Energetic Gilbertsen was dedicated to causes | The... -
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Published on: 10/4/2003
Last Visited: 10/4/2003
"She was just so enthusiastic about learning and so enthusiastic about life," said Bill Flanagan, today's dean of students at Beloit College.
Flanagan said he first met Gilbertsen when he came to campus in 1980, and she remained involved in campus activities until the past year.
"I'm really going to miss Dottie," Flanagan said."I was just crazy about her.She was just so much fun."
Flanagan said Gilbertsen and the dean of men, John Gwin, had the difficult job of maintaining order during campus protests over the war in Vietnam and other issues.
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"She and John would have to go and get students to understand that what they were doing was inappropriate," Flanagan said.
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Gilbertsen commanded respect, making up for her lack of physical stature with great powers of persuasion, Flanagan said.
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"She was very hip, very up on what the students were all about … just the kind of person that a student could relate to," Flanagan said.
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"She was able to adapt to the new higher education and what students expected when they came to college … and she did it with grace and dignity," Flanagan said.