I was able to find the file causing the issue after renaming the /buddypress/ folder to /buddypress-abc/.
After gaining access to the admin board I started deleting files one at a time and found that if I delete bp-forums.php in the main buddypress directory the dashboard problem was solved. That is, I was able to have buddypress working at the same time as my dashboard.
I never installed a beta version. All I did was click the “enabled” option for forums in the Component Setup area of buddypress settings in the dashboard. Now that I’ve deleted the bp-forums.php file, that option is no longer available in my dashboard.
If at all possible, I would love to be able to re-enable it if I can figure out how to get it to actually work. But if I upload the file back then the admin breaks again. Any ideas?