form your studies to address this (probably something I wouldn't have done when I was there....) Hopefully your message will inspire other alumni to vote. -- '88

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The D article that Ellis refers to is this one printed today.